NYHETER: Ex-player/-manager news, Part VII

[kjelvi]

(....) McAllister was forced into a late change to his original starting line-up at London Road after goalkeeper David Lucas damaged his finger in the pre-match warm-up.
United called on substitute keeper Casper Ankergren, who produced an excellent performance under considerable pressure, but Lucas' injury has left McAllister without experienced cover for the Dane.
Youngster Alan Martin is midway through a month's loan at Blue Square Premier club Barrow and youngster Jonathan Lund is the only other keeper in McAllister's first-team squad.
YEP
Kalles Martin hjem??

Sorry feilpostet, skulle være på spiller inn/ut-ryktebørsen

[berlin]

Du er tilgitt, Kjelvi!    (Merket det ikke selv, heller  )

[kjelvi]

Tottenham's first-team coach Gus Poyet is the man most likely to replace Ramos if the Spaniard does leave White Hart Lane. (Daily Mirror)

Newcastle striker Mark Viduka, 33, is battling to save his career after failing to shake off an Achilles injury. (Daily Mail)

Stoke keen on Villa winger Milner
Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is eyeing Aston Villa's £12 million winger James Milner.
With Milner struggling to break into Villa's first-choice midfield, Pulis hopes to take the England U21 international on-loan for the second-half of the season.

Venables linked with shock return at Tottenham
Terry Venables is being lined up for a shock return to Tottenham.
The News of the World says senior figures at the club see former manager Venables as the perfect man to replace under-fire sporting director Damien Comolli.
Venables retains close links with Spurs and this week praised chairman Daniel Levy.
He said: “I’ve got to know him over the years and got to like the way he thinks â€" and the dreams he had for Tottenham, too.”
Key figures at Spurs believe Venables can work in tandem with Juande Ramos and he would be intrigued to discuss the possibility of a return â€" although there has been no contact.

Maybury returns to Hearts for trials
Alan Maybury has begun training with former club Hearts as he bids to find a new team following his release from Leicester City in the summer.
The right-back spent six months of last season on loan with Aberdeen, but turned down the chance to make the move permanent.
Following an unsuccessful trial with Crystal Palace, he is now in training with Hearts and hopes to win a contract.
“They invited me in and we’ll see if anything happens further down the line,” revealed Maybury.
“I loved my time at Hearts and to go back would be great. My agent is speaking to a few other clubs as well.”

[kjelvi]

Angry Rio Ferdinand last night took FIFA to task over their failure to deal with racism.  (Daily Mirror)
Rio Ferdinand has accused FIFA of going soft on racism and has called for international teams with racist fans to be docked points. (Daily Star)

Hull striker Marlon King has won his battle with boss Phil Brown to join up with the Jamaica squad. (Daily Mirror)

[kjelvi]

Newcastle striker Mark Viduka, 33, is battling to save his career after failing to shake off an Achilles injury. (Daily Mail)

Mark Viduka could miss the rest of Newcastle's troubled season with an Achilles injury. (The Sun)

[kjelvi]

Former West Brom and Birmingham striker Geoff Horsfield has been forced to retire after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. (Daily Mirror)

[kjelvi]

Former West Brom and Birmingham striker Geoff Horsfield has been forced to retire after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. (Daily Mirror)

CANCER BATTLE FOR HORSFIELD
Former Fulham, Birmingham and West Brom striker Geoff Horsfield has revealed he is suffering from testicular cancer.
The 34-year-old, who was released by Sheffield United last summer and was hoping to earn a contract at Walsall, has been forced to retire as a result and will undergo surgery next week.
Horsfield told the Daily Mirror: "I found a small lump in my left testicle and went to see the doctor at West Brom, who's a good friend of mine.
"I was diagnosed last Friday and I'm going in for surgery next Thursday. The surgeon has told me that this is the end of my professional career, which is disappointing.
"But I've had 10 good years with Fulham, Birmingham, Wigan, West Brom and all the other clubs I've played for and enjoyed it.
"That's at the back of my mind now. It's just one of those things and I've come to terms with my career being over.
"All I'm thinking about now is beating this. I've always been a fighter right through my football career and I'm going to fight this and win."
Horsfield has been told he has a good chance of recovery after the diagnosis was made early.
He added: "The specialist told me I did well to find the lump because it is so small," he said. "He says I stand a good chance of making a full recovery because we've got in early." (PA)

[Thomas]

Trist.

[kjelvi]

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is eyeing Aston Villa's £12 million winger James Milner.
With Milner struggling to break into Villa's first-choice midfield, Pulis hopes to take the England U21 international on-loan for the second-half of the season.

