A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Blackburn deny financial crisis
BLACKBURN yesterday denied reports they are on the verge of a financial crisis. The Premier League strugglers, who are owned by Indian poultry giant Venky’s, posted a statement on their website insisting the club does not have money worries.
The statement, on behalf of finance director Karen Silk, read: “There is no financial crisis, and, there is absolutely no danger to the players’ and staff wages. Amongst all professional football clubs, finances are regularly assessed and reassessed during the season based on performance, income and costs, and at Blackburn Rovers this is no different.
“Barclays Bank and Blackburn Rovers have enjoyed a long relationship over many years and are currently in constructive dialogue about how the bank, along with the owners, can support the club for many years to come.”
Redknapp over comments about referee
HARRY Redknapp has been warned over his future conduct following his post-match comments about the performance of referee Chris Foy during Tottenham’s defeat at Stoke. The Spurs boss said he felt like Foy “was quite enjoying not giving us anything” during the 2-1 defeat on Sunday.
The Football Association looked at the comments but decided against taking disciplinary reaction and instead have written to Redknapp. An FA spokesman said: “We have written to Harry Redknapp following his post-match comments on Sunday warning him as to his future conduct.”
Redknapp claimed refereeing decisions cost his side after Spurs had a goal disallowed, two penalty appeals for handball turned down, and had Younes Kaboul red-carded. He said afterwards: “To be honest, from the start of the game I felt like he wasn’t going to give us much today . . . He’ll look at it tonight, on TV, when his wife is making him a bacon sandwich and think, ‘Oh **** me, what have I done there?”’
Toure to leave late for Africa Cup
MANCHESTER City have agreed special dispensation to delay the departure of a “guilty and confused” Yaya Toure to the Africa Cup of Nations so he can take part in their FA Cup tie against Manchester United and the first leg of the League Cup semi-final against Liverpool.
Toure still faces the possibility of missing a month of City’s title campaign and the Ivory Coast international has admitted being torn about his involvement in the tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, starting on January 21st.
However, City have persuaded Ivory Coast not to enforce a Fifa rule that players can be called up two weeks before the competition. The same provisional agreement is in place for his brother, Kolo, and means they can be involved against United on January 8th followed by the home leg of the Liverpool tie three days later. City’s case was helped by Roberto Mancini’s links with Francois Zahoui, the Ivory Coast manager, who spent two seasons with Ascoli in the 1980s.
Celtic will not appeal Uefa fine
CELTIC will not appeal against the fine imposed by Uefa for “illicit chanting” at last month’s Europa League tie against Rennes at Celtic Park.
Uefa’s control and disciplinary panel imposed a fine of €15,000 for chanting at the 3-1 win over Rennes on November 3rd.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said yesterday: “The heavy fine imposed by Uefa is an indication of the seriousness with which it treats such matters. We would reiterate our own position that, however small a minority is involved, such chanting is not welcome at Celtic Football Club. Clearly, it is very disappointing and a source of real regret amongst our supporters that Celtic’s proud history of exemplary conduct has been tarnished in this way by such a tiny minority.
“However, this is a clear warning that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
FA warn Armstrong waiting to hear from IFA
NORTHERN Ireland legend Gerry Armstrong has yet to hear back from the Irish Football Association regarding his application to succeed Nigel Worthington as manager of the national side. The IFA have been weighing up applications for the post and were thought to be preparing to interview candidates.
Worthington’s predecessor, Lawrie Sanchez, on Tuesday ruled himself out of the running, indicating he had not applied for the job and had not been approached by his former employers.
Other contenders for the job include ex-Cardiff manager Dave Jones and former internationals Jim Magilton, Iain Dowie and Michael O’Neill – who is bookmakers’ favourite after announcing his exit from Shamrock Rovers.
But Armstrong has suggested an appointment may not be close.
“I feel I’ve as good a chance as anybody. But I haven’t heard anything else, so as yet nothing’s moving,” he said.
