A recent study that compares injuries to players in the Premiership and Bundesliga has given positive backing for the calls for a winter break and also provides evidence that possibly explains England’s relatively poor record in the major championships.A recent study that compares injuries to players in the Premiership and Bundesliga has given positive backing for the calls for a winter break and also provides evidence that possibly explains England’s relatively poor record in the major championships.

Together with Swiss reinsurer Converium, actuarial firm EMB Consultancy LLB have compiled the most detailed analysis ever of footballer injury patterns among top players in England and Germany.

The key findings are:

• English Premiership players face an increased likelihood of injury in the second half of the season compared to their German counterparts, who benefit from a mid-season break

• There is also some evidence (though again not conclusive) that players from clubs who finished higher in the Premiership during the previous season take less time to recover from long-term injuries. It may be that more successful clubs are able to provide better medical treatment for injured players.

Reporting on the EMB web site, senior consultant Paul Murray stated: “The most headline-grabbing conclusion was the fact that top footballers in England are more likely to be suffering from long-term injuries towards the end of the season than those in Germany.”

“The clear evidence that we unearthed shows that a mid-season break appears to be the main factor in ensuring that when the destiny of major domestic, European and international trophies is being decided, German clubs are suffering from fewer long-term injuries than at any stage of the season.

“At the same time, English clubs (who have no midseason break) have more serious injuries than at any other period in the calendar.

Although Sven-Göran Eriksson has persuaded the FA to agree to a break before next year’s World Cup in Germany, Paul accepts that it’s highly unlikely that any England head coach of the future will enjoy the benefits of a winter break: “As the season reaches its climax, the English players are once again experiencing very high levels of injury occurrence once again.

“But, in the Bundesliga, a combination of more rested players and a period midseason where very few players pick up major injuries means that the number of players missing through long-term injuries dramatically dips just when all the major trophies are being handed out.

“England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson has complained many times about the number of injuries he has had to cope with immediately before major championships. The evidence suggests he is right to keep asking for a mid-season break, as is the norm in most European countries.

“Creating such a break in a crowded calendar would almost certainly mean abandoning the Carling Cup and/or reducing the number of Premiership teams to 18, as in Germany. That would require clubs to agree to financial sacrifice, as well as accepting a voluntary increase in their chances of relegation. Cynics would consider this scenario about as likely as Canvey Island winning the FA Cup.”

Fresh from a 0-8 defeat in Poland on Saturday, Azerbaijan now have the task of denying Michael Owen a goalscoring double when they face England in the World Cup qualifier at Newcastle tomorrow.Fresh from a 0-8 defeat in Poland on Saturday, Azerbaijan now have the task of denying Michael Owen a goalscoring double when they face England in the World Cup qualifier at Newcastle tomorrow.

Michael now needs just one more goal to equal Gary Lineker’s [pictured]record of 22 goals for England in competitve matches.

A single strike mean he will also draw level with Alan Shearer, Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney as the all-time fourth-highest England scorer with 30 goals.

Michael told the FA’s official web site: “I didn’t think we would be talking about records this early in my career. If it’s the case that two goals would give me a record, that would obviously be very nice.

“I thought if I stayed fit and in form I would score a good few goals for England. I’ve still only got 29. I know what’s required and 49 is ultimately the target, but until I get into the 40s I can’t think about it too seriously.

“Poland winning 8-0 has got everyone thinking that there could be a few goals about. Many years ago there were plenty of cricket scores, but it doesn’t happen as much as it used to because football has changed.

“If there’s an opportunity to score a few, we’ll be pressing for them for the sake of our goal difference - we would have preferred it if Poland hadn’t won 8-0.”

The current list of the leading all-time England scorers is:

49 — Sir Bobby Charlton (Manchester United)
48 — Gary Lineker (Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur)
44 — Jimmy Greaves (Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur)
30 - Sir Tom Finney (Preston North End)
30 — Nat Lofthouse (Bolton Wanderers)
30 — Alan Shearer (Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United)
29 — Michael Owen (Liverpool, Real Madrid)
29 — Vivian Woodward (Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea)
28 — Steve Bloomer (Derby County, Middlesbrough)
27 — David Platt (Arsenal, Sampdoria, Juventus, Bari, Aston Villa)
26 — Bryan Robson (West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United)
24 — Sir Geoff Hurst (West Ham United)
23 — Stanley Mortensen (Blackpool)
22 — Tommy Lawton (Everton, Chelsea, Notts County)
21 — Mick Channon (Southampton, Manchester City)
21 — Kevin Keegan (Liverpool, SV Hamburg, Southampton)
20 — Martin Peters (West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur)

Yesterday saw probably the last-ever traditional March Transfer Deadline Day. The AFS Database now contains a comprehensive record of the historic transactions.Yesterday saw probably the last-ever traditional March Transfer Deadline Day. The AFS Database now contains a comprehensive record of the historic transactions.

