Loyal crowds galvanising top clubs against the recession October 6, 2009 TOP FLIGHT clubs have again demonstrated their ability to resist the effects of the downturn by posting strong attendance figures for the start of the season. Experts had expected clubs to feel the pinch more than ever in the current campaign, the first since Britain officially entered recession in January. But Premier League outfits have [...]
It’s Bellamy to the rescue as Dunne returns to haunt City October 5, 2009 ASTON VILLA (1) vs MANCHESTER CITY (1) CRAIG BELLAMY struck a second-half equaliser to rescue a point for Manchester City after former captain Richard Dunne had threatened to derail their impressive start to the season. Ex-captain Dunne, who moved to Villa on transfer deadline day to make way for City’s melee of big-money stars, headed [...]
Al Faraj completes Portsmouth takeover October 5, 2009 SAUDI property tycoon Ali Al Faraj last night completed his takeover of crisis club Portsmouth after acquiring a 90 per cent share in the Premier League club. Former owner Sulaiman Al Fahim completed his own buy-out of the club just six weeks ago but funds never materialised and players and staff went unpaid. Arab businessman [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING October 5, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMESUK COURT RELAXES CURB ON SAAD CASHA bitter legal dispute involving prominent Saudi Arabian businesses and families opened in the English courts yesterday, with Maan al Sanea failing to overturn a $9.2bn (£5.8bn) freezing order on his worldwide assets. The High Court eased the order to allow the billionaire $4m spending money a year [...]
Fans blamed as Adebayor escapes ban October 1, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY striker Emmanuel Adebayor yesterday escaped a ban for his controversial celebration against Arsenal after the Football Association accepted he had suffered “extreme provocation”. Adebayor was initially charged with improper conduct for marking a goal against his former club last month by running the length of the pitch to parade in front of Gunners [...]
Lampard bullish ahead of Reds showdown October 1, 2009 CHELSEA midfielder Frank Lampard has hit back at critics who say the Blues are yet to click under new boss Carlo Ancelotti. The west Londoners head into Sunday’s crunch clash with Liverpool off the back of a scrappy win at Apoel Nicosia and a shock defeat at Wigan. But with nine wins under their belt [...]
Pompey fail to pay players after Al-Fahim takeover hits cash-flow October 1, 2009 PORTSMOUTH insist the squad will be paid today after the club failed to transfer players’ wages earlier this week. The Premier League’s basement outfit blamed the failure on cash-flow problems caused by Sulaiman al-Fahim’s takeover and subsequent refinancing project. Portsmouth said in a statement: “There was a delay in the transfer of funds but the [...]
Big Four clash should prove a tight contest October 1, 2009 CHELSEA vs LIVERPOOLCHELSEA suffered their first dropped points of the season at Wigan last weekend which has seen Hills lengthen their title odds to a best-priced 7/4. It was another high scoring game at the DW Stadium and the average number of goals in the last three rounds of the Premier League has been an [...]
Ferguson: Rooney as good as Kaka, Ronaldo and Messi September 29, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes striker Wayne Rooney has the ingredients to rival the biggest megastars in the world game. The 23-year-old is set to make his 50th appearance in the Champions League tonight when United host German title winners Wolfsburg. Rooney was electric on his European debut, hitting a hat-trick in a [...]
Flintoff: I won’t pick and choose my England dates September 28, 2009 ENGLAND all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has stressed that playing for his country will be his priority when he returns from his latest injury nightmare. The 31-year-old, who is expected to be out for at least six months following knee surgery, earlier this month drew criticism for refusing a central contract. But the irreplaceable talisman, who retired [...]