Kroenke to be grilled at AGM October 13, 2014 ARSENAL majority owner Stan Kroenke is expected to be grilled by minority shareholders at Thursday’s AGM over a £3m payment to his holding company for unspecified advisory services. The Gunners received a boost yesterday, meanwhile, when forward Theo Walcott returned to full training following his nine-month injury lay-off. Striker Olivier Giroud, ruled out until the [...]
Wigan’s Flower set for long ban for final punch October 13, 2014 WIGAN prop Ben Flower faces a minimum eight-game suspension after being hit with the most serious charge in the sport’s rulebook following his double punch attack on St Helens’ Lance Hohaia in Saturday’s Super League Grand Final. The 26-year-old Wales international was sent off just two minutes into the Old Trafford showdown, which St Helens [...]
Lancaster opens World Cup door for Burgess October 13, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster believes codebreaker Sam Burgess possesses all the necessary attributes to force his way into his World Cup plans. The 25-year-old remains on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a serious facial injury sustained in the NRL Grand Final in Australia, prior to his switch from rugby league side South Sydney [...]
Hamilton set for new contract as Mercedes look to extend rivalry October 13, 2014 MERCEDES chiefs have vowed to keep Britain’s Lewis Hamilton at the team beyond the world championship leader’s current contract, which expires at the end of next season. Head of motorsport Toto Wolff addressed speculation linking Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso with a move to the team by insisting he wants Hamilton and his title challenger Nico Rosberg [...]
Sky Sports wins rights to biggest events in cricket October 13, 2014 Sky Sports has beaten off competition from other broadcasting rivals after winning the rights to show some of international cricket’s biggest events over the next eight years. The International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday it has sold the rights to 18 cricket tournaments to Star Group, which is also part of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire [...]
Euro 2016 Qualifier: Riddle as boss Hodgson denies match-winner Rooney subplot October 12, 2014 ESTONIA 0 ENGLAND 1 ENGLAND boss Roy Hodgson denied intending to substitute below-par Wayne Rooney moments before his skipper proved the match-winner in a laborious victory over 10-man Estonia in Tallinn yesterday. Rooney – winning his 99th cap – endured a frustrating evening and looked set to be replaced by Liverpool forward Rickie Lambert seconds [...]
Football Comment: Rooney a concern but midfield pair sparkle October 12, 2014 IF WAYNE Rooney had been anywhere near his best he could have scored six goals in England’s last two games, and that lack of ruthlessness is the only major stain on an otherwise successful international break. Rooney will never get more chances than he did against Estonia and San Marino yet only scored once against [...]
Bolton appoint Lennon as boss October 12, 2014 CHAMPIONSHIP strugglers Bolton have appointed former Celtic boss Neil Lennon as the successor to Dougie Freedman. Lennon, 43, had been out of work since his summer resignation from the Glasgow club, where the Northern irishman won three top-flight titles and two Scottish Cups during his four-year tenure. Ex-Crystal Palace boss Freedman left Bolton last month [...]
Buy Ronaldo? That’ll be €1bn October 12, 2014 MANCHESTER United’s hopes of luring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford have suffered another blow after the Real Madrid superstar’s agent revealed that his buyout clause to be €1bn (£786m). Ronaldo has fuelled talk of a second spell at United by speaking of his fondness for Manchester, but agent Jorge Mendes appeared to scupper that [...]
Jol: Spurs tried to sell £5m Bale October 12, 2014 TOTTENHAM tried to offload Gareth Bale to Hamburg for just £5m five years before the Wales winger’s sale to Real Madrid fetched a world record £86m, says ex-Spurs boss Martin Jol. Jol, who took Bale to Tottenham from Southampton, wanted to take up the offer to sign him for the German club during the 2008-09 [...]