James Milner insists he is not frustrated at playing a bit-part since his £12million move to Aston Villa from Newcastle. (The Sun)

[Sleivind]

Hvordan går det egentlig med Seth Johnson for tiden? Han forsvant vel fra Derby, men har han funnet seg en ny klubb, eller har han lagt opp?

[kjelvi]

Hvordan går det egentlig med Seth Johnson for tiden? Han forsvant vel fra Derby, men har han funnet seg en ny klubb, eller har han lagt opp?

Klubbløs - og sliter fortsatt med å bli frisk etter skaden han fikk på slutten av forrige sesong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Johnson

[Asbjørn]

Former West Brom and Birmingham striker Geoff Horsfield has been forced to retire after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. (Daily Mirror)

...sorry Kjell Bjørn. Du var visst tidlig ute med å melde dette du...

[kjelvi]

Newcastle chief Wise linked with Tottenham
Newcastle United chief Dennis Wise has been linked with a move to Tottenham.
The People says Wise is in the frame for a role at Spurs, where close friend Gus Poyet is assistant manager.
But despite Wise's close links, the former Leeds manager is determined to stay in his current role as Newcastle's executive director until Mike Ashley sells the club.


Tottenham confident holding onto Poyet
Tottenham are confident of holding onto assistant manager Gus Poyet.
Former Newcastle United chief Tony Jimenez is being linked with a role at Tottenham and that is expected to see Poyet's position firm up.
The Uruguayan was offered the chance to take over from Kevin Keegan at Newcastle.
Poyet was tempted by the Toon offer, but stayed at Spurs after Levy told him he was seen as a future manager.

[kjelvi]

Newcastle striker Mark Viduka, 33, is battling to save his career after failing to shake off an Achilles injury. (Daily Mail)

Mark Viduka could miss the rest of Newcastle's troubled season with an Achilles injury. (The Sun)

Doctors in Australia have told Mark Viduka he will not need more surgery to cure his Achilles problems. (Daily Mail)

[Tom S]

Ian Rush: I was set to be United boss.

http://www.mysporttoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=51&ArticleID=4591917&sitecode=leed&sportcode=leed

[kjelvi]

QPR will turn to former Leeds United manager Terry Venables, who counts Rangers among his former clubs, if current boss Iain Dowie fails to keep the club in the promotion picture. (PA)

[kjelvi]

Terry Venables has been told there is no job for him at QPR. (Daily Mirror & Daily Star)

Adam Pearson has vowed to help the FA's probe into match-fixing allegations surrounding Derby's 2-1 win at Norwich last month. (The Sun)
Derby chairman Adam Pearson has slammed two Norfolk MPs for revealing his club and Norwich are at the centre of an FA investigation into match-fixing. (Daily Express)



ORMEROD TARGETS NORTH END RETURN
Out-of-favour Preston striker Brett Ormerod claims he has no intention of making his departure from Deepdale permanent.
The 31-year-old has moved to Oldham on loan after failing to make a first-team appearance for the Lilywhites this term.
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/transfer_centre/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=nonwire_soccer/08/10/15/manual_122243.html

[kjelvi]

Sir Bobby: Newcastle gaffed appointing Wise

Sir Bobby Robson says Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley got it wrong bringing in Dennis Wise to run his football staff.
He told the Daily Mail: "I felt that lift, the emotion, when Kevin (Keegan) was appointed. On that day, the whole city was enraptured, everyone was excited and thought that the Messiah had returned, that it might take a little while, but he'd get it right.
"Everyone thought he'd have a great relationship with Mike Ashley, he'd been given a three-year contract so the club would back him, they'd find the money and he'd run. It was a shock, but it felt like an inspired choice. I thought to myself 'this is it now'.
"But then they threw a spanner in the works by appointing Dennis Wise and he operates from London. The mistake was bringing people in who aren't attuned to the club and who worked at the opposite end of the country. And whether Dennis has got the skill and expertise and experience in that field is very doubtful.
"They've brought in people like Xisco and Gonzalez and when I first saw them I thought 'Oh my God! How are they going to play in the Premier League? Who's responsible for buying those players? Who saw them play? When did they see them? How many times and where are the scouting reports?' I think it's wrong and potentially a waste of money."

[LeifMorten]

Ian Harte på prøvespill i Vålerenga i disse dager. Det går nedover med gamle helter...

