FOOTBALL SHORTS
GARETH BALE has claimed Jose Mourinho is on the road to restoring former glories at Manchester United. The Real Madrid forward, who Mourinho revealed he wanted to sign earlier this week, suggested United can be a force in the Champions League after beating them 2-1 in Tuesday’s Super Cup final. Bale said: ‘By bringing Mourinho in, it’s boosted the club. Winning a few trophies last year did them great and I think they’re getting back to where they belong. I see no reason why they can’t challenge.’
STEPHEN KENNY says he is determined to see Dundalk progress as much off the field as on it after agreeing a new contract to remain as manager until 2020. The Dubliner put pen to paper on an improved deal yesterday and the Lilywhites boss is adamant strides must be taken to advance all aspects of the club. ‘Oriel Park has stood still here. There is plans for the Development Centre. We are looking at putting a sports science room in it, we are going to put in a medical department and a video analysis department. These are all new developments and we are looking at putting them in there,’ he said. ‘We want to progress as a club. We haven’t moved too quickly as a club because our success has been quite rapid. I have been the only full-time member of staff as such up to now and we need to improve to get better. ‘As the owners Paul Brown and Andy Connolly would say to me “Dundalk are the most stable club in Ireland now”. We want to get better over a period of time,’ added Kenny. ‘I want to manage at the highest level. In order to do that at Dundalk, we have got to aspire to get back into the group stages of European competition. ‘Our ambition overall is to have packed Aviva Stadiums. Last year we had it against Legia Warsaw. We want those special nights, they are tremendous,’ added the Dundalk boss.
POLICE officers involved in the death of former Aston Villa player Dalian Atkinson may face criminal charges. The force’s independent watchdog are investigating the events of last August, when the 48–year-old suffered a fatal heart attack after he was Tasered in a Telford street.
WATFORD have completed the signing of Burnley striker Andre Gray, 26, for a club record £18.5million. The deal came after it was revealed Burnley boss Sean Dyche barred Gray’s girlfriend, Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, from sitting in the directors’ box because he did not want to give her special treatment for being famous.