New Pompey owner applies for stay of execution February 4, 2010 PORTSMOUTH have appealed for next week’s potentially fatal winding-up hearing to be delayed after being taken over by Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai. Chainrai’s company Portpin was yesterday confirmed as the financially-stricken club’s fourth owner in the space of six months. The 51-year-old took charge after previous owner Ali Al-Faraj defaulted on a loan repayment, [...]
Bruce predicts curtains for the transfer window February 4, 2010 SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce believes the transfer window will be scrapped when a player eventually challenges the system in court as a restraint of trade. Bruce succeeded in pushing through a loan deal for Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari despite missing the Monday deadline, but said the episode might otherwise have provided a test case. [...]
Real pour scorn on Man City February 3, 2010 REAL Madrid have added to criticism of Manchester City’s transfer dealings by portraying as amateurish the Premier League club’s efforts to sign midfielder Fernando Gago. City revived their interest in Gago late on Monday, shortly before the transfer deadline, after a work permit hearing thwarted a deal for Parma’s McDonald Mariga. But the 11th-hour move [...]
Butterfield’s the toast as Premier sides crash out February 2, 2010 CRYSTAL PALACE 3 WOLVES 1 DANNY BUTTERFIELD enjoyed the night of his life as his seven-minute hat-trick earned cash-strapped Crystal Palace a money-spinning tie with Aston Villa. The Eagles were docked ten league points after slipping into administration last week, but Butterfield, who hadn’t scored in over a year before last night, handed his side [...]
Grant slams Pompey chief for breaking promises February 2, 2010 PORTSMOUTH boss Avram Grant has slammed the club for the broken promises which have left them walking a Premier League tightrope. The Israeli claims he was told he would be in the position to add four new faces to his struggling Pompey side in the January window, but instead saw two of his best players [...]
January Transfers | Key points February 1, 2010 HARD-UP top-flight clubs tightened their belts in the January transfer window, spending a fraction of what they have in previous years. Premier League outfits spent a total of £30m in January, compared to the downturn-defying £170m splashed out just a year earlier. To illustrate the dramatic change this year, in 2008 teams spent £150m. This [...]
Fabregas ignoring Gunners’ critics as Chelsea clash looms February 1, 2010 ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas is refusing to accept their title challenge is over, and has urged his team-mates to prove the doubters wrong against Chelsea on Sunday. A crushing 3-1 loss at home to Manchester United at the weekend has left the Gunners five points behind the Blues, and feeling utterly deflated. Even Arsenal forward [...]
City stars show support for Team Bridge in Terry episode January 31, 2010 MANCHESTER CITY boss Roberto Mancini revealed three of his players wore shirts in support of Wayne Bridge as his side continued their assault on a top-four place with victory over cash-strapped Portsmouth. Stars Carlos Tevez, Nigel de Jong and Stephen Ireland all wore shirts bearing the words “Team Bridge” in support of the England left-back, [...]
Capello to take time over England captain decision January 31, 2010 ENGLAND head coach Fabio Capello is refusing to make a snap decision over Chelsea defender John Terry’s future as England captain. Terry’s role as skipper has been questioned following newspaper allegations that he had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of international colleague and former Blues team-mate Wayne Bridge. The Football Association has refused to be [...]
I won’t quit Reds for Italy, insists Benitez January 31, 2010 LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez last night issued a statement quashing growing speculation that he is set to quit Anfield for Juventus. Reports in Italy suggested Benitez had agreed a deal to take charge of the Turin club in the summer, and that officials from the Serie A outfit would meet their Liverpool counterparts today to [...]