Trevor Steven: Nagelsmann would be a better fit as Tottenham manager than Conte March 27, 2023 I’m astonished that Antonio Conte didn’t get the job done at Tottenham Hotspur and am disappointed that he has left the Premier League. But the Italian has to take his fair share of the blame that his time at the club ended prematurely. In his defence, he only had 16 months in charge and the [...]
Football and rugby are still getting head injury wrong. Is this headband the answer? March 27, 2023 It is a dark irony that football and rugby have never been more concerned with head injury and concussion, yet the approaches of both sports remain dangerously misguided. In their attempts to prevent the trickle of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and early-onset dementia cases becoming a torrent, football has experimented with a ban on heading [...]
Non-league football contracts row: Should athletes be a special case in employment law? March 27, 2023 Whether it realises it or not, non-league football has raised an age-old legal argument: should sportspeople be treated as a separate case under employment law, given the unique space in which they operate? Reports suggesting that National League players could be prepared to go on strike over upcoming contract changes put forward by the Football [...]
Newcastle United doc from makers of All Or Nothing to put focus on business March 24, 2023 Newcastle United’s transformation under Saudi ownership will be the subject of a new documentary series on Amazon’s Prime Video platform, it has been confirmed. The four-part series will focus on the business side of running the club, through interviews with co-owner Amanda Staveley and other club chiefs as well as behind-the-scenes footage. The show, set [...]
Activist investor Elliott ramps up Manchester United interest with bid for minority stake March 23, 2023 Elliott Investment Management has upped its interest in Manchester United by offering to buy a small stake in the Premier League club. The activist investor had previously offered finance to any other party bidding for United, who were put for sale by the Glazer family in November. That offer remains, but after visiting Old Trafford [...]
Manchester United bidders fear Glazers want £6.5bn or will walk away from sale March 23, 2023 Manchester United’s suitors fear that the Glazer family will reverse their decision to sell the club unless they receive a bid of £6.5bn. The latest twists in the sale process have been interpreted in some quarters as evidence that United’s owners are not serious about relinquishing control at Old Trafford. Bidders were due to lodge [...]
Putin the boot in: Vladimir takes swipe at Britain over Russian sport ban lobbying March 23, 2023 Vladimir Putin has accused Russia’s critics including the UK of “using sports for unseemly purposes”. Putin said calls, led by Britain, for Russian athletes to remain banned from international sport were politically motivated. “Western countries are trying to use sports for unseemly purposes as a tool of pressure,” the Russian president told news agency TASS. [...]
I’ve seen 34 managers leave Crystal Palace and Patrick Vieira made me saddest – Ed Warner March 23, 2023 In my five decades supporting Crystal Palace I’ve seen 34 managers come and go (not including caretakers). Some resigned, others were sacked or left by the euphemistic “mutual consent”. One appeared to retire only to be reappointed this week – welcome back Roy! They ranged from the ‘aargh!’ (Alan Mullery and Steve Bruce) to God [...]
English clubs still want to join a European Super League, says Barcelona chief March 22, 2023 Leading English football clubs are still interested in joining a European Super League despite renouncing the project, says Barcelona president Joan Laporta. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur all backed out of the breakaway shortly after it was announced in April 2021. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus remain keen to press [...]
Why Rory McIlroy’s balls decision could boost his Masters chances March 22, 2023 Rory McIlroy is considering playing with a shorter golf ball in the hope of boosting his chances of completing the career grand slam at next month’s Masters. In a bid to curb ever-increasing driving distances at elite level, golf chiefs are giving tournaments the power to make players use Model Local Rule balls which travel [...]