£155m contract propels McIlroy into big league January 14, 2013 GOLFER Rory McIlroy has underlined his status as one of sport’s hottest properties by signing a blockbusting sponsorship deal with Nike that could earn him up to £155m. McIlroy’s 10-year alliance with the American sportswear giant was confirmed yesterday, and propels the 23-year-old US PGA champion into the top league of global sports earners. The [...]
Cooke retires with broadside at Armstrong January 14, 2013 FORMER Olympic road race champion Nicole Cooke bowed out of cycling yesterday with a stinging attack on drug cheats and a warning not to afford sympathy to deposed Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. Cooke, who said she had resisted pressure to take performance enhancing substances throughout her career, called riders who doped “criminals who [...]
Remy on verge of U-turn over Newcastle as QPR hijack deal January 14, 2013 RELEGATION threatened Queens Park Rangers have emerged as contenders to hijack Newcastle’s bid for Marseille striker Loic Remy. The France international was set to have a medical in Newcastle yesterday after a fee in the region of £8m had been agreed between the clubs on Sunday night as Magpies manager Alan Pardew looks to replace [...]
Saracens sign Vunipola duo January 14, 2013 SARACENS have secured the surprise double signing of Wasps No8 Billy Vunipola and Harlequins prop James Johnston for next season. Samoa international Johnston won the Premiership with Quins last season while Vunipola has shone for Wasps since his debut in 2011, and earned a place in England’s Saxons squad last week. Vunipola, 20, will join [...]
Taylor lined up by Sussex men’s side January 14, 2013 ENGLAND women’s wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor is targeting a groundbreaking move into the men’s county game. The 23-year-old Sussex vice-captain, who bats at No3, is being lined up to play for the club’s men’s second XI, and has also discussed representing the MCC. “Part of me knows it would be phenomenal,” she said. “I would love [...]
Cook warns players to keep focus January 14, 2013 CRICKET: England captain Alastair Cook insists his side must not become complacent ahead of today’s match in Kochi after last week’s dramatic nine-run victory, which handed England a 1-0 lead in the five-match one-day series.
Jol to rest Berbatov for FA Cup tie January 14, 2013 FOOTBALL: Fulham manager Martin Jol is set to rest striker Dimitar Berbatov and several key players for their FA Cup third-round replay at Blackpool tonight, to halt a run of one win in six league games at Manchester City on Saturday.
Financial shares buoy FTSE 100 January 14, 2013 The blue chip index edged up in early trading, but failed to replicate strong gains overnight in Asia. Resources and financial shares were in favour this morning, with oil and gas services provider Petrofac the top FTSE 100 riser. Eurasian Natural Resources was up 1.58 per cent, as Credit Suisse upgraded the stock from “neutral” [...]
UPS takeover of TNT Express collapses January 14, 2013 United Parcel Service (UPS) said this morning it would withdraw its €5.2bn (£4.3bn) bid for rival TNT Express as it expects the regulator to block the takeover. UPS said this morning that the European Commission has informed both companies that it is working on a decision to prohibit the proposed takeover. UPS will pay Dutch [...]
Heathrow posts record 2012 passenger traffic January 14, 2013 Heathrow Airport saw a record number of passengers travel through the airport last year, as December traffic figures reached a new high for the month. Almost 70m passengers passed through Heathrow last year, the highest ever for a calendar year at the hub airport. Over the year as a whole, it marked a jump of [...]
