IN A week where depression kicked in after failing to win the $40m lotto jackpot that dropped Tuesday an email popped into our inbox here at www.foxsports.com.au that illustrated the ridiculous amounts the world's best footballers are paid each week.

SYDNEY FC coach John Kosmina has thrown his support behind the concept of a 12-team A-League, saying expansion is inevitable and can only be good for the game.

ZENIT St Petersburg qualify for the UEFA Cup final, the Russian champions smashing Bayern Munich 4-0 in the second leg of their semi-final to complete a 5-1 aggregate victory.

QUEENSLAND have denied reports they have agreed to host a match against the David Beckham-led LA Galaxy in Brisbane later this year.

GIOVANNI Trapattoni has taken his bow as Republic of Ireland coach, charged with qualifying his adopted country for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

LEEDS United have failed in their bid to reclaim the 15 points they were deducted by the Football League, an independent tribunal upholding the penalty.

GLASGOW Rangers are through to the UEFA Cup after defeating Fiorentina 4-2 on penalties in their semi-final.

DEFENDING premiers Newcastle Jets will kick off the 2008-2009 Hyundai A-League season with a grand final replay against Central Coast Mariners at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

OLYROOS captain Mark Milligan missed an Australia training camp as he was in England reportedly discussing a move to Barclays Premier League giants Arsenal.

MANCHESTER United and Chelsea, who meet in next month's Champions League final in Moscow, will focus on matters much closer to home this weekend when they renew their battle for the Barclays Premier League title.

While Mahendra Singh, or M.S. (lovingly pronounced "Yem Ess") Dhoni, is no Rajnikanth, he and Chennai are a marriage made in heaven. On one hand, you have the next big thing of World Cricket waiting to find his den after

Chelsea captain John Terry believes that manager Avram Grant's future should no longer be called into question after he guided the Londoners to the first Champions League final in their history.

Ajax have won the first leg of the Dutch play-off semi finals, beating SC Heerenveen 2-1.

Sporting Director Txiki Begiristain said in an interview on Barca TV that a major clean out was very much on the cards at the club.

Giovanni Trapattoni took his bow as Ireland's new coach here on Thursday charged with qualifying his adopted country for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Arsenal's managing director Keith Edelman is to stand down after eight years at the helm, the club announced to the London Stock Exchange early Thursday.

Thousands of English football fans face potential travel nightmare getting to Moscow for the Champions League final, reports said Thursday.

Joe Cole on Thursday hailed teammate Frank Lampard after the England midfielder's penalty helped Chelsea to reach their first ever Champions League final.

Wigan Athletic manager Steve Bruce is hopeful his side can secure their survival at Aston Villa on Saturday

John Terry says Avram Grant should stay at Chelsea after guiding the Blues to the Champions League final