Al-Faraj deal frees Pompey to splash out October 6, 2009 PORTSMOUTH’S new owner Ali Al-Faraj has pledged to dig deep to drag the club from the foot of the Premier League. The Saudi oil and property tycoon saved Pompey from administration on Monday by acquiring a 90 per cent stake from short-lived owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim. And having averted financial disaster, Al-Faraj has promised to fund [...]
‘I regret my stamp on Van Persie’, confesses Adebayor October 6, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY striker Emmaunel Adebayor admits he regrets his stamp on former Arsenal team-mate Robin van Persie. The £25m striker received a three-match ban for his attack on the Dutchman during City’s 4-2 victory at Eastlands on 12 September. But now the Togo hitman concedes he was wrong to lash out and says he wished [...]
BIRMINGHAM’S YEUNG GUN October 6, 2009 BIRMINGHAM City boss Alex McLeish says Carson Yeung’s takeover of the club has brought a ‘buzz’ around St Andrews. Hong Kong billionaire Yeung, above, purchased more than a 90 per cent stake share in the Premier League club and can now buy the rest of the shares on a compulsory basis. Funds have also been [...]
Lost Sol poised to make shock return to Arsenal October 6, 2009 FORMER Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has sounded out manager Arsene Wenger about training with the Gunners while he looks for another club. Campbell, 35, is without a team having walked out on ambitious League Two side Notts County just one game into a five-year contract. “It will be great to train here and get fit,” [...]
Cahill and Hart receive England call October 6, 2009 ENGLAND boss Fabio Capello last night drafted in goalkeeper Joe Hart and defender Gary Cahill into his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Belarus after Paul Robinson and Joleon Lescott pulled out with injuries. Lescott picked up a calf injury playing for Manchester City against Aston Villa on Monday, while Blackburn keeper [...]
Azam kick earns him a 12-week ban October 6, 2009 GLOUCESTER hooker Olivier Azam was last night handed a 12-week ban for kicking England captain Steve Borthwick in the eye. The Frenchman had only just returned from a nine-week eye-gouging ban when he clashed with Saracens star Borthwick in their Premiership clash on 27 September. Borthwick needed five stitches after being hurt in a ruck [...]
Massa prepares for F1 return October 6, 2009 RECOVERING Ferrari driver Felipe Massa could take the wheel of an F1 car next week for the first time since his life-threatening accident in July. The Italian team said a date would be allocated for a test session only once Massa had completed a second day on their driving simulator. A Ferrari spokesman said: “It [...]
Long schedule is taking its toll October 6, 2009 THIS is the week England players have been looking forward to all summer. Aside from an Ashes decider or a Champions Trophy semi-final, this, at last, is their reward for the longest summer of their careers – the week off. As the only cricket nation in the Northern Hemisphere, England are the only team who [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF October 6, 2009 Khan faces Salita in title defenceBOXING: Amir Khan will make the first defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against Dmitriy Salita at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, on Saturday 5 December. Khan, who won the title after out-pointing Andreas Kotelnik in July, takes on the American, who has won 30 and drawn one of his [...]
DENG INSPIRES BULLS AT O2 October 6, 2009 LONDON-raised Luol Deng enjoyed the perfect homecoming last night as his Chicago Bulls edged out the Utah Jazz in a thrilling finale to their NBA pre-season game at the O2 Arena. Deng, the Team GB star, finished joint top scorer with 18 points and added five assists to help the Bulls to a 102-101 victory [...]