Managerial casualties remind Bruce to enjoy Arsenal cup final May 13, 2014 TOTTENHAM’S decision to sack Tim Sherwood has only made Hull manager Steve Bruce even more determined to savour Saturday’s FA Cup final against Arsenal. Sherwood’s dismissal came 24 hours after the end of Pepe Mel’s short-lived reign at West Brom and following a season in which Premier League managerial casualties reached double figures. “I’ve been [...]
World Cup squad news May 13, 2014 Torres set for summer in Brazil WORLD champions Spain have named Chelsea’s struggling £50m striker Fernando Torres in their provisional 30-man World Cup squad, but Tottenham’s Roberto Soldado has been overlooked. Real Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa, part of the team that won 2010 tournament in South Africa, has been omitted. Nasri and Clichy omitted by France [...]
Rio quits United but set to play on May 12, 2014 MANCHESTER United defender Rio Ferdinand last night vowed to carry on playing after announcing that he is to end his 12-year spell at Old Trafford this summer. Ferdinand, 35, was not offered a new contract by United chiefs but insisted he still felt “fit and healthy, ready for a new challenge and looking forward to [...]
Old hand Lampard proves indispensable to Hodgson May 12, 2014 CHANGE is in the air for England, it would seem, but Frank Lampard is one element of previous regimes that manager Roy Hodgson is not so keen to dispense with just yet. Hodgson has proven willing to effectively end the international career of Ashley Cole, see through his warning that Jermain Defoe’s move to Toronto [...]
Championship: Austin’s double sends QPR into Wembley final May 12, 2014 QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2 WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 QPR WIN 2-1 ON AGGREGATE QUEENS Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton hailed the team’s “band of brothers” after they stayed on course for an immediate return to the Premier League – and an £80m windfall – last night. Striker Charlie Austin struck twice, including an extra-time winner, as [...]
Lerner ready to sell Villa and hopeful of £200m May 12, 2014 ASTON Villa owner Randy Lerner is hopeful of fetching as much as £200m for the club after officially putting them up for sale yesterday. The American, who bought Villa for £63m eight years ago and has spent around £90m net on transfer fees, said he felt it was time “to look for new leadership” for [...]
Mackay linked to West Brom as Mel manages just four months May 12, 2014 WEST Brom have begun the search for a new manager just four months after hiring their last boss following their decision to part company with Pepe Mel yesterday. The Spaniard steered the Baggies to Premier League safety, but only by a margin of three points and after a tepid reign in which he won just [...]
Pulis honoured for Palace rescue job May 12, 2014 FOOTBALL: Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis was last night named Premier League Manager of the Year by the League Managers’ Association. Pulis polled the most votes among his peers after taking over a Palace side seemingly doomed to relegation from the top flight and steering them to an 11th-place finish.
Brighton boss Garcia steps down May 12, 2014 FOOTBALL: Brighton manager Oscar Garcia has resigned after just one season in charge following the club’s failure to win promotion to the Premier League. Brighton lost 6-2 on aggregate to Derby in the play-off semi-finals.
Protectionism will do nothing for the UK – or the quality of its football May 12, 2014 ECONOMIC protectionism is back. Ukip has put immigration at the forefront of its EU election campaign, implying that competition in the jobs market from EU nationals is bad for UK interests. Labour thinks government should be more active in protecting the “national interest” in pharmaceuticals, and should stop foreigners buying property they might leave empty. [...]