A round-up of today's other stories in brief
LIVERPOOL say they expect to earn a staggering €350 million through their new six-year deal with the US sportswear company Warrior Sports, and have denied accusations that underachievement on the pitch led to the collapse of their current kit deal with Adidas, reports Andy Hunter.
Warrior, owned by New Balance, will become the club’s kit supplier from June having agreed a €29 million-a-year deal to enter the football industry for the first time.
With Warrior, Liverpool will control all non-branded merchandising – products outside the usual kit range – and are free to open club stores wherever they choose. That is not the case under Adidas, who control Liverpool’s kit supply and the sale of non-branded merchandise, and the club believe they can double the €29 million a year from Warrior when the current restrictions are lifted this summer.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has confirmed the club’s interest in signing Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Carlos Teixeira.
Guardian Service
Dispute over Coleman move
GREEK club Larissa have announced their intention to take legal action against the Football Association of Wales over the appointment of Chris Coleman as Wales manager.
Coleman was unveiled as the successor to his former Wales team-mate Gary Speed yesterday having left his role with Larissa last week, citing the Greek club’s financial problems as the reason for his departure.
But within hours of the FAW confirming Coleman’s appointment Larissa posted a statement on their website stating that the former Fulham manager remained under contract with them.
Coleman has previously said the club had not paid him and during his unveiling he claimed: “I left Larissa two points off the top of the league. I left them because financially they are in big trouble. Some of the staff had not been paid for six months, eight months, up to a year.”
Villa look into standing area
THE campaign for safe standing areas to be incorporated into top-level football grounds has received a major boost, after Aston Villa said they are examining introducing a standing section at Villa Park, reports David Conn.
Paul Faulkner, Villa’s chief executive, told a supporters’ consultation group that he recognises fans want to stand, that safe standing areas could help improve the match atmosphere, allow for some cheaper ticket prices, and therefore attract younger supporters currently priced out by the cost of seats.
Guardian Service
Under-16s denied second win
THE Republic of Ireland under-16s were denied a second victory of the week over Portugal yesterday by a late equaliser by the hosts in Lisbon. Corey Galvin of Ipswich Town, opened the scoring at the end of the first half when his 20-yard shot took a deflection and looped high into the top corner. Goncalo Maria equalised for Portugal 17 minutes from time.
REP OF IRELAND: Doherty (Cockhill Celtic); Traynor (St Joseph’s Boys), Shaughnessy (Mervue Utd), Baba (Castlebar Celtic), Moseley (Birmingham City); Galvin (Ipswich Town), C Donnellan (Corinthians), R Donnellan (Shelbourne FC), Mulraney (Nottingham Forest); Mulhall (Stella Maris), Stokes (St Kevin’s Boys). Subs: Crowley (Aston Villa) for Mulhall, Rainey (Bonagee Utd) for Moseley, O’Halloran (Southend) for Stokes, Dimaio (Sheffield Utd) for R Donnellan, O’Hanlon (Liverpool) for Mulraney, Dempsey (Northend Utd) for Shaughnessy.
