The saga of Dean Ashton’s proposed transfer to West Ham trundled on yesterday with Norwich City issuing a statement of denial with King Canute-like boldness. Chief executive Neil Doncaster said: ‘We have not agreed a fee for Dean with West Ham for £8m, nor indeed accepted any other bids for any other players with any other club.’ Those words sounded a little hollow when goalkeeper Robert Green, a transfer target of Portsmouth, threw his shirt into the home crowd in an apparent gesture of farewell after the 3-2 defeat by Watford. Last night, manager Nigel Worthington said: ‘As far as phone calls and offers are concerned, there is absolutely nothing to report and that’s 100% true as I speak,’ as if he was expecting the phone to ring as soon as he returned to his office. Ashton, 22, has played 46 times for Norwich since a £3m transfer from Crewe in January 2005. Crewe would be entitled to a £500,000 payment should he make a 50th appearance and there is a sell-on clause allowing his old club 20% of any future transfer fee
Beckham on target at last
David Beckham scored his first La Liga goal of the season last night as Real Madrid fought back from being a goal down to beat lowly Cadiz 3-1 at the Bernabeu. Roberto Carlos, with a direct free-kick, cancelled out a 55th-minute goal from Alexandre Medina, before Beckham followed his example, thundering in another free kick from an almost identical position. Robinho, with a delicate, long-range volley, scored Madrid’s third, also from outside of the Cadiz penalty area. Real, in third place, are 10 points behind leaders Barcelona, who are chasing a 13th consecutive league win over bottom club Alaves this evening
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Jewell cool on England
Wigan’s Paul Jewell is the latest managerial talent to shy away from the England job. Asked whether he would like to manage the national team, he said: ‘No. Well, put it this way, I’m saying no but I’ve never thought about it. When I was a kid I dreamed of being a footballer and when I was a footballer I wanted to be a manager, but I have never wanted to be England manager. I enjoy the day-to-day running of a football club. I’m sure there will be a queue for the England job. But it doesn’t matter what you do on the pitch with England, it’s what you do off the park that seems to be of more interest’
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England face big guns in Euro 2008 draw
Germany and Italy have not been named among the seven top seeds for Friday’s Euro 2008 qualifying draw in Switzerland, leaving either one as possible group opponents for England. Sven-Göran Eriksson will be in Montreux for the draw which has several superpowers outside the top seeds, partly to make way for Greece, who are included as defending champions. There will be seven groups drawn — six of seven teams, one of eight — from which the winners and runners-up will qualify directly for the finals in Austria and Switzerland oSeeded teams: Greece, Holland, Portugal, Czech Republic, England, France, Sweden
Cudicini extends stay at Chelsea hotel
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Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, 32, has signed a one-year extension to his contract, committing him to Stamford Bridge until 2009. Much of his time has been spent as a spectator since he was replaced as regular No 1 by Petr Cech at the start of last season. Cudicini has played in just 16 games since — five this term — mostly in the Carling Cup and dead European ties
Sorry Sven, but we did warn you
England’s under-fire coach Sven-Göran Eriksson has to take responsibility for his actions. To quote from this column on January 8: ‘Sven still hadn’t taken down his Christmas decorations on Friday — everybody knows that it’s bad luck to leave them up beyond 12th night.’ Enough said