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

[pedro]

Så var De Vries å betegne som en ex-player, takk for hjelpen :Phttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/Bad-break-for-Leeds-United.3414829.jp

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Armfield to return after illness  



Former England football captain Jimmy Armfield is set to return to the commentary box for the BBC.
The BBC Five Live football pundit and former Blackpool defender has been treated for Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a form of throat cancer.
He is now well enough to resume his broadcasting career and is starting by commentating on Bolton's match with Aston Villa on Sunday.
"You really have to persevere and try and hold on," he said.
"I know I'm not out of the woods by any means.
"I've got a lot to do, but I'm alright."
Armfield, 72, was awarded the OBE for services to football in 2000.
He has won 43 England caps and made a club record 568 appearances for Blackpool.

BBC

Leeds-manager 1974-78: http://www.leedsfans.org.uk/leeds/managers/11.html

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Blackpool's Simon Grayson and former QPR boss John Gregory are on the shortlist for the vacant managerial post at Norwich City. (Daily Mirror)

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson is in line to become the new Leicester manager to replace Gary Megson, who has left for Bolton. (Daily Mail)


http://www.leedsfans.org.uk/leeds/players/152.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Grayson

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Pennant ruled out for two months 

Jermaine Pennant was signed by Liverpool in July 2006
Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant requires surgery on a stress fracture of his right shin and is expected to be out for 10 weeks.
The winger limped out of the Reds' Champions League defeat at Besiktas on Wednesday after carrying a problem for most of the season.
Club spokesman Ian Cotton said: "For the last eight weeks Jermaine has undergone intensive treatment.
"But it has now been decided he requires surgery."   
Pennant came from Birmingham in a £6.7m deal in July 2006.
On Wednesday he came off in the 59th minute of the 2-1 Champions League group stage defeat in Turkey.

BBC

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Sheffield United boss Bryan Robson is trying to lure Bolton midfielder Gary Speed to Bramall Lane on a three-month loan deal. (Various)
--

Sheffield Utd try again for Bolton's Speed
Sheffield United boss Bryan Robson refuses to give up his bid for Bolton Wanderers veteran Gary Speed.
Robson has resurrected his interest in Speed following Gary Megson's appointment at Bolton.
Sheffield United boss Robson was on the verge of signing the 38-year-old former Wales international last week before Sammy Lee's departure from The Reebok Stadium. (tribalfootball.com)

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North End to keep Pugh
Stoke fail in move for midfielder



Preston boss Paul Simpson has ruled out letting Danny Pugh join Championship rivals Stoke.

Simpson confirmed Stoke had made an enquiry for the former Leeds and Manchester United man who has dropped down the pecking order at Deepdale.
However, Simpson is determined to keep Pugh at the club as he remains part of his plans.
"There has been contact from Stoke but I want Danny Pugh at this football club," Simpson told the club's official website.
"He's frustrated that he hasn't been involved of late because of other players coming ahead of him but I still believe he is a valuable part of our squad.
"They have been hoping to sign him for weeks now, starting in August.
"I made it quite clear to Danny Pugh that I want him here and I want him to be pushing to get back into our first team.
"They have been asking to take him on loan with a permanent deal at the end of it but I want him here at the club at this present time."

Sky

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Former Hull City chairman Adam Pearson will become Derby County's new chief executive. (The Times)

Sky: Pearson offers Billy backing: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_2834197,00.html
Sky: Pearson takes charge at Derby: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11696_2833605,00.html


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

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Boro may call on Johnson
Struggling Middlesbrough consider recalling youngster
Middlesbrough have admitted that Adam Johnson may be recalled early from his loan spell at Watford.
The 20-year-old midfielder joined The Hornets in September on a three-month loan, and has since made seven starts, scoring four goals.
Adrian Boothroyd recently voiced his desire to extend the youngster's stay, however Boro assistant manager Malcolm Crosby has confirmed that an extension is not on the cards.
Gareth Southgate's men are currently struggling in the Premier League, and Crosby admits they may be forced to call on Johnson's services.
"All season [loan] won't happen," he told the Sunday sun.
"Adam's been treated fantastically well by Watford and if we were in a winning run you'd be happy for him to stay there.
"But in the near future we may call him back, even before his three months are up. We might need him with us."

Sky

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Det snur fort i engelsk fotball...




