Football Comment: United could use a cup run to ease pressure February 15, 2015 IF NOTHING else, for the sake of providing a regular distraction from the pressure of trying to attain a top-four Premier League finish, Manchester United could really do with beating Preston tonight in the FA Cup. That league pressure was laid bare last week, when manager Louis van Gaal showed his short fuse by publicly [...]
The British Hammer Man tasked with auctioning Kevin Pietersen February 15, 2015 Richard Madley tells Ross McLean about selling cricketers to stars of Bollywood THE LIKES of Kevin Pietersen, Yuvraj Singh and Angelo Mathews may not be an auctioneer’s quintessential lot but for the eighth successive year a British gavel will come down on some of the most sought-after cricketers on the planet. The annual glitz and [...]
Arsenal injury record: Gunners players have missed more games than Chelsea and Tottenham put together February 13, 2015 Aaron Ramsey is the latest Arsenal player to find himself back on the treatment table after suffering his third hamstring injury of the season during the Gunners’ 2-1 victory over Leicester earlier this week. It’s a story that’s become all too familiar for Arsenal fans. The team takes a step forward in the league, [...]
Red Devils hit by Champions League absence February 12, 2015 MANCHESTER United has found itself deeper in the red as its failure to qualify for the Champions League has seen debts spiral and revenues plunge. The UK’s biggest football club came seventh last season as David Moyes took over the role of manager from Sir Alex Ferguson who had managed the team since 1986, delivering [...]
BT taps market for £1bn to get EE February 12, 2015 BT RAISED around £1bn through a share placing with institutional investors yesterday to help fund its £12.5bn takeover of mobile phone operator EE. The shares, equivalent to about three per cent of BT’s outstanding issuance, were priced at 455p, slightly below yesterday’s opening price of 458.7p. BT said the placing is not conditional on the [...]
Mourinho relief as Ivanovic escapes McCarthy sanction February 12, 2015 CHELSEA defender Branislav Ivanovic has escaped a three-match ban for his altercation with Everton’s James McCarthy during the Premier League leaders’ late win on Wednesday night. A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the flashpoint, which was missed by referee Jonathan Moss and his assistants, but ruled that the Serb’s behaviour did not merit a [...]
Euro clubs fear Premier League becoming NBA February 12, 2015 EUROPE’S top football clubs have been urged to join forces in a bid to rein in the power of the Premier League, following its eye-watering new £5.1bn television deal. The president of a leading French team says he fears England’s domestic competition is on course to become football’s equivalent of the NBA, and wants European [...]
Ramsey set for extended audition for QPR job after landmark away victory February 12, 2015 QUEENS Park Rangers are set to reward caretaker manager Chris Ramsey for achieving the club’s first Premier League away points of the season by leaving him in control for the rest of the campaign. Coach Ramsey was placed in temporary charge last week following Harry Redknapp’s abrupt resignation and ended Rangers’ 11-match losing streak on [...]
Hodgson drops hint over Kane’s first senior international call-up February 12, 2015 ENGLAND boss Roy Hodgson last night gave a strong indication that Tottenham’s hotshot striker Harry Kane will be included in his squad for next month’s Euro2016 qualifier against Lithuania and friendly with Italy. Kane’s strike against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday took his tally for the season to 23 goals in 35 matches, while the [...]
Sport Comment: Modern day Roy of the Rovers ought to savour fairytale rise February 12, 2015 DO NOT adjust your set. You heard correctly: the new Premier League broadcast rights deal is worth £5.1bn; the era of the £10m game is upon us; top stars may soon be earning £500,000 a week – and yes, an elite club manager did appear to throttle an opposing player. In the midst of all [...]