No KP ultimatum, insists Cook May 20, 2015 TEST skipper Alastair Cook insists he did not issue an ultimatum to England bosses before they ruled out an international recall for exiled batsman Kevin Pietersen this summer. It has been suggested that Cook threatened to resign should the England and Wales Cricket Board relent and recall Pietersen after an enforced absence following his sacking [...]
Premier League: Wenger concern at limp end to campaign ahead of FA Cup final May 20, 2015 ARSENAL 0 SUNDERLAND 0 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger admits he is worried at his team’s toothless and sluggish finish to the season after Sunderland kept them at bay to clinch Premier League survival last night. Wenger conceded his team never looked like scoring despite mustering 28 attempts on goal, which were either volleyed over, thwarted [...]
Lancaster: I had no choice over England exiles May 20, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has defended the exclusion of overseas-based players from his World Cup training squad after resisting pressure to relax the Rugby Football Union’s stance. The policy meant there was no place for Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage or Clermont Auvergne full-back Nick Abendanon in Lancaster’s 50-strong squad for the summer’s training camps, [...]
Cricket Comment: England want to land a big fish May 20, 2015 CARETAKER boss Paul Farbrace this week threw his hat into the ring to become England’s head coach on a full-time basis. I think he has a chance but my gut feeling is that England are after a bigger fish. Having said that, he has the opportunity to impress over the next few weeks during the [...]
Qatar 2022: Fifa World Cup sponsors Visa and Coca-Cola express “grave concerns” over migrant workers’ conditions May 20, 2015 World Cup sponsors Visa and Coca-Cola have expressed concerns over conditions facing migrant workers constructing projects for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Visa said it had "grave concerns", and said it was "troubled by the reports coming out of Qatar related to the World Cup and migrant worker conditions". "We have expressed our grave concern [...]
Farbrace eyes England job as Aussie Gillespie wavers May 19, 2015 CARETAKER boss Paul Farbrace last night threw his hat into the ring to be named England’s permanent head coach after admitting the job would be too tempting to refuse should it be offered on a permanent basis. Farbrace’s admission came hours after leading contender Jason Gillespie insisted he would need “persuading” to leave defending county [...]
Lancaster set to hand Armitage World Cup blow May 19, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster is set to resist calls to break the Rugby Football Union’s stance on only selecting home-based players and omit Toulon powerhouse Steffon Armitage from his World Cup training squad. Lancaster will today name a provisional 50-strong brigade for training camps in Surrey and Colorado this summer, before whittling the number [...]
Ferdinand: Top-flight return is not priority May 19, 2015 QUEENS Park Rangers director of football Les Ferdinand has told Chris Ramsey to prioritise re-establishing club traditions over an immediate return to the Premier League after yesterday being handed the manager’s job on a permanent basis. Ramsey has signed a three-year contract having been in temporary charge since February after Harry Redknapp resigned, citing imminent [...]
FFP easing driven by Euro fears May 19, 2015 MOVES to relax controversial financial fair play rules (FFP) have been driven by pressure from European clubs fearful that English teams have become too strong, according to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Premier League sides account for 20 of the world’s 40 richest outfits, say Deloitte, and a bumper new £5bn television contract set to start [...]
Advocaat ready to pick Johnson for Arsenal visit May 19, 2015 SUNDERLAND manager Dick Advocaat is considering selecting Adam Johnson for tonight’s Premier League fixture at Arsenal, just 48 hours after the winger appeared in court to face child sex charges. The Black Cats need just one draw from their remaining two games to avoid relegation, while a point would also be enough for their hosts [...]