Eriksson vows to stay at County after coach quits
December 16, 2009
Sven-Goran Eriksson, the former England manager, insisted he would stay on as director of football at English fourth-tier side Notts County after Hans Backe quit as the club’s boss.
Backe spent only seven weeks as County’s manager after being appointed by fellow Swede Eriksson on a three-year contract in succession to Ian McParland.
Backe told the squad he was leaving ahead of training here on Tuesday and his exit immediately sparked speculation about Eriksson’s position with County.
However, in a statement on the club’s official website, nottscountyfc.co.uk, Eriksson reiterated he was not leaving Meadow Lane.
“Everyone at the club is disappointed that Hans has chosen to tender his resignation,” said Eriksson.
“This has come as a surprise to all of us in the context of recent results on the pitch and the completion of the management buy-out of the football club by Peter Trembling.
“I am aware that Hans’s decision has led to speculation about my own position here at Notts County.
“I wish to make it clear that I believe the management buy-out is a positive first step for the club and we look forward to confirming further investments for the future.
“I continue to enjoy my work at Notts County and, together with Peter Trembling, I hope to progress to the goals that we have set.”
Last week County chairman Trembling completed a takeover from Middle East owners Munto Finance, only five months after the latter took control with an ambitious bid to turn the club into a top-flight side within five years.
Backe was in the dugout for just nine matches, his final game in charge being Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Accrington Stanley – a result that left Midlands side County in sixth place and still challenging for a playoff place but 10 points behind leaders Rochdale.
Trembling said he was disappointed Backe had not stuck with the club while he talked to new investors, telling Sky Sports: “Sven and I are working round the clock on that and, come the middle of January, we could be in an extremely healthy position and not only back on track but maybe further down the line from where we expected to be, so I am disappointed that Hans has not waited around for that to happen.”
Assistant manager Dave Kevan will take charge for next week’s trip to Bournemouth.
Munto promised to invest millions of pounds when the consortium took over the club but former Arsenal and England defender Sol Campbell was the only high-profile arrival and he walked out after just one match.
County also had to deal with a winding-up petition issued by the High Court in November in relation to a six-figure debt accrued before Munto took over.
NOTTINGHAM, England (AFP)
Tags: accrington stanley, arsenal, Bournemouth, county chairman, Dave Kevan, director of football, dugout, England, england manager, final game, five months, football club, goran eriksson, hans backe, Ian McParland, mcparland, Meadow Lane, Middle East, Midlands, Nottingham, nottingham england, Notts County, nottscountyfc, Peter Trembling, resignation, rochdale, seven weeks, Sky Sports, speculation, Stanley, Sven, Sven Goran Eriksson, swede, top flightRelated posts
Notts County coach quits
December 15, 2009
Notts County manager Hans Backe has quit after only seven weeks in the hotseat at the League Two side.
The 57-year-old Backe replaced Ian McParland on a three-year contract on 27 October and is close to former England coach and County’s director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Backe told the squad he was leaving ahead of training.
Last week chairman Peter Trembling completed a takeover from Middle East owners Munto Finance, only five months after the latter took control with an ambitious bid to turn County into a top-flight side within five years.
Backe was in the dugout for just nine matches, his final game in charge being Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Accrington Stanley.
Assistant manager Dave Kevan will take charge for next week’s trip to Bournemouth.
Munto promised to invest millions of pounds when the consortium took over the club but former Arsenal and England defender Sol Campbell was the only high-profile arrival and he walked out after just one match.
County also had to deal with a winding-up petition issued by the High Court in November in relation to a six-figure debt accrued before Munto took over.
NOTTINGHAM (AFP)
Tags: accrington stanley, arsenal, consortium, Dave Kevan, director of football, dugout, England, england coach, final game, five months, hans backe, high profile, hotseat, kevan, Middle East, Nottingham, Notts County, Peter Trembling, seven weeks, six figure, sol campbell, Stanley, Sven Goran Eriksson, takeover, top flight, winding up petitionRelated posts
Buoyant Bayern hunt victory at emotional Hanover
November 28, 2009
Bayern Munich striker Ivica Olic warned the German giants will use their midweek Champions League success to boost their flagging confidence in a highly-emotional Bundesliga game at Hanover on Sunday.
