PFA chief Gordon Taylor says he was happy with the 'cordial atmosphere' within which the Football Association staged their 'informal interview' with Rio Ferdinand over his missed drugs test, but has urged the FA not to drag their heels and to make a decision sooner rather than later.
The Chief Executive, who yesterday accompanied Ferdinand during his meeting with FA head of compliance Steve Barrow, was unhappy that the Manchester United defender was excluded from the England squad last week before being given the opportunity to explain his actions.
"Rio had the opportunity to explain what happened and why, as well as his attempts to rectify the matter by taking another test that same day," Gordon said. "Rio took it very seriously the minute that he remembered and made every attempt to get tested that same day.
"Of course, they will want to see the evidence of that, with the phone calls and so on. The FA are now assimilating that evidence and will then make a decision. We would just hope that this is carried out sooner rather than later so that Rio is able to deal with this matter as quickly as possible."
Southampton striker Kevin Phillips admits 'I feel my England time has passed me by' but reckons that a few more goals for Saints, especially in the UEFA Cup, might just give Sven some food for thought as he starts planning for next summer's Euro 2004 finals.
Phillips has certainly rediscovered his zest for the game since his move from Sunderland in the summer, and manager Gordon Strachan reckons his 30-year-old striker is playing the best football of his career, but the player himself reckons age is against him.
He says: "When you look at the squad, there are not many players over 30. The manager's going for a young squad and I haven't played for England for almost two years. I'm not going to lose any sleep if the call doesn't come - although it would be great if it did.
"I'm concentrating on Southampton now. And if I do start scoring regularly, people wouldn't be able to ignore the pressure that would cause. And if I start performing well in European competition with Southampton, people will get to know who I am."
Manager Strachan, meanwhile, says he got more than he bargained for when he snapped up Phillips in the close season. "I knew he was a very good player but not a great player," admits the Saints boss. "I'd be surprised if Kevin's been a better footballer than he is now at any time in his career.
"He scored goals more regularly in the past but his football at this club has been absolutely fantastic. You admire people from afar but I've learned more about him now and he has no technical, mental or lifestyle flaw."
The Northern Irish Football Association has issued a full vote of confidence in manager Sammy McIlroy, insisting that he's the man to turn the country's footballing fortunes around after a disastrous Euro 2004 qualifying campaign.
President Jim Boyce said of McIlroy, who recently signed a two-year extension to his contract: "I honestly feel no manager could do better with the players available to him. There is no question about the manager's position. He has been given a two-year extension and nobody in the IFA has questioned or queried that at all.
"The fans, who have been magnificent, are behind him and so are the players. I will admit that in the past players have lost confidence with previous managers, but this has not been the case with Sammy.
"In fact the players are devastated for Sammy at how this campaign has gone. Having spoken to them, one of their big motivating factors for the World Cup qualifiers is to put it right for him. The European campaign has been a disaster because we have finished bottom and not scored a goal, but defensively we look solid which is a major plus."
