Football news in brief: Nigeria international Adefemi dies in crash

SKODA Xanthi's Nigerian international Olubayo Adefemi has died in a car accident in Greece. The 25-year-old defender lost control of his car on the Egnatia motorway while driving from Xanthi to Salonika in the Kavala region of Northern Greece. The three-times capped former Rapid Bucharest player was on his way to finalise details of his wedding when the accident happened, police said.

Gregory resigns as Israeli club falters

FORMER Aston Villa manager John Gregory has quit as coach of Ashdod, 11 months after being appointed to lead the Israeli team. Ashdod is fourth bottom of the Israeli league after losing 4-1 at lowly Hapoel Ashkelon on Sunday. There are five games left in the season.

The 56-year-old Englishman said: "It has been a very difficult nine months, but "nobody comes before the club."

Spartak coach quits after poor run

SPARTAK Moscow coach Valery Karpin has resigned, but the former Russian international has retained the role of general director at Aidan McGeady's club. Karpin's resignation follows Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Anzhi Makhachkala, Spartak's fourth defeat in five matches, including a 10-3 drubbing on aggregate by Porto in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Bamba injury blow for Leicester

LEICESTER have been dealt an injury blow after it was confirmed that former Hibs defender Sol Bamba will be out for at least two weeks. The defender sustained a hamstring strain in the 3-1 loss to Reading and will miss the Foxes' Easter weekend fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Watford. Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said: "It is a blow as Sol has been very good for us."

'Boro chief rejects administration claim

MIDDLESBROUGH chairman Steve Gibson has dismissed rumours that the club is on the brink of going into administration as "nonsense". The Teessiders, now managed by Tony Mowbray after fellow ex-Celtic manager Gordon Strachan quit, have a huge wage bill by npower Championship standards and will look to reduce that significantly during the summer as they prepare for a third successive campaign outside the top flight.