OUT OF OFFICE August 4, 2010 LAST CHANCE: AFTER THE DANCE Anyone who’s been riveted by Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance in the BBC’s updated version of Sherlock Holmes should check out his tremendous starring role in After the Dance at the National Theatre, which ends next week. In the revival of Terence Rattigan’s 1939 play, Cumberbatch plays a rich, dissolute, part-time historian [...]
Buyers pull their weight in Liverpool tug-of-war August 4, 2010 THE battle to take over the keys of Liverpool FC was thrown into confusion last night after a contrasting day of counter claims and denials from potential buyers. Chinese businessman Kenny Huang began the day in pole position after admitting on Monday he had been locked in talks with the club’s major creditors, Royal Bank [...]
We’ll go bust if we lose in court, say Portsmouth August 4, 2010 PORTSMOUTH say they could go out of business if they lose their court case against the tax authorities today. HM Revenue & Customs are challenging a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) to allow the club to come out of administration, claiming it is owed £13m more than the £24m stated by the club’s administrators. And Portsmouth’s [...]
Euro heartache for Celtic despite second-leg win August 4, 2010 CELTIC crashed out of the Champions League at the first hurdle for a second year running despite rallying to a 2-1 second-leg victory over Braga at Parkhead. With the comfort of an imposing 3-0 lead from the first leg, the Portuguese side clicked into cruise control when Paulo Cesar glanced in a neat first-half header. [...]
Blackburn hold talks of takeover August 4, 2010 BLACKBURN ROVERS are the latest Premier League to hold talks over a possible takeover. Chairman John Williams revealed yesterday the club are in discussions with a number of interested parties about taking charge at Ewood Park. Rovers currently owned by the trustees of the late Jack Walker and has debts of around £20m, but Indian [...]
England need to be wary of Yousuf threat, warns Swann August 4, 2010 GRAEME SWANN admits England are wary of the threat of returning Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf for the second Test. Yousuf, 35, has come out of international retirement to help bolster the batting line-up of a Pakistan side thrashed by 354 runs in the first Test at Trent Bridge last week. And spinner Swann admits Yousuf, [...]
Johnson anguish as Toulon refuse to release Wilkinson August 4, 2010 ENGLAND were dragged into another club versus country row last night after Toulon refused to release Jonny Wilkinson for international duty. Wilkinson, 31, has been in impressive form for the Top 14 club so far this pre-season and is required to play in their opening league game against Bayonne next Friday. But that clashes with [...]
It’s the most open race for many a year August 4, 2010 MANAGERS will have one just word embedded in their minds when they open their Championship campaigns this weekend: Blackpool. Ian Holloway’s achievement in taking the Seasiders to the promised land on a shoestring budget and a team of grafters will certainly not have gone unnoticed among bosses of the so-called smaller sides in the second [...]
100 marathons in 100 days is not boring, it’s soul-destroying August 4, 2010 FOR most of us, running a marathon is fulfilling a lifelong ambition, but for Mike Buss it’s an everyday chore. Buss, a former Army PTI and record-breaking endurance athlete, is making a mockery of the gruelling 26.3-mile challenge by completing it every day for 100 days – all in the name of charity. Since 16 [...]
Brum boss McLeish lines up swoop for Italian duo August 4, 2010 BIRMINGHAM City boss Alex McLeish is lining up an audacious swoop to land experienced Italian duo Mauro Camoranesi and Fabio Grosso. Camoranesi, 33, has been linked with a move away from Italy after eight years at Juventus and the midfielder’s agent has confirmed the Blues have made an approach. “There was an official contact with [...]