UK Roundup

Arsenal signs Lehmann to plug goalkeeper gap

LONDON (Reuters) -- Arsenal completed the signing of German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann from Borussia Dortmund on Friday to fill the breach left by David Seaman.

The 33-year-old German international passed a medical in London to complete his move, an Arsenal spokeswoman said.

The English club did not disclose any contract or transfer fee details. Lehmann had one year remaining on his Dortmund contract.

His signing ends Arsenal's search for a replacement for long-serving goalkeeper Seaman, who joined Manchester City in June.

"I am delighted to be joining Arsenal," Lehmann said in a statement issued on Arsenal's official Web site.

"They are one of Europe's great clubs and they have many fantastic players. Hopefully I will impress the club and its supporters and I'm also very much looking forward to playing in the English Premier League."

Arsenal are currently on a pre-season tour of Austria and Lehmann will fly out to join the squad on Sunday.

Manager Arsene Wenger said: "Jens Lehmann is a great signing for Arsenal Football Club.

"He is a very experienced goalkeeper who has proved his quality playing in the Bundesliga, in the Champions League and also for his country.

"Jens will greatly improve the strength of our squad and I am very happy that we have signed a player of his ability.

"Today's medical was positive so that means he can join us on Sunday. I am pleased because he is used to playing under big pressure, he is intelligent and we got him at the right price."

Lehmann, who has 16 German caps, will be Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper next season, with Stuart Taylor as back-up.

Lehmann helped Dortmund to the Bundesliga title in 2002 and also won the UEFA Cup in 1997 with former club Schalke 04.

Arsenal, who are preparing for the start of the new English Premier League season on August 16, beat Austria Vienna 2-0 on Friday.

Chelsea beats Malaysia, will face Newcastle

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Chelsea defeated Malaysia's national team 4-1 Friday in the FA Premier League Asia Cup, though the lowly home side were able to test the visitors' defenses.

Chelsea will now meet Newcastle in the final of the four-team tournament in Kuala Lumpur, the first of its kind allowed by the English Football Association.

Malaysia -- the obvious underdog in the tournament against three English Premier League clubs -- salvaged some pride by matching Chelsea's opening goal and forcing the visitors to bring on some of their big guns.

"The players don't have very good fitness at the moment," Chelsea coach Claudio Raneiri said of his side's off-season performance.

"We need to work on that a little more and I am sure they will be ready for when the (English) season begins," he said.

"Overall, I am still very pleased with the way they played today."

On a sweltering night at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Chelsea's first goal was netted by midfielder Frank Lampard in the 35th minute.

But four minutes later, Malaysia -- coached by former Chelsea fullback Alan Harris -- equalized through a header by Hairuddin Omar from the last of four corner kicks for the home side in the first half.

Even Raneiri was impressed.

"It was a fantastic header, it was a good goal," he said.

An hour into the game and with the score tied at 1-1, Raneiri sent in stars Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Eidur Gudjohnson and new signing Damian Duff.

It didn't take long for Hasselbaink and Gudjohnson to show their firepower. Just seven minutes after coming onto the field, the Dutch striker sent Chelsea ahead before Gudjohnson added a third in the 82nd minute.

Glen Johnson sealed it for Chelsea with a crisp header off a corner kick from Hasselbaink.

Chelsea played at an easy pace and were content to let the Malaysians come at them.

The Malaysians were able to capitalize on some gaps in the Chelsea defense to make several attacking drives.

In the 19th minute, Chelsea goalkeeper Marco Ambrosio was tested by striker Hairuddin Omar, while a few minutes later Indra Putra Mahyuddin slipped right through the Chelsea defense but failed to make anything of it.

Chelsea player Robert Huth left the field about 20 minutes into the game after he sustained a cut in a clash of heads with Hairuddin.

Chelsea will now meet Newcastle in Sunday's final of the tournament.

Malaysia will play Birmingham, who lost to Newcastle Thursday, in a third-place playoff.

The competition marks the first time the English Football Association has sanctioned such a tournament outside of Britain and comes amid a slew of promotional tours by big-name European teams and players to Asia, where soccer's popularity has skyrocketed in recent years.

Organizers say the event is geared to help the three competing English teams -- Newcastle, Chelsea and Birmingham -- prepare for the 2003-2004 season and give Asians a chance to see some of their favorite soccer stars in action.

Allardyce wants repeat performance from Okocha

BOLTON, England (AP) -- Bolton manager Sam Allardyce wants Jay-Jay Okocha to prove last season was no fluke.

The Nigerian international was arguably one of the Premier League's top players in the second half of the season, helping Wanderers avoid relegation.

"He has got a long way to go to prove he is still the top Premiership player everyone says he is," Allardyce said Friday.

"He went some way to proving that in the back half of last season. This time around, it's a massive test for him. On the top of everyone's report, they will be saying, 'Stop him and you stop Bolton."'

Okocha, who starred for Nigeria at last year's World Cup, scored seven goals in his first season with Bolton.

"He will have to be five to 10 percent better this time to produce as much again," said Allardyce.