[Tobb]

Triste greier.. Symbolsk for nedturen vår dette..  Rart at en av de "store" nå skal begynne å trene like utenfor blokka mi..

MOT

[TrJ]

Det "verste" er vel at han (dersom han signes) kommer til å slite med tempoet i TL også..


/Terje

[kjelvi]

My poker dot pants

BURNLEY striker Robbie Blake has revealed the story behind his cheeky midweek goal celebration at Coventry.
The Clarets ace put his team 2-1 ahead then dropped his shorts to reveal red pants bearing the slogan ‘Bad Beat Bob’.
Blake said: “A bad beat is when you have a good poker hand that is a clear favourite to win but is beaten.
“When we play on the bus, I think I am miles ahead and it turns out the only card someone needs to beat me, they get!
“When Clarke Carlisle told me he’d got me a present and I had to wear them at Coventry, I said no problem. Then he turns up with these bright red slips with, ‘Bad Beat Bob’ on.
“He said, ‘If you score, you have to whip them bad boys out’ â€" what great timing!”

The Sun

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Blake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarke_Carlisle

[kjelvi]

Ex-Leeds United director Simon Morris's company in administration
PART of the property group owned by former Leeds United director Simon Morris has gone into administration due to the slump in the housing market, it was confirmed last night.
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/leeds/ExLeeds-United-director-Simon-Morris39s.4571713.jp

Former Leeds United director Simon Morris arrested
PROPERTY tycoon Simon Morris has been arrested during a series of raids by police investigating fraud and money laundering allegations.
The former Leeds United director was in custody today (Tues) as part of an on-going investigation by West Yorkshire Police into claims of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/leeds/Former-Leeds-United-director-Simon.4613511.jp

Leeds Utd tycoon 'treated like Al Capone', says dad

THE FATHER of property tycoon Simon Morris last night spoke to the Yorkshire Post about the moment he and his son were arrested as part of a fraud and money laundering investigation.
Bryan Morris, a businessman and former spokesman for Leeds United, confirmed that both he and his son â€" a former director of the club â€" were among nine people arrested by West Yorkshire Police and for the first time gave details of the land deal at the heart of the investigation.
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/leeds/Leeds-Utd-tycoon-39treated-like.4620954.jp

Les bl.a. om "The Scandal At Leeds United":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Morris

[kjelvi]

Striker hits out after death threats

Former Preston North End, Leeds United, Fulham and Sunderland striker David Healy hit out tonight after his life was threatened following a bizarre allegation against him on the internet.
In a television interview, the Sunderland player welcomed a recent international goal he had scored by saying it had thankfully ended his "drought or famine" in front of the net.
But the Healy's comments were portrayed as a reference to a sectarian chant relating to the Irish famine sung by Rangers fans which has hit the headlines.
A video clip of his post-match interview on Ulster Television placed on an internet site has received thousands of hits and spawned online threats against the player.
Tonight Healy said: "I made reference to famine and people have maliciously represented those comments.
"I am hugely disappointed in this. I am very angry."
Ulster Television tonight replayed the entire interview to show its context was harmless.
Healy attracted criticism in July when he mimicked playing the flute - a reference to Orange Order parades - during a friendly match between Celtic and Fulham, who he played for at the time.
Healy made an immediate apology for the incident which he said came after he was heckled by Celtic fans.

[kjelvi]

Terry Venables has emerged as a leading contender to succeed Iain Dowie as Queens Park Rangers boss. (Daily Mail)

Roberto Mancini, Roberto Donadoni, Terry Venables, Kenny Jackett and Sam Allardyce are in the in the frame to succeed Iain Dowie as QPR boss. (The Times)

[kjelvi]

Minstermen sign Rothery

York City have signed former Leeds United trainee Gavin Rothery on a short-term contract.
Rothery (21) is noted as an attacking right-sided midfielder who is always keen to take on his man, and featured for City's reserves in their 4-3 midweek defeat at Hartlepool United.
He had recently been trying to earn a contract at Chesterfield, whose assistant manager Scott Sellars then recommended him to York chief Colin Walker.
Rothery originally attended Morley High School and played his first football with Churwell Lions juniors before being spotted at an early age. He become a member of the Leeds United academy from the age of ten.
Although he never made a senior appearance at Elland Road, where he later suffered a broken ankle, he did progress as far as making their substitutes' bench.
But the former England under-19 international was released by Leeds boss Gary McAllister in April following an earlier trial spell at Cheltenham Town.
The deal was completed in time for Rothery to be available for this weekend's FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie with Mansfield Town at KitKat Crescent.

