England won’t hold back in quest for perfect 10 October 8, 2009 UKRAINE vs ENGLAND TOMORROW 5.15PM FABIO CAPELLO has succeeded where his predecessor failed and navigated England to a major Championship at his first attempt, with few dramas and a couple of games to spare. Although the Three Lions would be entitled to take it easy in the first of these ‘dead rubbers’, it’s a must-win [...]
Saudi suitor eyeing full Liverpool buyout October 8, 2009 THE SAUDI prince interested in buying a stake in Liverpool has refused to rule out purchasing the club outright. But Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Abdullah has warned he will not invest while Anfield is swamped with more than £300m of debt. And he is adamant he will not act as a “marriage counsellor” to [...]
Grant makes shock return to Pompey October 7, 2009 PORTSMOUTH chief executive Peter Storrie has moved to reassure manager Paul Hart that his job is safe despite yesterday confirming the sensational return of Avram Grant as director of football. Pompey goalkeeper David James warmly welcomed the appointment of Grant, who spent the 2006-07 season in the same role before being lured to Chelsea, where [...]
Al-Faraj deal frees Pompey to splash out October 6, 2009 PORTSMOUTH’S new owner Ali Al-Faraj has pledged to dig deep to drag the club from the foot of the Premier League. The Saudi oil and property tycoon saved Pompey from administration on Monday by acquiring a 90 per cent stake from short-lived owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim. And having averted financial disaster, Al-Faraj has promised to fund [...]
BIRMINGHAM’S YEUNG GUN October 6, 2009 BIRMINGHAM City boss Alex McLeish says Carson Yeung’s takeover of the club has brought a ‘buzz’ around St Andrews. Hong Kong billionaire Yeung, above, purchased more than a 90 per cent stake share in the Premier League club and can now buy the rest of the shares on a compulsory basis. Funds have also been [...]
Lost Sol poised to make shock return to Arsenal October 6, 2009 FORMER Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has sounded out manager Arsene Wenger about training with the Gunners while he looks for another club. Campbell, 35, is without a team having walked out on ambitious League Two side Notts County just one game into a five-year contract. “It will be great to train here and get fit,” [...]
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 [...]