Kenny banned for start of season

BIRMINGHAM captain Kenny Cunningham will miss the first two games of the 2004/05 Premiership season following his sending off in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat by Liverpool.

Cunningham had originally been expected to miss one match after being sent off by referee Steve Dunn following a challenge on Steven Gerrard.

But the FA confirmed yesterday Cunningham's red card total for the season is now officially counted as two because of his sending-off against Newcastle in the Asia Cup tournament back in July.

Cunningham was not forced to miss any first team games after the dismissal in Malaysia and was allowed to serve a one-match suspension for a reserve team match instead.

However, an FA spokesman said "If he had just been sent off in a non-first team match last Saturday he would have been suspended for two non-first team matches the suspension applies to the level of football that the sending-off occurred in.

"It's a two-match suspension as he has been sent off twice this season, despite the first sending-off being in a non-first team match."

Chelsea defender William Gallas has insisted he has no dispute with coach Claudio Ranieri.

Gallas was said to have left the Chelsea squad ahead of their game at Old Trafford last weekend before flying to the West Indies, sparking rumours of a rift within the camp.

However, the French international last night maintained he had been given permission to miss the game as he was injured.

Gallas believes Chelsea have had a "great season" despite not having won a trophy.

He also believes he could still be fit for the final game of the season, at home to Leeds on Saturday.

Shaun Wright-Phillips has scooped the Manchester City Supporters' Player of the Year award.

The England U-21 star was an overwhelming choice following an outstanding campaign which has seen him score 10 times and earned him his first call-up to Sven Goran Eriksson's senior squad for the recent friendly in Sweden.

Richard Dunne was runner-up, with star striker Nicolas Anelka finishing in third spot.

Joey Barton took the Young Players' award.

Rangers defender Frank De Boer has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season to finish his career in Qatar alongside his twin brother, Ronald.

The Holland international, who has been capped more than 100 times for his country, joined Rangers in January to end an unhappy spell at Galatasaray.

The twins celebrate their 34th birthdays on Saturday and Frank, the younger of the two, had said he was willing to discuss a contract extension but will now join Ronald in the millionaires' playground in the desert.

The brothers will make their say farewells to the Ibrox fans in Rangers' last home game of the season against Hearts tonight.