Forlan’s back to haunt Reds April 29, 2010 LIVERPOOL (2) v/s ATLETICO MADRID (1) Atletico win on away goals RAFAEL BENITEZ last night admitted it could take up to five new signings to turn Liverpool into trophy challengers next season after watching his side crash out of the Europa League semi-finals. The Reds looked favourites to set up an all-English final with Fulham [...]
Value of promotion to top flight up 50pc to £90m April 29, 2010 IT was already touted as the most lucrative prize in world football, but experts now estimate promotion to the Premier League to be worth £90m. The figure constitutes a 50 per cent increase on last year, owing to an increase in top-flight television revenues and parachute payments. Newcastle, having secured the Championship title, and West [...]
Cut-price Sky Sports moves a step closer April 29, 2010 SKY’S stranglehold over subscription TV took a hit yesterday as a court refused to postpone a ruling forcing it to slash the price it can charge rivals for Premier League football. The ruling guarantees top flight games will be available across four platforms by the start of next season. Sky, led by chief executive Jeremy [...]
New keeper means City are vulnerable April 28, 2010 AMID all the wailing and gnashing of teeth about Manchester City being granted an emergency loan signing to solve their goalkeeping crisis, one thing has been largely overlooked. Marton Fulop, the man they’ve hired to bring the big-match experience they feel their fourth-choice stopper lacks, still represents a big risk as the season reaches its [...]
Fulop eyes top-four place April 28, 2010 MARTON Fulop has set his sights on the Champions League after completing a controversial loan switch to Manchester City. Fulop, 26, has joined from Sunderland after City successfully pleaded with the Premier League to make the emergency move. And the Hungary international could go straight into the team on Saturday when the Blues meet Aston [...]
England athletes get go-ahead for Indian Games April 28, 2010 ENGLISH athletes have been given the green light to travel to India for the Commonwealth Games in October despite fears over security. It had been suggested the England team may pull out of the Games following fresh concerns of terrorist activity after 15 people were injured in bomb blasts before an Indian Premier League match [...]
Hull standing on own two feet April 28, 2010 CASH-STRAPPED Hull City have denied they are to enter into administration as a result of their almost-certain relegation from the Premier League. Tigers chiefs accept the drop into the Championship is inevitable but say there are no plans to enter into any form of insolvency process. Owner Russell Bartlett said: “We will need to reduce [...]
Virgin Media’s sales rise but losses widen April 28, 2010 VIRGIN Media continued its roaring run of form with its fastest ever customer growth last quarter. It surpassed analyst expectations as it added 38,300 net cable customers to solidify its position as the UK’s second biggest pay-TV provider. Chief executive Neil Berkett said the firm had benefited from both record new customers and the lowest [...]
Legal threat hangs over City decision April 27, 2010 A LEADING sports lawyer has told Tottenham, Aston Villa and Liverpool they could consider action against the Premier League after Manchester City were afforded special dispensation to sign a goalkeeper last night. League chiefs allowed City boss Roberto Mancini to recruit Sunderland’s Marton Fulop to his squad after Shay Given’s injury left the inexperienced Faroe [...]
Hammers fail in £4m bid for Dorrans April 27, 2010 WEST HAM showed they mean business in the summer transfer market after launching a £4m bid for West Brom midfielder Graeme Dorrans. The move came just hours after Hammers co-owner David Sullivan insisted the entire first-team squad at Upton Park, excluding Scott Parker, were up for sale following a season of struggle in the Premier [...]