The way he has done the work to prove his eligibility for Wales is a quality I haven’t seen before he

“The way he has done the work to prove his eligibility for Wales is a quality I haven’t seen before,” he said.Karl Ready, the Queen’s Park Rangers centre-back, also makes his debut in a side which, with Vinnie Jones, Barry Horne, Mark Hughes and John Hartson, is unlikely to be accused of faint-heartedness. Indeed the prospect of that collection competing against Roy Keane could have blood-sports protesters filling the stands, never mind football supporters.The National Stadium will be three-quarters empty, which means what could be Paul McGrath’s last appearance in an international in Britain will go largely unnoticed. The 37-year-old returns for the Irish, refreshed by a new marriage and a low alcohol intake, and will pit his patched-together body against Hughes. Unfortunately for the Republic’s prospects, Liverpool’s Phil Babb was forced to withdraw from their squad yesterday with a knee injury.You could call it the ageing matador against the raging bull. Gould posed the question to his squad yesterday whether there is such a thing as a friendly “Definitely not,” one soft voice replied. It belonged to Hughes.WALES: Crossley (Nottingham Forest); Ready (Queen’s Park Rangers), Speed (Everton), Symons (Manchester City); Robinson (Charlton), Horne (Birmingham), Jones (Wimbledon), Pembridge (Sheffield Wednesday), Legg (Birmingham); Hartson (Arsenal), Hughes (Chelsea)..

Jimmy Nicholl, the Millwall manager, and his assistant, Martin Harvey, were yesterday sacked by the Second Division club’s administrators. Twelve players have also been put on the transfer list and the chief executive, Graham Hortop, made redundant. The former Millwall manager John Docherty will take control of team affairs and all staff who are staying on have been asked to take a 10 per cent drop in wages.
Administrators David Buchler and Lee Manning said: “These cuts were always seen as an integral part of the way forward It is a very painful but necessary process. Both Mr Hortop and Mr Nicholl have been very loyal to the club, but it was our view that changes needed to be made in both areas to stimulate success both on and off the field.”These changes, together with a planned reduction in the playing squad, will contribute approximately pounds 1.5m a year in savings.

As well as concentrating on savings, we are looking at every area of improving the club’s income and exploiting its excellent facilities.”There is a huge amount of hard work still ahead and the financial position is still critical. The club will only survive with the help of the supporters.”Ronnie Whelan is waiting for a referee’s report on which his job at Southend could depend. The Roots Hall manager was suspended by the First Division club yesterday and his assistant, Theo Foley, dismissed.Southend acted after the pair were banished to the stand by the referee during Saturday’s defeat by Manchester City. They had been angered by a tackle from Georgi Kinkladze on Phil Gridelet.Vic Jobson, the Southend chairman, laid the blame for the incident on Foley. He said: “Foley was senior in age and experience and should have restrained Whelan.