What’s in a name? The value of stadium sponsorship November 14, 2011 RECENT murmurings from Chelsea and Newcastle have once again raised the thorny issue of stadium naming rights, and more specifically what they are actually worth in the Premier League. Part of the problem is that no-one is terribly sure. Logically, one would use recent precedent as a guide, but there are inherent problems with using [...]
Venky’s: Rovers not for sale November 14, 2011 FOOTBALL: Blackburn Rovers’ owners Venky’s have insisted the club is not for sale. The Premier League strugglers had been linked with a potential takeover by Middle East oil giant Qatar Petroleum. Co-owner Venkatesh Rao said: “It’s not true and nothing is going to happen like that. We’ve had no offer and we’re not interested. We’re [...]
Terry won’t be affected by race row, says Pallister November 8, 2011 FORMER England defender Gary Pallister believes John Terry will have no trouble asserting himself as the Three Lions skipper if he is asked to lead the side in the next few days, despite the cloud of ongoing Football Association (FA) and police investigations hanging over him. Terry is yet to learn his fate after the FA [...]
Dawson accepts comeback defeat and faces months out after surgery November 8, 2011 SPURS defender Michael Dawson is facing yet more months on the sidelines after his recovery from an Achilles injury suffered another setback. The England centre-back underwent an operation on the problematic tendon yesterday after the club’s medical staff accepted defeat in his latest comeback attempt. Dawson (above) will have to wait until December before doctors [...]
Warne out of retirement for Australia’s Big Bash November 8, 2011 ENGLAND’S former Ashes nemesis Shane Warne confirmed yesterday he is to come out of retirement and play for the Melbourne Stars in the inaugural Big Bash League. The 42-year-old leg-spinner called time on his illustrious career six months ago following the completion of his stint with Indian Premier League franchise the Rajasthan Royals. Warne, whose [...]
‘I’ve been physically and mentally abused many times at games in UK’ November 7, 2011 TOPICS of conversation are not hard to come by with Tony Fernandes, the gregarious Malaysian entrepreneur who recently added Premier League football club Queens Park Rangers to an empire that includes AirAsia and Formula One racing team Lotus. In a whirlwind half-hour he explains his recipe for business success, discusses QPR becoming bigger than Liverpool [...]
Richards still hopes to join Silva on the international stage November 7, 2011 WORLD and European champions Spain have named seven members of the Barcelona side that lifted the Champions League trophy at Wembley back in May in their squad to face England on Saturday. Vincente del Bosque’s squad also includes former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, who returned to Camp Nou in the summer, while injured club colleague [...]
Balotelli and Toure set City up for Napoli crunch clash November 2, 2011 VILLARREAL 0 vs MAN CITY 3 MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini believes his side will face the acid test of their Champions League aspirations in a winner-takes-all clash against Napoli in three week’s time. The Premier League leaders took just one point from their opening two fixtures in the competition, but back-to-back wins over Spanish [...]
Heart surgery won’t force Harry into retirement, insists Bond November 2, 2011 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp is recovering after minor heart surgery but he won’t be forced to consider early retirement, according to his assistant Kevin Bond. Redknapp was admitted to hospital on Tuesday with a cardiac problem and had two stents inserted to unblock coronary arteries on yesterday. Spurs have already announced that the 64-year-old will be [...]
Rooney up for award November 1, 2011 Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is the only Englishman shortlisted for the Ballon D’Or. Only five players on the shortlist have Premier League connections, two of which – Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero – spent only half of 2011 in England – compared to 15 in Spain. European champions Barcelona lead the way with eight [...]