HAPPY RETURNS
Gus Poyet is delighted to be back at Spurs after a three-year absence and admits he is relishing his new coaching role at the Club.
The former Uruguayan international, who was a player at White Hart Lane between 2001 and 2004, has joined the Club’s new-look coaching staff as one of Juande Ramos’ two first-team coaches alongside Marcos Alvarez.
And the three of them met their new squad for the first time on Monday, when they took their first training session together in preparation for Wednesday’s Carling Cup clash with Blackpool.
Gus beamed: “It’s great to be back for various reasons. I know four or five players from my time here and I know most of the staff, so it’s great. I’ve come back to a place where I really enjoyed my football for three years.
“It was great to see all the players and talk to them. It was also important to see the quality of the team, and I know they are ready to work for Juande. We’re looking forward to the first game.”
Gus joins us having spent the last year working alongside Dennis Wise at Leeds United.
The pair had previously teamed up together at Swindon Town before their move north, and Poyet sees his experience as a coach in the lower leagues as invaluable.
He added: “I was always quite sure that I wanted to be a coach, especially after coming here as a player, and I worked at getting my coaching badges.
“I left football for about six months after I finished playing, but there was always a burning desire to get back into the game.
“The best way of doing this is coaching, and Dennis Wise gave me the chance, and he’s a big part of why I’m back here today. I love coaching, and I want to stay doing this for as long as I can.”

tottenhamhotspur.com

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It has been a Killa!



Matthew Kilgallon

MATTHEW KILGALLON is praying that his own annus horribilis is finally ending.
The York-born defender gained unwanted membership of a far-from-celebrated club in May, namely playing for two relegated sides in the same season â€" and small wonder he felt lower than a snake's belly and was keen on wiping the slate clean when the final ball was kicked following desperate seasonal finishes for the Blades and Leeds United.
If things weren't bad enough, a bout of injury hell had already been thrown into the mix in a horror first-half of the year for the ex-England U21 centre-back â€" whose move to Bramall Lane on a three-year-deal in January was one of the worst-kept secrets in football.
A persistent ankle problem â€" diagnosed as a bruised bone â€" delayed his debut until March and after finally wanting so long to make his Premiership stamp, the 23-year-old was limited to just half a dozen top-flight appearances ahead of the Blades' final-day relegation heartache against Wigan.
Soon after, long-time admirer Neil Warnock left the club with Kilgallon faced with proving himself to new boss Bryan Robson.
After finally dusting himself down, Kilgallon finally consoled himself with the thought that the promotion-favourites Blades' stint in the Championship being strictly of the "12-month loan" variety.
Or so him and the red-and-white-quarter of the Steel City thought, with reality hitting home in an abject start to the season which has left both sides of Sheffield reeling.
But Kilgallon remains confident that the tide is slowly starting to turn, both for himself and the Blades.
The centre-half has formed a sturdy defensive barrier with Gary Cahill in the past week after being recalled for last weekend's clash at Preston, with the pair doing a sterling job in the Blades' 1-0 midweek win at Leicester, which ended their much-documented travel sickness â€" 15 games without a win since victory at Wigan last December.
And Kilgallon, who can also slot in at left-back, is aiming to firmly grasp the opportunity and nail down a regular spot at the heart of operations in the back four.
He said: "It's been a tough year and hopefully things will start to look up soon.
"The ankle injury just wouldn't clear up for some reason or another last season. I don't know what was wrong with it.
"And I only ended up playing a few games in the Premiership â€" how we went down I'll still never know.
"You don't want to go to a club and get injured straightaway, do you? And I just want to show the fans what I'm all about.
"Thankfully the ankle is miles better now and it's had a strapping on it and it's as good as gold now."
He added: "I was out of the team for the three games before the Preston one and the gaffer has put me back in and me and Gaz (Cahill) at the back have done well together.
"We've both got a bit of pace and just want to show we're good, young centre-halves and we seem to play well together.
"We've both been together in the U21s, but I've never played with him until now and I think it's looked encouraging.
"We know we've had a bad start, but it's all about putting it right now and the fans getting behind us, which they did at Leicester and they really helped the team.
"It's like having another player in your side when your teams' fans are singing and backing you.
"It's still early days. There's only six points between us and sixth place and it's quite tight up there."
On the victory at Leicester â€" a relief to all and sundry after a miserable six-match winless streak â€" Kilgallon added: "Leicester's not an easy place to go.
"They are well-organised and are very defensive and hard to break down and not many teams will win there.
"It was a great result and we kept a clean sheet as well, which was good. We know we've got people up front who can score goals and it's up to the defenders to go their stuff at the other end.
"It's about safety first away from home and we need to keep it solid to pick things up and then win as many as we can at home.
"Beatts (James Beattie) is banging goals in all over the gaff and we've got loads of other strikers who can play with him.
"Luton Shelton played at Leicester and he's got so much pace and was a really good outlet, but there's lots of other options as well. We've worked really hard in the international break and I think it showed in the last two games. We've tackled different things, such as defending as a team and it's worked for us.
"Bryan encourages you a lot and tells you defending is your job, but that if you can come out with the ball, then do that. But at the same time, I'm in the side to defend, fire and foremost."

