Football news: Nancy's Calve says Celtic can sign him up for free

NANCY defender Jean Calve has told Celtic they can sign him for nothing.

The French Ligue One side have reportedly offered the full-back to Celtic for 600,000 as part of a 1.8 million double deal with midfielder Landry NGuemo, who was on loan at Parkhead last season.

However, Calve, who was close to signing for Celtic last summer, insists he has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave without a fee after a bonus row.

"When Celtic signed Landry on loan last year they spoke to Nancy about me joining them too," he said. "They wanted to sign me, not at the money Nancy were asking for. It was too high a price and the deal was off.

"I kept in touch with Landry and Marc-Antoine Fortune about Celtic and from what I hear it's a fantastic club with a great support. They are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and I'd be delighted to sign for them. What player wouldn't?

"The big difference between this year and last is the transfer fee. This year I won't cost anything. I still have two years left on my contract at Nancy, but I'm free to speak to any club I want and free to move if they want to sign me. I have official signed documents from Nancy agreeing to these conditions.

"Nancy were almost five months late with a substantial bonus payment and when I threatened to take legal action, it was agreed I wouldn't take any action if they signed papers allowing me to leave on a free transfer."

Le Geun regrets axing Ferguson

PAUL Le Guen has admitted he made a mistake in stripping Barry Ferguson of the Rangers captaincy.

The pair clashed repeatedly during the Frenchman's disastrous reign as Rangers manager and tensions came to a head on New Year's Day, 2007.

Before the SPL clash with Motherwell at Fir Park the following day, Ferguson was sent home after Le Guen had relieved him of his duties as skipper. Days later, Le Guen left the Govan club and almost four years after he first arrived in Glasgow, the former Lyon coach has told of his regret.

Asked if stripping Ferguson of the armband was the right thing to do, Le Guen said: "No, no, it was not right. It was an impasse. When I took this decision I knew it would be difficult for me.

"He was my best player, but it was difficult for me to get the same relationship because of some factors. We are so different, but he was my best player. I was fed up with some behaviour, he knew he was the natural captain of Rangers, I knew that. But at that moment I was fed up perhaps."

Page extends Motherwell stay

MOTHERWELL defender Jonathan Page has signed a one-year extension to his current contract, tying him to the Fir Park club until 2012. The Englishman, 19, signed from Portsmouth in the summer of 2008, made his first-team debut in the Europa League and spent the second half of the season on-loan to Second Division side Stirling Albion.

Teenager's life-saving surgery

YOUNG Republic of Ireland defender Shane Duffy has undergone life-saving surgery after suffering a freak accident in a training match.

The Everton teenager suffered a laceration to his liver after colliding with Irish amateur team goalkeeper Adrian Walsh during the clash at Gannon Park.

After being attended to on the pitch by team surgeon Professor John O'Byrne and team doctor Alan Byrne, he was rushed to nearby Mater Hospital where surgeon Gerry McEntee performed an emergency operation.

The 18-year-old had been scheduled to remain with Giovanni Trapattoni's senior squad, solely for training purposes, ahead of next week's friendly clashes against Paraguay and Algeria.

Duffy remains in the hospital's High Dependency ward. His blood pressure dropped to dangerously low levels during the operation, but was controlled and he is expected to make a full recovery.

West Ham eye up Henry

WEST Ham United have made a bid to sign Thierry Henry in a move which would see the Frenchman become the highest-paid player in their history.

The former Arsenal striker has been linked with a move away from Barcelona with reports indicating Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls would be a possible destination.

However, West Ham joint chairman David Sullivan has revealed he wants to sign the 32-year-old and it is reported he is willing to offer him a two-year deal worth 75,000 a week, more than 7.5million in total.

Sullivan said: "We're trying to assemble a more prolific strike force at West Ham and I'd love to have Henry here. Our club is in debt, but a striker of his quality and standing would make it a great deal."

Stars line up for charity

AN ALL-STAR select team, including Gary Mackay, Dave Bowman, Scott Crabbe, Ray McKinnon and Darren Jackson will take part in a charity tournament in Peebles on Saturday in memory of 45 Commando Royal Marine, Alec Lucas, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2008.

The 24-year-old lived in Peebles with his fiancee and young daughter and the tournament and family fun day will be held in the town's Whitestone Park, where Lucas previously turned out for Peebles Rovers.

Proceeds from the event will be split between the Royal Marines Benevolent Fund and towards helping football in the Tweeddale area. Donations can be made by sending a cheque, made payable to "The Alec Lucas Memorial Fund", to Carol Drummond, 20 Kingsmeadows Road, Peebles, EH45 9AS.