Champions break club record for Ukraine star

Slade calls it quits

Chelsea smash their club record fee with the signing of AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko for a reported £30.8million. The 29 year-old Ukraine marksman pens a four-year deal.
The back-to-back Premiership champions refuse to reveal the exact figure but they do reveal it beats the £24.5million they paid for Michael Essien last year.
It is thought to exceed the British record of £29.1million that Manchester United paid Leeds United in 2002 for Rio Ferdinand but considerably below the world record of £44million that Real Madrid paid Juventus for the services of Zinedine Zidane.
In an official club press release, Chelsea manager José Mourinho says: “Today is a day when the dream became reality. Andriy has always been my first choice for Chelsea since I arrived.
“Milan is a big club, a great club, but for him to leave Milan for Chelsea is a big statement about where Chelsea is. He is a champion and he is joining a team of champions.”
Shevchenko added: “I have followed Mr. Mourinho’s career carefully for the last few years and have been hugely impressed with the way he manages. He puts team ethic before individual expression, which is the way I believe great teams are created.
“Had money been my motivation for coming, I would probably have stayed in Milan. I am pleased that Chelsea managed to conclude everything before the World Cup - I can go to Germany with a clear mind and proud to be a Chelsea player.”
He becomes Chelsea’s third signing of the summer after midfielder Michael Ballack from Bayern Munich and Feyenoord striker Salomon Kalou.
They also reported to be interested in signing Real Madrid’s Roberto Carlos and goalkeeper Hilario from Portuguese club Nacional de Madeira.
There’s more on the career of Andriy Shevchenko in our AFS Database.

Brazil’s World Cup hopes suffer a blow after midfielder Edmilson is ruled out of the tournament because of an injury to his right knee.
The 29-year-old suffered a knee injury in training on Monday and withdrew him from the squad following the results from a scan.
He is replaced by Mineiro of Sao Paulo.

Three days after losing the League Two Play-Off Final, Grimsby Town lose their manager.
The Mariners part company with Russell Slade after they fail to reach a contractual agreement.
He is immediately linked with the vacant managerial post at League One Yeovil Town.

The original manuscript of the Rules of Association Football 1863 is published by the Bodleian Library of Oxford University who preserve the original among some of the most valuable books in the world.
The manuscript covers everything from the definition of a free kick to the disgrace of wearing football boots with projecting nails.
It was written in 1863 by a group of Oxford and Cambridge university graduates meeting at the Freemason’s Tavern in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London.
The modern reproduction includes a foreword from Sir Bobby Charlton.

Walcott breaks record in 3-1 win

Dowie moves north to South London, so Palace take action.

—— England’s penultimate game before the World Cup ends in a comfortable 3-1 win against Hungary at Old Trafford but, ultimately, leaves coach Sven-Goran Eriksson with as many questions as answers as he tries to fill the anticipated void left by Wayne Rooney’s injury.
England largely fail to impress in the first half with a 4-1-3-1-1 system that sees Jamie Carragher protecting the back four and his Liverpool team mate Steven Gerrard supporting lone striker Michael Owen.
They have a great chance to open the scoring just before the break but Crystal Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly saves Frank Lampard’s penalty.
But two minutes into part two, it’s Gerrard on his 26th birthday who breaks the deadlock when he heads home David Beckham’s free-kick.
England go two up four minutes later as another Beckham free-kick and another header sees John Terry score his first international goal.
Any thoughts of a rout were stopped in their tracks though as Pal Dardai pulls one back with a superb curler.
On 65 minutes, Eriksson change to a more traditional 4-4-2 formation and a classic little and large duo up front with 6ft 7ins Peter Crouch being introduced along with record breaker Theo Walcott.
The Arsenal front runner beats Wayne Rooney’s record as England youngest-ever full international. At 17 years and 75 days, he has yet to make his Premiership debut.
Crouch produces a sweet finish from the edge of the box to clinch the victory, and give more fuel to the tactical debates around the nation.
The typically understated coach reflects on a good night’s work: “You must have patience against a team defending with nine men behind the ball. We had that and started the second half very well with two goals.
“I’m happy and I’m sure we’ll be playing even better at the World Cup.”

