United agree to let Ronaldo join Real in 80m switch June 11, 2009 ONE of the longest-running transfer sagas of recent years edged close to conclusion yesterday when Manchester United accepted a world record-shattering £80m bid from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo. United said they gave Real permission to discuss personal terms with Ronaldo, 24, after the Fifa World Player of the Year informed the Old Trafford hierarchy [...]
SUMMER SALES June 11, 2009 Barry: I was honest with VillaMANCHESTER CITY’S Gareth Barry has rejected suggestions he betrayed Aston Villa, insisting he told them he would leave if they failed to reach the Champions League. Barry’s £12m move to City, who finished four places below Villa in the Premier League, raised eyebrows but the England midfielder insists he has [...]
Setanta pair hanging on June 10, 2009 SETANTA founders Michael O’Rourke and Leonard Ryan were last night locked in talks to salvage their moribund sports channel. The duo were determined to launch one last audacious bid to save their pay-TV venture by raising the funds to buy out investors Goldman Sachs and Doughty Hanson – who have refused to plough more money [...]
Founders of Setanta plan last ditch bid June 9, 2009 SETANTA founders Leonard Ryan and Michael O’Rourke are understood to be locked in talks to table a last-ditch bid that could see them buy out the ailing firm’s other investors, which include Doughty Hanson, Balderton Capital and Goldman Sachs. It is also thought that Setanta has recently offered stakes of up to 30 per cent [...]
McMahon group plans Newcastle bid June 9, 2009 SINGAPORE-based investment company the Profitable Group has emerged as a leading contender to buy Newcastle United from beleaguered owner Mike Ashley. The company, whose board includes former Liverpool and England midfielder Steve McMahon, is said to want to retain Alan Shearer as manager. The Profitable Group has previously been linked with buying the Magpies, who [...]
Setanta close to administration June 8, 2009 The board of Irish sports broadcaster Setanta met yesterday, a person familiar with the situation said, following media reports the group was close to going into administration. Sources close to the Premier League said that the people running English football’s top flight would be willing to see the broadcaster go under. The company, which could [...]
West Ham taken over by Icelandic banks as Gudmundsson era ends June 8, 2009 WEST HAM’S new owners CB Holding have reassured fans that manager Gianfranco Zola and assistant Steve Clarke are going nowhere. And the asset management company – made up of several Icelandic banks – insist Zola will be given money to spend this summer. CB Holding acquired the Premier League club yesterday in a takeover estimated [...]
Premiership and NBA hold talks June 7, 2009 Representatives from the Premier League and US basketball organiser the NBA have held talks in London to discuss a potential marketing and commercial link-up. The world’s two most popular sports leagues are understood to be identifying ways in which they can work together as they expand internationally. The NBA is keen to discuss the matter [...]
Deloitte on the touchline as Setanta heads for full-time June 7, 2009 STRUGGLING sports broadcaster Setanta could be forced to go into administration this week, as discussions with investors and rights holders have failed to secure a rescue deal. Accountancy firm Deloitte is on standby to flip the switch on the Irish broadcaster, which has been struggling for months to raise new capital to enable it to [...]
United bid 16m for Valencia but old foes Real are lurking June 7, 2009 MANCHESTER United and Real Madrid look set to resume hostilities in the transfer market this week as the race to sign Luis Antonio Valencia heats up. Wigan wide man Valencia’s displays last season earned him plenty of admirers and it is understood that both United and Real have lodged bids in excess of £16m. The [...]