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General Sports News

Ipswich appoint Keane

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 23/04/2009

Ipswich Town have moved quickly to name former Manchester United captain Roy Keane as their new manager.

The 37-year-old, who has been handed a two-year contract, replaces Jim Magilton who was axed on Wednesday after the online betting odds were suspended

The ex-Republic of Ireland international spent more than two years in charge of Sunderland, guiding the club to promotion to the Premier League, before leaving the Stadium of Light in December.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are confident that Wes Brown will be able to return to action in the weekend clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

The 29-year-old England international, who has not started a first-team game since October because of a foot injury, proved his fitness in a reserve-team match earlier in the week.

It will be a timely return as Gary Neville and John O'Shea both picked up injuries in the midweek win against Portsmouth and face several weeks on the sidelines.

Southampton will definitely be playing League One football next season following a Football League investigation into the financial problems at St Mary's.

Should the 23rd-placed Saints climb out of the relegation zone in their final two games of this season then the ten-point penalty will be imposed this year and they will be relegated to League One.

But should they fail to retain their Championship status this season then the deduction will be carried over to next term and they will begin in League One next season on minus ten points.

In cricket, Marcus North has been recalled by Australia midway through Hampshire's County Championship match against Warwickshire.

North made 15 runs for the Hawks on Wednesday but has now teamed up with the rest of the Australia squad in Dubai to replace opener Shaun Marsh, who suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury against Pakistan.

Leicestershire have refused to allow West Indies the chance to practice on their Grace Road pitch.

The Foxes took their stance after the tourists' coach, John Dyson, branded the strip 'sub-standard' after the first day of the drawn match between the two teams.

Yorkshire have given Rana Naved-ul-Hasan just over a week to decide whether he wants to return to the county.

The White Rose county have given the 30-year-old Pakistan star until 5pm on May 1 to rejoin the squad or have his contract terminated.

In rugby union, London Irish brothers Delon and Steffon Armitage have been nominated for this year's Professional Rugby Players' Association awards.

Delon is in contention to win the player's player of the year trophy while Steffon will contest the young player of the year award with the winners confirmed on May 13.

Seilala Mapusua, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Tom May and Ben Foden have also been nominated for the main award with Foden, Danny Care, Jordan Turner-Hall and Tom Croft up for the young player trophy.

South African flanker Russell Winter has joined the exodus from Newcastle Falcons, confirming that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old is set to call time on his career altogether due to a number of injury problems.

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