Despite their 1-0 win over Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday in Europe, Bayern are seventh in the Bundesliga table and six points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen who host struggling Stuttgart on Sunday.
But Bayern’s game promises to be an emotional afternoon at Hanover in the home side’s first match since captain and goalkeeper Robert Enke committed suicide on November 10.
More than 35,000 mourning fans attended the memorial service for the national team’s goalkeeper at Hanover’s stadium two weeks ago and this will be the first Bundesliga game played there since.
Munich coach Louis van Gaal has been given the ultimatum he must win all four remaining league games – starting with Hanover – to safe guard his job after drawing his last three league games.
Bayern’s last league victory came more than a month ago against Eintracht Frankfurt, but having recovered from a calf injury, Bayern forward Olic is ready to strike against Hanover.
“We deserved our victory against Haifa and now I hope we can go on and win all our matches before Christmas – starting with Hanover,” said Olic who scored the winner on Wednesday.
“I was out for seven weeks and I played my first game with only a single training session with the team.
“My legs hurt now and I am tired, but I hope I can recover enough in the next few days before the Hanover match so I can be 100 percent again.”
It has been a testing week for Bayern whose Italian want-away striker Luca Toni has been told by van Gaal he can leave in January’s transfer window.
Toni earned himself a 25,000 euros fine on Wednesday for telling the Italian media his relationship with van Gaal “is as good as over” following just four league appearances this season and he has been thrown out of the squad.
Undefeated Leverkusen are home to Stuttgart, who are three from the bottom of the Bundesliga, with their last league win coming almost two months ago despite beating Glasgow Rangers last week to keep their Champions League dream alive.
Second-placed Werder Bremen are at home to defending champions VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday with Thomas Schaaf’s side having been beaten just once so far this season.
Wolfsburg, who are eighth in the Bundesliga, are still in contention for the knock-out stages of the Champions League despite being beaten 2-1 by CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.
Third-placed Schalke, unbeaten in their last eight league games, are now serious title contenders as they are just two points behind Leverkusen and will be hoping for three more points against midtable Moenchengladbach.
Mainz, who have climbed their way up to sixth in the table, are home to fifth-placed Hamburg on Saturday who had some bad news when Brazil midfielder Ze Roberto was ruled out for the rest of the year.
The 35-year-old had surgery on Thursday for damaged ankle ligaments.
The news is bad news for Hamburg coach Bruno Labbadia who has strikers Paolo Guerrero and Mladen Petric, winger Romeo Castelen, defenders Collin Benjamin, Alex Silva und Bastian Reinhardt all out with long-term injuries.
Saturday
Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Frankfurt
Hoffenheim v Borussia Dortmund
Werder Bremen v VfL Wolfsburg
Mainz 05 v Hamburg
Nuremberg v Freiburg
Borussia M’gladbach v Schalke 04
Sunday
Bayer Leverkusen v VfB Stuttgart
Hanover 96 v Bayern Munich
BERLIN (AFP)
Tags: Alex Silva, bayer leverkusen, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, Bremen, bruno labbadia, calf injury, Collin Benjamin, committed suicide, eintracht frankfurt, first game, FRANKFURT, Goalkeeper, haifa, Hamburg, Hanover, italian media, league leaders, league victory, louis van gaal, Moscow, Munich, Paolo Guerrero, safe guard, seven weeks, six points, striker, Thomas SchaafRelated posts
Mowbray welcomes back Celtic´s walking wounded
October 17, 2009
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has been handed a fitness boost ahead of Saturday’s game against Motherwell as the Scottish Premier League prepares to get under way again after the international break.
The Hoops’ gaffer had an injury headache before his previous fixture against Rangers at the beginning of the month with a number of first team regulars sitting out the 2-1 defeat at Ibrox.
But the international fixtures have afforded his stars a two-week break allowing many to recover from their knocks and strains and take their place in the squad to face Motherwell.
Midfielder Scott Brown was forced to pull out of Scotland’s friendly with Japan last weekend due to a niggling injury on the ankle on which he underwent surgery in May.
