Don’t write off incredible O’Driscoll for Lions captaincy, says McGeechan January 29, 2013 BRITISH and Irish Lions great Sir Ian McGeechan insists Brian O’Driscoll is still a leading candidate to skipper the tour of Australia, despite losing the Ireland captaincy to Jamie Heaslip. The most decorated Lions head coach in history believes O’Driscoll remains in a four-way tussle for the honour with Heaslip, England’s Chris Robshaw and Welshman [...]
Farrell shrugs off arrogant England claim January 29, 2013 ENGLAND backs coach Andy Farrell has hit back at former Scotland boss Jim Telfer’s claim that Red Rose players are “arrogant, pretentious and condescending”. Telfer singled out Chris Ashton, Danny Care, Ben Youngs and Manu Tuilagi in his blast, ahead of Saturday’s RBS Six Nations opener between the teams. “I definitely don’t recognise anything he [...]
Milan agree £20m swoop for Balotelli January 29, 2013 AC MILAN are today expected to bring down the curtain on one of the most controversial careers in Premier League history by completing the £20m signing of Italy forward Mario Balotelli from Manchester City. Balotelli is due to undergo a medical and sign a four-and-a-half-year contract with the bitter rivals of Inter Milan, the club [...]
Al Fayed makes Fulham debt-free January 29, 2013 FOOTBALL: Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed has cleared the club’s debt by converting £212m of loans into equity. The Premier League club yesterday announced an operating profit of £1.2m and revenue of £79.3m for last season, up from £77.1m in 2010-11, but did not reveal full financial results.
Footballers in doping inquiry January 29, 2013 GENERAL: The Spanish doctor accused of running a major doping operation has admitted treating footballers and tennis stars as well as cyclists. Eufemiano Fuentes, who denies wrongdoing, told a Madrid court his clients were “sportspeople of all kinds”, including boxers and athletes.
England boss won’t panic despite twin injury setback January 28, 2013 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster is refusing to panic despite suffering two serious injury blows just days before Saturday’s RBS Six Nations opener against Scotland. Centre Manu Tuilagi has been ruled out of the Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham, while Lancaster revealed prop Alex Corbisiero will miss the entire championship. Leicester’s Tuilagi, one of England’s [...]
Record-breaking United pierce £2bn barrier after share surge January 28, 2013 MANCHESTER United have become the first outfit in world sport to be valued at more than £2bn, according to Forbes, following a surge in the club’s share price. United’s $3.3bn (£2.1bn) enterprise value is 50 per cent greater than their nearest challenger, American football team Dallas Cowboys, who are worth $2.1bn (£1.3bn) according to the [...]
Blossoming Wood looks set to go from strength to strength January 28, 2013 ENGLAND’S Chris Wood has always looked a very promising talent but he took an enormous stride at the weekend when he won his first European Tour title at the Qatar Masters. Overnight leader Wood teed off at the par-five 18th needing a birdie to force a play-off. Instead he produced a great drive, a fine [...]
Spurs get their man with £1m deal for Holtby January 28, 2013 TOTTENHAM have moved to mitigate the long-term injury suffered by Sandro by finally persuading Schalke to let Germany midfielder Lewis Holtby join them this week. A bid believed to be around £1.25m proved enough to tempt the Bundesliga club into releasing Holtby, who was out of contract in the summer and due to join Spurs [...]
Hammers recruit former Boro defender Pogatetz on loan January 28, 2013 TOUGH-TACKLING former Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz admits the lure of playing in England again convinced him to join West Ham on loan until the end of the season. The Austria international, 30, completed his short-term move from German side Wolfsburg yesterday and could make his Hammers debut tomorrow at Fulham. “First of all when I [...]