Gerrard surprised but happy at player of the year honour May 13, 2009 LIVERPOOL’S trophy charge may seem destined to end fruitlessly but captain Steven Gerrard’s efforts have not gone unrewarded after he was voted Footballer of the Year by writers. Gerrard, 28, saw off competition from PFA Player of the Year Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney – both of Premier League champions-elect Manchester United – in the [...]
Arsenal chief backs Wenger ahead of shareholder grilling May 13, 2009 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger will face disappointed shareholders today – but goes into the meeting with a ringing endorsement from club chiefs. Wenger is due to attend a question and answer session in which the Frenchman’s failure to win a trophy for a fourth year in succession is sure to be scrutinised and dissected. Another [...]
McGeechan lined up for Scottish role with his Wasps days looking numbered May 13, 2009 LIONS coach Ian McGeechan is being lined up to take over as director of rugby at National One newcomers London Scottish after being edged out by Wasps. The dethroned Premiership champions are set to announce the end of McGeechan’s four-year tenure at the club later this week – just days before the 62-year-old embarks on [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF May 13, 2009 McIlroy: Ryder Cup unimportantGOLF: Northern Irish prodigy Rory McIlroy has dismissed the Ryder Cup as “an exhibition”, insisting it scarcely matters to him whether he makes the Europe team for next year’s event. “It’s not a huge goal of mine,” said the 20-year-old. “It’s an exhibition at the end of the day. In the big [...]
Renault follow Ferrari with quit threat May 13, 2009 RENAULT have joined Ferrari in threatening to abandon F1 if controversial plans to introduce a voluntary budget cap are imposed next season. Several leading teams fear the optional nature of the £40m cap will create an unfair two-tier competition and damage the appeal of the sport. Ferrari, the oldest and most glamorous team, went public [...]
Test cricket has priority, says Strauss May 13, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss last night hit back at West Indian counterpart Chris Gayle insisting Test cricket should remain the most important form of the game. Strauss sparked the row in the build-up to the first Test at Lord’s last week, criticising Gayle for joining his West Indies team-mates just two days before the series [...]
QUINLAN TO MISS LIONS TOUR May 13, 2009 MUNSTER flanker Alan Quinlan has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa after he was banned for 12 weeks for eye-gauging. The Irish international, 34, was cited for the incident involving Leinster’s Leo Cullen in the Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park on 2 May, and has been banned [...]
Murray has last word to take his place among elite September 10, 2008 Five months ago Andy Murray’s critics were sharpening their pencils and wondering aloud whether a promising career was fizzling out before it had got going. The British No1 had just been knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters in emphatic style by Novak Djokovic, who was fast leaving his former junior rival behind. It was [...]
Hammers’ ultimatum for Croatia boss Bilic September 8, 2008 West Ham have warned Croatia coach Slaven Bilic that they will not hold the manager’s job open for the former Hammers player. Bilic features on a four-man shortlist to replace Alan Curbishley, along with Italians Roberto Donadoni and Gianfranco Zola and former Getafe boss Michael Laudrup. Hammers officials plan to hold talks with Bilic later [...]
Murray into first Grand Slam final September 8, 2008 British No1 Andy Murray will tonight compete in the first Grand Slam final of his short career after he produced another scintillating performance to dump world No1 Rafael Nadal out of the US Open. Murray continued his extraordinary progress at Flushing Meadow by completing a 6-2, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Nadal, ending the Spaniard’s [...]