Owen hot property but frosty on foreign suitors June 22, 2009 NEWCASTLE striker Michael Owen insists he has had no shortage of inquiries from clubs at home and abroad interested in signing him on a free transfer this summer. Owen said yesterday he expects to leave St James’ Park when his contract expires in the next few weeks, and would prefer to join another outfit in [...]
ESPN scores rights for the Premiership June 22, 2009 DISNEY-owned ESPN yesterday scooped up the rights to show 46 games in next season’s Premier League, which were due to have been shown by ailing broadcaster Setanta. The deal marks the first time a broadcaster based outside of the British Isles has won the rights to air the English Premier League in the UK. Sources [...]
Premier club ‘bought’ by Arab investor June 21, 2009 AN UNNAMED Premier League club has been bought out by a member of the ruling family in the United Arab Emirates, a WAM news agency report revealed last night. The report claims Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Customs and Seaports, has purchased a 60 per cent [...]
BSkyB and ESPN set to carve up Premier League Setanta rights June 21, 2009 BROADCASTERS were last night putting the final touches to bids to acquire the live media rights to the English Premier League which have been revoked from troubled firm Setanta. BskyB and Disney-owned ESPN are expected to carve up the 46 football matches between them after Setanta’s board failed to find a last-ditch solution, putting it [...]
Wilkins blasts Kaka and Villa over Chelsea snubs June 18, 2009 CHELSEA assistant manager Ray Wilkins has hit out at foreign stars who take “the soft option” after the Blues’ high-profile snubs from Kaka and David Villa. Brazil star Kaka rejected Chelsea’s overtures and a chance to link up with his manager at AC Milan, Carlo Ancelotti, in favour of a £56m switch to Real Madrid. [...]
Drogba hit by six match ban as Uefa throw book at Blues June 17, 2009 CHELSEA striker Didier Drogba was last night hit with a huge six-match European ban for his expletive-laden remonstration following last season’s Champions League exit to Barcelona. Defender Jose Bosingwa also received a four-match ban for comments about the referee while Chelsea were handed an £85,000 fine, as governing body Uefa threw the book at the [...]
Hull of a first game for new Chelsea boss June 17, 2009 CARLO ANCELOTTI opens his account as Chelsea manager with a home clash with last season’s strugglers Hull City when the 2009/10 Premier League season gets underway on 15 August. In a relatively low-profile opening five games, Ancelotti’s Blues also host newcomers Burnley and make trips to Sunderland, Fulham and Stoke City before hosting a London [...]
Carling Cup first round draw June 16, 2009 FOOTBALL: Football League newcomers Burton Albion have been handed a trip to Championship high-fliers Reading in the first round of next season’s Carling Cup. Fellow promoted side Torquay visit Crystal Palace, while West Brom, relegated from the Premier League last season, visit League Two Bury.
Man Utd and Chelsea face off for 60m star Ribery June 16, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea are locked in a four-way battle with Europe’s biggest clubs to sign £60m-rated Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, the German club said yesterday. United have bid for the France star as a replacement for Real Madrid-bound Cristiano Ronaldo, while Bayern said they had also received a bid from Chelsea, who are [...]
Ace Gerrard rocks Reds with shock quit threat June 16, 2009 STEVEN GERRARD has rocked England by insisting next summer’s World Cup could be his last after admitting he could retire in 2013. The Liverpool captain will be 33 at the end of his current contract, when he says he wants to call time on his illustrious career as a one-club man. Midfielder Gerrard also admitted [...]