—– As had been widely rumoured, Iain Dowie succeeds Alan Curbishley at Charlton Athletic and produces a storm of protest from his old club Crystal Palace.
Dowie is named head coach in a four-man management with Les Reed (assistant coach), Mark Robson (development coach) and Andrew Mills (general manager of football).
The former Northern Ireland striker left Palace last week with chairman Simon Jordan explaining that he wished to return nearer to his family in the north.
The Valley is about eight miles north-east of Selhurst Park. Jordan clearly felt Dowie had a longer journey in mind as the press conference to announce his appointment is interrupted by an Eagles representative trying to serve the new boss with a writ for misrepresentation.
As anticipated, Simon Jordan isn’t pleased: “I released him from a compensation clause because he said he wasn’t going to do what he’s done.
“Iain Dowie had a £1m compensation clause in his contract and there is no reason why I would take that out unless it was as a gesture of goodwill.
“I’ll prove it to the High Court. I would not issue a writ on a point of principle, I issue it on a point of law.”
Iain Dowie insists he wanted to leave to find a ‘new challenge’ and adds: “The first conversation I had with Charlton was two days after leaving Palace.
“If that is what he feels then that is what he feels, but it totally misrepresents the conversation I had with Simon.”
It’s a busy day for Palace as their England striker Andy Johnson completes a £8.6million move to Everton. It’s a club record for the Goodison Park club, exceeding the £6million they paid for James Beattie in January 2005.

—– Elsewhere, two other managerial appointments attract somewhat less controversy.
Former Lincoln City boss Keith Alexander is the new man in charge at Peterborough United while Colin Calderwood leaves newly-promoted Northampton Town to succeed Gary Megson at Nottingham Forest.

Robins’ Grimsby win closes domestic season

Everton winning race for AJ

—– Cheltenham Town clinch promotion for the second time in their seven-year Football League career as they beat Grimsby Town 1-0 in the League Two Play-Off Final at The Millennium Stadium.
The Robins are much more comfortable winners than the scoreline suggests as the Mariners struggle to come to terms with the tricky Cardiff surface.
There’s an element of fortune about Steve Guinan’s 63rd minute winner but Cheltenham can afford to miss a penalty.
A disappointing day is especially hard to take for Grimsby who had been in the top three for almost all of the season.
As one of the game’s genuine nice guys, it’s a tremendous achievement by manager John Ward who is in charge of a club that are minnows even by League Two standards.
Typical of the man, in his moment of triumph, he took time out to spare a thought for one of his former clubs: “I’ve got sympathy for Grimsby. They are a quality side and it shows the enormity of what we have achieved that we beat them.
“But next season we’ll be playing the likes of Nottingham Forest and Bristol City and that’s just incredible.”
The game brings down the curtain on another domestic season and it’s also, dependent on Wembley finally being completed, due to be the final final to be played at the Millennium Stadium.

—– The fall-out from Crystal Palace’s Play-Off failure continues as star striker Andy Johnson is on the verge of a £8.5million move to Everton.
Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic have also matched the Eagles’ valuation by the England marksman has, subject to the usual formalities, opted for a move to Goodison Park.
Meanwhile, manager Iain Dowie - who left Selhurst Park last week - is reported to be unveiled as the new manager of London neighbours Charlton Athletic tomorrow.
If it proves to be correct, the appointment will infuriate Palace chairman Simon Jordan who announced that Dowie was leaving to move nearer to his family in the north-west.

Tykes scupper Swans double promotion bid

Wales show England the T&T way

—– Barnsley clinch promotion to the Championship after a thrilling League One Play-Off Final penalty shoot-out victory against Swansea City at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Barnsley took an early lead through Paul Hayes before they were pegged back with a spectacular bicycle kick goal from former Tyke Rory Fallon.
Keeper Nick Colgan fumbled an Andy Robinson shot to give the Swans a half-time lead. A free-kick from ex-Swan Daniel Nardiello took the tie in to extra time and, with no further goals in the added 30 minutes, promotion was decided by kicks from the penalty mark.
Barnsley held their nerve with a faultless four out of four but City failed through Adebayo Akinfenwa (who scored the winner in the Football League Trophy Final at the same venue last month) and Alan Tate (who had spurned a great chance to win the game at the end of 90 minutes).
Having suffered immense financial problems following their season in the Premiership in 1997-98, the Yorkshire club return to the second tier after a four-year absence.
Delighted manager Andy Ritchie exclaimed: “We were under the cosh at the end and one or two of the players falling down with cramp and a few had injuries as well.
“They were a bit quiet at half-time which worried me a little bit but it’s absolutely tremendous. I can’t put it into words.”
It’s bitter disappointment for Swansea though who fail by the narrowest of margins in joining champions in a double promotion from last season’s League Two.

