Al-Fahim facing dilemma over Pompey stake February 21, 2010 PORTSMOUTH non-executive chairman Sulaiman Al-Fahim is weighing up whether to sever ties with the financially-stricken Premier League club or increase his shareholding. Bottom-of-the-table Pompey are around £60m in debt and could disappear altogether if they do not find fresh funds before they face a winding-up order on 1 March. Al-Fahim, who retained a 10 per [...]
Ladbrokes profits hit by downturn February 18, 2010 LADBROKES went on a losing streak in 2009 with the recession leading punters to place fewer and lower bets. Pre-tax profits slumped 28 per cent to £191.3m after a tough year in which it was forced to tap shareholders for £274.6m in October. The UK’s biggest bookmaker said its 2,000 UK betting shops suffered a [...]
Pulis in foreign owners doubt February 18, 2010 STOKE manager Tony Pulis has questioned whether Portsmouth would still be on the brink of liquidation if they were not foreign-owned. Pompey, who are due in court on 1 March to face a winding-up order, are so desperate for cash they have asked the Premier League for special dispensation to sell players outside the transfer [...]
Organisers fear revolt over IPL security fears February 18, 2010 THE Indian Premier League could yet suffer a host of high-profile withdrawals over fresh security concerns. World Cricketers’ union chief Tim May claims to have received a number of worried phone calls from players after terrorist threats were made from an operational arm of Al-Qaeda through an Asian news agency. The message, reportedly from 313 [...]
City and Reds to share the spoils as battle for fourth spot heats up February 18, 2010 MANCHESTER CITY V/S LIVERPOOL Sunday – 3.00pm THIS game could quite easily decide which team finishes fourth and takes the crucial final Champions League spot. Manchester City and Liverpool have been nip and tuck all season and a 10th home victory of the season for the host side would put them in a hugely strong [...]
Ladbrokes profits slump February 18, 2010 LADBROKES was on a losing streak in 2009 with the recession leading punters to place fewer and lower bets. Pre-tax profits slumped 28 per cent to £191.3m after a tough year in which it was forced to tap shareholders for £274.6m in October. The UK’s biggest bookmaker said its 2,000 UK betting shops suffered a [...]
League shouldn’t tamper with rules February 17, 2010 WHEN it comes to the plans to introduce a play-off for the fourth Champions League place, I’m with David Moyes and Rafael Benitez. They are both against plans for the teams who finish from fourth to seventh in the Premier League battling it out for the lucrative spot – and so am I. Firstly, it [...]
RBS opens talks for US Sempra February 16, 2010 ROYAL Bank of Scotland has begun discussions with potential buyers for the US parts of its Sempra Commodities business after JPMorgan paid $1.7bn (£1.1bn) for the European and Asian arms. JPMorgan yesterday signed a deal for RBS Sempra’s global oil and metal trading operations, plus its coal and gas capabilities on the continent and in [...]
Wenger cool on Champs League play-off plans February 16, 2010 ARSENE Wenger has voiced his opposition to Premier League proposals to introduce a play-off for the fourth Champions League spot. League chiefs are considering an overhaul of the current system that would see teams from fourth to seventh battle it out for the lucrative place. But Arsenal manager Wenger, whose team have qualified for the [...]
Sports minister joins debate over football club debt levels February 16, 2010 THE government is to press ahead with calls for tougher financial controls for football clubs, despite widespread criticism from within the industry. Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe yesterday weighed into the debate, calling for an overhaul of the way teams’ finances are regulated. The move follows increasing concern about the long-term viability of debt-laden clubs in [...]