Wilkinson freed up for England return July 8, 2009 JONNY WILKINSON has been cleared to join up with his England team-mates next month by his club Toulon. Wilkinson, 30, was recalled to England’s elite 32-man squad on Tuesday for the forthcoming autumn internationals. Coach Martin Johnson feared a backlash, however, as Wilkinson was ordered to meet up with the squad on August 9-14 – clashing with [...]
Liebherr is the Saints saviour July 8, 2009 SOUTHAMPTON have been saved from the brink of extinction after Swiss businessman Markus Liebherr announced the completion of his takeover of the League One club yesterday. The 61-year-old has an estimated fortune of £2.5bn and paid an undisclosed fee for the club. Liebherr owns and controls the Swiss-based Mali Group, which consists of five companies [...]
SUMMER SALES July 8, 2009 Barca sanction Ribery swoopBARCELONA have given boss Pep Guardiola the green light to sign winger Franck Ribery should he want him. The Frenchman has been linked with a move to Real Madrid all summer, although the big-spending Spanish giants have given up hope of signing the £60m-rated Bayern Munich star. Chelsea remain in the race, [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF July 8, 2009 Poulter ignores Scottish jinxGOLF: England’s Ian Poulter says he won’t be listening to any “wives’ tales” when he tees off for the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond today. No player has ever won this event and gone on to take the Open Championship the following week, but Poulter, currently at a career high No16 [...]
Armstrong fails in bid to topple rival Cancellara July 8, 2009 LANCE ARMSTRONG just failed to reclaim the yellow jersey from Fabien Cancellara following the fifth stage of the Tour de France. The returning seven-time champion was given the same time as Cancellara for the 196.5km stage from Le Cap D’Adge to Perpignan, ensuring the Swiss star just stayed in front in the overall standings. Frenchman [...]
ZOKORA LEAVES THE LANE July 8, 2009 MIDFIELDER Didier Zokora yesterday left Tottenham for Sevilla in an £8m deal. The Ivory Coast international, who joined from Saint Etienne in 2006, made 134 appearances for Spurs but struggled to hold down a starting place after Harry Redknapp became manager in October. Zokora, 28, has signed a four-year contract with Sevilla, who said he [...]
England look value July 7, 2009 WHEN England were bowled out for 51 by the West Indies at Sabina Park in February, I never thought I’d be tipping them up to reclaim the urn at 2/1 with Boylesports less than five months later. However, since then, Andrew Strauss’s men have seen off the West Indies with an emphatic 2-0 Test series [...]
Now it’s my turn to slay the Aussies July 7, 2009 WHO could forget it? It was Sunday 7 August 2005, Australia needed just two runs to win the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, England needed a solitary wicket. Steve Harmison thunders down to the crease, batsman Michael Kasprowicz gets the faintest of edges and Geraint Jones dives to his left to take the catch. The [...]
Onions must get the nod over struggling Panesar July 7, 2009 MUCH of the talk surrounding today’s first Test has centred around the condition of the Cardiff pitch and its effect on selection. While it seems the soft nature of the surface would suit the spinners come day four or five, I would urge England to consider going against the grain when selecting the XI to [...]
Zhirkov seals 18m switch to Chelsea July 7, 2009 CHELSEA’S newest recruit Yuri Zhirkov has admitted that accepting a switch to Stamford Bridge was an easy decision. The versatile Russia international, 25, who can play anywhere down the left flank, signed a three-year contract yesterday after sealing his £18m move from CSKA Moscow. Zhirkov said he could not have rejected the dream transfer, having [...]