Madrid  - Struggling Spanish Liga club Mallorca have signed goalkeeper Dudu Aouate from Deportivo Coruna, the club said Sunday.

Mallorca have been keen to sign another goalkeeper to replace Miguel Angel Moya, out until late February after undergoing a knee operation.

Mallorca are to pay Deportivo around 1 million euros (1.40 million dollars) for Aouate who is being given a contract until 2011.

The Israeli international will have a baptism of fire in the Mallorca goal on January 3, away to runaway leaders Barcelona.

Mallorca are fourth from bottom in La Liga and facing a difficult relegation battle.

London  - Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley confirmed on Sunday that he is no longer seeking to sell the club.

Ashley bought the club in May 2007, but decided to offload it in September after the resignation of manager Kevin Keegan prompted fan protests against him.

He called in the investment bank Seymour Pierce to seek a buyer, but despite reported interest from the Middle East and Nigeria, none emerged.

"When I took the decision to put the club up for sale in September I made a point of saying two things were very important," Ashley was quoted as saying on the club website.

London, Dec 27 : Fresh from the FIFA Club World Cup win in Japan, Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson is confident that they can now launch a successful defence of their Premier League title.

"At this stage of the season coming from back from Japan, the energy was good and I think we have handled it well," The Mirror quoted Ferguson, as saying.

London, Dec 27: A video showing football stars speaking out against homophobia will be released next year as part of an unprecedented drive by the sport's governing bodies to tackle a sharp rise in abuse and discrimination.

The video will be shown in cinemas, on TV and in stadiums in an attempt to rid terraces and pitches of homophobic chants and slurs, The Guardian reported.

The Football Association (FA), the Professional Footballers' Association, the players' union, Kick It Out, the sport's diversity and inclusion campaign, and Peter Tatchell, of gay rights group Outrage, began work on plans for the video.

London - Liverpool rediscovered home comforts as they beat Bolton Wanderers 3-0 on Boxing Day to maintain their place at the top of the English Premier League, while Chelsea and Manchester United kept pace with the leaders.

Robbie Keane scored twice and Albert Riera the other as Liverpool won at home for the first time in seven weeks, keeping them one point ahead of Chelsea, who stayed on their heels with a 2-0 win over bottom side West Bromwich Albion.

London  - Liverpool stayed ahead of Chelsea at the top of the English Premier League thanks to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day.

Robbie Keane scored twice and Albert Riera the other as Liverpool won at home for the first time in seven weeks, keeping them one point ahead of Chelsea, who stayed on their heels with a 2-0 win over bottom side West Bromwich Albion.