rivals.net

[kjelvi]

Mel's battled back from the brink

In his playing career Mel Sterland was admired as one who never shirked a challenge and was as honest as the day is long.
Those qualities are now being employed in equal measure by the hugely-popular ex-Leeds United defender to cope with life on civvy street, a turbulent odyssey which has already driven him to the brink of suicide.
It comes as no surprise that the defender â€" part of the Whites' Division One and Two title-winning vintages of 1991-92 and 1989-90 respectively â€" hasn't shied away from talking about his considerable off-the-field demons with typical candour in his pull-no-punches autobiography, entitled Boozing, Betting and Brawling. Depression, health problems, financial worries, excessive drinking and gambling is part of a fraught mix....not forgetting being accused of handling stolen goods.
Sterland's troubles seem a world away from his footballing highs in a glittering career which encompassed golden times with Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Glasgow Rangers and, albeit briefly, England â€" allied to a fun-loving and larger-than-life persona he radiated to all and sundry.
His descent was triggered when he suffered a career-ending ankle injury in Leeds' champagne run to their first top-flight title since 1973-74, against Notts County in February 1992.
The challenge with Mark Draper ripped an ankle tendon and several abortive comebacks and four operations on and Sterland was forced to bow to the inevitable and hang up his boots 14 years ago.
Some seriously dark times have followed, but the 47-year-old is admirably confronting matters head on.
And while daily life remains a battle due to considerable health issues, Sterland is still standing tall with the support of his beloved wife Charmaine and a loyal circle of family and friends.
The best decision of his life arrived when he elected not to end it all after driving up to the secluded spot in the Peak District in his Mercedes before linking a hosepipe from the exhaust to the interior of the car and turning on the ignition. Thankfully, just before the fumes took hold, Sterland got his head together and cut short his suicide mission.
Looking back, Sterland, who served United with distinction after arriving from Ibrox in the summer of 1989, told the YEP: "Incidents like that make you stronger. Yes, I've had some down times, but I haven't been afraid to talk about them and it's all there in black and white in the book. It's all the truth that's in there.
"I look at things and think there are still a lot of people worse off than me.
"I've got a little grandson now, who is unbelievable. He's a great little kid and those sort of things inspire you.
"It's been hard at times, but you have to just move on. But I'm obviously disappointed about my health. I've got problems with deep vein thrombosis and cramps in my leg.
Some of my lungs are knackered, but you can't do nothing about it...I have it all on getting up the steps at home.
"But I keep taking my warfarin, various tablets and pain-killers and anti-depressants and the job's a good un!"
Sheffield-born Sterland rose to prominence as an attack-minded full-back with his boyhood heroes Wednesday, with Hillsborough fans affectionately nicknaming him "Zico".
Years of distinguished service under first Jack Charlton and then Howard Wilkinson ended when he headed north of the border in 1989.
But after a brief if fruitful cameo with Rangers, he headed back to Yorkshire and a familiar face in former mentor Wilkinson at Elland Road.
The Whites boss has always been there for Sterland, most notably when his father passed away and on another occasion when the then Hillsborough defender was consumed with worry after becoming convinced he was suffering from cancer after losing two stone in a month.
And while Wilkinson often turned a blind eye to the odd Sterland "excess" or two, he was comforted in the knowledge that his fellow- Sheffielder would never let him down when it mattered on the pitch.
So when his former Owls gaffer got in touch, joining forces again at United was the perfect pick-me-up for Sterland after a bittersweet time at Rangers.
His time at Leeds under Wilkinson remains a period he cherishes, and while it was cut short by injury, the respect he garnered from players, staff and supporters spoke volumes about the way he was thought of in West Yorkshire.
A whip-round among Leeds players when Sterland called it a day told its own story, with £1,500 raised to buy a specially inscribed watch.
That said, he might not have ended up at Elland Road in the first place, certainly if Trevor Francis or Ron Atkinson had anything to do with it.
Sterland said: "My time at Leeds was absolutely fantastic, I loved every minute of it. When I signed for Leeds from Glasgow Rangers, Howard said he was going to win the league and for a manager to say that and do it is something.
"To be fair, before I joined, I had talks with Queens Park Rangers, but didn't fancy going down to London. I could also have gone back to Wednesday, but didn't want to do that because Ron Atkinson offered me less money.
"But I met Howard at Nottingham and had talks and within a week or 10 days I think the deal was done.
"Wilko was brilliant and we ended up winning the second division and the old first division, which was unbelievable.
"He was a great influence on me. After my father died, Howard was like my second dad, if you like. When I needed help, Howard was always there. For me and my wife and my kids as well. He always got the best out of me and I could trust him.
And he could trust me and he trusted the players who he signed, which is half the battle for a manager.
"We were all honest players at Leeds and if you've got that, you've got a chance of winning anything really and we wanted to work hard for LeeADVERTISEMENTds United and the fans.
"He was a great guy and as a manager he was fantastic. He was well-organised and disciplined and his methods were successful both at Wednesday and Leeds United.
"Leeds were only getting about 11,000 when Howard took over and the directors and chairman ploughed money in and the club just took off under him.
"He brought some great players in â€" Chris Fairclough, Gordon Strachan, Chris Whyte, Tony Dorigo and Gary McAllister and the likes of Speedy (Gary Speed) and (David) Batty, who were there as kids anyway.
"Speedy's still playing now, he must be a robot!
"Gordon was the best player I played with, by far. He was a great professional with a great attitude for the game and he's still enjoying it now.
"There were also some really top characters. I remember Vinnie Jones, who was a funny guy. A fantastic, super guy in fact. He was such a character in the dressing room and on the pitch as well.
"People had an image of Vinnie, but a lot of people didn't realise he did such a lot of work for charity as well.
"We had some great nights out. Gordon used to sort all that out and get the wives involved and it's not like that at a lot of football clubs."
On his specific on-the-pitch highs, Sterland added: "The 40-yarder against Sheffield United (a 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane in 1988-89) was fantastic and stood out for me and then scoring past Schmeichel against Manchester United â€" not a lot of people do that.
"I also distinctly remember going down to Bournemouth and having to win the game to lift the old second division title. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was baking hot, there were thousands of Leeds fans and Chris Kamara getting down the right wing and crossing and Chappy (Lee Chapman) scoring, which was fantastic.
"I remember getting on the bus on the way back from Bournemouth thinking there's plenty of champagne and I don't bloody like it!
"But I drank it, and it was a fantastic trip back. We just played cards and had such a laugh on the way back, while knowing we'd won the championship. We then won the big prize in the top division and I didn't think we'd win it as early as we did. People say Man United lost it, but we battled and had honest players and deserved it."
Sterland was crocked when the Whites lifted the Division One silverware and his footballing story promptly unravelled, while a new battle began. But despite his considerable troubles and hardships, Sterland â€" blessed with the riches of family and memories of a glorious career to look back on â€" is not bitter about how things have gone.
Although he does hanker for one aspect of not playing anymore…
"I don't really miss it, I just miss one day of the month. Payday!" he said.
"But, seriously, I had a great playing career, but that's gone now. I remember at the end I was having pain-killers and cortisones to play and I think it took its toll.
"I had four operations on my ankle and there was no way I was going to get playing as a full-time footballer again.
"It's difficult to hold your hands up and say 'Look, I'm going to pack in'. But things have to be done and that's what I did.
"I remember leaving Leeds. They bought me a really expensive watch and then I had it bloody stolen!
"I remember Howard saying that in all his years at a football club, he'd never had a collection of so much for a player who was retiring. Gordon organised it and the lads were brilliant."

