Everton manager Moyes warns Chelsea they’ll have to spend big to tempt Rodwell away from Goodison Park December 20, 2011 CHELSEA have been warned they will have to spend big in January once again if they want to prise England youngster Jack Rodwell from Everton. Toffees manager David Moyes yesterday dismissed suggestions of a £20m bid from Stamford Bridge for the 20-year-old midfielder, who won his first senior cap against world champions Spain last month. [...]
Wenger forced to seek cover after Gibbs setback December 20, 2011 ASTON VILLA ARSENAL ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger admits he may be forced to dip into the emergency loan market after a setback suffered by Kieran Gibbs deepened his full-back crisis. Wenger had predicted England international Gibbs, who has been out of action since the middle of October with a stomach muscle injury, would make his [...]
Fulham boss concerned as Zamora rift rumours persist December 20, 2011 FULHAM MANCHESTER UNITED FULHAM manager Martin Jol has denied reports claiming he made Bobby Zamora train with the reserves this week and admits he is becoming increasingly frustrated at having to deny he has fallen out with the England striker. Zamora has been linked with a move away from Craven Cottage in January amid suggestions [...]
Idowu rival banned for fighting with female star December 20, 2011 FRENCH triple-jumper Teddy Tamgho, the arch-rival of one of Britain’s leading Olympic hopefuls, Phillips Idowu, has escaped a ban that threatened to rule him out of the London 2012 Games. The World Indoor champion was hauled before French athletics chiefs for his part in an altercation with an unnamed female competitor at a training camp [...]
Rugby chiefs win landmark case December 20, 2011 BUSINESS OF SPORT: The Rugby Football Union has won a landmark legal ruling allowing it access to the names and addresses of people who used secondary ticketing website Viagogo to sell on seats. The RFU has vowed to clamp down on those who have broken their ticketing rules, and to take the same position with [...]
Ref claims he fixed United game December 20, 2011 FOOTBALL: A Chinese referee has alleged he received a bribe to fix the result of a 2007 friendly between Manchester United and Shenzhen FC. Huang Junjie said in court that the match, which United won 6-0, was one of eight games he was paid more than £160,000 in bribes to fix. There is no suggestion [...]
Top duo set for King George December 20, 2011 HORSE RACING: Last year’s winner Long Run and four-time champion Kauto Star are among just eight confirmations for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Dual Champion Chase winner Master Minded, Kauto Star’s stablemate, steps up to three miles for the first time, as does Arkle winner Captain Chris. Somersby, Diamond Harry, [...]
CAN ANYONE STOP CITY? December 19, 2011 The men in Blue sit proudly atop the Premier League and are favourites for the title. But what chance do their rivals stand? City A.M. assesses the pack DEFEAT to Chelsea might have raised questions about Manchester City’s assault on the Premier League but they answered those triumphantly by beating Arsenal on Sunday. They showed [...]
Arsenal and Chelsea face Boxing Day fixture chaos December 19, 2011 THE PROSPECT of industrial action has forced Arsenal and Chelsea to consider moving their Boxing Day fixtures to 27 December, potentially providing a major inconvenience to over 100,000 fans. The mooted 24-hour Tube strike would impact on the safety of supporters planning to attend the game at Emirates Stadium, as well those fans travelling to [...]
Olympic spotlight won’t daunt British star Halsall December 19, 2011 WERE medals being handed out for enthusiasm alone, Fran Halsall would surely threaten Michael Phelps’s record eight-gold haul in Beijing at next summer’s London Olympics. As an exceptionally talented 21-year-old athlete, of whom much is expected, the Southport-born swimmer could be forgiven were she to feel a sense of trepidation ahead of the biggest eight [...]