They thought it was all over…it certainly is now! April 18, 2010 Plucky Wigan net three times in the final ten minutes to all but end Arsenal’s title challenge WIGAN ATH (3) vs ARSENAL (2) ARSENE WENGER finally conceded defeat in the race for the title last night – and then tore into his Arsenal troops for good measure after watching them crash to a dramatic late [...]
Goal king Torres ruled out for six weeks after undergoing knee surgery April 18, 2010 FERNANDO TORRES was last night ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his troublesome knee injury. The Liverpool striker will be out of action for around six weeks, which not only sidelines him for the rest of the Premier League run-in, but also the Europa League semi-final against his former [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF April 18, 2010 Wolves face Giants again RUGBY LEAGUE: Holders Warrington will take on Huddersfield in a fifth round re-run of last year’s Challenge Cup final. The Wolves overcame first division Featherstone 48-24, while the Giants claimed an impressive 40-12 victory over fellow Super League side Hull KR. Full draw: Barrow v Hunslet, Crusaders v Catalans, Dewsbury/Bradford v [...]
Premier League to defend Sky April 15, 2010 THE Premier League has announced it will challenge Ofcom’s ruling to slash the price Sky can charge its rivals to show matches. It says investment in the sport will suffer as a result. Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: “Having taken time to study the Ofcom decision we have concluded we have no option [...]
Title failure puts Wenger at crossroads April 15, 2010 WHEN Arsene Wenger rejected Real Madrid’s overtures last summer he conceded that this season would be make-or-break for his Arsenal team. Five years had already passed since he last hoisted the Premier League trophy aloft, and he was under pressure to prove that his unstinting faith in the likes of Denilson, Manuel Almunia, Nicklas Bendtner [...]
Magical Malouda has put Chelsea in box seat April 14, 2010 THREE weeks ago I thought Chelsea were going to throw the Premier League title away. Elimination from Europe was followed by a draw at Blackburn, and they looked short of confidence and mired in a poor pattern of play. But they have surprised and impressed me with the way they have responded. Now they are [...]
City’s Mancini hoping United are at full strength for derby April 14, 2010 MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini is hoping Manchester United talisman Wayne Rooney recovers in time for Saturday’s derby – because he does not want Sir Alex Ferguson to have any excuses if they lose. City go into the clash at Eastlands in ebullient spirits, having smashed 14 goals in their last three Premier League games. [...]
PRIVATE EQUITY FAT CATS COME OUT TO PLAY April 14, 2010 SIR Peter Paul Rubens’ beautiful and ornate painted ceiling gazed down upon the most successful figures in the private equity industry last night, as they gathered in the Banqueting Hall on Whitehall for the Private Equity News Awards for Excellence in Private Equity. Executives from the likes of CVC Capital Partners, Axa Private Equity, Coller [...]
Crunch meeting for Premier shareholders April 14, 2010 PREMIER League shareholders will meet this afternoon to discuss a series of key issues affecting football’s top flight governing body. The Premier League board is said to be eager to offer more money to lower league clubs to help stave off the threat of administration. We revealed last month the governing body could double the [...]
Arsenal ownership takes fresh twist as Kroenke takes control of NFL side April 13, 2010 MYSTERY surrounding the future of Arsenal has deepened after the club’s largest investor Stan Kroenke decided to snap up the remaining shares in his American football franchise St Louis Rams. The US billionaire’s move casts doubt on his ability to launch a takeover of the Gunners, just hours after it seemed the Premier League outfit’s [...]