After removing Roberto Donadoni from his post as coach of the national team the Italian Football Federation have said that they are going to announce the reinstatement of their 2006 world cup winning coach Marcello Lippi.

There was no way that Donadoni could keep his job after a really disappointing Euro 2008 performance. It is maybe slightly surprising that the Italians have looked backwards, but there is no doubt that Lippi is an astute coach and a safe pair of hands.

Donadoni appears to be a little shocked by his dismissal. "I'm sorry that a penalty kick has decided this situation," he has said.

Surely he can see that the abysmal draw against Romania the humiliation at the hands of Holland and the abject negativity of the display against Spain may have had something to do with it as well?

Donadoni went on to say, "Over these last two years, my Italy also did something positive, and one last game can't erase that."

It wasn't one game, it was one tournament. It was the tournament that the last two years have all been about.

As for the future, Donadoni has no idea where he may go. He has created a bit of a 'Steve McClaren' situation whereby clubs from his own country may be loathe to take him on.

"I don't have the foggiest idea what I will do in the future. I've got to digest this and then start anew."

There could be some cruel people who would suggest that Donadoni could have finished the above sentence after the word, 'idea'.

You have to begin to question the ambition Liverpool are displaying so far during this close season. Their main target seems to be Gareth Barry, an excellent player, but one to improve them sufficiently to win the Premier League?

It has now been announced that they are hoping to complete the signing of Udinese full-back Andrea Dossena next week. Dossena has just one cap for Italy and again, is not the star player that the Liverpool fans may have been expecting to arrive.

Dossena will be seen as a replacement for John Arne Riise who signed for Roma earlier this month. Chief Executive Rick Parry took the opportunity to praise the contribution of the Norwegian defender over the last seven years.

"He worked hard and never gave us a minute's trouble. The fans will remember that powerful shot of his that brought them to their feet on many occasions. We had a good chat about his time here and he wants to thank the fans for the support he was given down the years. He secured Champions League and FA Cup success at Anfield and also helped us win the Worthington Cup and two European Super Cups."

The fact that Dossena will become manager Rafael Benitez's second signing of the summer following the arrival of Swiss full-back Phillip Degen on a free transfer, doesn't seem to send the message that Liverpool are preparing to launch a real challenge to the supremacy established by Chelsea and Manchester United.

Of course, there could be some big names to come. The Anfield faithful will be hoping so.

It is reported that Italy have sacked coach Roberto Donadoni following their exit from Euro 2008. The authorities haven't confirmed this move but t seems very likely to be true.

His future has been in serious doubt since Italy's disappointing quarter-final defeat by Spain on penalties on Sunday.

Donadoni signed a two-year extension to his contract prior to the tournament but that contained a 10-day get-out clause on both sides.

After the game on Sunday Donadoni said that the thought of resigning would never enter his head. It seems that the Italian FA have prevented him having to think about it.

Donadoni had said, "I don't have a reason. We only lost a game on penalties. You can't say things work when you win but don't work when you lose on penalties. We will talk and decide. It doesn't make any sense to talk about whether I deserve to carry on."

Of course, what Donadoni failed to mention was that their performance in that game against Spain was totally unacceptable in its quality and more particularly in its ambition. It followed very poor performances against Romania and Holland and one not a great deal better against ten man France.

There was no way that he was going to keep his job after such a poor showing. Former Italy World Cup winning coach Marcelo Lippi is reported to be favourite to take over.

It is reported that Italy have sacked coach Roberto Donadoni following their exit from Euro 2008. The authorities haven't confirmed this move but t seems very likely to be true.

His future has been in serious doubt since Italy's disappointing quarter-final defeat by Spain on penalties on Sunday.

Donadoni signed a two-year extension to his contract prior to the tournament but that contained a 10-day get-out clause on both sides.

After the game on Sunday Donadoni said that the thought of resigning would never enter his head. It seems that the Italian FA have prevented him having to think about it.

Donadoni had said, "I don't have a reason. We only lost a game on penalties. You can't say things work when you win but don't work when you lose on penalties. We will talk and decide. It doesn't make any sense to talk about whether I deserve to carry on."

Of course, what Donadoni failed to mention was that their performance in that game against Spain was totally unacceptable in its quality and more particularly in its ambition. It followed very poor performances against Romania and Holland and one not a great deal better against ten man France.

There was no way that he was going to keep his job after such a poor showing. Former Italy World Cup winning coach Marcelo Lippi is reported to be favourite to take over.

The on going 'will he, won't he' saga of Cristiano Ronaldo's almost inevitable move to Real Madrid showed no signs of ending yesterday when the Portuguese winger decided to go on a three week holiday.

He has made his desire to go to Real Madrid quite clear but he appears to have forgotten to have told Manchester United that he wants to leave.

The situation seems to be developing into something of a joke. Surely the player or the clubs know what is going on?

With the season just six weeks away it seems unbelievable that the future of arguably the world's best player is still undecided. Everyone has an opinion on what should happen. Everyone thinks they know where he should go, what he should do and what Sir Alex should do.

I think his position at Manchester United has become untenable and despite the moralistic view that he should be made to remain in the United reserves, that is an unrealistic proposition. He has to move on and become a Real Madrid player. It just seems strange that another three weeks of speculation appear to be on the cards before any decision is known.

I don't see any way back for Ronaldo at United after what has happened over the last couple of weeks. Sir Alex may be approaching seventy but he is still a man that anyone would cross at their peril. He will have been hurt and upset by the way Ronaldo has conducted himself during this affair and he is not a man who forgives easily.

I'm sure Ronaldo will be playing in Madrid next season and I hope they sort it out soon.

Paul Ince has been unveiled as the new Blackburn Rovers manager and the dejection felt by the fans when Mark Hughes left to go to Manchester City will have been replaced with renewed hope and optimism.

Mark Hughes has made Blackburn a force to be reckoned with in the top half of the Premier League but there was a fear that the club could suffer in the wake of his departure in a similar way to Bolton when they lost Sam Allardyce.

I feel sure now that a similar thing won't happen at Ewood Park as I believe they have made an exceptional appointment. Ince is a charismatic personality who has earned his managerial stripes in the lower leagues with Macclesfield and MK Dons and is now ready to rub shoulders with the Fergusons and Wengers of this world.

He is tactically astute, knowledgeable and experienced. I would be very surprised if he wasn't able to take the Lancashire club on to the next level.

Paul Ince will absolutely revel in the challenge of trying to break into the big boys club. He will particularly enjoy locking horns with his old boss Sir Alex Ferguson who has been less than complimentary about Ince in his autobiography.

It will be interesting to see Ince come up against Roy Keane as well. That would have been a titanic midfield battle when they were both at their best and it will be fascinating to watch them on the touchline.

I am absolutely thrilled that an exciting and promising English manager has been given a chance at one of our top clubs. Maybe, we might be watching the start of the career of a future England manager.