Another boost for Liverpool Euro bid
Liverpool's bid to defend their European title was handed a major boost yesterday and, if ultimately successful, they could face their former manager Gerard Houllier after he was named the new coach of the French champions Lyon.
The three most senior Uefa officials have come out in support of the Anfield club while seven members of Uefa's executive committee reportedly said yesterday they would vote to change the rules to allow Liverpool to participate in next season's Champions League.
"The winner should have a chance to defend the title," said Uefa's president Lennart Johansson. "We must sit down as a matter of real urgency to see if there is a way to make it happen. If there is a rule that harms the tournament we have to discuss changing the rule."
Europe's governing body was set to discuss the situation at a meeting of its executive committee in Manchester on June 17th, but according to Uefa's chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson that decision may now be accelerated.
Unhappy sponsors
Nike have warned Manchester United they could pull the plug on their sponsorship deal after the club's poor showing this season.
The sportswear manufacturers began a 13-year kit deal with the club in August 2002 worth up to £303 million, but it is reported a get-out clause will allow the company to decide next year whether to continue that agreement past the 2007-08 season.
"Chelsea won the league this year, Arsenal won the FA Cup and Liverpool won the Champions League, so you could argue that Manchester United is only the fourth-best club in England," said Nike's vice-president of sports marketing Ian Todd.
Wednesday's day
Sheffield Wednesday came from behind to beat Hartlepool 4-2 after extra-time in their play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium yesterday, earning promotion back to the second tier of English football.
It was a heartbreaking result for Hartlepool, who led 2-1 after 82 minutes and looked on course to reach their highest playing level since they joined the league in 1921.
Premier battle
The biggest match of the holiday weekend in England comes this afternoon when West Ham United and Preston North End meet for the right to play in the Premier League.
West Ham were relegated in 2003 and lost to Crystal Palace in last year's play-off final but Preston, the first winners of the Football League championship in 1888, have not been in the top flight since 1961.
Often described as the biggest match in English club football, some estimates put the value of victory at £25 million.
New kid on block
The humble surroundings of Altrincham's Moss Lane ground would have been familiar territory for Kieran Richardson as he entered 2005, wondering if he would be able to fulfil his dream of playing regularly for Manchester United.
But now a remarkable rise has seen the 20-year-old emerge as a Premiership regular with West Brom on loan - and crown his England debut on Saturday with both goals in a 2-1 win over the USA in Chicago's Soldier Field Stadium.
Within four minutes, a wonderful curling free-kick with his left foot had beaten goalkeeper Kasey Keller and then a minute before half-time Richardson coolly accepted and slotted home a pass from Joe Cole.
The performance of Richardson and the re-emergence of Michael Carrick, the other big plus point from Saturday's victory, have made England's US tour a success whatever the outcome of the clash with Colombia in New Jersey.
David Beckham and Michael Owen flew in to New York yesterday to join up with the England squad ahead of tomorrow's friendly.
USA: Keller; Cherundolo, Gibbs, Pope (Bocanegra, 73), Vanney, Ralston, Zavagnin, Dempsey (Simms 90), McBride (Casey 82), Donovan, Wolff. Booked: Pope, Gibbs. Goals: Dempsey 79.
ENGLAND: James; G Johnson, A Cole, Brown, Campbell (Knight, 45), J Cole (Defoe, 63), Carrick, Jenas, Richardson (Neville, 59), A Johnson (Young, 76), Smith. Booked: A Cole. Goals: Richardson 4, 44.
Referee: B Archundia Tellez (Mexico).
