England 2018 bid gets Fifa boost November 16, 2010 FOOTBALL: England’s hopes of hosting the 2018 World Cup will be boosted by the publication of Fifa’s technical reports, which will categorise the bid as a low legal risk with a high potential financial return. Karren Brady, the West Ham United vice-chair who is also head of the 2018 advisory board, said yesterday the publication of [...]
Former Gunner Pires joins Villa November 16, 2010 FOOTBALL: Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of 37-year-old former Arsenal star Robert Pires on a free transfer. Pires had been released in the summer by Villarreal and was training with the Gunners earlier in the season in a bid to regain his fitness. Villa’s assistant manager Gary McAllister said: “It’s perfect. He’s a player everyone [...]
Gayle puts Windies in command November 16, 2010 CRICKET: West Indies batsman Chris Gayle entered the record books on day two of the first Test with Sri Lanka by hitting 333. Gayle became only the fourth player in history to register a second triple-hundred, matching the feat of Australian Don Bradman, fellow West Indian Brian Lara and Virender Sehwag, of India. The opener’s score [...]
Invoke spirit of Bodyline, says ex-skipper Greig November 16, 2010 ANDREW STRAUSS’S bowling attack should look no further than the infamous Bodyline series for a method of unsettling Australia’s batsmen, according to former captain Tony Greig. Greig, who led England in 58 Tests, believes Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting, in particular, is becoming increasingly vulnerable to the short ball. And Greig has urged England’s pacemen to recreate the [...]
Wednesday facing High Court D-Day November 16, 2010 RESTRUCTURING group Zolfo Cooper is standing by to act as administrator to Sheffield Wednesday today if a High Court case verdict goes against the club. Wednesday face a £600,000 demand from the tax authorities and arrive in court after the board turned down an offer from Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric. According to sources close [...]
Fans hail Glazers’ PIK pay-off but big questions remain November 16, 2010 MANCHESTER UNITED supporters have hailed the Glazer family’s decision to pay off £220m of costly payment-in-kind loans (PIK), removing a potential drain on the indebted club’s resources, as a victory for fans. But they have urged the Glazers to show greater transparency in their running of the Premier League outfit. United said yesterday no money [...]
Aussie stars won’t panic November 15, 2010 AUSTRALIA’S under-fire batsmen Michael Hussey and Marcus North are refusing to panic despite seeing young upstarts Usman Khawaja and Callum Ferguson named in the 17-man squad for the first Ashes Test. Both North and Hussey have provided solid middle order foundations for Ricky Ponting’s side in the past, but their recent form hardly inspires confidence. [...]
ENGLAND’S REST MADE PLANS November 15, 2010 ENGLAND’S likely four-pronged Ashes bowling attack of Graeme Swann (above), James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn are, as expected, set to sit out of the third warm-up match against Australia A, which starts tomorrow. The quartet will instead head to Brisbane, the venue for the first Test, which commences on 25 November, in order [...]
Huddlestone faces long lay-off November 15, 2010 FOOTBALL: Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone faces up to three months on the sidelines after the club confirmed the 23-year-old is set to undergo surgery on his ankle. “Following consultation with several independent ankle specialists, it has been determined that Tom Huddlestone will undergo surgery on his right ankle,” read a club statement. “The procedure is [...]
Button looking ahead to 2011 November 15, 2010 FORMULA ONE: Britain’s Jenson Button believes a solid end to the season bodes well for McLaren’s title hopes in 2011. The 2009 world champion was in contention to retain his title up until the penultimate race of this campaign and rounded of his season by finishing third in Abu Dhabi. He said: “Our team should be happy [...]