Ancelotti: Chelsea won’t sack me March 23, 2010 CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti is convinced he will still be in charge next season, irrespective of whether the team’s Premier League and FA Cup challenges flourish or flounder. It cannot have escaped the self-confessed fan of statistics, however, that Roman Abramovich has dispensed with coaches with better records than his. Ancelotti takes his side to [...]
Blame me: Zola tempts fate March 23, 2010 WEST HAM (1) v/s WOLVES (3) UNDER-FIRE manager Gianfranco Zola urged fans to blame him, not the players, after furious West Ham supporters revolted during a defeat that pushed them closer to the drop. Goals from Kevin Doyle, Ronald Zubar and Matt Jarvis lifted the visitors to relative safety and left the Hammers dangling three [...]
Tigers chief urges salary cap overhaul March 23, 2010 LEICESTER TIGERS director Peter Wheeler last night called for a major review of the salary cap system in order to help English rugby compete with Europe’s elite. The Guinness Premiership has suffered from an exodus of players heading for the bright lights and big wages of the French Top 14 league, including the world’s best [...]
Bresnan issues warning as England close in on victory March 23, 2010 ALL-ROUNDER Tim Bresnan has warned against complacency despite England moving into a winning position in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur. Bresnan earlier nudged his way to a career-best 91 in only his second Test match to help the tourists to 496. And he also contributed with the ball as, despite a series of [...]
Horne named acting FA chief executive but permanent appointment put on ice March 23, 2010 CHAIRMAN Lord Triesman insists the Football Association will not be rushed into appointing a new permanent chief executive before this summer’s World Cup. Alex Horne, the erstwhile chief operating officer, was yesterday made acting chief executive after the shock resignation of Ian Watmore on Monday. But Triesman, who held an emergency board meeting at Wembley [...]
RUGBY CHAT: DID MARTIN JOHNSON’S ENGLAND TURN THE CORNER AGAINST FRANCE? March 23, 2010 DUNCAN BROWN | MINSTER LAW SOLICITORS “I don’t think we were going to ever beat France, but it was a fairly good performance and I felt we turned the corner in many respects. The introductions of Ben Foden and Chris Ashton gave us impetus but Johnson needs to blood more like these.” PETER DAVIS | [...]
Spurs land starlet Sandro in £10.5m summer deal March 23, 2010 TOTTENHAM last night confirmed a deal to sign Brazilian midfielder Sandro, subject to a medical. The 21-year-old is due to arrive at White Hart Lane later this week with a view to completing an estimated £10.5m deal from Internacional. Sandro will not join the club, however, until the conclusion of the Copa Libertadores in August, [...]
Broadcasters agree on an even split for World Cup schedule March 23, 2010 THE BBC and ITV have confirmed an even split of matches for this summer’s World Cup in South Africa. While ITV will show two of England’s three group stage games, the BBC has first pick of last 16 and quarter-final ties. Both will then show the final and any semi-final featuring Fabio Capello’s side. The [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF March 23, 2010 Button’s eyeing Aussie success FORMULA ONE: World champion Jenson Button says McLaren can close the gap on their rivals at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. Button could only finish seventh in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix a fortnight ago, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton was third. But Button said: “It’s a low downforce circuit which suits [...]
First Lady of Football Brady eyeing last laugh at embattled West Ham March 22, 2010 ANYONE willing to succeed the much-loved Margaret Mountford as Alan Sugar’s sidekick on The Apprentice is clearly on first-name terms with daunting tasks, but Karren Brady may have surpassed herself with the role of vice-chairman at West Ham. Among the Premier League’s most illustrious clubs but staring down the barrel of financial ruin, they are [...]