QPR threatened with expulsion to Conference if they fight fine September 9, 2014 QUEENS Park Rangers have been warned they could be demoted to the Conference next season if they carry out a threat to contest a fine for breaching Championship restrictions on spending. Chairman Tony Fernandes has indicated he intends to challenge a likely £40m sanction – a stance that Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey said [...]
Sevens loophole closure to dent Armitage switch September 9, 2014 ENGLAND outcast Steffon Armitage has been warned to forget about switching his allegiance to France ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup. The Toulon No8 was crowned European player of the season last term but has not donned an England shirt since 2010 due to the Rugby Football Union’s stance of not selecting foreign based [...]
England need major tournament joy to win fans back, says Owen September 9, 2014 FORMER England striker Michael Owen insists victory over Switzerland will not prove an instant tonic for past failings but does believe there were signs of a brighter future. Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck netted twice as England boss Roy Hodgson named a starting eleven with an average age of 24. Owen announced himself as the future [...]
Wilshere keen to emulate leading midfield pivots September 9, 2014 ENGLAND midfielder Jack Wilshere hopes to emulate some shining examples in a bid to ensure boss Roy Hodgson’s new diamond system is a polished operation. The 22-year-old was deployed at the base of the midfield against the Swiss and despite playing his part as England seized control of their Euro 2016 qualification group, Wilshere admits there [...]
City FFP cash to go to Premier League rivals September 9, 2014 MANCHESTER United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are among the clubs set to benefit financially from Manchester City’s failure to comply with European financial fair play (FFP) rules. City were found guilty of exceeding permitted losses for clubs in the Champions League and Europa League in May, and fined £50m – an amount that may be [...]
Schumacher back at home to continue ski accident recovery September 9, 2014 SEVEN-TIME Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has returned home to continue his recuperation from the skiing accident in December last year which left him fighting for his life. The 45-year-old German suffered a head injury in a freak off-piste skiing incident in the French Alpine resort of Meribel, spending a period in intensive care in [...]
Only Joking has serious chance up at Town Moor September 9, 2014 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE OPENING DAY OF THE LADBROKES ST LEGER FESTIVAL TODAY sees Doncaster host the first day of its St Leger Festival, packed with top-class action that culminates in the final Classic of the season, the Ladbrokes St Leger on Saturday. This afternoon features the popular Leger Legends Charity Race, which will see [...]
Moore to deliver sweet result on Clon Brulee September 9, 2014 CLON BRULEE was bought out of David Barron’s yard last September by Godolphin for a winter campaign in Dubai. Things never really worked out for the horse in three runs at Meydan, but he wasn’t beaten far on his last two starts there and an encouraging third at Epsom in June was built upon with [...]
David Williams of Ladbrokes with his best bets for today September 9, 2014 THE OPENING day of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster throws up an intriguing feature race in the Scarbrough Stakes (3.00pm), a Listed contest where progressive handicappers traditionally meet regressive Group horses head on. Kingsgate Native will have his backers and, despite now being a nine-year-old, he consistently runs to a mark of around [...]
Marin Cilic’s $3m US Open prize money makes him third-highest earner on ATP tour, but Nishikori ahead on sponsorships September 9, 2014 Marin Cilic saw off Kei Nishikori in straight sets last night to win the US Open, in doing so becoming only the second player outside of the “big four” of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray to win a grand slam this decade. Cilic’s first career grand slam title comes after [...]