Rugby World Cup to boost UK hotels in 2015 January 11, 2015 LONDON hotels are expected to enjoy a surge in revenues this year, according to the latest forecast released this morning from PwC, as people flock to the UK to watch the Rugby World Cup. The accountancy firm predicts that revenue per available room (revpar), a key industry measure, will rise by five per cent to [...]
Premier League: Debuchy injury forces Arsenal to recruit defender January 11, 2015 AT EMIRATES STADIUM ARSENAL 3 STOKE CITY 0 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger insists the need for defensive reinforcements in the January transfer window is pivotal after full-back Mathieu Debuchy dislocated his shoulder during yesterday’s comprehensive defeat of Stoke. The Gunners were at their fluent best and a far cry from the side that meekly surrendered [...]
Southampton march on towards European history with win over Manchester United January 11, 2015 Southampton manager Ronald Koeman insists his team can continue to defy expectations and earn a Champions League debut after they climbed to third in the Premier League with a landmark victory yesterday. Midfielder Dusan Tadic’s 69th-minute goal earned the Saints a first league win at Manchester United for 27 years and lifted them above their [...]
Pietersen sacking circus could all have been avoided, insists Broad January 11, 2015 ENGLAND bowler Stuart Broad has queried the merits of sacking maverick batsman Kevin Pietersen from international cricket and insists the subsequent furore could have been avoided if the saga had been handled better. Pietersen has been discarded by England since his career was brought to an enforced halt last February following last winter’s disastrous Ashes [...]
Football Comment: Louis Van Gaal naive to stick with Manchester United system January 11, 2015 THERE was a moment during Manchester United’s defeat to Southampton yesterday that I found astonishing and summed up the mystifying tactical problems that manager Louis van Gaal is yet to solve. Having failed to muster a shot on target in the first 64 minutes, Van Gaal took off left-back Luke Shaw and brought on Tyler [...]
Exclusive: Hammers reveal Olympic Stadium interior designs January 11, 2015 WEST Ham today reveal new images of their plans for the Olympic Stadium, including an exclusive members-only bar called The Boleyn bedecked in the club colours of claret and blue. The Boleyn is part of the east London club’s offering to supporters who buy an enhanced season ticket package, which also includes prime seats situated [...]
Gayle heroics help West Indies complete record T20 run chase January 11, 2015 POWER-HITTING batsman Chris Gayle produced a mesmerising innings as the West Indies completed the record run chase in Twenty20 history to dispatch a shell-shocked South Africa in Johannesburg yesterday. Gayle smashed seven sixes and nine fours in a 41-ball knock of 90, sharing a 152-run partnership with Marlon Samuels (60) before the tourists toppled their [...]
City edge closer to Bony deal as £28m fee agreed January 11, 2015 REIGNING Premier League champions Manchester City are set to bolster their attacking options by concluding the transfer of prolific Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony after agreeing a £28m fee with Swansea City. The deal is believed to be £25m cash upfront with a further £3m in performance-related add-ons, while City expect to finalise the 26-year-old’s [...]
Classy Geraghty clinches victory for elated Exiles January 11, 2015 LONDON IRISH boss Brian Smith extolled the composure of fly-half Shane Geraghty after his last-gasp drop goal saw the Exiles snatch a dramatic 28-26 Premiership success over Exeter Chiefs at the Madejski Stadium yesterday. Geraghty’s heroics secured victory as Exeter were outscored four tries to two, with back-row forward Blair Cowan crossing the line twice [...]
Andy Sullivan breaks his tour duck in South Africa January 11, 2015 England’s Andy Sullivan took advantage of former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel’s final-round wobble to claim his maiden European Tour title at the South African Open yesterday. Home favourite Schwartzel led by four shots with five to play but squandered the advantage and then lost to Sullivan, 27, at the first extra hole of a play-off. [...]