I want to take West Ham to Champions League, says Bilic June 9, 2015 WEST Ham’s new manager Slaven Bilic has been set the target of finishing in the top half of the Premier League in his first season – but the Croatian is already dreaming of Champions League qualification. The former Hammers defender was yesterday confirmed as the successor to Sam Allardyce and the man to lead the [...]
Mourinho ready to thwart Cech Premier League suitors by complicating any prospective transfer June 9, 2015 CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho has hinted that he would complicate any attempt from a Premier League rival to sign goalkeeper Petr Cech by coveting an opposing player as compensation. Cech has one year remaining on his existing contract at Stamford Bridge, but has been linked with a move away from the club after losing his [...]
McEnroe keen to turn tennis into a whole new ball game June 9, 2015 American has a blueprint for change DO NOT ask John McEnroe whether he can be serious. He has heard that one before and, despite him no longer being the angriest man in tennis, a fire still rages within the world No1-turned-media pundit. He is serious all right, and his attention is trained furiously on conjuring [...]
Retirement fears drove smuggling, says freed Lewis June 9, 2015 FORMER England all-rounder Chris Lewis admitted that severe worries stirred by the conclusion of his playing career led him down a path which culminated in him being jailed for drug smuggling. The 47-year-old was released from prison yesterday after serving less than half of his 13-year sentence, having been convicted in May 2009 of smuggling [...]
Celtic get green light for safe standing June 9, 2015 CELTIC are set to become the first Scottish club to introduce a safe-standing area. The Scottish Premier League champions have been granted permission to install so-called rail seating for up to 2,600 spectators in time for the 2016-17 season. Standing areas are still illegal in England, despite their popularity in Europe.
Rugby’s evangelist Brett Gosper sets sights on conquering new territories to grow sport’s appeal June 9, 2015 At the risk of taking hyperbole to new heights, it will be the biggest shock in the history of international sport if anyone other the usual suspects (you know who they are) find themselves in the final of this year’s Rugby World Cup. But the rugby playing field is changing and the likes of Samoa, [...]
Countdown to World Cup begins as trophy set to go nationwide June 9, 2015 THE countdown to the Rugby World Cup enters a new phase today when a nationwide trophy tour is launched to mark 100 days to go before the start of the tournament. Starting at Twickenham Stadium, the Webb Ellis Cup will travel through Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales before returning to England ahead [...]
Lancaster handed brown World Cup lift June 9, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has been handed a major World Cup boost after full-back Mike Brown was cleared of concussion symptoms and passed fit to return to non-contact training, 100 days before the start of the tournament. The 29-year-old has not played since England’s Six Nations victory against France at Twickenham in March.
QPR’s Charlie Austin the most likely player in Europe to be transferred this summer says new study June 9, 2015 Charlie Austin leaving Queens Park Rangers is the "most likely" move to happen this summer transfer window, according to a new study. The CIES Football Observatory, an academic group based in Switzerland, has created an econometric algorithm that looks at the variables involved in over 1,500 transfers since 2009 to determine the most likely moves [...]
Barcelona forecast €600m income from treble-winning season June 9, 2015 Barcelona expect the income from their treble-winning season to reach €600m (£440.3m), president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed today. In a press conference, Bartomeu heralded the club's head coach Luis Enrique's triumphs in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in his first year in the role and announced he would be extending [...]