But after a consultation with a Harley Street expert the 24-year-old has rested the ankle for the past fortnight with the Celtic medical team optimistic this has alleviated the problem.
Another player close to a top team return is striker Marc-Antoine Fortune.
The summer signing has been missing for the past seven weeks after picking up an ankle injury in the Champions League defeat to Arsenal.
However Mowbray hopes both players will soon be firing on all cylinders as the Hoops aim to keep their one-point advantage at the top of the SPL.
Rangers have the chance to put pressure on their rivals by going top if they win against St Johnstone in the early kick-off game so Mowbray knows he needs his best players available.
“I hope Scott is going to be okay for the Motherwell game,” Mowbray said.
“We’ve been nursing him through the last few weeks and he needed a break. We wanted to give him a rest and the specialist felt that would benefit him too.
“That’s why Scott didn’t go to Japan and hopefully it will help him over the coming weeks.
“Marc-Antoine Fortune is another player that we’re assessing closely and we hope he isn’t too far away,” Mowbray added.
“Marc had some rehab to do, but he’s been back running on the grass and things seem to be fine with him.
“He’s looking fit and strong, but we’ll move him on to twisting and turning this week and then contact football before too long.”
Australian international Scott McDonald had to pull out of the Socceroos squad to face the Netherlands but should be back to face his former club while full-backs Andreas Hinkel and Danny Fox are responding well to treatment on hamstring injuries.
However, Mowbray won’t face a dilemma over which central defensive partnership will face Motherwell.
Glenn Loovens’ appeal against a one-match suspension was rejected so Gary Caldwell will return to partner Stephen McManus against Jim Gannon’s side, who are aiming to break into the top four with a win at Parkhead.
In the early kick-off game Rangers travel to Perth to take on St Johnstone. Walter Smith, too, will welcome back several players with Lee McCulloch and Kevin Thomson both back in training.
Madjid Bougherra returned unscathed from international duty with Algeria and Steven Davis and Kyle Lafferty are expected to be fit as Rangers aim to build on their Old Firm victory.
The game has come too soon for American international Maurice Edu as he continues his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury.
In Saturday’s other fixtures Aberdeen host Hearts, Dundee United face Hamilton, bottom club Falkirk take on St Mirren while third-placed Hibernian welcome Kilmarnock to Easter Road.
Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)
Saturday
Aberdeen v Hearts
Celtic v Motherwell
Dundee United v Hamilton
Falkirk v St Mirren
Hibernian v Kilmarnock
St Johnstone v Rangers (1230)
GLASGOW (AFP)
Tags: Aberdeen, ankle injury, champions league, Danny Fox, Dundee, Easter Road, firing on all cylinders, fortnight, Glasgow, Hamilton, harley street, hoops, jim gannon, kick off game, Marc, marc antoine fortune, Marc-Antoine, Maurice, medical team, midfielder, motherwell, Perth, point advantage, premier league, regulars, rivals, scotland, Scott, Scott Brown, scott mcdonald, Scottish Premier League, seven weeks, st johnstone, Steven Davis, strains, striker, tony mowbray, walter smithRelated posts
Demichelis blow for Bayern
August 7, 2009
Bayern Munich’s Argentine international defender Martin Demichelis has been ruled out for up to seven weeks with a right ankle injury, the Bundesliga club announced on Thursday.
Demichelis picked up the injury in training Wednesday.
His loss for the start of the season is a blow for Bayern who had been counting on the 28-year-old after the departure of Brazilian Lucio.
He is expected to be replaced by Holger Badstuber for the German league curtain-raiser against Hoffenheim on Saturday.
German international striker Miroslav Klose is also doubtful for the season opener because of a muscular problem and star striker Franck Ribery could miss the game with a knee problem.
MUNICH, Germany (AFP)
Tags: ankle injury, Argentine, Bayern, bayern munich, curtain raiser, franck ribery, game, german league, Hoffenheim, Holger Badstuber, knee problem, lucio, martin demichelis, miroslav klose, Munich, munich germany, muscular problem, season opener, seven weeks, star strikerRelated posts
Favorites USA, Mexico post opening-day victories at CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship
June 18, 2009
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Anthony Chimienti scored three goals and helped rally the two-time champion United States to a 6-2 victory over debutante Bahamas in the opening game of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship on Wednesday.
