Former City banker Warburton sacrificed in Brentford overhaul February 17, 2015 BRENTFORD have confirmed plans to part company with their City banker-turned-football manager Mark Warburton at the end of the season despite his success with the Championship club. The move follows more than a week of intense speculation about the former AIG, Bank of America and RBS currency trader’s position, prompted by reports he was set [...]
‘I gave absolutely everything playing for my country to the point I now struggle to walk’ February 17, 2015 Matt Prior tells Ross McLean of his Test comeback hope and new cycling project HE MAY be a triple Ashes winner and a principal component of England’s surge to the summit of Test cricket in 2011 but deposed wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior accepts the greatest challenge of his sporting career may prove unconquerable. Prior is taking [...]
Moeen: Let’s forget Aussies February 17, 2015 OPENER Moeen Ali has urged England to forget a resounding defeat to Australia in their World Cup opener and make amends against New Zealand on Friday. The second pool match, which starts at 1am British time, is against a side who have won their first two games at the tournament and 10 of their last [...]
Mourinho set to unleash his lethal weapon February 16, 2015 CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho is ready to plunge star striker Diego Costa straight back into frontline action against Paris Saint-Germain tonight and has blasted counterpart Laurent Blanc for claiming the Blues hold a physical advantage. Costa has missed Chelsea’s last three Premier League matches after being handed a retrospective suspension for stamping on Liverpool’s Emre [...]
Aston Villa post was no-brainer, says Sherwood February 16, 2015 ASTON Villa manager Tim Sherwood has described his decision to take charge at the struggling club as a “no-brainer” and insists six wins from their remaining 13 games should be enough to avoid relegation. Sherwood officially started work yesterday, having accepted the job on Saturday and watched his new team reach the FA Cup last [...]
Pietersen’s stock falls further in IPL auction February 16, 2015 FURTHER evidence of former England captain Kevin Pietersen’s fall from grace emerged yesterday when he was sold at the Indian Premier League (IPL) players’ auction for a cut-price £205,000. The sum paid by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Pietsersen was nearly £700,000 less than the maverick batsman fetched 12 months ago when he joined Delhi Daredevils and [...]
FA Cup: Team spirit key for Van Gaal after United survive Preston cup scare February 16, 2015 PRESTON NORTH END 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 RELIEVED Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal highlighted his side’s resilience after they recovered their poise to banish fears of an FA Cup upset against League One promotion-chasers Preston North End at Deepdale last night. Second-half strikes from Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and a Wayne Rooney penalty sealed [...]
Draw throws up heavyweight tie as old foes bid for semi-final spot February 16, 2015 DEFENDING champions Arsenal face a trip to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals after the draw pitted the two highest-placed teams against each other last night. United have beaten the Gunners once already this season, a 2-1 triumph at Emirates Stadium in November, and have not lost to the north Londoners in seven meetings [...]
Ireland’s World Cup shock leaves Porterfield wanting more respect February 16, 2015 IRELAND skipper Will Porterfield believes their four-wicket World Cup victory over West Indies in Nelson yesterday is further proof his side deserve greater respect from cricket authorities. The Irish reached their victory target of 305 with 25 balls to spare, while Ireland have now posted three of the five successful World Cup run chases of [...]
Golf Comment: Time is right for classy Clarke to lead Europe’s Ryder Cup defence February 16, 2015 IT WAS four years ago that Darren Clarke gave the ideal illustration of his Ryder Cup captaincy credentials with a peerless acceptance speech, having ended his wait for a Major by winning the Open at Royal St George’s. Clarke is by no means the only worthy contender when a five-man selection panel meets imminently to [...]