Venables defends Carlo firing May 24, 2011 FORMER England manager and Chelsea captain Terry Venables has defended owner Roman Abramovich’s decision to sack Double-winning boss Carlo Ancelotti. Venables believes the Italian was unlucky to lose his job just 12 months after leading the Blues to the Premier League and FA Cup. But the ex-QPR, Barcelona and Tottenham chief insists it is too [...]
LIPPI FITS BLUES BILL, SAYS VIALLI May 23, 2011 Ex-Chelsea boss believes Italian World Cup-winner has credentials to rival favourites Guus Hiddink and Marco van Basten for west London role EXCLUSIVE FRANK DALLERES FORMER Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli believes World Cup-winning ex- Italy coach Marcello Lippi is a credible rival to bookmakers’ favourites Guus Hiddink and Marco van Basten for the Stamford Bridge hot-seat. [...]
Morgan: IPL set me up for Test summer May 23, 2011 ENGLAND batsman Eoin Morgan insists he made the correct decision to gamble with his Test future by fulfilling his Indian Premier League commitments. The talented Irishman secured his inclusion for the first Test against Sri Lanka, which starts on Thursday, after scoring 193 against the tourists for the Lions in last week’s warm-up match. Ravi [...]
Birmingham keep faith in McLeish, for now at least May 23, 2011 BIRMINGHAM manager Alex McLeish has been told that he can keep his job despite taking the club down for a second time – but only if he brings them straight back up again. The Blues were relegated on Sunday after losing their final Premier League fixture at Tottenham, plunging McLeish’s future into doubt. But the [...]
QPR takeover talk cooled May 22, 2011 MOTORSPORT tycoon Bernie Ecclestone yesterday played down talk of Lakshmi Mittal, Britain’s richest man, taking full control of football club Queen’s Park Rangers. Formula One boss Ecclestone, who owns 62 per cent of the west London club, compared the situation to Rupert Murdoch’s recent interest in buying CVC, which owns the commercial rights to F1. [...]
Editor stands by decision to break order May 22, 2011 THE editor of a newspaper that printed the identity of a footballer who took out a super injunction to hide an alleged affair yesterday said he wanted to “spark debate” over current laws which “fly in the face of logic”. In an interview with City A.M., Sunday Herald editor Richard Walker said he does not [...]
Holloway blasts league after 4-2 loss sends his side and Birmingham down into Championship May 22, 2011 DEVASTATED Blackpool manager Ian Holloway turned his anger on Premier League chiefs after his side slipped out of the top flight on a final day riddled with twists. With half an hour left the Tangerines were on course for a memorable escape and a shock win at champions Manchester United, but a 4-2 loss ultimately [...]
European woes damn Ancelotti May 22, 2011 TWELVE months ago Carlo Ancelotti was toasting the Double after an exemplary first season in England. This morning he is jobless, the latest manager to be discarded by Chelsea in Roman Abramovich’s quest for perfection. Sympathy will not be hard to come by, and not just because of the Italian’s easy-going charm. Yet Ancelotti’s departure [...]
Keen flunks audition but claims he can be Mr Nasty May 22, 2011 WEST HAM (0) vs SUNDERLAND (3) WEST HAM caretaker manager Kevin Keen is adamant he is tough enough to take up the managerial reins at Upton Park despite his audition for the job ending in a heavy defeat. Goals from Bolo Zenden, Stephane Sessegnon and Cristian Riveros ensured Sunderland extended their superb form in the [...]
Morgan gets vote to face Sri Lanka May 22, 2011 MIDDLESEX batsman Eoin Morgan will replace the retired Paul Collingwood in England’s Test side to face Sri Lanka on Thursday. The century Morgan scored against the same opponents for the Lions last week convinced the selectors he was the man to inherit the Durham all-rounder’s spot at No6. Ravi Bopara, who shunned the Indian Premier [...]