Football news

The English Premier League are believed to be considering a proposal to introduce a play-off for the fourth spot.

Currently the teams finishing in the top four are handed entry to the Champions League, either in the main draw or at the qualifying stage. Now it has been proposed that only the first three be decided on league position and the fourth place be determined by a play-off.

That could mean the teams finishing in the positions fourth to seventh playing a mini-knockout competition.

Reja asks for time to lift Lazio Edy Reja wants Lazio to be judged in a month's time following an impressive 2-0 victory away at Parma that lifted the troubled team out of the drop zone.

New coach Reja said: "It will take a month to give a more definitive judgment. The lads played a great game. Not even I had hoped it would go so well."

Reja also spoke about Cristian Ledesma who made his first appearance of the season following a protracted contract dispute.

Asked if he wanted Ledesma as a condition to join Lazio, Reja said: "I didn't ask the club for anything. Sure I hoped that we could get Cristian back because he is an important player, but I didn't put forward any request."

Hannover appoint psychologist

Hannover have appointed a sports psychologist to try to get to the bottom of the dismal form which is jeopardising their future in the Bundesliga. The Reds have not won since the end of October.

In a bid to shift this mental block, they have announced a sports psychologist will meet with the players to try and get to the bottom of the problem.

"Dr Marlovits will try to resolve individual problems with our players in the coming days," explained Hannover's director of sport Jorg Schmadtke, announcing the appointment of the psycho-logist Andreas Marlovits.

"He has been observing the performances of our team in various games recently."

Jordan rues Spurs' penalty pain

Tottenham first-team coach Joe Jordan admits his players will have to start practising their spot-kicks more often after another miss consigned them to an FA Cup fifth round replay with Bolton.

When Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen saved Tom Huddlestone's second-half penalty to secure a 1-1 draw on Sunday, it was the fourth penalty out of six this season that had been missed by Spurs.

"We have not been too lucky with penalties. Tom does it differently in training when he puts power into his penalties," Jordan said.

"But he tried to place it. However, when a penalty is saved you have to give credit to the keeper. We have had a terrible season with penalties that have counted against us."

Heart rules out transfer - Van Persie

Robin van Persie spurned the chance to leave Arsenal because of his fondness for the club.

Four teams - believed to be Chelsea, Manchester City, Juventus and Inter - expressed interest in the Dutch international, but he revealed: "It's not as easy to leave Arsenal as you maybe think."

The Gunners are without a trophy since winning the 2005 FA Cup - to date Van Persie's only major trophy with the club.

But Van Persie, who signed from Feyenoord in 2004, said: "It is good that four teams were really interested in me but I had to turn them down.

"Even if you want to leave, as a player, I don't think it is easy because when you move to Arsenal you are led there by your heart."

Hiddink set for Turkey job - reports

Dutchman Guus Hiddink is set to take over as the new manager of the Turkish national side, according to press reports in Istanbul yesterday.

Hiddink has already made it clear that he will step down as coach of Russia when his contract expires on June 30 and the Sabah newspaper reported that he will sign a four-year contract with Turkish football officials on Friday.

The much-travelled tactician already has experience of working in Turkey having been coach of Fenerbahce in the 1990/91 season.

Turkey failed to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa this year.

Warnock vents fury after Villa equaliser

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock accused a referee's assistant of "incompetence" after seeing his hopes of an FA Cup shock dashed at Selhurst Park.

Palace were leading 2-1 with three minutes to go when Aston Villa were awarded a corner by referee Kevin Friend on the say-so of his assistant referee Trevor Massey.

Villa's Stiliyan Petrov scored the equaliser with a header from the resulting corner, which means the clubs will have to replay at Villa Park a week tomorrow.

Warnock said: "Mr Massey says if he's got it wrong he will be suspended for a couple of games. I said to him 'when you're sat on your settee when you're suspended will you think about us?'

"The ref was let down by somebody who had a very poor game and I don't feel any sympathy if he is suspended. Personally I hope it is a long time."