Oldham owner signs club over to buy-out team

LONDON (Reuters) -- The owner of near-bankrupt English second division team Oldham Athletic has off-loaded his 95 percent stake to a management buy-out team in a bid to save the club, Oldham said in a statement on Friday.

Chairman Chris Moore also wrote off 4.5 million pounds ($7.3 million) of club debts which were owed to his company Associated Technologies Limited.

Sean Jarvis, club marketing manager and part of the management buy-out team, said: "We are delighted that Mr Moore has allowed the MBO team to hold the shares with a view to implementing a survival plan and placing the club in the hands of the community."

But he warned fans and local businesses that the club would still need their money to survive.

"We have a mammoth job in front of us and are going to need every bit of help possible. I would like to stress that we cannot sit back and expect the club to survive," Jarvis said.

Last week a group of Norwegian businessmen pulled out of purchasing the club, and the management buy-out is being supported by donations from fans and local businesses.

Success on the pitch -- Oldham was in the play-offs for the first division last season -- was not matched by success in the boardroom.

In June, the club posted a stark message on its Web site: "Oldham Athletic AFC are on the verge of going out of business. Payments to all creditors have been suspended and the club's bank accounts have been frozen."

The Professional Footballers' Association gave the club an emergency loan to help pay players' wages.

Liverpool: Weather no problem vs. Hong Kong

HONG KONG (AP) -- English soccer power Liverpool is ready to take on Hong Kong in sweltering conditions, manager Gerard Houllier said Friday.

"I have always told my players to adapt or die. We will adapt," Houllier told reporters on the team's arrival in the territory.

Liverpool, with stars Michael Owen and Emile Heskey, arrived from Bangkok where it beat Thailand 3-1 on Thursday.

Houllier said the weather was equally hot in Bangkok and "I think we have learned from that experience."

Liverpool face Hong Kong on Sunday to end its two-match Asian tour. It will be the team's first match in Hong Kong in 20 years.

The Hong Kong Observatory forecast temperatures will soar to 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) with 80 percent humidity on Sunday.

Before traveling to Thailand, Liverpool trounced Germany's FC Cologne 3-1 in a friendly, with Owen scoring twice.

Wimbledon move to Milton Keynes appears on

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Wimbledon's move to Milton Keynes appears to be back on track after a consortium on Friday agreed to fund the renovation of the National Hockey Stadium.

The Dons, placed in administration earlier this month because of lagging attendance, had announced plans to move to Milton Keynes -- about 50 miles (75 kms) north of London -- because they don't have a home stadium in southwest London.

The move fell through when the club couldn't find the money for the improvements. Friday, a consortium led by businessman Peter Winkelman, said it would pick up the tab.

Wimbledon would play its matches at the stadium -- likely beginning in October -- until a permanent home is built at another site in Milton Keynes.

"We are delighted to have reached an agreement that will give Wimbledon Football Club the chance to play its home matches at the National Hockey Stadium until the stadium at Denbigh North is completed," Winkelman said in a statement.

Wimbledon will probably play at London's Selhurst Park -- the ground it has shared with Crystal Palace since 1991 -- until renovations are completed.

Houllier: Kewell expected back in training next week

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) -- Australian star Harry Kewell should be back in training with Liverpool next week, manager Gerard Houllier said Friday.

Kewell, signed from Leeds about two weeks ago, hurt his left ankle in a preseason game against Crewe last Saturday.

He didn't travel with the team for a tour of Asia.

"I spoke to the physio, and Harry is doing well," Houllier told the club's TV station. "He can't kick a ball yet, but by the beginning of next week, he will be able to join in training."

Houllier was glad the injury wasn't serious.

"It was good news, because there was no fracture and no torn ligaments," he said.

Liverpool beat Thailand 3-1 in a friendly on Thursday.

O'Leary thrilled to sign McCann

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) -- New Aston Villa manager David O'Leary was thrilled the club signed midfielder Gavin McCann.

McCann signed a three-year contract with Villa on Thursday after he agreed personal terms and passed a medical.

McCann played with relegated Sunderland last season.

"Without a doubt he is the first player I had in my mind when I came in, and I have been trying to get him for a while," O'Leary said on the club's Web site.

The fee for the former England international midfielder was 2.25 million pounds (US$3.63 million).

"He's a good competitive central midfield player with a lot of energy," said O'Leary, who replaced Graham Taylor in May.

"And at that price, he fits into Aston Villa's thinking. At that fee, it is just a fantastic investment for Aston Villa, for many years to come."

McCann was to join his new teammates in Sweden, where the club is on a preseason tour.

Distin, not Bosvelt, named Manchester City captain

MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- Young French defender Sylvain Distin was named Manchester City's captain on Friday.

Distin beat out Dutch international midfielder Paul Bosvelt, who completed his move from Feyenoord a day earlier.

Distin made 36 league and cup appearances last season with Manchester City after leaving Newcastle.

"Paul has proven leadership qualities. I believe he will be a big influence on and off the pitch. But he will not be captain," City manager Kevin Keegan said on the club's Web site. "That honor goes to Sylvain Distin."

Distin takes over from Ali Benarbia, who left the club earlier this week.

 

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Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.