Premier League clubs score a £190m record profit March 25, 2015 England’s leading football clubs have left their loss-making ways behind and entered a new era of profitability after mustering record-breaking pre-tax profits last season. Premier League teams registered a combined pre-tax profit in 2013-14 for the first time in 15 years, with the £190m figure almost four times the previous record of £49m, set during [...]
Academies to benefit from clubs’ profits March 25, 2015 Teams tipped to invest in new stadia League more attractive to investors PERHAPS it is pertinent that the Premier League’s emphatic return to profitability after 15 years is confirmed on the day that its club chiefs meet to discuss decisions that could shape the next decade or more. Today in London Football Association chairman Greg [...]
Injury woe raises question marks over Croft’s World Cup availability March 25, 2015 ENGLAND flanker Tom Croft has emerged as a major doubt for this autumn’s home World Cup after Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill revealed the extent of his latest injury setback. The 29-year-old dislocated a shoulder during the Tigers’ Premiership victory over Newcastle Falcons earlier this month and faces a race against time to be [...]
Tottenham’s Danny Rose is latest injury blow for England ahead of qualifier March 25, 2015 TOTTENHAM full-back Danny Rose added to England boss Roy Hodgson’s mounting injury problems ahead of tomorrow’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Lithuania at Wembley by last night withdrawing from the squad. Hip and hamstring injuries have ended the uncapped defender’s chances of an international debut, either against Lithuania or Italy in Tuesday’s friendly in Turin, having [...]
Martin Skrtel to miss Liverpool v Arsenal clash after three-game ban appeal dismissed March 25, 2015 LIVERPOOL centre-half Martin Skrtel will serve a three-match ban after yesterday being found guilty of stamping on Manchester United keeper David de Gea. An independent Football Association disciplinary panel upheld the charge of violent conduct, despite the 30-year-old Slovakia defender protesting his innocence and insisting he did not deliberately stand on De Gea. Skrtel will [...]
Doubts raised by Gatlin deal March 25, 2015 BRITISH Olympic gold medallist Jason Gardener has condemned the decision of US sportswear giant Nike to hand a new sponsorship deal to controversial United States sprinter Justin Gatlin. Gatlin dominated the 100m and 200m last year but remains a contentious figure having served two doping bans, including a four-year suspension between 2006 and 2010. The [...]
Cricket Comment: KP and Cook are grown men and may have to forget disagreements March 25, 2015 The Surrey squad were taking part in a pre-season inter-squad practice game at the Oval yesterday when the news of Kevin Pietersen’s return to the club was confirmed. What a great signing he is. Kevin is world class and hopefully he will score the volume of runs he needs to put pressure on the England [...]
Pietersen return motivated by his desire to avenge Ashes whitewash March 25, 2015 CONTROVERSIAL batsman Kevin Pietersen insists his motivation to return to England is fuelled by a desire to wrestle the Ashes from the grasp of Australia. Surrey yesterday re-signed Pietersen in a deal which will see the 34-year-old primarily focus on red-ball cricket in a bid to force his way back into the England reckoning ahead [...]
KP comeback triggers dash for Ashes spot March 24, 2015 MERCURIAL batsman Kevin Pietersen could have just three county championship matches to forge an outlandish return to the England fold ahead of this summer’s Ashes series. Pietersen is poised to rejoin Surrey imminently after yesterday negotiating his release from the majority of his commitments with Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 34-year-old was thrown [...]
F1 prize money distribution unfair, says Max Mosley March 24, 2015 Former motor racing chief Max Mosley says he believes that Formula One’s £500m prize fund is unfair as it favours the top teams. F1’s prize money grew 6.1 per cent to a record £484m in 2014, yet this year many of the teams still need to boost their budgets with tens of millions of pounds [...]