Kilgallon admits he fully expects boyhood club Leeds to be back in the Championship come the spring â€" not that he particularly wants a reunion next season with the defender eyeing a greater prize, namely a return to the Premiership.
The centre-back, who first joined Leeds at the age of 11, said: "Hopefully, we'll be going up, but it would be good to see them come up again. I still see Frazer (Richardson) quite a lot and every time I've looked at their result, they seem to have won.
"I think they will get back up, I don't see any reason why not.
"Probably in the play-offs, I definitely think they've got a massive chance."

YEP

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Kilgallon
http://www.leedsfans.org.uk/leeds/players/740.html

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Boro may call on Johnson
Struggling Middlesbrough consider recalling youngster
Middlesbrough have admitted that Adam Johnson may be recalled early from his loan spell at Watford.
The 20-year-old midfielder joined The Hornets in September on a three-month loan, and has since made seven starts, scoring four goals.

Watford unsure of deal for Middlesbrough's Johnson
Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd admits he's unsure over the status of on-loan Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson.
"I have had a good chat with (Middlesbrough manager) Gareth (Southgate), and it is difficult to nail down whether we can keep him for a longer term," he said.
"It is dependent on what happens with injuries, but we want to keep him. I feel he needs a full season at Championship level."

Tribalfootball.com

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Former Hull City chairman Adam Pearson will become Derby County's new chief executive. (The Times)

ADAM PEARSON FACT FILE

* 1995: Commercial director at Leeds United and Leeds Sporting plc.
Responsible for all development and growth of business revenue streams at Leeds United, taking turnover from £16m in 1996 to an excess of £80m in 2001, generating £10m net profit. This was the third highest turnover and second highest profit in the Premier League in 2001.
* 2001: Took over as Hull City chairman, purchasing the club from administration.
Was responsible for overseeing the club's rise from the lower reaches of League Two to an established Championship side. Turnover grew from £2m to £13m and the club was profitable for four consecutive seasons.
* 2003: Created the Stadium Management Company, which was responsible for the build and operation of the award-winning KC Stadium in Hull, which is home to Hull City and rugby league team Hull FC.
* 2005: Appointed Championship representative as a Director of the Football League and FA Council. As a Director to the Football League, Pearson was chairman of the League's commercial committee and the league's representative on the audit committee and the FA Cup committee.
* 2007: Pearson sold Hull City and the Stadium Management Company for £12m.
Both the club and Stadium Management Company were profitable and completely debt-free. The Tigers were the only debt-free club in the Championship.
* After leaving Hull City, Pearson was linked with Leeds United and Notts County and had a takeover bid for Huddersfield Town, the club he supported as a boy, rejected.
* Became executive chairman at Derby County.

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Watford won't sell King
Striker going nowhere in New Year



Adrian Boothroyd insists Watford will not be cashing in on in-form striker Marlon King in January.
King has scored in his last five appearances and made it seven for the season with a goal in Monday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
His prowess in the Championship has led to rumours that the forward could be offered a move to the Premier League in the New Year.
But Hornets boss Boothroyd says his intention is to strengthen his ranks, rather than see his playing resources depleted.
"We're not a club that needs the money," said Boothroyd.
"We need to build, not be taken apart."
Last season saw King's chances of making a top-flight impact wrecked by injury, but he was still able to score four goals in 13 Premier League appearances.

Sky

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Poyet pays tribute to Wise
New Spurs coach thanks ex-boss

Spurs' new first-team coach Gus Poyet has thanked ex-boss Dennis Wise after being paraded at White Hart Lane.
Poyet is part of the revolution at Tottenham under the guidance of new manager Juande Ramos following Martin Jol's sacking.
The Uruguayan was assistant manager to Wise at Swindon before the pair switched to Leeds just over a year ago.
Despite jumping ship for Spurs, Poyet believes he left Elland Road on good terms, while also reserving special praise for Wise.
"A big part of the reason why I'm here is because of Dennis. He's been excellent with me," he told Sky Sports News.
"I'm going to miss him a lot. I have to thank Dennis for everything he's done for me.
"I think I left Leeds with a fantastic relationship with everyone from Ken Bates to everyone associated with the club."  ....

