SPORT | IN BRIEF October 10, 2010 Marseille plan to sue De Jong FOOTBALL: Marseille say they will take legal action against Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong over the broken leg suffered by Hatem Ben Arfa. France star Ben Arfa, on loan at Newcastle from Marseille, has been ruled out for several months after suffering two breaks following a tackle from De [...]
Games chiefs refuse to rule out Spurs bid for stadium October 7, 2010 OLYMPIC chiefs yesterday repeatedly refused to rule out Tottenham’s bid for the 2012 stadium despite the club being unwilling to retain the running track. The north London outfit are the only bidders known to want to scrap the facility if they move into the 80,000-seater arena in Stratford after the Games. Premier League rivals West [...]
Hicks won’t back down in Liverpool sale fight October 7, 2010 EMBATTLED Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have fought back in the bitter internal power struggle over the club’s future ownership. Hicks insisted yesterday that Liverpool’s board had not been entitled to accept a £300m bid from New England Sports Ventures, in defiance of his and Gillett’s wishes, because two of the directors had [...]
English sides ready for Euro renaissance, says Dallaglio October 7, 2010 ENGLAND legend Lawrence Dallaglio has backed Premiership clubs to re-establish themselves as a European force this season. Northampton Saints were the only English side to reach the last eight of the Heineken Cup last year in what was a hugely disappointing campaign for domestic teams. But as the Premiership’s finest prepare to engage with the [...]
Injury dents Westwood’s shot at world No1 spot October 7, 2010 RYDER CUP hero Lee Westwood has vowed to soldier on in the hope of overtaking Tiger Woods as world No1, despite suffering a recurrence of a calf injury. Westwood needed treatment after shooting a two-under-par first round at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews yesterday. The injury, which kept Westwood out for almost [...]
Lewis-Francis beats slip-up to take silver October 7, 2010 ENGLAND’S Mark Lewis-Francis continued his renaissance by claiming Commonwealth silver in the 100m after a gritty sprint in Delhi. Lewis-Francis, who revitalised a stagnant career with European Championship silver in July, was hampered by a slow start caused by his blocks slipping backwards. But he refused to give in and powered back through the field, [...]
I’m the new favourite, says in-form Alonso as Spaniard eyes third title October 7, 2010 FERRARI’S Fernando Alonso has declared himself the new favourite to win a fiercely contested world championship ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. Back-to-back wins in Italy and Singapore have lifted Alonso into second in the drivers’ standings, just 11 points behind Red Bull’s Mark Webber with four races left. McLaren pair Lewis Hamilton and [...]
Munster can outshine fancied French October 7, 2010 A disappointing showing from the English clubs meant Northampton Saints were the country’s only team to reach the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup last year. This year Saints, Bath and reigning Premiership champions Leicester Tigers will be joined by three sides from the capital – Wasps, Saracens and London Irish – in the competition [...]
WE’LL LEAVE YOU DEBT-FREE October 6, 2010 LIVERPOOL’S prospective owners New England Sports Ventures last night eased supporters’ fears by promising their takeover will leave the club debt-free. The American group, led by hedge fund millionaire and Boston Red Sox owner John Henry, have pledged that their estimated £300m bid will wipe out any existing debt at Anfield. And, crucially, they have [...]
Owners may yet halt deal October 6, 2010 LIVERPOOL’S sale to American group New England Sports Ventures could be delayed or even derailed by a legal challenge from current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, sports business experts warned last night. Reds chairman Martin Broughton is adamant the board has the right to sell the club to John Henry’s NESV for £300m, even [...]