Briefs: Peterhead admit Neale Cooper mistake

Published on Wednesday 23 March 2011 17:42

Peterhead chairman Rodger Morrison admits the club should have dispensed with the services of manager Neale Cooper earlier this season.

Cooper was axed on Monday and replaced by John Sheran after a run of seven defeats in eight games left the Balmoor team at the foot of the Second Division and Morrison said: "Neale is a nice guy and had been with us for nearly five years but we probably left things too long."

Robertson extends stay at East Fife

JOHN Robertson will remain as East Fife manager for next season, the Second Division club have announced. The 46-year-old took over from Stevie Crawford in October and, after guiding the Fifers to fifth in the table, has agreed to extend his stay beyond this season. A club statement said: "The chairman and the club are delighted to announce that John Robertson will remain at Bayview as manager next season."

Thomson on Euro duty in Armenia

SCOTTISH referee Craig Thomson, who handled Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup final at Hampden between Rangers and Celtic, is the man in the middle this Saturday at the Yerevan Republican Stadium in Armenia for a Uefa 2012 European Championship qualifier between Armenia and Russia. The Armenians can leap ahead of their visitors with a win in Group B.

'Mad Dog' Allen takes Barnet reins

Martin Allen is back in management after taking charge of League Two strugglers Barnet. The former West Ham and QPR midfielder, known as 'Mad Dog', has been out of work since leaving Cheltenham in December 2009.

Allen, 45, began his managerial career with the Bees when they were in the Conference before moving on to Brentford. He has also managed Leicester and MK Dons.

LAST NIGHT

Irn-Bru Second Division

Ayr United L, Forfar Athletic L.

TONIGHT

Under-21 Friendly international: Belgium v Scotland (7pm); Denmark v England U21 (at Viborg Stadion, 5pm).

UEFA European Under-17 Championship

Elite Round Group 2: Holland U17 v Austria U17 (6.00) Portugal U17 v Croatia U17 (4.00).

Group 4: Germany U17 v Turkey U17 (10.00) Switzerland U17 v Ukraine U17 (2.00). Group 7: Hungary U17 v Russia U17 (4.00) Romania U17 v Iceland U17 (2.00).