Sky

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Poyet: Wise will understand



Gustavo Poyet has paid tribute to Dennis Wise upon his unveiling as Tottenham’s new assistant manager, despite conceding that his former boss at Leeds United may be unhappy about his decision to leave Elland Road.
Poyet has returned to White Hart Lane, having spent three years there as a player, as part of Juande Ramos’ back-room staff following the new head coach’s appointment as Martin Jol’s successor.
In order to move to North London though, Poyet was forced to break his association with Leeds after helping Wise to orchestrate an unbeaten start to their League One campaign.
It was Wise who first lured Poyet back to England when appointing him as his assistant at Swindon Town in May 2006, and then again at Leeds in October, but the Uruguayan insists Wise understood his decision, even if he did not like it.
“I think he has been absolutely fantastic with me,” said Poyet.
“If I am here it is a lot because of Dennis. I suppose he is not happy because it is not nice when you lose your assistant in the middle of the season but he was a very good person with me.
“He understood the situation,  I know he is going to keep doing well.”
Poyet will work alongside Ramos’ other assistant Marcos Alvarez at White Hart Lane and the trio’s brief is to take the club out of the relegation zone and towards the upper echelons of The Premier League.
Spurs had shown a worrying tendency to concede late goals under Jol this season and concerns had been raised as to their confidence after a number of shaky displays in defence.
Poyet concedes part of his role will be to affect a change in the squad mentality in order to eradicate late lapses.
Countering suggestions that he has largely been appointed as a translator for Ramos, Poyet first joked: “You would be very happy to have my contract as a translator!
“I have been here [England] for a period of 15, 16 months already, I know the club very well.
“I was an admirer of Juande at Sevilla, I tried last year to go to Sevilla with Dennis to see them training because you could learn from them.
“We are here to look at the big picture. It means to work on confidence, on how to defend in the last minutes when you fear conceding goals.
“So sometimes, it is more a mental problem than a physical one. We are trying to have a look at everything to make decisions and to try to sort problems. I am trying to help the team to change the situation.
“At Leeds, it was to answer a call from a close friend and to help a team that was trying to avoid relegation. Here is totally different.”

sport.setanta.com

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Robbie's a Carling Kop king
LIVERPOOL manager Rafa Benitez heralded Robbie Fowler’s homecoming with a glowing tribute to the Reds strike legend.
Fowler, who left the Kop in July with more than 120 goals to his name, returns to Anfield tonight as his new side Cardiff search for a Carling Cup fourth-round shock.
The hitman, 32 (right), is still known as God on Merseyside and Benitez said: “Maybe we can arrange for him to score once more in front of the Kop â€" but only when we’re winning 3-0.
“Seriously, though, Robbie was a great success here.
“He showed us his quality, good mentality and commitment.
“The atmosphere with him was always good. He was always joking but was also respectful and always professional. Fantastic.”
Cardiff boss Dave Jones is sure Fowler will show no emotion.
He said: “Robbie just wants to get on and do his job.”

The Sun

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Ehiogu may head for Ibrox exit door



Out-of-favour Rangers defender Ugo Ehiogu could be forced to quit Ibrox in January in search of first-team football elsewhere.
The centre-back has struggled to force his way back into the team after suffering an Achilles injury in the summer and has featured in just one game this season, against East Fife in the CIS Insurance Cup.

Hele storyen: http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1861_2836120,00.html

