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West Ham sack Roeder

Glenn Roeder has had his contract terminated with immediate effect by West Ham.

Trevor Brooking, who filled in when Roeder underwent surgery last season on a brain tumour, will take over as caretaker boss.

Roeder returned to work at Upton Park in the summer following the club's relegation from the Premiership.

West Ham started the season with a win at Preston but defeat on Saturday at Rotherham has been followed by him receiving the sack.

A statement on the Hammers' official website read: "West Ham United wish to announce that Glenn Roeder's contract has been terminated with immediate effect and he has been relieved of his duties as team manager.

"The Board would like to place on record their gratitude to Glenn for his hard work and commitment to the Club since his permanent appointment in June 2001.

"This was demonstrated by his desire to return to active duty so quickly after his recent illness and I am sure all supporters recognise how dedicated he was to the club.

"The Board however feel that following relegation to the First Division the Club's best chance of returning to the Premiership at the first attempt would be enhanced by a change of manager."

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O'Leary fears constant Leeds link

Aston Villa manager David O'Leary fears that he will consistently be linked with players at his former club Leeds.

O'Leary did try to make a raid on Elland Road earlier this summer when Villa agreed a fee with Leeds for England goalkeeper Paul Robinson only for the deal to fall through when Villa were unable to finalise personal terms.
 
Elland Road striker Alan Smith was then also tipped as a target for Villa, but O'Leary views this kind of speculation as an occupational hazard following his spell in charge at Leeds.

He said: "What is going to happen is that I am going to be linked with any player at that place. After we played against Leeds in pre-season I am surprised that I have not been linked with more of them.

"I think it is a really good point that if there is unrest there or someone could be moving I think I will be drawn into it and I think that is what has happened in the case of Alan Smith. I think someone had peddled a story either to unsettle Alan or to use me in it."

While Smith will not be joining Villa, he is a player that O'Leary does admire and he added: "Alan Smith is a wonderful player because I know him.

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Irwin confirms retirement plans

Wolves veteran Dennis Irwin has confirmed that he will call time on his playing career at the end of the current season.

The former Leeds United and Republic of Ireland full-back was widely expected to retire in the summer, but following Wolves' promotion to the Premiership decided to have one final season in the top flight.

Asked if this season would be his last, the 37-year-old replied with an unequivocal "Yes".

However Irwin admitted that he is still undecided what direction any future career will take.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'll do one or two things," he added.

Irwin and his Wolves team-mates were handed a harsh lesson in the realities of life in the Premiership as Blackburn inflicted an opening-day 5-1 thrashing.

Dave Jones' men host Charlton on Saturday with Irwin stressing they must adapt to life in the top flight quickly.

He said: "I think everyone realised the Premier League is going to be a different kettle of fish to the First Division and they definitely know now. But we've got 37 more games and it's up to us to put that behind us and learn from it.

"We'll know better after the Charlton game how much more we have to do or how far we've come. We were written off before the Blackburn defeat and even more so now. But it's just one game. We know it's going to be a tough old season. But we'll be able to tell a lot more after the game on Saturday."

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Midlands rivals charged
 
Birmingham and Aston Villa have been fined £5,000 each by the FA after a brawl during the derby match at Villa Park in March.
 
Both clubs were found guilty of a breach of FA rules E21a concerning the orderly conduct of players.
 
The clubs were reprimanded and warned as to their future conduct as well as fined.
 
Trouble flared after Joey Gudjonsson was sent off for a wild, two-footed lunge on Matthew Upson.
 
Birmingham striker Christophe Dugarry was fined £12,500 in May for spitting at Gudjonsson and Villa's Dion Dublin, who was later sent off for headbutting Robbie Savage, was fined £6,000 for his involvement.

Dublin, who also landed in trouble for gesturing as he left the field, served a three-match ban after the incident.

The match, which Birmingham won 2-0, was the second trouble-filled encounter between the sides of the season after a fan confronted Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman at St Andrews during Birmingham's 3-0 win.