New roles for Lukic and Hoddle

Örgryte IS

Ex-England manager Glenn Hoddle has been appointed to the helm of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC for the next six months. Hoddle, out of work since September 2003, will have his future at the club reviewed at the end of the season. Wolves are languishing in 17th place in the English second level but Hoddle will hope to take them back to the Premiership, from which they were relegated in May.

Meanwhile, Hoddle's previous club Tottenham Hotspur FC will be without Swiss Under-21 midfield player Reto Ziegler for up to three weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday's Premiership win at Blackburn Rovers FC. The club's head of medical services, Dr Charlotte Cowie, told Tottenham's website: "We are not looking at a long-term injury, but I guess we are looking at two to three weeks."

North of the British border, the Scottish Premier League has approved plans by Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC to move back to their own 6,000-seater stadium in January 2005. This follows a protracted wrangle between the two parties over the seating criteria, which has resulted in Inverness playing home games at Aberdeen FC's Pittodrie ground.

Former Danish international Stig Tøfting has been dismissed by Danish Superliga side AGF Århus. The club have issued an official statement but refuse to discuss the reason, however according to a local newspaper Tøfting was in a fight with an unnamed team-mate at a Christmas party. "I don't agree with the sacking, but according to my contract the club have a right to do as they have, and I have to accept that," commented Tøfting.

Meanwhile, Japanese international goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi is leaving Superliga team FC Nordsjælland after two years, and will return home to join J-League side Jubilo Iwata.

In Cyprus, Olympiakos Nicosia FC have parted company with coach Nikolai Kosdov following their 5-0 defeat at Anorthosis Famagusta FC last weekend. Assistant Andros Kouloumbris takes over until the end of the season.

Belgian outfit KAA Gent have extended Mbark Boussoufa's contract by two years, until the summer of 2008. The 20-year-old midfielder penned a two-year deal with Gent in September, after leaving Chelsea FC on a free transfer. RAEC Mons have signed 36-year-old Marc Schaessens, who parted company with R. Excelsior Mouscron last month by mutual consent, until the end of the campaign.

Finally to the Netherlands, where NEC Nijmegen have captured Muslu Nalbantoglu on a two-and-a-half year contract from 1 January 2005. The 20-year-old has forced his way into the first team this season under coach Johan Neeskens.