Give Robbie job, Grant tells Roman April 25, 2012 FORMER Chelsea manager Avram Grant has urged Blues owner Roman Abramovich to hand interim boss Roberto di Matteo the job on a permanent basis, after the Italian led them to the Champions League final. But Grant admits even reaching the most prestigious match in club football might not be enough for Abramovich, as the Israeli [...]
New financial model braces Championship clubs for fines April 25, 2012 CHAMPIONSHIP clubs run the risk of receiving damaging fines or being placed under a transfer embargo under new financial regulations to be imposed from next season. The financial model, based on Uefa’s financial fair play regulations, was voted for by 21 of the Championship’s 24 clubs and means that any team that records total losses [...]
Sports Direct raises Ashley’s payout plans April 25, 2012 MIKE Ashley, the billionaire founder of Sports Direct, could net a one-off shares bonus worth about £24m at current prices after Britain’s biggest sporting goods retailer raised a proposed payout. Sports Direct said yesterday it would ask shareholders at its annual meeting in September to back the granting of 8m shares to Ashley, up from [...]
THE £50M GOAL April 24, 2012 Torres sends Chelsea into final after Terry red card shame BARCELONA 2 vs CHELSEA 2 CHELSEA WIN 3-2 ON AGGREGATE JUBILANT manager Roberto di Matteo marvelled at Chelsea’s “special DNA” after the 10-man Londoners beat Barcelona to reach the Champions League final, thanks to a stoppage-time goal by £50m misfit Fernando Torres. The Blues looked [...]
We can be Euro champs, says Chelsea boss April 23, 2012 16 Number of goals scored by Barca this season CHELSEA manager Roberto di Matteo insists his side are good enough to win the Champions League as they prepare for 90 minutes that could define their season in Barcelona tonight. A gutsy 1-0 win in last week’s semi-final first leg has given the Blues an outstanding [...]
Leicester victory keeps West Ham in contention for top-two finish April 23, 2012 LEICESTER CITY 1 vs WEST HAM UNITED 2 WEST Ham remain in the hunt for automatic promotion to the Premier League after winning 2-1 at Leicester to close to within two points of second-placed Southampton. Striker Jermaine Beckford headed the Foxes in front just after the half-hour mark but defender Winston Reid equalised just five [...]
United let City close gap April 22, 2012 MANCHESTER UNITED (4) vs EVERTON (4) Ferguson expects derby to decide title after wobble MANCHESTER United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admits next week’s derby at Manchester City will be the biggest of his illustrious career after a late collapse against Everton flung the title race wide open. United were 4-2 up and coasting with less [...]
Title still not in our hands, maintains Mancini April 22, 2012 WOLVES (0) vs MANCHESTER CITY (2) MANCHESTER City boss Roberto Mancini refuses to accept his team are back in the title hunt despite slashing Manchester United’s lead to three points – and condemning Wolves to relegation – yesterday at Molineux. Goals in each half from Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri were scant reward for City’s [...]
Van Persie and Walker honoured by fellow pros April 22, 2012 ARSENAL’S Robin van Persie and Tottenham’s Kyle Walker completed a north London clean sweep at the PFA Awards last night. Gunners captain Van Persie, who has scored 34 goals in what has been a tumultuous campaign for Arsene Wenger’s team, was voted Player of the Year. Spurs full-back Walker, who made his England debut in [...]
Hodgson dodges revenge talk as ex-Reds boss wins on return April 22, 2012 LIVERPOOL (0) vs WEST BROMWICH ALBION (1) WEST BROM manager Roy Hodgson refused to gloat after Peter Odemwingie’s goal handed him an historic victory over the club that sacked him last season. Odemwingie capitalised on defender Glen Johnson’s error to score 15 minutes from time as Liverpool paid for their failure to convert countless chances. [...]