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 [...]
Haile shelves retirement plans November 15, 2010 ATHLETICS: Haile Gebrselassie has reversed his decision to quit athletics. The Ethiopian announced his intention to retire after pulling out of the New York Marathon earlier this month. But yesterday he wrote on Twitter: “Running is in my blood and I decided to continue competing.”
Boks fear entire squad took banned stimulant November 15, 2010 SOUTH AFRICA’S tour of Britain has been plunged into crisis after coach Peter de Villiers admitted he fears his whole squad may have taken a banned substance. Hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle and winger Bjorn Basson were yesterday provisionally suspended from all rugby after testing positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine. Both were due to fly home last [...]
Venables: Defeat to France is alright as long as Capello bloods new talent November 15, 2010 FORMER England manager Terry Venables has accused current boss Fabio Capello of becoming too reliant on strike pair Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe, and believes the Italian can afford to lose tomorrow’s friendly with France if it means discovering a reliable alternative. Injuries to first-choice pairing Rooney and Defoe, as well as knocks to Sunderland’s [...]
Harrison unlikely to lose £1m purse and he may fight again November 15, 2010 AUDLEY HARRISON’S camp are confident the Olympic gold medallist will retain his £1m purse from Saturday’s defeat against David Haye, despite the British Boxing Board of Control stating they might withhold the money. Harrison (right) landed with just one punch before Haye stopped him in the third round of their WBA heavyweight title fight in [...]
Bothroyd hopes to avoid being a one cap wonder November 15, 2010 CARDIFF striker Jay Bothroyd is determined to ensure his call up to the England squad ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against France won’t represent the peak of his international career. The 28-year-old is in with a chance of becoming the first player from outside the Premier League to represent England since David Nugent, then of Preston, [...]