ATTACKING midfielder Ryan Stevenson of Ayr United could be set to become a Hartlepool United player.

Stevenson, who started out his career at Chelsea but left for St Johnstone without making an appearance at Stamford Bridge, has 16 goals to his name this season.

While Ayr have finished midtable in Scottish Division Two, the 23-year-old won all three players of the year awards at the club, while also being shortlisted for the divisional award.

St Johnstone are keen on taking him back, but he admitted: gFull-time football in England appeals to me and my agent has told me Hartlepool have been watching me.ff Ayr chief Lachlan Cameron said that there had been no approach: gExciting players attract attention and I know that Ryan wants to play at the highest level but there has been no direct interest.ff Former Pools players Darren Williams (Bradford) and Mark Tinkler (Livingstone) have been released by their clubs, 12 months after leaving Victoria Park.

Rangers won their UEFA Cup semi-final against Fiorentina 4-2 on penalties, after an aggregate score of 0-0, and will play Zenit St Petersburg in the final in Manchester on May 14.

Keith Edelmanfs departure as Arsenal managing director has revived speculation the club could be the subject of a takeover.

Arsenal revealed to the Stock Exchange that Edelman is leaving north London in eesearch of a fresh challengeff.

Edelman was strongly opposed to a foreign takeover when Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov and American Stan Kroenke were thought ready to move last summer. His stance brought him into conflict with former vice-chairman David Dein.