Lancaster may be axed even if England win Six Nations March 1, 2012 RFU chief executive Ritchie claims interim coach may be axed even if he masterminds successful defence of title EVEN winning the Six Nations might not be enough to earn interim England head coach Stuart Lancaster the job on a permanent basis, the Rugby Football Union’s new chief executive Ian Ritchie has admitted. Ritchie (inset) says [...]
SEARCH FOR ENGLAND HEAD COACH: HOW THE PROCESS WILL WORK March 1, 2012 Q. WHO WILL DECIDE THE IDENTITY OF THE NEXT ENGLAND HEAD COACH? A. Ian Ritchie says he will lead the process, with guidance from a four-man advisory panel and with the eventual recommendation needing to be rubber-stamped by the Rugby Football Union’s board. Q. WHO IS ON RITCHIE’S ADVISORY BOARD? A. Former British and Irish [...]
Lawes may miss crucial French and Irish clashes March 1, 2012 ENGLAND lock Courtney Lawes is in danger of missing the rest of the Six Nations with a shin injury. The Northampton star had only just returned from knee damage to make his first appearance of the tournament as a substitute in last weekend’s 19-12 defeat against Wales at Twickenham. The 23-year-old has suffered a stress [...]
Premier League clubs face raw deal from Euro financial rules March 1, 2012 ENGLISH football clubs face being placed at an unfair disadvantage to their European rivals because of a loophole regarding charitable donations in new Financial Fair Play rules, City A.M. can reveal. Top-flight sides last year donated a total of £167.2m – or £8.4m per club – to good causes and lower tier clubs via the [...]
Parker wants Three Lions captaincy job for good March 1, 2012 TOTTENHAM midfielder Scott Parker intends to keep hold of the England armband and lead the national side at this summer’s European Championships after he captained his country for the first time in Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat against Holland at Wembley. Parker, 31, was controversially chosen by caretaker boss Stuart Pearce to captain the side ahead of [...]
Tottenham rocked as star man Bale ruled out for three weeks with hamstring tear March 1, 2012 TOTTENHAM’S hopes of bouncing back from last week’s crushing 5-2 north London derby defeat have been dealt a major blow after Gareth Bale was ruled out of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester United. Harry Redknapp’s side suffered their fifth league defeat of the season at Emirates Stadium after they squandered an early two-goal lead [...]
Fowler hoping for seaside swansong March 1, 2012 IN a season of dramatic comebacks former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler is set to make the unlikeliest return of them all by signing for Championship play-off hopefuls Blackpool. Fowler, 36, who last played a competitive game in England for Blackburn three and a half years ago, has been training for the last two [...]
Djokovic next up as Murray beats Berdych March 1, 2012 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray will face Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in today’s semi-final at the Dubai Championships after he brushed aside Tomas Berdych in straight sets yesterday. Murray took one hour and 51 minutes to dispose of the former Wimbledon finalist from the Czech Republic, winning 6-3, 7-5. Murray has struggled with a knee [...]
Kauto star rated only 50-50 for Cheltenham Gold Cup March 1, 2012 CHELTENHAM hero Kauto Star’s emotional bid for third Gold Cup success is rated at just 50-50 after trainer Paul Nicholls-trained revealed 12-year-old took a “pretty awful fall” under jockey Ruby Walsh at his Somerset yard. The 16 March Cheltenham showpiece was expected to be a duel between Kauto Star and defending champion Long Run, who [...]
Pompey cash could run out before end of season, says administrator March 1, 2012 PORTSMOUTH may not be able to finish the season, the club’s administrator has warned, after learning they will not receive any more parachute payments from the Premier League. The payments, made to help teams adjust to relegation from the top flight, will instead go to Pompey’s former owner Sacha Gaydamak, who is owed money by [...]