—– An inexperienced Wales team beat Trinidad & Tobago - one of England’s World Cup opponents - 2-1 in a friendly match in Graz, Austria.
Coventry City’s Stern John gave the Soca Warriors the lead after 32 minutes but Rob Earnshaw equalised before the break. The Norwich City striker hit the winner three minutes from time when he converted a cross from Southampton’s Gareth Bale.
At 16 years 315 days, substitute Bale became Wales’ youngest-ever full international. He broke the record set by Derby County’s Lewin Nyatanga in March.
Coincidentally, up until recently, Gareth was a room mate of young England star Theo Walcott when they were together at Southampton.
Bale is one of four debutants but, despite the win, manager John Toshack is a hard man to satisfy: “The result was better than the performance, but we can be pleased with the inclusion of the youngsters.
“We finished the match with seven Under-21 players out there, but we gave the ball away far too often and caused ourselves unnecessary problems.
“Every ball that’s gone up front has come straight back at us. We’re own worst enemy in that respect.”

Wayne due next foot injury scan on 14 June

Gorman and Thordarson exit Wycombe and Notts

A scan on the most talked about fourth metatarsal in the country reveals that Wayne Rooney will definitely miss England’s World Cup group games.
after a scan revealed he cannot train for at least another three weeks.
It confirms that Manchester United star cannot train for at least three weeks and will require another scan on 14 June.
If he’s then given the all-clear, it would leave Rooney with ten days to get fit for the knockout stages.
Although England have until to decide by 9 June whether to replace him, it seems almost certain the 20 year-old will travel to Germany.
Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson explained: “We are very grateful for the support that they [Manchester United] have given Wayne and the England team. We are still hoping the second scan will show further improvement and that Wayne can play his part in the World Cup.
“The fact that he is flying out to Germany with us will give everyone a huge lift.”

John Gorman parts company with Wycombe Wanderers after 18 months in charge at the Causeway Stadium.
The former Swindon Town boss was given compassionate leave after the death of his wife Myra in February due to cancer. Although he returned in March, he stood down again in April.
The League Two club had hoped that Gorman would resume his full-time role in the summer but they say mutual decision has now been reached. However, the ex-England coach reveals he is keen to continue.
After a tremendous start to they season when they were unbeaten in their first 21 games, Wanderers failed to win promotion after bowing out to Cheltenham Town in the Play-Off semi-finals.

Parting company is also in the air at League Two rivals Notts County as manager Gudjon Thordarson after 12 months in charge at Meadow Lane. The founder members of the Football League avoided relegation to the Conference by only three points.
The Icelanders relationship wit h the Notts board was thought to be frosty at best, and the club’s decision to scrap their centre of excellence appears to have been the final straw.
Chairman Jeff Moore insists the former Stoke City and Barnsley left by mutual consent.

Northern Ireland complete their two-game tour of the USA with a 0-2 defeat by Romania at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The below-strength Irish suffered a nightmare first half as Tiberiu Balan put Romania ahead after seven minutes, then Daniel Nicolae made it two only six minutes later.
Already facing an uphill task, Lawrie Sanchez’s side suffered a further blow when James Quinn was sent-off in the 38th minute.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland officials are considering the implications of a FIFA ruling which means NI players must hold a British passport.
FIFA decision comes amid confusion regarding the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, which gives Northern Irish citizens the right to dual nationality.
The governing body insist that does not apply to matters on the pitch though. It appears that Northern Ireland’s players will have to be ordered by the Irish Football Association to carry a British passport when on international duty.