* Mel Sterland â€" A Footballers Life with Nick Johnson â€" Boozing Betting and Brawling, Green Umbrella Publishing, is now available in hardback.

[Asbjørn]

...et flott intervju med Mel -og samtidig trist å lese. Får håpe han har 'got it all togethter' nå...

[kjelvi]

Hull want to rescue Alan Smith from is Newcastle nightmare. (News of the World)
Hull manager Phil Brown wants to sign Newcastle striker Alan Smith initially on loan. (News of the World)

Terry Venables could become the new boss of QPR. (Mail on Sunday)
Rangers chiefs Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone are fighting Lakshmi Mittal to appoint Terry Venables as manager instead. (Mail on Sunday)

[kjelvi]

Poyet departs Spurs

Former Leeds United assistant manager Gustavo Poyet has been sacked from his role as first-team coach of Tottenham Hotspur.
The Uruguayan, who left Leeds last October to take up his post under Juande Ramos at White Hart Lane, parted company with Spurs on Saturday night following the club's disastrous start to the term.
Ramos was also shown the door after less than a year in charge of Tottenham, making way for ex-Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp to take over the hotseat at White Hart Lane.
Poyet worked as Leeds United's assistant for 12 months after arriving at Elland Road with former boss Dennis Wise towards the end of 2006.