Football in brief: 02/11/2008

Whelan keen to cash in on Heskey before contract ends this summer

Emile Heskey appears poised to leave the club following remarks from chairman Dave Whelan.

Heskey is out of contract next summer and has shown no urgency to sign a new deal. With the 30-year-old putting himself back into the England fold, Whelan is eager to cash in. He said: "Emile doesn't want to sign a new contract at the moment. It could cost us two, three or four million pounds if that goes on to next summer so we'll see what January brings."

Injury-hit Carr announces his retirement

The former Ireland defender Stephen Carr has retired. The 31-year-old was one of the Premier League's most consistent defenders in an 11-year spell with Tottenham but was hampered byinjuries after joining Newcastle for £2m in 2004. Newcastle did not renew hiscontract at the end of last season and, despite being linked with clubs including Aston Villa, Everton, West Ham and Wigan, he was left without a club.

Simpson stands down as Hornets chairman

Chairman Graham Simpson has resigned from the club. Simpson will be replaced as the head of Watford Leisure on an interim basis by Andrew Wilson, currently a non-executive director of the company. The news was revealed at yesterday's Annual General Meeting and comes just a week after the club appointed former Chelsea youth-team coach Brendon Rogers as a replacement for the manager Ady Boothroyd.