Sullivan backs Grant January 18, 2011 WEST HAM manager Avram Grant has the “100 per cent” backing of the club’s board, according to co-owner David Sullivan, after it was confirmed that the Israeli would remain in the Upton Park hotseat yesterday. The former Portsmouth and Chelsea boss was widely expected to be replaced by Martin O’Neill after Saturday’s 3-0 drubbing at [...]
Boss facing moment of truth January 18, 2011 COMPETENT coach unfairly tarnished by hopeless causes in Portsmouth and now West Ham, or under-qualified charisma-void still dining out on his fleeting association with a great Chelsea side? Whatever you might think of Avram Grant, he certainly divides opinion like few other managers. Grant’s supporters will point to the fact he led Chelsea to the [...]
Cup success is a real possiblity, says Van Persie January 18, 2011 ARSENAL striker Robin van Persie admits Arsenal need a major improvement on their last two cup performances if they are to get the better of Leeds this evening. The Gunners were well below par in their FA Cup third round tie at Emirates Stadium 10 days ago, when they required an 89th minute Cesc Fabregas [...]
Premier League’s January spending set to top £100m January 17, 2011 ASTON VILLA’S club record £24m bid for Sunderland striker Darren Bent looks set to trigger a flurry of transfer window activity that propels top flight spending past the £100m mark. Hard-up Premier League clubs spent just £30m in total last January but Bent’s proposed move would take this month’s total to around £65m with almost [...]
Scudamore has no fear over fair play regulations January 17, 2011 PREMIER LEAGUE chief executive Richard Scudamore insists no English clubs will be banned from European competition for contravening Uefa’s soon to be imposed new financial fair play laws. The rules are being introduced to ensure clubs do not spend more money than they earn and will be introduced gradually. Extreme offences could see teams banned from [...]
Football stars face a tax bill crackdown January 16, 2011 ENGLAND footballer Wayne Rooney is amongst Premier League stars under scrutiny from tax inspectors for avoiding thousands of pounds in tax. A crackdown on more than 50 players was sparked after HM Revenue & Customs found some stars had been using complex legal loopholes and accountants to legally avoid paying the 50 per cent top [...]
Harry: United not invincible January 16, 2011 TOTTENHAM (0) vs MANCHESTER UTD (0) TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp believes it would take a “miracle” for Manchester United to go the whole Premier League season unbeaten. Ten-man United, who had full-back Rafael sent off for two bookable offences with 16 minutes remaining, went back to the summit on goal difference courtesy of the hard earned [...]
The rotten luck of the Irish January 13, 2011 RUGBY UNION LONDON IRISH forward Nick Kennedy insists spirit in the camp is as healthy as it’s ever been despite a run of 10 consecutive defeats. That miserable sequence of results stretches back to the beginning of November, before when the Exiles had won six of their previous seven matches and put themselves in healthy [...]
United set for another away day stalemate January 13, 2011 TOTTENHAM vs MANCHESTER UNITED SUNDAY – 4.10PM SKY SPORTS 1 SOMETHING is going to have to give at White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon if either Tottenham or Manchester United are going to walk away with a victory. United are still unbeaten in the league this season, while Spurs have lost just once on home [...]
Woeful Arsenal have it all to do after Priskin stunner January 12, 2011 IPSWICH TOWN 1 ARSENAL 0 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger admitted his side were “poor in every department” as they slid to an embarrassing Carling Cup semi-final first leg defeat at Portman Road. Championship strugglers Ipswich, thumped 7-0 in the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, warranted immense credit for holding an Arsenal side which [...]