In the second game of the first-day doubleheader, Christopher Flores scored four times to lead defending champion and host Mexico to a 10-0 win over Canada, which is returning to the championship after a two-year absence.
The tournament is being played seven weeks after it originally was scheduled to take place. Concerns over swine flu, which resulted in Mexican government officials closing schools nationwide in April, caused CONCACAF to cancel the semifinals and finals of its Under-17 Championship in Tijuana, delay the second leg of the Champions League final in Cancun, and postpone the beach championship in Puerto Vallarta.
Leslie St. Fleur gave the Bahamas the lead six seconds after the opening kickoff, but Chimienti equalized 1:11 later. Brendon Taguinod put the USA, the 2006 and 2007 CONCACAF champion, ahead with 1:14 remaining in the first period and Chimienti scored his second less than a minute into the second period to put the United States in control 3-1.
Yuri Morales and St. Fleur traded goals before the end of the second to leave the USA ahead 4-2, and Morales added a second early in the third period before Chimienti closed out his day with a third with 2:02 remaining.
The Bahamas finished without starting forward Nesley Jean and assistant coach Roberto Ceciliano, the former U.S. beach national team manager. Both were ejected with less than two minutes to play in the second period.
Mexico went ahead 44 seconds after the start on the first of two goals by Ricardo Villalobos. Gustavo Rosales added the first of his three goals with 4:39 remaining in the first period to double Mexico’s lead and then tacked on another 55 seconds into the second. Then Flores added goals on either side of Rosales’ second, all in a span of less than five minutes, to put Mexico well in control 6-0 with 2:42 remaining in the second.
Isaac Rodriguez accounted for Mexico’s other goal just before the end of the second.
The results left the United States and Mexico atop their respective groups in the six-team event, with the finalists both qualifying for the Beach Soccer World Cup in the United Arab Emirates November 16-22.
The five-day CONCACAF championship continues on Thursday with El Salvador playing its first game against Canada in Group A, and Costa Rica taking on the Bahamas in Group B.
Go to Source
Tags: anthony chimienti, assistant coach, B. Go, Bahamas, beach soccer, Brendon Taguinod, Canada, Cancun, Christopher Flores, concacaf, CONCACAF Beach, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Costa Rica, debutante, defending champion, doubleheader, El Salvador, first period, Isaac Rodriguez, mexican government, Mexico, puerto vallarta, ricardo villalobos, Roberto Ceciliano, second game, second period, seven weeks, six seconds, soccer championship, St. Fleur, swine flu, third period, time champion, united arab emirates, United States, USARelated posts
Injury-hit Viduka handed Newcastle lifeline
April 18, 2009
NEWCASTLE, England (AFP) – Mark Viduka could remain at Newcastle beyond the end of the season, manager Alan Shearer has revealed.
Australian international Viduka is set to be involved for the first time in seven weeks when Newcastle travel to Tottenham on Sunday in search of crucial points to boost their Premier League survival bid.
A string of injuries this season have restricted Viduka to just one start and five substitute appearances, well short of the number of games the 33-year-old requires to trigger a 12-month contract extension when his current deal expires in the summer.
It has been widely expected the former Melbourne Knights striker will see out the remainder of his career by returning to Australia in a bid to earn a place in the national squad for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.
But, intriguingly, interim manager Shearer, who is expected to be confirmed in the role long-term at the end of the season, has refused to rule-out the possibility of Viduka staying at St James’ Park for the 2009-10 campaign.
He said: “That’s something we’d have to look at come the end of the season. I’ve said to Mark ‘look, we want you fit for the remaining games then we’ll see what happens after that’.
“It’s fair to say Mark probably wouldn’t have played again this season if things hadn’t changed but just having him available to play some part is great.
“He was injured and not in a good condition and probably on his way to Australia this summer because talks hadn’t happened between himself and the club.
“But it would have been a complete waste to just let him lie on the treatment table looking forward to going back to the beaches in Australia. That’s what his plans were this summer.”
