Mikel Arteta had no choice but to drop Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – and history suggests Arsenal captain should fall into line March 15, 2021 In dropping his captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, for the north London derby because he arrived late, Mikel Arteta took a huge risk. Lose to bitter rivals Tottenham, and the decision would look like hubristic self-sabotage. Win – as Arsenal ultimately did – and it is brave, principled leadership. Bold though it certainly was, in many ways [...]
Locked Down is the pandemic heist movie we didn’t need March 12, 2021 While some TV shows and awards ceremonies have made magic out of the limitations of the pandemic, movies haven’t fared as well. Michael Bay’s Songbird was a misfire, while Netflix’s Malcolm and Marie wasted talented actors on a self-indulgent script. Locked Down was conceived, written, filmed, and edited in around four months from the start [...]
Castore founder Tom Beahon on swapping life in the City and as a footballer to start fast-growing British premium sportswear brand March 12, 2021 Steven Gerrard wasn’t the only Liverpudlian celebrating when his Rangers team returned to the summit of Scottish football last weekend. Watching at home on Merseyside were Tom Beahon, 31, and brother Phil, 28, the founders of British sportswear brand Castore. Last year, Castore signed Rangers as their first football client. On Sunday, they toasted the [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Olympic chiefs offer vaccines to athletes; Israel wins French Super Cup; and Winklevoss twins return to Boat Race March 11, 2021 Olympic chiefs have eased concerns around this summer’s Games by offering Covid-19 vaccines to any athlete set to compete at Tokyo 2020. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the offer applied to athletes and teams involved in either Tokyo or the Winter Games in Beijing in February 2022. The IOC will buy the vaccines from [...]
Ollie Phillips: England v France is a role reversal this Six Nations – let’s see if Les Bleus have the minerals in Le Crunch March 11, 2021 It’s England v France – Le Crunch – this weekend in a match that could decide the Six Nations Championship – only this time the roles are reversed. France are the best team in the competition by a country mile and England are the ones getting hammered. But this is a must-win game for the [...]
SAS: Red Notice is Outlander star Sam Heughan’s Bond audition March 11, 2021 With Daniel Craig’s final Bond movie on the horizon, it’s that time again where every British leading man fields questions about whether they would like to take over. This week it’s the turn of Outlander star Sam Heughan, who raised the issue in an interview with Esquire Magazine. He’s the right age, has a strong [...]
Six Nations agrees £365m partnership with private equity firm CVC March 11, 2021 Six Nations Rugby has secured a £365m investment after agreeing to sell 14.3 per cent of its share to private equity firm CVC. CVC Capital Partners has now invested more than £700m into professional rugby, with its latest move adding to previous funds in the Gallagher Premiership and the Guinness Pro14. England Rugby released a [...]
Tom Holland shows his dark side in Russo Brothers’ Cherry March 11, 2021 With so much high-profile work under his belt, it’s easy to forget that Tom Holland has only been in movies since 2012. The 24-year-old made his on-camera debut alongside prestigious company in Oscar nominated drama The Impossible, and has barely stopped for breath since. Best known as Peter Parker/Spider-man in the all-conquering Marvel Universe, the [...]
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish says Champions League expansion plans will have ‘devastating effect’ on English football March 10, 2021 Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has called plans to expand the Champions League and change the qualifying criteria “very concerning”. Europe’s top football clubs and governing body Uefa have proposed an overhaul that would create 100 more fixtures and allocate extra places on the basis of historical success from 2024. “With the assault on the [...]
Why civil servants shouldn’t fear a move to Darlington March 10, 2021 Guy Opperman, the MP for Hexham in Northumberland and the Minister for Pensions, on falling for the charms of the North East and why Treasury civil servants shouldn’t shed any tears when they move from London to Darlington. The Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget was truly transformative. The North East will be home to the flagship [...]