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Bates thanks Poyet for 'curing' Leeds United's problems
Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has thanked Gustavo Poyet for helping to provide a "cure" for the problems that had gripped Elland Road last season.
Bates delivered a glowing assessment of Poyet's contribution after the former Chelsea midfielder swapped the assistant manager's job at Leeds for a new opportunity with Tottenham Hotspur.
Poyet was introduced to the media as an employee of Spurs for the first time yesterday, and the club's new first-team coach admitted he had walked away from United on Monday morning with a heavy heart.
His exit came almost a year to the day after he and Dennis Wise took on the responsibility of managing Leeds, and Tottenham's approach divided a pair who had seemed inseparable on occasions during the past 12 months.
Poyet's career with Leeds dipped to an infamous low in April when the club were relegated from the Championship, but he and Wise withstood fierce criticism and scepticism through the summer and agreed to handle United's first ever season in League One.
The speed of their recovery saw Poyet leave Elland Road this week with Leeds four points short of the top of the division after 11 wins from 13 league matches, and the Uruguayan claimed he had left behind a team with the potential to claim the title at the end of the season.
Bates, meanwhile, said he understood Poyet's decision to leave for London and rejoin the team where his professional playing career finished in 2004. He also insisted that the 39-year-old was leaving Leeds in greater health than he had found them in last year.
Bates told the YEP: "Gus was the perfect foil for Dennis. They're very different people with different personalities, but they say that opposites attract. You have to remember that they were friends before they were managers.
"Of course he's leaving us at a time when we've made all the improvements and are moving forward, but we had a lot of problems here when Gus and Dennis took over. They've given us the cure."

YEP

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Has Ridsdale buried O'Leary's dream of managing Ireland?

Former Leeds United and Aston Villa manager David O'Leary is the bookies favourite to take over from Steve Staunton but won't have been helped by Peter Ridsdale's revelations

It is almost two decades now since David O'Leary put his name to an unremarkable, ghost-written book about life as a professional footballer.
He was in his prime at the time, still an Arsenal player and widely acknowledged as the model professional. The book, David O'Leary -- My Story, was, typically, dedicated to his employers, with the addendum "I owe them everything."
It is well-nigh impossible to overstate the respect O'Leary's name evoked at the time in English football. He would spend 20 years at Highbury, making an extraordinary 722 first-team appearances and winning a great raft of trophies without ever allowing his name slip into even the same postal code as controversy.
O'Leary, quite simply, was statesman-like. A gentleman footballer.
The final chapter of that 1988 book -- tagged 'The Future' -- deals with O'Leary's thoughts on managers and the qualities that distinguish the good from the bad. Essentially, his opinions can be distilled into a dislike of two things. (1) Dodgy characters. (2) Wafflers.
O'Leary writes how the former can "poison the atmosphere in a club, making it impossible to build up team spirit". Of the latter, he declares that one thing he learnt "if rather indirectly" from former boss, Terry Neill, was that "nothing infuriates players more than a waffler!"
The context in which people might read those observations now, would have been unimaginable to David O'Leary 19 years ago. But that context frames just about every breath he takes today.
Yesterday's serialisation of a new book by former Leeds United chairman, Peter Ridsdale -- United We Fall -- accusing O'Leary of curious dealings with infamous agent, Rune Hauge emerges at a time when the Dubliner is top of every bookie's list to become the new Republic of Ireland manager.
Yesterday's prices on O'Leary had a uniformity (Boylesports 5/2, William Hill 7/2, Paddy Power 3/1, Skybet 11/4) that all but suggested his to be the only viable candidacy.

Remarkable
This is remarkable given his recent history in management, a history that runs from his sacking at Leeds (by Ridsdale) in the summer of 2002 to the termination of his contract "by mutual consent" at Aston Villa in July of '06 after it was alleged that he had orchestrated a players' statement to put pressure on chairman, Doug Ellis.
His three years at Villa were conspicuously unsuccessful, the club finishing sixth, 10th and 16th in the Premiership, the supporters expressing their disquiet most famously with a banner unfurled at the Holte End, declaring: "We're not fickle, we just don't like you!"
Yet, before the spectacular Leeds melt-down, O'Leary had begun building a reputation for himself as one of the brightest young managers in Europe.
Famously, he took the club to the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2000/'01 season, a feat that emboldened Ridsdale with sufficient hubris to borrow a calamitous
stg £60m against future European gate receipts. Leeds, of course, did not qualify for the following season's contest.
Yet, at the beginning of 2002, they led the Premiership and -- with young players like Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Bowyer, Alan Smith, Harry Kewell, Erik Bakke, Danny Mills and Ian Harte to the fore -- the club's future (and indeed the manager's) seemed as safe as the Bank of England.
And it was pretty much around that time that people stopped liking David O'Leary.
He put his name to another book, you see, this one titled Leeds United on Trial. It was seen, both inside and outside the club, as a risible attempt to cash-in on the court case involving Woodgate and Bowyer, relating to a vicious assault on an Asian student. Even Ridsdale condemned it and, soon after, sacked his resolutely unapologetic manager.
By the time he left Leeds, O'Leary had spent stg£100m on players. Two years later, the club would be relegated with debts of stg£80m. Naturally, Ridsdale and O'Leary have pretty polarised versions of the last, decadent days of Leeds as a major force.