Injury-prone Viduka has made just 20 Premier League starts since joining Newcastle from north-east neighbours Middlesbrough on a Bosman free transfer in June, 2007.
He’s scored seven league goals in that time, the most recent more than 12 months ago when he returned from injury to help keep the club in the top flight.
The former Celtic forward, who earns a reputed 60,000 pounds-a-week, was jeered by Newcastle supporters who accused him of lacking commitment when limping out of the defeat at Wigan at the end of December – his only start so far this season.
Shearer is convinced that if he can overcome his fitness problems, the 43-times capped forward can play a significant role in helping Newcastle avoid relegation in their remaining six games.
He added: “The big thing with Mark is getting him fit and keeping him fit. We have to try and manage that and treat him differently to the rest of the players in training.
“Everyone knows he’s got ability. If we can get something out of him between now and the end of the season it could be key. He’s shown a great attitude and pushed himself hard.
“He’s been in early every morning and does extra work every afternoon. It’s a fine balance of trying to get him fit without pushing him too hard.
“I asked Mark ‘do you want to help play a part in us trying to stay up?’ and the answer was most definitely a ‘yes’. He’s shown a great appetite to get us out of trouble which is what I’m looking for.”
Tags: 12 months, alan shearer, Australia, beaches, contract extension, England, English Premier League, interim manager, james park, league goals, league survival, Mark, mark viduka, Melbourne, neighbours, NEWCASTLE, newcastle england, premier league, remainder, remaining games, seven weeks, South Africa, St James, st james park, striker, world cup finalsRelated posts
Wigan´s Cho Won-Hee out for season
April 6, 2009
WIGAN, England (AFP) – Wigan Athletic midfielder Cho Won-Hee will miss the remainder of the English Premier League season after injuring calf muscles while on international duty with South Korea last week.
Cho was kicked in the leg during his country’s friendly against Iraq in Seoul on March 28 and aggravated the injury in the World Cup qualifying derby win over North Korea four days later.
Wigan physio Dave Galley said on Monday: “We scanned the injury as soon as Won-Hee returned to us last week, and we can confirm he has a grade three tear of two of his calf muscles.”
The injury now means Cho, who signed for Wigan as a free agent last month after letting his contract with Suwon Blue Wings expire, is unlikely to make his Latics debut this season.
Calf problems such as his usually take six to eight weeks to heal and there are only seven weeks left in the English season.
“This is very frustrating for me,” said Cho. “I was so desperate to show the manager and the fans what I can do. But I will now have to work my hardest to get fit.”
Wigan boss Steve Bruce, whose team are eighth in the table, added: “It’s unfortunate for the lad because he was so willing and has shown a terrific attitude.
“But our team are working on him and we will do everything we can to get him back as soon as we can.”
Written by: AFP
Tags: attitude, boss, calf muscles, Cho, Cho Won-, Dave Galley, debut, England, English Premier League, free agent, galley, Iraq, lad, midfielder, North Korea, remainder, seoul, seven weeks, south korea, Steve Bruce, suwon blue wings, Wigan, wigan athletic, wigan england, World CupRelated posts
Rafa Benitez wants Steven Gerrard to play against Preston North End
January 2, 2009
It is expected that manager Rafa Benitez will be including Steven Gerrard in Liverpool’s line-up this weekend to face their tricky third-round FA Cup tie at Deepdale against the Championship side Preston North End.
It was originally thought that Gerrard would be sidelined this weekend after he had been charged with assault earlier in the week.
Rafa Benitez, on the other hand, believes that it would be better for Gerrard to have his mind focus on football instead.
Benitez also hinted that the long-time injured striker Fernando Torres, who has missed out seven weeks of football with a hamstring injury, could be brought on as a substitute in the second half.
Written by:
Tags: assault, Championship, charge, Cup, cup tie, dave cohen, deepdale, English Premier League, FA Cup, Fernando Torres, football, Liverpool, long time, man, manager, mind, mind focus, Preston, preston north end, rafa benitez, rest, rsquo, s line, second half, seven weeks, Steven Gerrard, weekRelated posts
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