Celtic approach Swansea for Martinez

Last updated : 01 June 2009 By Luke Thornhill
The Swans have confirmed they have received an official approach from the Hoops, who are searching for a new boss after Gordon Strachan stepped down when they missed out on this year's title.

Peter Lawwell, Swansea's chief executive, said he will speak to Martinez later this week to decide if permission is granted to speak to him.

Crystal Palace have had a point deducted from their final season tally after fielding an ineligible player.

Rui Fonte came off the bench after 55 minutes of the game against Sheffield United on May 3, but his loan from the Premier League side Arsenal had already run out.

The deduction does not affect Palace's final league position of 15th. The club have been fined £20,000, £15,000 of which is suspended for a year.

Peterborough United have turned down Reading's approach to speak to Darren Ferguson over the vacant managerial position at the Royals

Darragh MacAnthony, the Posh chairman, said the approach was rejected as they did not meet the club's valuation.

Ferguson has impressed since taking over at London Road, leading Posh to consecutive promotions culminating with a second-place finish in League One last season.

Peter Ridsdale, the chairman of Cardiff City, has said he has the full backing of his club's board after newspaper reports his consultancy firm had collapsed.

WH Sports allegedly went bust owing more than £400,000, incuding almost £374,000 to the Inland Revenue.

But Ridsdale, who infamously oversaw massive overspending at Leeds United, insisted the only reason the company was liquidated is because he is now paid directly by the Bluebirds.

"I have spoken to board members and key shareholders about the article and they have given me 100 per cent support in this matter," he told the South Wales Echo.

"The only reason that the company existed is that I would not work for Sam Hammam when he was at the club and I was paid consultation fees.

"But when Sam left Ninian Park I said I would prefer to be on the payroll and the fees stopped. This was a way to ensure total transparency at the football club."

The Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has dismissed rumours suggesting that he could sell up at the Riverside following the club's relegation from the Premier League.

"We hate the Championship. We don't want to be in it. We're a Premier League club," he told the Daily Mail.

"We're determined to get back to the Premier League as quickly as possible and I firmly believe that when we get back we'll be a force.

Nottingham Forest have made a £1million bid for the Southampton forward David McGoldrick.

The Saints, relegated to League One this summer, are in administration and have had to delay wage payments for staff.

Any transfer would, ironically, help Forest's city rivals Notts County. They will receive 20 per cent of any fee as part of the deal that saw McGoldrick move to the south coast in 2006.