Setback for Manucharyan candidate

AFC Ajax

FC Pyunik

Lars Olsen has signed a two-year extension to his contract as coach of Danish Superliga strugglers Randers FC. The Danish season is just past the halfway stage and top-flight newcomers Randers, who appointed Olsen in January 2003, sit second from bottom of the table, two points adrift of safety. But the 43-year-old, who captained the victorious Denmark team at EURO '92, said: "I am happy to be with Randers and see a lot of potential in the squad. The club's ambitions suit mine perfectly."

1. FC Kaiserslautern and midfield player Stefan Malz have agreed to part company with immediate effect. The 32-year-old has made only 33 appearances since joining from Arsenal FC in 2001 but has not featured at all this season. His contract was set to expire in the summer.

Attacking midfield player Chris De Witte has reached an agreement with FC Groningen to leave the Eredivisie side on 1 January. The 26-year-old has made 26 league appearances since signing from FC Twente in the summer of 2003 but has not figured since August, and would have become a free agent next summer.

Davy De Beule has acted on a civil court verdict to sign a contract with Belgian club KAA Gent until the end of the campaign. Midfield player De Beule had been in conflict with former employers KSC Lokeren OV over extending his contract at the Daknam stadium into next season so, after taking the matter to a civil court on Tuesday, the 23-year-old has been granted the freedom to play elsewhere in the new year. De Beule had been training with Gent since October.