I’m not sure Gareth Southgate is ready for the England job but seven points from three games will probably be enough to get it October 4, 2016 It was a decision effectively forced on both parties but it is not difficult to see why Football Association chiefs were happy to put Gareth Southgate in temporary charge of the England team. Southgate is an easy and sensible choice, having grown accustomed to the England set-up in three years as coach of the Under-21s, [...]
Sam Jones’ England debut hopes in doubt as Wales skipper Sam Warburton requires surgery October 4, 2016 A potential England debut for Wasps forward Sam Jones during next month’s autumn internationals has been placed in doubt after the back row sustained an ankle injury in training yesterday. The 24-year-old was in contention to replace club-mate James Haskell, who himself is sidelined with a toe injury, but has been forced to return to [...]
Bob Bradley admits he could not turn down Swansea job and chance to manage in the Premier League October 4, 2016 Swansea's incoming manager Bob Bradley insists he would have liked to have seen out the season with Le Havre but felt unable to turn down a belated chance to work in the Premier League. The former United States coach had long been tipped to become the first American to manage in England’s top flight before [...]
MPs summon Football Association chiefs following allegations of corruption in English game October 4, 2016 Football Association chiefs have been summoned to appear before the Culture, Media and Sport select committee later this month over the latest allegations of corruption in the game. Sam Allardyce’s abrupt departure as England manager last week was the most high-profile consequence of an undercover newspaper investigation into the football industry. Allardyce was not accused of [...]
Maria Sharapova celebrates “one of my happiest days” after drugs ban reduced by nine months October 4, 2016 Maria Sharapova has had her ban from tennis reduced by nine months at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Russian tennis star said she was enjoying "one of my happiest days" after learning her ban was cut from two years to 15 months, freeing her to compete from April 2017. Sharapova was initially given [...]
Sam Torrance’s inside view: Unity of European team was best I have seen in 12 Ryder Cups October 4, 2016 I have been fortunate enough to be part of 12 Ryder Cup campaigns now and what I witnessed at Hazeltine over the last few days was without doubt the most united European team that I have ever seen. They may have come up short this time in terms of the result, losing 17-11, but the [...]
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis receives 20 per cent pay rise to £2.6m October 4, 2016 Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis enjoyed a £440,000 increase in his salary last season, despite a trophy-less season for the Gunners. Gazidis' salary increased by 20 per cent to £2.64m, a sum that could make the American the highest paid director in the Premier League. Daniel Levy, chairman of North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, was the [...]
Manchester United’s £630m squad named the most expensive in football history, costing £90m more than rivals Manchester City October 4, 2016 Manchester United's current squad is the most expensive in history after a record-breaking summer spending spree took its total cost to €718m (£628m), according to research from the CIES Football Observatory. The academic group based in Switzerland found that no club has ever invested more in its roster than United who ploughed €185m into the team [...]
Jonathan Trott interview: International past is no hard place for England’s rock October 4, 2016 If he had his own way Jonathan Trott might still have the ringing in his ears from an international curtain call this summer, but as he knows only too well, scripts sometimes need redrafting. Such a picture book ending would have afforded the South Africa-born batsman, who became England’s rock at No3, a last opportunity to score [...]
English cricket bosses relegate financially-stricken Durham after handing out rescue package October 3, 2016 Durham cricket chiefs have expressed their disappointment after the financially-stricken club was handed a string of sanctions, including demotion, by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The north-east outfit have been relegated to Division Two of the County Championship, docked 48 points for next season and stripped of their Test match status after [...]