The honour of attracting the highest fee on the final day goes to James O’Connor who moved from West Bromwich Albion to Burnley for £175,000.

James was closely followed by Warren Feeney who moved from the bottom to the top of League One in joining leaders Luton Town from struggling Stockport County for £150,000.

The only other fee of any substance was the £50,000 that Leeds United paid for the services of Burnley’s Ian Moore.

Otherwise, it was largely a mixture of frees, loans and non-contract moves. Login to our Members’ Area now to view details of more than sixty Deadline Day transactions in the Latest Transfers & Transfer History section.

Tomorrow is renowned for being the most frantic day in the football calendar as the fourth Thursday in March is Transfer Deadline Day.

But, with the Football League accepting the Transfer Window concept, this could be the last time that clubs have the chance to supplement their squads before the run-in to the end of the season.Tomorrow is renowned for being the most frantic day in the football calendar as the fourth Thursday in March is Transfer Deadline Day. But, with the Football League accepting the Transfer Window concept, this could be the last time that clubs have the chance to supplement their squads before the run-in to the end of the season.

Subject to a late change of heart, another football tradition will end at 5.00pm tomorrow.

The Football League wrote to all 72 member clubs in January to confirm that as of next season, transfer windows will apply in this country beyond the Premier League.

It means that clubs in the Coca-Cola Championship, plus Leagues One and Two, will not be able to transfer players in and out at any time of the year, other than during the close season or the month of January.

In the letter, Football League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney expressed his regret that his organisation had been unable to secure any further concessions from FIFA to allow lower division teams the ability to continue to trade outside of the windows.

Sir Brian also confirmed that the world governing body’s executive committee had now ratified and approved the revised rules governing the “status and transfer of players”, with the intention that these rules apply “universally” and with “no exceptions” from the 2005-06 season.

The League’s board of directors have formed a working party to consider the full extent of the implications for clubs in its three divisions.

Although there is still like to be plenty of frees and loans, compared to earlier times, recent Transfer Deadlines have been relatively quiet. The biggest fee paid last year is believed to be the £25,000 that Nottingham Forest paid Bradford City for the services of Paul Evans. Ten years ago it was £600,000 for Brett Angell’s move from Everton to Sunderland.

The draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland today for the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals of the UEFA Cup.The draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland today for the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals of the UEFA Cup.

UEFA Cup Quarter-Finals

1 - Steaua Bucuresti or Villarreal v AZ Alkmaar
2 - CSKA Moskva v AJ Auxerre
3 - Newcastle United v Sporting Lisboa
4 - Austria Wien v Parma

First-legs: 7 April
Second-legs: 14 April

UEFA Cup Semi-Finals

1 Winner quarter-final 4 v Winner quarter-final 2
2 Winner quarter-final 3 v Winner quarter-final 1

First-legs: 28 April
Second-legs: 5 May

UEFA Cup Final

Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal
Wednesday 19 May

Winner semi-final 2 v Winner semi-final 1

The draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland today for the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals of the Champions League.The draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland today for the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals of the Champions League.

UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals

1 - Liverpool v Juventus
2 - AC Milan v Internazionale
3 - Olympique Lyonnais v PSV Eindhoven
4 - Chelsea FC v FC Bayern München

1st leg: 5/6 April
2nd leg: 12/13 April

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals

1 - Winner quarter-final 4 v Winner quarter-final 1
2 - Winner quarter-final 2 v Winner quarter-final 3

1st leg: 26/27 April
2nd leg: 3/4 May

UEFA Champions League Final

Atatürk Olympic stadium, Istanbul, Turkey
Wednesday 25 May

Winner semi-final 2 v Winner semi-final 1

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill has been named the Oceania Football Confederation Player of the Year for 2004.Everton midfielder Tim Cahill has been named the Oceania Football Confederation Player of the Year for 2004.

The Australia international has enjoyed a wonderful year including a FA Cup Final appearance for Millwall then becoming a key player in Everton’s unexpected Champions League challenge.

Having been selected for Samoa at youth level, he made his full international debut for Australia against South Africa and then had the honour of representing his country at the Athens Olympic Games.

Oceania Football Confederation General Secretary Tai Nicholas commented: “Tim has had a wonderful season and is a deserved winner of the OFC player of the year award.

“He is unique in that he has played for two Oceania nations, Western Samoa and Australia at various levels.

“It was a fabulous year for Tim scoring the winner in an FA Cup semi final which has catapulted his career to the next level. He has certainly served as a fantastic role model not just for youngsters in Australia but also in Samoa.

“Tim follows in the footsteps of some greats like Wynton Rufer and Frank Farina in receiving this award.”

Fellow Australians Mark Schwarzer and Marco Bresciano finished second and third respectively while the Solomon Islands’ Commins Menapi was voted into fourth place.

