League won’t ban Wonga deal October 9, 2012 PREMIER League chiefs have ruled out intervening in the row over Wonga.com’s sponsorship of Newcastle United, despite the storm that greeted yesterday’s £24m four-year deal between the club and the controversial payday lender. Industry experts accused the company of cynically targeting an area with the highest personal insolvency rates in the country, while the Football [...]
Bolton sack manager Coyle October 9, 2012 FOOTBALL: Bolton Wanderers have sacked manager Owen Coyle after last season’s relegation from the Premier League was followed by a poor start to their Championship campaign. “I had fantastic times here as a player and it has been a privilege to have held the post of manager,” said Coyle. “I wish everyone connected with Bolton [...]
Rodgers riled by vilification of Suarez dive October 8, 2012 LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers has criticised the “vilification” of Luis Suarez after the forward was on Sunday accused of diving against Stoke City. The Uruguay international theatrically fell in the Stoke penalty area during their 0-0 Premier League draw away to Liverpool at Anfield but Rodgers has been exasperated by criticism of the forward’s behaviour [...]
Wonga readies Newcastle sponsorship deal October 7, 2012 SHORT-TERM lending company Wonga.com, led by Errol Damelin, is close to sealing a shirt sponsorship deal with Premier League football club Newcastle United that would see it replace Virgin Money from the start of the 2013-14 football season. Wonga, which already sponsors Championship side Blackpool United and Scottish outfit Hearts, is not interested in a [...]
Villas-Boas eyes Chelsea as bright start continues October 7, 2012 TOTTENHAM 2 vs ASTON VILLA 0 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas yesterday revealed his pleasure at the continuation of his side’s fine form but insisted he is yet to make a decision on who to make his first-choice goalkeeper. France international Hugo Lloris started his first Premier League match for Spurs on an afternoon when goals [...]
Pardew slams Van Persie in elbowing row October 7, 2012 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 vs MANCHESTER UNITED 3 NEWCASTLE manager Alan Pardew called on the Football Association to investigate Manchester United striker Robin van Persie for elbowing after the Magpies slipped to a heavy home defeat. Early headers from defenders Jonny Evans and Patrice Evra gave the visitors a cushion, and midfielder Tom Cleverley curled a [...]
An upset could be on the cards at Upton Park October 4, 2012 WEST HAM vs ARSENAL TOMORROW 5.30pm ARSENAL’S strong road record will be firmly put to the test when the Gunners head to Upton Park this weekend. On their travels they are unbeaten in the top flight this term and have lost just once – at Loftus Road – since mid-January. But Arsene Wenger has repeatedly [...]
We have got to improve or we’ll be out, says City boss Mancini October 2, 2012 MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini believes only a significant improvement in his side’s continental approach will suffice if they are to advance beyond the Champions League group stages. In their only European fixture so far this season, City lost 2-1 away to Real Madrid having twice taken the lead. Given that their relative naivety was [...]
Hughes holds QPR’s hands up after loss keeps them bottom October 1, 2012 QPR 1 vs WEST HAM 2 QPR manager Mark Hughes criticised his side’s underwhelming first-half performance in last night’s match after concluding that that and Samba Diakite’s red card left a first Premier League victory of the season ultimately beyond them. West Ham winger Matt Jarvis scored with a fortuitious goal after only three minutes [...]
Indifference towards the World Twenty20 is almost inevitable September 30, 2012 THE Ryder Cup may have been the biggest show in town in Chicago over the past week but it certainly hasn’t been the only one. The White Sox have been playing baseball. Endlessly. Night after night in front of swathes of empty seats as the sport drifts aimlessly into becoming a kind of athletic Muzak [...]