Hard work pays off in the Long run May 17, 2011 CARDIFF (0) vs READING (3) Reading win 3-0 on aggregate READING manager Brian McDermott paid tribute to his side’s fighting spirit after they booked their place in the Championship play-off final at Wembley against Swansea on 30 May. The Royals entered the post-season lottery as the form team in the division on the back of [...]
MCCLAREN SNUBS WEST HAM May 16, 2011 Hot favourite to replace Grant out of the running Players told to stop feeling sorry for themselves FORMER England manager Steve McClaren last night insisted he is not the man to mastermind West Ham’s bid for an immediate return to the Premier League. McClaren was yesterday installed as the clear favourite to replace Avram Grant, [...]
Club bullish on £90m Olympic Stadium move despite drop May 16, 2011 WEST HAM insist relegation from the Premier League will not affect their plans to move into the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games. Concerns have been raised that the huge financial hit and the lower average gates caused by dropping into the Championship could force Hammers chiefs to consider abandoning the relocation, which will [...]
Fair play to Fulham as Europe calls May 16, 2011 FULHAM could make a surprise return to European competition next season via Uefa’s Respect Fair Play ranking. The 2010 Europa League runners-up are in pole position to benefit from the extra spot afforded to the Premier League by the governing body. Mark Hughes’ side, who have a chance of piping Everton for seventh place in [...]
DOWN AND OUT May 15, 2011 WIGAN ATHLETIC (3) vs WEST HAM (2) ● West Ham sack Grant minutes after relegation ● Hughton and Allardyce tipped as replacements FORMER Newcastle managers Chris Hughton and Sam Allardyce were last night installed as the bookmakers’ favourites to replace Avram Grant, after he was sacked for failing to avoid relegation. Hammers owners David Sullivan [...]
Ancelotti awaits Roman verdict May 15, 2011 CHELSEA (2) vs NEWCASTLE (2) CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti denied he was waving goodbye to the club’s fans during his side’s lap of honour following yesterday’s final match of the season at Stamford Bridge. Steven Taylor’s injury time header prevented Chelsea from ending their home campaign on a high and denied them the opportunity to [...]
Third place no longer certain for worried Wenger May 15, 2011 ARSENAL (1) vs ASTON VILLA (2) ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger admits it would be a huge blow were his side to surrender third place in the Premier League to Manchester City and automatic entry into next season’s Champions League. Robin van Persie’s last minute effort, his 21st goal of the season, was all Arsenal could [...]
Ferguson: Now bring on Man City and Liverpool May 15, 2011 + MANCHESTER’S DOUBLE JOY ++ MANCHESTER’S DOUBLE JOY ++ MANCHESTER’S DOUBLE JOY + MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists claiming a record-breaking 19th top-flight title will not diminish his hunger to see off another round of challengers. Saturday’s draw at Blackburn saw United clinch the Premier League with a game to spare and Ferguson [...]
FA Cup glory may not be enough to keep undecided Tevez at Eastlands May 15, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY captain Carlos Tevez has cast a shadow over his side’s landmark FA Cup success by refusing to guarantee he will be at the club at the start of next season. The Argentine forward’s future has been a matter of conjecture all season – he handed in a transfer request last December, which he [...]
Smith signs off at Gers with title May 15, 2011 A Kyle Lafferty hat-trick helped Rangers beat Kilmarnock 5-1 and seal the Scottish Premier League title on manager Walter Smith’s final game in charge. Smith said of his departure: “There will be a regret but I still think it’s the right thing.”