West Ham’s Karren Brady fires back at critics: Olympic Stadium is good deal for taxpayer and should be celebrated April 16, 2016 Whether you're an Irons fan or not, West Ham vice-chairwoman Karren Brady believes the British taxpayer should be celebrating the club's move into the Olympic Stadium. Full details of West Ham's 99-year lease on the 60,000 capacity arena were released by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) earlier this week. The 207-page document reveals that [...]
Arsene Wenger warns fans that Arsenal may not spend big in summer transfer window despite £160m cash reserves April 16, 2016 Any Arsenal fan hoping for the club to respond to a disappointing season by spending big in the transfer window would be well advised to stop reading now. Arsene Wenger wants you to know that signing players who can improve his side may not be as easy as you think. Gunners fans are currently dreading the [...]
PRO Rugby: As America’s first professional rugby league kicks-off, chief executive Doug Schoninger discusses the game’s prospects in the USA April 15, 2016 After over 150 years since rucks and mauls first formed on its shores, a professional rugby league is finally coming to America this weekend. Before even the American Civil War was waged primitive forms of the game were being contested in Ivy League universities. Amateur rugby clubs existed before the First World War and the USA still [...]
The Suicide at The National Theatre is a chaotic disappointment April 15, 2016 Lyttelton Theatre | ★★☆☆☆ This update of a Stalin-era Russian satire veers between chaotic hilarity and ill-judged mean-spiritedness, reaches occasional soaring highs only to plumb depths the likes of which are rarely seen at the National Theatre. Over the two and a half hour run time, the enjoyable moments are far outweighed by the relentless procession [...]
Europa League semi-final draw: Liverpool get second leg showdown at Anfield against Villarreal April 15, 2016 Liverpool have been handed a tricky tie in the Europa League semi-final against Spanish side Villarreal – the first ever meeting between the two teams. The first leg will take place at El Madrigal in Spain on Thursday 28 April before the tie will be settled at Anfield a week later on Thursday 5 May. [...]
Champions League semi-final draw: Manchester City draw Real Madrid while future manager Pep Guardiola faces Atletico Madrid with Bayern Munich April 15, 2016 Manchester City avoided an awkward showdown with future manager Pep Guardiola after drawing Real Madrid in their first ever Champions League semi-final. The competition's only remaining Premier League representative will face off against Cristiano Ronaldo and co in an all-star battle for a place in this year's Champions League final on May 28. Read more: De [...]
QBE to sponsor British Lions on 2017 tour of New Zealand April 15, 2016 The British Lions will be sponsored by business insurer QBE on their tour of New Zealand in 2017. QBE has inked a deal with the team to become a principal partner on the Lions' daunting trip to face the All Blacks, winners of last year's Rugby World Cup. Read more: QBE’s David Hall on how insurers [...]
Saracens v Harlequins: Sarries in Kruis control as they look to cement successful legacy April 15, 2016 Second row George Kruis was at the forefront of England’s Grand Slam success but, with domestic issues now back at top of the agenda, attention has refocused on building the Saracens dynasty. Defending champions and Premiership leaders Sarries are primed for a showdown with top-four chasing London rivals Harlequins in front of an 80,000-strong crowd [...]
Premier League spending set to continue as clubs enjoy successive profits for first time since 1999 April 15, 2016 Premier League clubs are gearing up for a potentially record-breaking summer of spending after collectively recording consecutive pre-tax profits for the first time this century. Top-flight teams made a pre-tax profit of around £120m and an operating profit of approximately £550m for last season, data published today by Deloitte reveals. Both figures were slightly down on [...]
Liverpool 4, Borussia Dortmund 3 (Agg: 5-4): Klopp reveals he asked for ‘spirit of Istanbul’ before Reds conjured stunning second-half revival April 15, 2016 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admitted that he asked his side to evoke memories of past European comebacks before they conjured a stirring second-half revival to dispatch Borussia Dortmund and reach the Europa League semi-finals last night. The Reds looked dead and buried following early goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while Marco Reus restored [...]