Joe Murphy has been named in Irelands Squad to face Portugal on Feb 9th.

Murphy had become the forgotten man while rotting in the Albion Reserves. He is named along with fellow keepers Shay Given and Paddy Kenny.

As we predicted last week following the signing of Dean Coleman on a professional contract, the club have announced that Mark Paston’s contract has been paid up. The New Zealand International has been deemed surplus to requirements and is the “one out” in Merson’s “one in, one out” statement last week, with Surman coming in.

In another move, Paul Merson has said that he would like Mick Halsall to take over first team coaching duties.

Merson told the Evening Mail: “Mick made a massive difference. He was on the touchline constantly talking and shouting at the players and keeping them on their toes.
That’s what I need and hopefully he will agree to keep doing it for a while. I will be begging him to although I think I might know his answer - his first love has always been working with the youngsters.”

Meanwhile, former Saddler Mark Robins has become the new Assistant Manager at Rotherham, following the departure of Ronnie Moore today.