Reckless
O'Leary, not unreasonably, argues that the chairman's fiscal recklessness tipped the club into free-fall. Now, Ridsdale claims that -- if you search deep enough -- O'Leary's fingerprints can be found on much of the wreckage too.
He writes specifically of the signing of Rio Ferdinand from West Ham United for stg£18m, accusing O'Leary of hiring Hauge -- best-known for his involvement in the George Graham bung scandal -- without either the chairman's knowledge or board approval.
Hauge's involvement in the Ferdinand transfer would subsequently cost Leeds 10pc commission on the deal worth £1.8m.
Ridsdale writes: "If Leeds United were raped by Hauge, then our arms were pinned down by the manager's mandate. We contemplated not paying, but were told the deal would be off. Why would O'Leary give exclusivity to Hauge without informing the chairman? I cannot provide a satisfactory answer.
"I'm not saying O'Leary did anything illegal, but we had a certain method of conducting transfers at Leeds United."
Ridsdale claims that O'Leary signed a form effectively empowering Hauge to activate the transfer six months before the Ferdinand deal actually happened. "David hired him without my knowledge," he writes. "And without board approval. He acted unilaterally."
The former chairman also paints a damning picture of O'Leary's role in the collapse of team-spirit at Leeds after the assault trial, claiming that 10 players "either directly or indirectly" indicated their intention to leave the club if there was not a change of manager.
"From my chairman's office, I could almost hear the team's respect breaking up," writes Ridsdale. "O'Leary denied there was a dressing-room revolt. But the manager's book was the cause and effect of the crisis that sent the club over the edge."
He accuses O'Leary of squandering "a golden opportunity" for Leeds United. It is hard-hitting and, let's be honest, unshakably self-serving stuff from the public face of one of the most spectacular collapses witnessed in English football history.
Indeed, many will see it as little more than the vengeful swipe of an embittered man.
Yet, the timing of Ridsdale's book clearly damages O'Leary. It re-heats the perception of a one-time model pro who, in management, found himself drawn to the very places that he found so repugnant as a player.
By the time he finished with Villa in 2006, O'Leary had become the subject of vicious parody in the game. His favoured description of his players as an "honest bunch of lads" was recycled with withering repetition by supporters and satirists alike as a kind of bluffer's denouement.
He was slaughtered for poor man-management and unenlightened tactic. All the impetus of his early years with Leeds had effectively been air-brushed from his CV.
Clearly, an inference of curious business dealings won't preclude O'Leary from the chase to succeed Steve Staunton. After all, Terry Venables and the afore-mentioned Graham are also listed in the betting.
But Ridsdale's book seems to call into question O'Leary's judgement on just about every level of leadership required in a football manager. It may be malicious, it may be gratuitous, it may even -- above all -- be unfair. But, for Dave O'Leary, it has surely gone to press with ruinous timing.

independent.ie

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Derby supremo Pearson hailed as one of the best

Derby County have landed themselves a winner in new executive chairman Adam Pearson, says former England boss Peter Taylor.
He also feels the 43-year-old will be good for Rams boss Billy Davies.
"Adam and I used to speak about Billy Davies when I was at Hull because I have always had a good relationship with Billy," Taylor told the Derby Telegraph.
"We both rate Billy very highly, so he is in good hands - and quite rightly so given the magnificent job he has done for Derby County."
Taylor sent Pearson a text message yesterday wishing him good luck in his new role.
The two worked together at Hull from 2002 to 2006, during which time the Tigers moved to their new stadium and won back-to-back promotions.
Hull went up to League One in 2004 and then climbed into the Championship 12 months later.
"For me, Adam was absolutely brilliant. He's the best chairman I have worked under by a country mile," said Taylor.
"He is a very hands-on chairman. He is quite good on football, he is not a fool about football which I think most managers quite like. You don't ever want a chairman who thinks he knows it all but you like a chairman who knows something.
"He will be good back-up for Billy and he certainly knows how to run a football club, which is the most important thing. I can only see him being good news for Derby County.
"Adam has lots of energy and enthusiasm. He is a hard-working man. He enjoys getting up in the morning and working whatever hours it takes. He will give it everything he has got, there's no doubt about that. He is very, very organised."

