London beefs up security for 2012 December 15, 2011 OLYMPICS: London will be protected by 13,500 military personnel during next year’s Games – twice as many as had been predicted. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said security would remain police-led but the Armed Forces would make a “significant contribution”.
City can bounce back after their first defeat December 15, 2011 IT has been a tough couple of weeks for Manchester City after being dumped out of the Champions League by Napoli and then tasting defeat for the first time in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Monday night. They didn’t perform badly in either game, though, and Roberto Mancini will be desperate for his [...]
Act Of Kalanisi too big at 16/1 for the in-form Newland yard December 15, 2011 CHAMPION trainer Paul Nicholls sends a powerful team to Ascot tomorrow headed up by Big Buck’s who looks impossible to oppose in the Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle (2.30pm). The eight-year-old is looking for his 14th consecutive win, but we’re not going to get rich backing him at 1/4. Nicholls also saddles the well-fancied Prospect [...]
Fulham Fall at the last December 14, 2011 Cottagers out of Europa League after throwing away two-goal lead and conceding in injury-time FULHAM 2 vs ODENSE BK 2 CRESTFALLEN Fulham manager Martin Jol admitted he was bitterly disappointed after watching his side crash out of the Europa League in agonising circumstances last night, following Djiby Fall’s 93rd minute equaliser. Fulham were cruising at [...]
MATCH ANALYSIS December 14, 2011 KEY MOMENT Kerim Frei, the 18-year-old Swiss starlet, enjoyed a reputation enhancing night, but one moment of over indulgence at the death cost his side a place in the knockout stages. With the clock ticking down the young winger would have been well advised to have taken the ball to the corner flag, rather than [...]
Four jockeys among 11 found guilty of corruption December 14, 2011 JOCKEYS Paul Doe and Greg Fairley have been banned from racing for 12 years for breaching rules after a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) probe into alleged corruption. Fellow riders Kirsty Milczarek and Jimmy Quinn received two-year and six-month suspensions, respectively. Fairley and Doe were charged with the most serious rule-breaches, of deliberately ensuring horses did not [...]
England talk won’t distract Harry from Spurs project December 14, 2011 SHAMROCK ROVERS vs TOTTENHAM TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp insists he is fully focused on ensuring Champions League football returns to White Hart Lane next season and will not be distracted by ongoing talk of him succeeding Fabio Capello as England head coach. Redknapp, who has turned Spurs from relegation candidates into Champions League quarter finalists [...]
Villa won’t join Chelsea and Torres is staying put December 14, 2011 BARCELONA manager Pep Guardiola has denied suggestions striker David Villa will join Chelsea in January. The Spain international started last weekend’s 3-1 win over Real Madrid on the substitutes’ bench and was reported to have fallen out with team-mate Lionel Messi earlier this season. But Guardiola insists the 30-year-old, who signed a four-year deal upon [...]
Indian Olympic chief steps up Dow 2012 stadium wrap row December 14, 2011 INDIA’S top Olympic official has added his voice to calls for London 2012 organisers to abandon their sponsorship with Dow Chemicals over the company’s links to the Bhopal disaster. VK Malhotra, the president of the Indian Olympic Association, spoke out ahead of today’s meeting to decide what further steps to take to demonstrate the country’s [...]
RFU coup as Wimbledonboss Ritchie named CEO December 14, 2011 ENGLAND rugby chiefs the RFU have restored some of the optimism shipped so alarmingly over recent months by appointing one of the most respected men in tennis, Wimbledon boss Ian Ritchie, as their new chief executive. Ritchie, who has held his post at the All England Lawn Tennis and Crocquet Club (AELTC) since 2005, made [...]