Barry backs Heskey’s Villa quit threat October 12, 2009 FORMER Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry has risked reigniting the wrath of his old fans by backing Emile Heskey’s threat to quit the Midlands side. Striker Heskey is considering asking for a January transfer unless he gets the Premier League minutes he needs to retain his place in the England team for next summer’s World [...]
Injury forces Rooney out of England date with Belarus October 11, 2009 ENGLAND striker Wayne Rooney last night pulled out of Wednesday’s final World Cup qualifier against Belarus after suffering a calf injury. Rooney picked up the knock during Saturday’s shock 1-0 defeat in Ukraine – their first loss in a competitive match under Fabio Capello. Head coach Capello is unlikely to call up a replacement for [...]
Eriksson not set to follow Sol out door, insist County October 11, 2009 NOTTS COUNTY executive chairman Peter Trembling has quashed mounting speculation that Sven-Goran Eriksson is on the verge of quitting the ambitious League Two club. Weekend reports suggested that Eriksson, the club’s director of football, is on the brink of leaving after becoming disillusioned just weeks into the job. But Trembling insists the Swede going nowhere [...]
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 [...]