Former England striker Ian Wright has urged his adoptive son Shaun Wright-Phillips to stay and fight for his place in the star-studded Chelsea team.
Wright-Phillips was a peripheral figure for the champions in his debut season as Jose Mourinho's men landed a second straight English Premiership title.
And with the close season arrivals of Germany captain Michael Ballack, Ukraine forward Andrei Shevchenko and Nigerian youngster Jon Obi Mikel, the 24-year-old former Manchester City winger could find his first team chances even more limited next season.
Following his move to Stamford Bridge, Wright-Phillips not only found first team soccer hard to come by but he also lost his place in the England squad, missing out on the World Cup finals in Germany.
Speculation has linked him with a move away, possibly on loan, but Wright senior thinks the best thing he can do is prove his worth to Blues boss Mourinho.
"[Shaun] has to stick there, he is at the champions, you don't go to the champions and leave," Wright told talkSPORT radio.
"I read in the papers people calling him a flop. He didn't get the chance to be a flop, that hurts me," he said.
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has shrugged off speculation of a transfer to Real Madrid, insisting he has no plans to leave Anfield.
The Spanish international playmaker returned to training this week after reporting back from World Cup duty with Spain to be greeted by reports linking him with a move to the Bernabeu.
But Alonso is adamant that he is going nowhere.
"I am happy here, I am used to closing my ears to such speculation," Alonso said. "I have enjoyed my first two seasons at Liverpool and I will be staying here."
While Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has already stated that Alonso is not for sale, the Reds boss may be willing to let Senegalese midfielder Salif Diao leave after granting him permission to play a trial match for Charlton.
Former player and chairman-elect Niall Quinn was named manager of Sunderland yesterday.
He heads the Drumaville consortium which bought the League Championship team for ?10 million (US$18.43 million) earlier this month. The 39-year-old former Ireland striker played for the club from 1996 to 2002, where he scored 69 goals in 212 games.
Quinn takes over from Mick McCarthy, who was fired in March after almost three seasons in charge at the Stadium of Light.
Former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill reportedly turned down the chance to take over a club that was relegated from the Premier League last season with a record-low 15 points.
A British parliamentary committee has concluded that English soccer's governing body should abolish rules that prevent girls playing in mixed teams with boys after the age of 11, the Guardian said yesterday.
The House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee concluded the current restrictions -- imposed in 1921 because the Football Association (FA) deemed the game "unsuitable for females" -- are an artificial barrier to the development of the women's game in the UK, it reported.
The committee was due to officially publish its findings later yesterday.
According to extracts published by the newspaper, the committee concludes: "We recommend that the absolute prohibition on mixed football over the age of 11 be removed and that an informed assessment of individuals' capacity to play in mixed teams should govern selection policy."
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