Chelsea: Guus Hiddink flies to London but still undecided on replacing Jose Mourinho December 18, 2015 The favourite to replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager has said he needs more information before committing to the club. Guus Hiddink, who successfully managed Chelsea on an interim basis in 2009, has been pictured at Heathrow airport after flying into London for negotiations with Blues owner Roman Abramovich. The Russian billionaire dispensed of Mourinho [...]
Jose Mourinho’s hopes to build a Chelsea dynasty have become outdated and irrelevant in modern football December 18, 2015 When Mourinho returned to Chelsea in the summer of 2013, the Portuguese cut a more compromising figure than the brash and arrogant figure who arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004. He described himself as “the Happy One” and insisted he aimed to see out a four-year contract which was subsequently extended this summer to 2019. [...]
Rangers £5m loan from Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct on verge of being repaid December 18, 2015 Rangers are in the final stages of paying back an outstanding £5m loan to Mike Ashley's Sports Direct retail company, director Paul Murray has confirmed. Ashley made a £5m loan to the club in January when his associates Derek Llambias and Barry Leach were on the board. Initially, the new board opted not to repay [...]
Jose Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea because there was “palpable discord” between him and players, technical director Michael Emenalo reveals December 17, 2015 Chelsea chiefs have confirmed that friction between manager and players led them to sack Jose Mourinho less than seven months after he steered them to the Premier League title. Technical director Michael Emenalo said owner Roman Abramovich had been forced to act by alarming results and “a palpable discord between manager and players”, adding: “This [...]
England’s batting collapse worries Taylor ahead of Test showdown with South Africa December 17, 2015 England's James Taylor has warned his side’s batsmen that they must rid themselves of a propensity to collapse if they are to enjoy success in their four-Test showdown with world No1s South Africa, which starts in Durban on Boxing Day. The tourists slipped from 99-3 to 190 all out during the second innings on the [...]
Villa in dire straits are so far away from revived Toon December 17, 2015 If this fixture had dropped just a couple of weeks ago, it would have been a tale of woe for both hosts Newcastle and their visitors Aston Villa. Between them, they only managed three wins out of a possible 23 games from September to November. How quickly fortunes can improve, though – for the Magpies, [...]
High-flying Hornets to be stung by Klopp’s Liverpool December 17, 2015 It must have been beyond a Watford fan’s wildest dreams to go into the week before Christmas ahead of Liverpool in the table. Remarkably, the Hornets go into Sunday’s match against the Reds one point and two places ahead of their illustrious rivals. Watford are only four points off the Champions League places. But for [...]
Next Chelsea manager candidates: Who could replace Jose Mourinho? Antonio Conte, Juande Ramos, Diego Simeone, Pep Guardiola and other candidates December 17, 2015 Roman Abramovich is searching for a new Chelsea manager after sacking Jose Mourinho following a disastrous start to the Premier League season. It is the 11th managerial change of the Abramovich era at Stamford Bridge and brings Mourinho's second spell in charge to an end after less than three seasons. Read more: Defeat to Foxes cranks [...]
Kennedy to prove he’s a star of the future on Woodford Island December 17, 2015 Ascot hosts an intriguing card on Friday afternoon. Alan King will be hoping that Yanworth continues his unbeaten record over hurdles in the Supreme Novices’ Trial (1.55pm). However, with just the four rivals he’s going to be very short indeed. The conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle (3.05pm) features a really interesting contender in WOODFORD ISLAND, who makes the [...]
Quirky Renneti is ready to land a big prize for Mullins December 17, 2015 Trainer Harry Fry saddled the well-fancied Activial to finish third in last season’s Ladbroke Hurdle (3.35pm) and the market suggests that the talented young trainer can go a couple of places better on Saturday. In-form Fry opted not to give Activial a prep race 12 months ago, but this time brings a race-fit and unexposed [...]