Football: Laudrup may make diversion via Chelsea

BRIAN LAUDRUP'S registration could revert back into Chelsea's hands within a month due to his Danish dream having quickly turned sour.

The forward left Chelsea in December to return to Denmark midway through last season, claiming he was homesick. The 30-year-old, however, has since announced he is quitting FC Copenhagen six months into a three-year deal.

Allegations against Laudrup and his family have resulted in him exercising a clause in his contract allowing him to leave the Danish capital. But there is also a clause in his old Chelsea contract which could, temporarily at least, see his career take a diversion via west London again.

"If Brian Laudrup wants to play for anyone else, then a fee may be involved and that would come to Chelsea," a spokesman said. It could also lead to Laudrup making a return to Rangers, although Sporting Lisbon are known to be monitoring the situation.

"It has turned out differently than I'd hoped," Laudrup said. "Journalists were writing about my private life - that I was getting divorced; that my wife was drinking and that my father was sick. All of this has nothing to do with what people usually connect me with - football."

David Platt may have to wait until next month before knowing whether he will be part of Graham Taylor's plans. The Watford manager held an informal chat with his friend earlier this week, with the former England international considering a return as a player.

"David has been close to Graham Taylor for many years and has valued his forthright opinions," confirmed a spokesman for the Marquee Group, Platt's management company, who added that "with both David and Graham on holiday until the end of June, it is unlikely that there will be any further developments for the next two or three weeks."

The former Romanian World Cup coach Anghel Iordanescu claims he has been interviewed for the technical director's post at Celtic. Iordanescu, who was overlooked for the Aberdeen manager's job in favour of Ebbe Skovdahl last week, says he has been promised a decision by the end of the month.

The Celtic chief executive Allan MacDonald has drawn up a short list for the newly-created post, which he hopes to fill by 1 July. Kenny Dalglish is believed to be favourite, but Iordanescu is currently looking for work after leaving his most recent coaching position with Greece in March.

"I have been contacted by several teams and one of them is Celtic," Iordanescu said. "I also have an offer for another job." Ruud Krol, the former Netherlands player, has also been linked with the vacancy.

Croatia Zagreb have agreed a two-year coaching contract with Osvaldo Ardiles, the former Tottenham and Argentina midfielder.