Previous OFC Player of the Year winners are:

1988 - Frank Farina (Australia)
1989 - Wynton Rufer (New Zealand)
1990 - Wynton Rufer (New Zealand)
1991 - Robbie Slater (Australia)
1992 - Wynton Rufer (New Zealand)
1993 - Robbie Slater (Australia)
1994 - Aurelio Vidmar (Australia)
1995 - Christian Karembeu (New Caledonia)
1996 - Paul Okon (Australia)
1997 - Mark Bosnich (Australia)
1998 - Christian Karembeu (New Caledonia)
1999 - Harry Kewell (Australia)
2000 - Mark Viduka (Australia)
2001 - Harry Kewell (Australia)
2002 - Brett Emerton (Australia)
2003 - Harry Kewell (Australia)

After a magnificent year, Tim is now preparing for a terrific week. Everton take on Merseyside rivals Liverpool this Sunday and a win for the Toffees would almost certainly secure a place in the Champions League next season.

The 25 year-old will then head home to take his place in the Australian squad to take on Iraq at Telstra Stadium in Sydney on Saturday 26 March and Indonesia at Subiaco Oval in Perth on Tuesday 29 March.

Former Champions League winners Borussia Dortmund avoided bankruptcy yesterday when Molsiris - the company that owns a 94 percent stake of the Westfalen Stadion - accepted their financial rescue package.Former Champions League winners Borussia Dortmund avoided bankruptcy yesterday when Molsiris - the company that owns a 94 percent stake of the Westfalen Stadion - accepted their financial rescue package.

The six-time German champions received the required 75 percent majority vote from Molsiris to save themselves from filing for bankruptcy, which would have ruined their chances of gaining a licence from the German Football League (DFL). The application is due in the DFL headquarters today.

Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc said “It was very tense and I cannot describe the relief. Now we can begin to concentrate on football.”

It was described as the ‘biggest day in the club’s history’ and Dortmund live to fight another day with Molsiris agreeing to the club’s repayment plan.

The 2002 Bundesliga champions’ financial problems can be traced back to huge gambles on player transfers and wages in the hope that the club would be playing regularly in the Champions League which they won in 1997.

Dortmund have been paying £11.8million per annum for the use of the stadium, but have now been given the green light to re-purchase it for £30million.

The club immediately announced a new £1.4m sponsorship deal with internet-based company GoYellow while local energy operators e.on, Dortmund’s current shirt sponsors, may be approached regarding a stadium sponsorship.

Dortmund currently have debts in the region of £70million and are still trimming the wage bill with several big names due to leave in the summer.

The club’s long term future now depends on the work of coach Bert van Marwijk and the team on the pitch as they aim to return to the heights of eight years ago.

Dortmund are not short of support. They have averaged a crowd of 76,708 for their home matches this season.

Argentina´s record goalscorer Gabriel Batistuta has announced his retirement from senior football.Argentina´s record goalscorer Gabriel Batistuta has announced his retirement from senior football.

The 36 year-old former Fiorentina and AS Roma striker released the following statement to Argentine media from Qatar yesterday: “I’m announcing my definitive retirement from football and I thank everyone who has helped make my career so successful.

“I will certainly continue in football in a different role. I will continue with my contractual, publicity and managerial commitments and finish my studies for coaching.”

The announcement came two days after Gabriel ended his contract with Qatari club Al Arabi following an injury-plagued year in which he played only three matches and failed to score.

He played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cup finals, his last international goal coming in the 1-0 win over Nigeria in the 2002 World Cup finals. Batistuta scored 56 goals in 78 internationals.

Gabriel made his professional debut with Newell´s Old Boys in 1989. He also spent six months with River Plate before moving to Boca Juniors, becoming one of the few players to play for the two Buenos Aires rivals.

He joined Italy´s Fiorentina in 1991 and spent nine seasons there, including one in the second division after he preferred to help the club back to the top flight rather than move elsewhere. He joined AS Roma in 2000 and had a brief spell with Inter Milan in 2003 before leaving for Al Arabi.

Coca-Cola Football League clubs have voted to extend the “Fit and Proper Persons Test” which was introduced in June 2004.Coca-Cola Football League clubs have voted to extend the “Fit and Proper Persons Test” which was introduced in June 2004.

The plans were announced in a statement issued on the Football League’s official web site:

“The League became the first footballing body to introduce the Fit and Proper Persons Test (FPPT), which disqualifies people falling within certain criteria from being a football club director, in 2004. Now The League’s member clubs have voted unanimously in favour of expanding the FPPT remit at an EGM held at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium.

“Our supporters want the highest standards of leadership and that is what we are trying to give them.”

The FPPT announcement in June disqualified the following from taking up directorships with Football League clubs:
- Anyone subject to a ban from a sports governing body relating to the administration of that sport
- Anyone with an unspent conviction relating to fraud or dishonesty
- Anyone that is disqualified from acting as a director of a UK registered company
- Anyone currently subject to a Bankruptcy Order
- Anyone who has been a director of a club that has been in administration twice during a five-year period, or a director of two different clubs that have each gone into administration in a five-year period.

For a further explanation, please click here for the official press release.