Caborn: FA crazy to sell cup name April 29, 2015 FORMER sports minister Richard Caborn has called talk of rebranding the country’s showpiece knockout competition The Emirates FA Cup “commercialisation gone mad”. The Football Association could sign a £30m, three-year deal with the airline, as soon as today. A previous deal with Budweiser packaged the cup as “in association with” the beer brand, whereas the [...]
Walcott: We’re best in Europe April 29, 2015 ARSENAL forward Theo Walcott believes the north London club are the best team in Europe in 2015. Walcott, who has been limited to just 17 appearances for the Gunners this season following a long-term knee injury, has suggested that a fully fit Arsenal squad could win the Premier League title. He said: “In this calendar [...]
Lions keep faith with boss Harris April 29, 2015 MILLWALL have made caretaker boss Neil Harris their permanent manager despite his failure to save them from relegation to League One. Harris took 10 points from eight games, compared with predecessor Ian Holloway’s 31 from 36, to give the Lions renewed hope staying in the Championship, but their survival bid was thwarted on Tuesday with [...]
Premier League: Blow for Reds as Hull stride nearer safety April 28, 2015 HULL CITY 1 LIVERPOOL 0 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers bemoaned his side’s lack of firepower as their stuttering and increasingly improbable pursuit of a Champions League place wilted further with defeat at relegation-haunted Hull last night. Former Tottenham skipper Michael Dawson proved the match-winner with a first-half header, a goal which elevated Hull above Aston [...]
Wimbledon champions deserve record prize money, say bosses April 28, 2015 WIMBLEDON chiefs have defended their prize money policy after confirming that players at this year’s championships are to earn more than at any tennis tournament in history. A seven per cent increase in the total pot to £26.75m is reflected in prize money for all rounds, with the men’s and women’s winners banking £1.88m each [...]
Emirates set for FA Cup rebrand April 28, 2015 THE FOOTBALL Association is expected to complete a £30m, three-year sponsorship deal which will see the country’s showpiece knockout competition rebranded as The Emirates FA Cup. Budweiser decided not to renew its own sponsorship a year ago and talks with a potential replacement failed to bear fruit, leaving the historic tournament without a main partner [...]
Millwall down as Rotherham win April 28, 2015 MILLWALL’S forlorn quest to retain their Championship status was last night extinguished as closest rivals Rotherham beat Reading 2-1 at the New York Stadium to safely navigate their own relegation concerns. Second-half strikes from Matt Derbyshire and Lee Frecklington consigned the Lions to relegation and brought their five-year stint in English football’s second tier to [...]
Chelsea to play PSG and Barca April 28, 2015 CHELSEA are set to face their Champions League conquerors Paris Saint-Germain and Spanish giants Barcelona when they travel to United States to play in the International Champions Cup pre-season tournament in July. Jose Mourinho’s side play their opening game of the competition against New York Red Bulls in New Jersey on 22 July, before clashes [...]
Bournemouth face £240m windfall April 28, 2015 Cherries can bank a huge sum even for a short top-flight stay. DEBATE may rage over whether Bournemouth’s dizzying ascent deserves to be deemed a fairytale, but there can be little disputing that their historic promotion is about to utterly transform their finances. Critics point out that the Cherries’ rise from the bottom of the [...]
Generation next handed England one-day chance April 28, 2015 ENGLAND have given a strong hint towards a limited-overs revolution by naming a youthful squad for the first one-day international since their dismal World Cup showing, against Ireland at Malahide, Dublin on 8 May. The 11-man travelling party includes five players – Zafar Ansari, Sam Billings, Lewis Gregory, James Vince and David Willey – yet [...]