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Nayim urges Ramos to shake-up Tottenham keeper Robinson

Former Tottenham hero Nayim says Juande Ramos' biggest challenge will be to get goalkeeper Paul Robinson back to his best.
The former Spurs midfielder is idolised for lobbing Arsenal keeper David Seaman from the halfway line to win the 1995 European Cup Winners' Cup for Real Zaragoza.
Now Nayim, 40, insists the new Spurs boss must shake up England No 1 Robbo - or ship him out.
He said: "Ramos' biggest problems are the keeper and the defence.
"The club wants good football and will sign quality players if replacements are needed.
"But Juande will be allowed to get on with his job. Tottenham will not interfere and he will settle in quickly."

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To ex-spillere nominert som rundens spiller i FA cupen's 4. kvalikrunde_

Keeper Shaun Allaways (Staines)
Spiss Chris Farrell (York)

http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/Playeroftheround4Q.htm






http://www.ycfc.net/craig-farrell-profile.php
http://www.leedsfans.org.uk/leeds/players/754.html

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Boss Boothroyd bags monthly prize 
Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd has been named the Championship manager of the month for October.
Boothroyd's side have won all five of their matches during the month.
Watford are leading the Championship by six points after 11 games as they aim to regain their spot in the Premiership after relegation last season.
The other contenders for the monthly award were Bristol City's Gary Johnson, Plymouth's Ian Holloway and Ipswich's Jim Magilton.

BBC

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Kewell is on trial at Liverpool over new contract

Harry Kewell has been challenged to prove he is worth another Liverpool contract after finally making his first appearance of the season.


When fit Kewell has made an impact for Liverpool

The 29-year-old's injury-ravaged Anfield career appeared to be in its final few months, following disquiet behind the scenes over a minimal return for a £70,000-a-week contract that runs out next summer.
A series of fitness problems have restricted his availability over the past two-and-a-half years and looked certain to lead to his release on a free transfer next summer.
But after shaking off troublesome foot and ankle injuries and going on as a substitute in Wednesday's 2-1 Carling Cup win over Cardiff, the £5million signing from Leeds could yet be on course for a new deal.
Liverpool would want to safeguard themselves against any further injury disruption, and a renewed contract could be on reduced terms or a pay-as-you-play basis.
Rafa Benitez is still prepared to offer the Australia winger the inducement of an extended Anfield stay, though.
The manager said: "He had 45 minutes with the reserves and has now added some time out in the middle with the first team, and to see him playing so well was really good.
"We were creating chances when he was on the pitch and that showed how he was contributing.
"You need to be 100 per cent every time you play and that has been difficult for Harry when he has sometimes been out for eight or 10 months.
"He is working with the physios and doing the right things. He must try to stay as fit as possible for the next few games.
"A new contract is a possibility and the way to make sure is by working hard and playing well, playing games in a row and playing at his level.
"Nobody has any doubt about the quality of Harry. He's a fantastic player.
"This is a crucial stage of his career. For his age and because he is finishing his contract. But I have always thought of him as a very good player who gives us options. Now it is up to him."

Daily Mail

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Paul Robinson may be first casualty as Juande Ramos eyes weaknesses

Paul Robinson would not be an obvious first casualty of Juande Ramos’s reign, but the Tottenham Hotspur head coach has made bringing in a goalkeeper a priority. The club have been watching Manuel Neuer, the 21-year-old Schalke 04 goalkeeper, and Samir Handanovic, of Udinese, who is 23. Both stand 6ft 4in and could replace Robinson in the medium term.

The England goalkeeper, who is 28, has made his name on being a good shot-stopper, rather than commanding his penalty area, explaining some of the team’s frailties from crosses. This season, Robinson has been prone to making mistakes and to allowing his concentration to lapse. “We will see if it [a change] happens,” he said. “I am confident [I will be No 1].”
Robinson is not helped by the jittery form of Tottenham’s central defensive partnership of Michael Dawson and Younès Kaboul. Martin Jol, the former manager, blamed Damien Comolli, the sporting director, for contributing to his dismissal as manager last month by signing Kaboul, among others, in the summer and ignoring the Dutchman’s transfer preferences.
Dawson and the France Under-21 defender have been accused of sitting too deep and Ramos often gesticulated for the team to hold a higher line during the 2-0 victory over Blackpool in the Carling Cup fourth round on Wednesday.
“We have been working defensively, shoring up at the back, but the work is far from done,” Robinson, who returned in goal after missing three matches with a calf injury, said. “It is like your first day at a new club. Everyone is on trial again, it is a new start for everybody.”
Robinson is being trained by Perry Suckling after the dismissal of Hans Segers, the goalkeeping coach. Ramos is looking at candidates from Spain for the role. “I am in close conversation with Comolli about who the next man should be,” Robinson said. (....)