Theo becomes the youngest B

Bury have point deducted

—– Norwich City keeper Robert Green is out of the World Cup after he ruptured his groin in making a save then taking a goal-kick only minutes after coming on as a half-time sub in England B’s 1-2 defeat by Belarus at Reading. Liverpool’s Scott Carson now looks set to take his place in Germany.
The England team - made up chiefly of squad players for the World Cup - led at the interval through Jermaine Jenas but, as Green collapsed to the floor, his stray kick allowed Vitaly Kutuzov to sidefoot the equaliser into an empty net.
Belarus were reduced to ten men when Sergey Omelianchuk was sent off for a second bookable offence on England’s star of the night, Aaron Lennon.
However, Sergey Kornilenko fired in the 81st minute winner as the game became more and more disjointed through a succession of substitutions.
One of those subs, in the 61st minute, was Arsenal’s Theo Walcott who became England’s youngest-ever B internationalist at 17 years and 70 days. He breaks the record held by the great Duncan Edwards who was 17 years 174 days when he made his B bow against West Germany on 24 March 1954.
Belarus become only the second visiting winners of B international in England. Chile won 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion on 10 February 1998.
Despite the defeat, coach Sven-Goran Eriksson believed it was a worthwhile exercise: “Michael Owen did well for one hour, more or less. He is fit. We didn’t want him to play any more. The senior players looked fit - and that is very important.
“I think Aaron Lennon was very, very good; very confident. Theo Walcott didn’t look shy at all; that’s very good. Michael Carrick did well and Jermaine Jenas and Stuart Downing were very good.”

—– League Two Bury are deducted one point and given a suspended £5,000 fine for fielding an ineligible player.
Colin Marrison appeared as a substitute for the Shakers on 15 April when his 93-day loan from Sheffield United had expired on 8 April.
Bury claim it was a genuine administrative error and they informed the Football League of their mistake.
The lost point does not affect Bury’s final League placing of 19th but they now only have three more points than Oxford United who were relegated.

Experimental Ireland lose to Chile

Alexander leaves Lincoln

—– Rangers are fined £13,000 and ‘severely warned’ about their responsibility for any future misconduct of their supporters by UEFA following the discriminatory chanting during the Champions League tie with Villarreal earlier this year.
Rangers were originally found not guilty as UEFA felt they could not tackle sectarianism because it was a social problem in Scotland.
However, that decision was challenged by disciplinary inspector Gerhard Kapl with the Austrian official recommending a £25,000 fine and the closure of a stand at Ibrox.

—– An experimental Republic of Ireland side surprisingly lose 0-1 to Chile at Lansdowne Road.
In his second game in charge, new coach Steve Staunton started with a 3-4-3 system but soon reverted to a traditional back four after a poor opening half-hour.
Manuel Iturra scores the only goal early in the second half.

—– After leading the Imps to four successive Division Three / League Two Play-Off campaigns since taking over at Sincil Bank in 2002, Keith Alexander stands down as manager of Lincoln City.
First team coach John Schofield is placed in caretaker charge while 49 year-old Alexander is immediately linked with the vacancy at League Two rivals Peterborough United.

Spackman is Lions new man and Diamonds take Hart

Altrincham appeal fails

—– A report into European football urges a limit on the number of foreign players across the continent.
The findings of the 160-page Independent European Football Review, which was which has been drawn up by Jose Luis Arnaut, the Portuguese sports minister, and instigated by UK sports minister Richard Caborn, has been presented to EC president Jose Manuel Barroso.
The report also asks for a fairer distribution of money in the game, wage controls in leagues and a wider adoption of UEFA’s club licensing system. This requires clubs to field a minimum number of home-grown players in European competitions.
The report will not be welcomed by the wealthy clubs in the elite group G14 who seemingly aspire to greater power and independence from the football authorities.

—– Nigel Spackman is appointed the new manager of relegated Millwall.
The former Sheffield United and Barnsley boss succeeds David Tuttle after the Lions demotion from the Championship. He becomes their fifth manager within the last year.
Millwall also announce the release of eight players.

—– Another ex-Barnsley boss is back in business as Paul Hart is unveiled as the new manager of relegated Rushden & Diamonds.
The former Nottingham Forest boss has been assisting player / manager Barry Hunter in recent weeks but was unable to avoid their demotion from the Football League.
Hart becomes Rushden’s fifth boss in their 14 year history.

—– Altrincham are relegated from the Conference after their appeal against the deduction of 18 points for fielding an ineligible player is rejected.
The Football Association decision means Alty are demoted to the Conference North.
They lost all the points gained while midfielder James Robinson played for them. He did not have international clearance after playing in Iceland.
Scarborough, who finished bottom of the table, will now stay up if they can satisfy the Conference’s demands regarding ground and financial issues.
Boro chairman Malcolm Reynolds reflects: “It’s a hollow feeling the way it has come about, but we are going to take it and make the most of it.”

