HULL, England — Former Nigeria international Jay Jay Okocha is returning to English soccer after agreeing to a two-year contract at League Championship side Hull City.

"I think he is the sort of player who will give us the creativity we need in midfield," Hull manager Phil Brown said.

The former Bolton midfielder was a free agent after being released from his contract with Qatar SC.

Renowned for his dribbling skills and powerful shot, Okocha made 145 appearances for Bolton, scoring 18 goals. Brown was Bolton's assistant manager when Okocha was at the club.

Okocha, 34, played more than 70 matches for Nigeria, and was part of the team that won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Hull are 18th in the League Championship with four points from four games.

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NEWCASTLE, England — Newcastle midfielder Charles N'Zogbia signed a new five-year contract to 2012 yesterday.

"I see my future with Newcastle because it is a great club," the 21-year-old Frenchman said. "At the end of last season I thought I might leave as I was unhappy, but it is all different now with the new boss."

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce joined the Premier League club on a three-year contract in May.

N'Zogbia joined Newcastle from Le Havre in 2004 and struggled to hold a regular place in the first team until this season, when he has been used as an emergency left back while offseason signing Jose Enrique gains match fitness.

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LONDON — Football managers in England have made a new signing — from the world of cricket.

The League Managers' Association appointed Richard Bevan as its new chief executive. Bevan, 46, takes the job after serving as chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association.

The LMA position has previously been held by former soccer managers. Bevan replaces former Wolves manager John Barnwell, who is standing down after 12 years.

"(Bevan) has turned the PCA into a formidable organisation," LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson said yesterday. "We were highly impressed by his skills negotiating on behalf of members."

Bevan joined the PCA 11 years ago, helping the organisation's annual turnover rise from £40,000 ($80,440) in 1996 to about £5 million.

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SUNDERLAND, England — Defender Danny Collins' international future is in doubt after he withdrew from the Wales squad with an injury that did not stop him playing for Sunderland against Manchester United at the weekend.

Wales play Germany on Saturday in a European Championship qualifier.

"I've just got back in the Sunderland team and it would benefit me to stay and get myself ready for a week Saturday (against Reading)," Collins said. "It's my ankle — it's not so much ligament damage but I do tend to struggle after games."

Collins played the full 90 minutes for Sunderland against Manchester United.

Wales manager John Toshack criticised Collins' decision to withdraw from the national squad.

"I'm sure he will understand we just can't have people popping in and popping out when it suits them," Toshack said. "I don't know if I will select him again."