Ryan eyes speedy appointment

Ryan eyes speedy appointment

Published May. 3, 2013 3:16 p.m. ET

Police have released images of the nine people they want to speak to regarding the disorder after Wolves' final home game of the season.

Approximately 300 people who were sat in the home end invaded the Molineux pitch following last month's 2-1 loss to Burnley.

A number of stewards were assaulted and damage was caused to the dugout, part of one of the stands and several advertising hoardings.

Officers have been working closely with the club and want to hear from anyone who recognises any of the people in the images and can help to identify them.

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PC Sean Cockerton, from West Midlands Police football unit, said: "The scenes at the final whistle last weekend were completely unacceptable and we are working hard to identify those involved.

"It was a very disappointing end to an otherwise exciting and trouble free game.

"We would ask the people in those images to come forward and speak to us and we would also appeal to anyone who can help identify them to call as soon as possible."

The defeat to Burnley left Wolves on the brink of successive relegations.

The Frenchman revealed planning work, including construction and renovation of the 11 mooted venues, was well ahead of schedule in comparison to last year's hosts Poland and Ukraine at the same stage.

"For UEFA, things are progressing well," he told reporters. "Today there were plenty of green lights, and some that were more amber.

"Four years ago with Poland and Ukraine all the lights were at red.

"I was very happy that the colours this time were different.

"In Ukraine, stadiums were supposed to be finished in 2010 and some of them were completed in March 2012.

"I hope the stadiums in France are ready as quickly as possible."

Lille's new 50,000-seater Grand Stade Metropole, which was completed last year, is one of two stadia already ready for the tournament along with the Stade de France in northern Paris.

President of the organising committee Jacques Lambert said that stadiums in St Etienne and Marseille were halfway through renovation with work on grounds in Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lens and the Parc des Princes in Paris to start soon.

A new stadium in Nice is due to be completed next year while Lyon's 58,000-capacity Stade des Lumieres is scheduled to open for the 2015-16 season.

"There is no situation that is currently out of our control," Lambert said.

It was also announced that a logo for the tournament, which will be expanded to include 24 teams, would be unveiled on June 26.

Caley Thistle head the way to join Motherwell and Scottish Cup finalists Hibernian in the Europa League but their lead in the race for third was cut to one point when they fell to a 1-0 defeat at St Johnstone last weekend.

Ross County's victory over Dundee United the previous night had closed the gap to two points and Inverness face their Highland rivals on the final day of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League season.

Caley Thistle have two home games before them, starting with in-form Motherwell tomorrow.

And Draper is confident they can handle the pressure of the three-horse race for Europe.

The Englishman said: "We knew at the split we had five tough games. We knew it wasn't going to be decided over the first two games when we know going to Celtic is tough and St Johnstone are doing well at the moment.

"We saw the next three games as the games we were expecting to pick points up. We are not panicking that the others have closed the gap.

"Everyone has to play each other and I think you will see in the next few weeks hopefully we can pick up some points and increase that gap.

"We have got three games where we don't have to travel. We know we can match anyone at home.

"We back ourselves to get over that finishing line and finish the season off as what we deserve, really."

Caley Thistle have taken points against every team but Motherwell this season and their games against the Lanarkshire side have been the difference between the teams in the league.

Motherwell lead Inverness by nine points and 12 goals - the same number they have put past Terry Butcher's side in three matches.

Draper said: "They are a terrific side but for some reason they have done especially well against us.

"It's a game we need a lot of preparation for. We have been planning to stop that and see where their main threat is and where we have gone wrong in recent games.

"We know we have to be on our game and put them under pressure to get anything."

Danny Lennon's men lifted their first major piece of silverware in 26 years as they came from behind in dramatic style to beat Hearts 3-2 in the Hampden final in March.

That afternoon still rankles with the 20-year-old striker who joined the Jambos on-loan from Liverpool in January.

The Gorgie club are looking to fill Tynecastle by dropping all ticket prices to ?5 and so far more than 14,000 have taken advantage of the deal, all of them, like Ngoo, looking for some sort of revenge.

He said: "Everyone is up for it, everyone is ready to go.

"The cup final was unfortunate but Saturday is another chance to play them again and beat them, especially with the crowd that will turn up.

"I think we have a good chance."

Ngoo, who started his career at Southend, admits it could be "difficult" to extend his loan period at the club due to finances.

The Edinburgh club are about ?25million in debt, with ?15million of that owed to Ukio Bankas, who learned yesterday that a Lithuanian court ruled that bankruptcy proceedings should commence against them.

With the future of Hearts subject to on-going speculation, Ngoo is set to return to Anfield for pre-season training before he makes any decisions about the next step in his career.

"After pre-season with Liverpool we will see what happens," he said.

"As a young player, I need to keep working hard at things to make me a better player.

"I think I have got stronger as a player and my knowledge has got a bit better as well.

"I love Edinburgh, it is an experience any young player would ask for.

"It is not what I expected it to be. I expected everyone to be serious but everyone is bubbly, happy and they try to help one another the best way we can and get the results.

"Not many players get to play in a cup final especially in their first loan spell, so that was fantastic, as was playing in front of the fans at Tynecastle.

"I like them a lot and get on with a lot of fans that I see out.

"The negatives are being in the position we are in and the amount of injured players who could have boosted the squad and made us stronger.

"But I have had a great experience up here and will take a lot out of it."

Ryan told Sky Sports News that he intends to make a decision on who will replace the former Wales manager after returning from a 10-day holiday and was in confident mood regarding potential applicants.

"We have some great CVs from earlier in the season (following the departure of Dean Saunders) and I'm sure we'll get one or two more.

"We will then draw up a shortlist and make a decision. I'm hopeful we will have a manager in two weeks."

Rovers currently have just eight senior professionals tied to contracts and the primary role for the incoming manager will be to build a squad capable of competing in the Championship following this season's promotion from League One.

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