Eagles boss doesn’t rule out Charlton switch

Lippi given World Cup all-clear

—– Iain Dowie leaves his post as manager of Crystal Palace by mutual consent.
Eagles chairman Simon Jordan explains the parting of the ways is due to Dowie’s desire to move closer to his family in the north-west.
Keen observers of body language are more likely to believe rumours of a bust-up between the explosive duo is a more viable reason.
Although sat next to each other, at no point during a half-hour press conference do they glance in each others direction.
In contradiction of his chairman’s statement, if asked if he was interested in taking over at Palace’s London rivals Charlton Athletic, Dowie revealed: “Unlike Simon, I’m not independently wealthy, so I would like to be in a job. I need to work for a living and I need to consider everything that is on offer.”
There again, maybe in a Freudian slip, the Palace owner actually says that Dowie wants to move to the north-east with his family - which may explain why Middlesbrough have distanced themselves from speculation that former Eagles manager Terry Venables is about to replace the departing Steve McClaren as the new Boro boss.
The 41 year-old former Northern Ireland forward took charge at Selhurst Park in December 2003 and, although he immediately took them up to the Premiership, he was unable to repeat the feat this term after relegation last season.
Meanwhile, Jordan also stated that Bolton Wanderers have made an £8million bid for their England striker Andy Johnson, and that Everton and Wigan Athletic have also expressed their interest.

—– Italy head coach and former Juventus manager Marcello Lippi is given the all-clear to travel to next month’s World Cup in Germany after he was given a three-hour grilling by magistrates on Friday regarding the corruption scandal that has rocked Italian football.
He was quizzed about his involvement with the GEA World football agency which is currently under investigation for ‘unfair competition with use of violence and threats’.
A number of phone calls between him and his ex-Juve general director Luciano Moggi, which have been made public, suggested that Moggi had tried to influence the coach to pick players for the Azurri from GEA, which is run by Moggi’s son Alessandro. Lippi’s son Davide also works for GEA.

Watford win £40million Play-Off Final

Win for Wales but defeat for Northern Ireland

—- Adie Boothroyd’s first season in charge at Watford sees the Golden Boys return to the Premiership after a six year absence.
In a frantic Championship Play-Off Final at the Millennium Stadium, Watford are worthy 3-0 winners against Leeds United.
American centre-back Jay DeMerit rewarded their early pressure with a 24th minute header.
Watford’s supremacy deserved a slice of luck and they got it on 56 minutes when James Chambers deflected shot hit a post then bounced in off the back of United’s stranded keeper Neil Sullivan.
Promotion was assured after 83 minutes when Darius Henderson calmly converted a blatant penalty.
Having started the season as relegation candidates, the Hornets have confounded the critics who questioned the wisdom of appointing the virtually unknown Boothroyd, who was recruited from the Leeds coaching staff 14 months ago.
The 35 year-old Yorkshireman will be the youngest boss in the Premiership next season but, with the self belief that he has imposed on his team, Adie will not feel out of place: “This is just the end of the beginning. We will come again. We will start as relegation favourites next season, like this season. This is not the end, this is the beginning.”
His confidence is reflected by chairman Graham Simpson: “We have a wage bill here of £3.5million, probably the fourth lowest in the Championship. That shows you what an achievement going up is, it is incredible.
“Now, like Adie, I believe it is possible we can get into Europe. I am not saying we will do it straight away but if we continue to develop our academy and to work with our youngsters - and there were a few of them out there in Cardiff - anything is possible.”
While Watford head for Old Trafford and the Emirates Stadium, Leeds United contemplate trips to Southend and Colchester.
The financially-troubled Whites will now face a third season in the Championship so losing the parachute payments from the Premier League.

—- Playing his first-ever friendly away from home, a goal from Ryan Giggs gives Wales a 1-0 victory over an impressive Basque National XI in Bilbao.
The Manchester United star instigated a length of the field counter-attack in the 75th minute before hitting the winner.
The Basque team have lost only one of their previous 13 games over 13 years, and select homegrown players from Bilbao, Alaves, Sociedad and Osasuna.
The game is not recognised as a full international.

—- A largely inexperienced Northern Ireland side open their two-match United States tour by losing 0-1 against Uruguay in New Jersey.
A super 33rd minute strike from Fabian Estoyanoff is the big difference in front of a crowd of 4,152 at the Giants Stadium.