Times

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DAILY EXPRESS: Scott Carson is keen to earn a £10million permanent switch to Aston Villa.

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Ricketts rejoins Saddlers on loan 


Ricketts has played for nine clubs since leaving Walsall in 2000

Striker Michael Ricketts has rejoined his old club Walsall on a three-month loan from League One rivals Oldham.
The 28-year-old came through the ranks for the Saddlers and made 90 first-team appearances, scoring 15 goals.
Ricketts left in 2000 to join Bolton Wanderers and moved to Middlesbrough two years later.
He has since appeared for Leeds United, Stoke City, Cardiff, Burnley, Southend and Preston before agreeing to go back to his roots in the West Midlands.
Ricketts has scored two goals in 12 appearances with Oldham this season.

BBC

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North End to keep Pugh
Stoke fail in move for midfielder
Preston boss Paul Simpson has ruled out letting Danny Pugh join Championship rivals Stoke.
Simpson confirmed Stoke had made an enquiry for the former Leeds and Manchester United man who has dropped down the pecking order at Deepdale.
However, Simpson is determined to keep Pugh at the club as he remains part of his plans.

Preston's Pugh makes Stoke move 


Pugh had handed in a transfer request to manager Paul Simpson

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has finally landed long-standing transfer target Danny Pugh.
The Preston winger, 25, has joined the Potters on loan until January with a view to a permanent deal.
North End rebuffed a previous approach for the ex-Manchester United and Leeds player but are now ready to let him end a 16-month stay at Deepdale.
"I am absolutely delighted to have signed a quality left-sided player," Pulis told Stoke's website.
However, Preston boss Paul Simpson told his club's website: "It was in everybody's best interests to let him go.
"Danny said he wanted to go and play on loan. I said he couldn't, then yesterday (Thursday) he handed me a written transfer request.
"Although I'm not someone who is going to be dictated to by transfer requests, I reluctantly allowed him to go because I was at a point where I had a footballer who didn't desperately want to be here.
"He did a very good job for us last year, but this season he hasn't been as effective and now I've got other players who are playing ahead of him at the moment.

BBC

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Megson blocks Speed exit
Midfielder's loan move to Sheffield United won't go ahead



Bolton manager Gary Megson has ruled out letting midfielder Gary Speed join Sheffield United on loan.
Speed was on the verge of moving to Bramall Lane when Megson took over at The Reebok Stadium, having fallen out of favour under Sammy Lee.
But Megson acted quickly to block Speed's exit and assure the 38-year-old he has a large part to play in Bolton's survival bid.
"Gary will not be going out on loan," said Megson. "I see him as an integral part of what we need to try and do.
"Since I have been here, Gary has been fantastic. He is a terrific lad and a positive influence, in the dressing room, on the training ground and on the pitch, which is exactly what I expected.
"He has had a fantastic career. We want it to finish on a high and so does Gary."

Sky

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HARROGATE SIGN FORMER LEEDS STRIKER

Blue Square North leaders Harrogate Town have signed former Leeds United striker Tony Hackworth for an undisclosed fee.
Hackworth (27) has joined from Whitby Town and previously featured for Scarborough and Notts County.
The Wetherby Roaders latest recruit goes straight into the squad for the visit of Alfreton Town this weekend.

nlotnconference.rivals.net
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HACKWORTH JOINS HARROGATE

Blue Square North leaders Harrogate Town have moved quickly to bolster their strike force by signing former Leeds United forward Tony Hackworth for an undisclosed fee.
Hackworth will be in the squad for Saturday`s home clash against Alfreton Town with Neil Aspin's side desperate to maintain their 100 per cent record at Wetherby Road this season.
The new striker joins from UniBond League Premier Divison side Whitby Town after signing for the east coast side from Scarborough in the summer.
Harrogate`s commercial manager Alan Williams was delighted with the news.
"It's fantastic for the club," he said.
"He's a big strong boy and we're looking forward to seeing him play alongside Danny Holland and hopefully scoring the goals that will take us up to the Conference.
"The chairman is cock-a-hoop about the signing."

nonleaguedaily.com