Football: Hamilton rebuffs Republic

Bryan Hamilton, the former Northern Ireland manager, yesterday turned down the post of technical director with the Republic of Ireland.

Hamilton, who was sacked in October, said he wants to carry on coaching with Ipswich Town. He said he was flattered to be approached, but preferred the day-to-day involvement with a club side.

Preston North End's Gary Peters stepped down as manager of the Second Division club by mutual agreement yesterday.

Peters, 43, guided Preston to the Third Division championship in 1996 but they are currently 17th in the Second after losing 3-1 at home to Gillingham on Saturday. The assistant manager, David Moyes, will take charge at least until the end of the season. Peters has been offered a new role developing a centre of excellence at the club.

Liverpool are giving a week's trial to Georgia's World Cup captain Kakhaber Tskhadadze. The centre-half arrived at Anfield yesterday with a view to a pounds 1m move from the Russian club, Alania Vladikavkaz.

Tskhadadze, 29, is a close friend of Manchester City's Georgi Kinkladze and hoped to go to Maine Road last year before he ran into work permit problems.

Frode Grodas, Chelsea's out-of-favour Norwegian international goalkeeper, must find first-team football soon or risk missing the World Cup, according to Norway's coach, Egil Olsen, who said: "Grodas's position worries me greatly."

Olsen was speaking at Blackburn's training ground after a two-day get- together for Norway's English-based players.

Leicester City are taking Emley's Dean Calcutt on trial. The winger played for the UniBond League side in their 2-1 FA Cup third-round defeat at West Ham.

The former England full-back Barry Venison is expected to be interviewed for the vacant manager's post at Bradford City.