Poll doesn’t go quietly

Former Exeter chairman jailed

Ryan Giggs announces his retirement from international football. The 33-year-old Manchester United star will make his 64th and last appearance for Wales in Saturday’s Euro 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic in his home-town of Cardiff. It means the man who has won more league title winning medals than any other player will not have graced a major international tournament. Despite that obvious omission from his otherwise glittering CV, he candidly believes his decision benefits all parties:

“It definitely helps myself, I’ll get those breaks in the season, and obviously it will help Manchester United because I’ll be playing less football. But it will also help Wales. I don’t feel that I’ve been performing as well as I could have. Hopefully this will not only prolong my career but allow me to be fresher and allow me to enjoy the last two or three years.”

Giggs made his Wales debut against Germany in October 1991.

Top referee Graham Poll may have retired as a Premer League official but there’s not much chance of him being forgotten. A day after confirming his retirement, he accuses the Football Association of a lack of support and undermining the authority of referees. Speaking in a BBC TV’s Inside Sport programme that is due to be screened next week, he is aggrieved that chief executive Brian Barwick didn’t give him any public backing after Chelsea captain John Terry disputed Poll’s reasons for sending him off against Tottenham Hotspur in November:

“I pleaded ‘You must sort this Brian, it’s something you must do’. He chose to ignore that’. Unfortunately, in this case, John Terry was - and still is - England captain. So they’re left with the confrontation of England captain versus English referee. It shouldn’t be that. It should be that whoever the player is, if he has done something wrong, he should be dealt with properly.”

FA chairman Geoff Thompson is named Britain’s next FIFA vice-president after John McBeth has his nomination withdrawn following the Scottish FA president’s accusations that the African and Caribbean nations are being soiled by corruption and greed. Jack Warner - the controversial FIFA vice-president from Trinidad and Tobago - composed an official letter of protest about the respected Scot’s comments. He said: “Geoff Thompson should have been in that position in the first place. The other guy was just an idiot.”

John Russell - the former chairman of Exeter City - is jailed for 21 months having been found guilty of fraudulent trading during his time in charge at St James’ Park. His deputy Mike Lewis is ordered by Bristol Crown Court to serve 200 hours community service for his lesser role in the fraud. Ex-Scarborough chairman Russell had claimed he had the assets to guarantee the club’s debts. Prosecutor Paul Dunkels disagreed: “He was broke. He had no assets, no money and no bank account and certainly had no money to invest in Exeter City.” They left the club in May 2003 after a year in charge. They also left the Grecians £4.5million in debt but blamed the previous regime.

Barwick hails ‘exciting new era’

Poll blows final whistle

The Football Association is set for the biggest overhaul in its 144-year history after narrowly voting in favour of the report produced by Lord Burns. At the FA’s AGM held at Wembley Stadium, 78.5% of shareholders backed the recommended structural review. A 75% majority was required. It gives the go-ahead for the appointment of an independent chairman who will succeed current chairman Geoff Thompson when he steps down next year. There will also be changes to the board, a semi-autonomous football regulatory authority that will govern the game and take decisions on discipline and new funding formula that divides profits equally between the professional and national games. Lord Burns described the FA’s structure as “inadequate and not designed with the modern demands of a sports governing body in mind”. Chief executive Brian Barwick welcomes the positive vote:

“Today’s decision marks the start of an exciting new era for the Football Association and the end of a very complex process. I would like to thank the shareholders for their support in bringing in these changes, which I am convinced will benefit the FA and the game as a whole. This was a vote for change and for a modern, representative and effective FA, which is better equipped to take decisions in the wider interests of the game.”

England’s highest profile referee Graham Poll confirms his retirement. The Tring official’s final game was yesterday’s Championship Play-Off Final between Derby County and West Bromwich Albion. The 43 year-old took charge of his first Football League game in 1991 and first Premiership game in 1995. The highlights of his career were appointments at Euro 2000 and the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. He also took charge of the FA Cup final in 2000 - the last to be played at the old Wembley. However, he is more likely to be remembered for showing Croatia’s Josip Simunic three yellow cards before sending him off in a match against Australia during last year’s World Cup in Germany. Poll has retired six years early as he is said to be tired of the constant barrage of criticism from managers, players and supporters. It is believed that he has already found new employment in the media.

Davies refuses to commit

Platini calls for end to G14

Derby County return to the Premier League after beating West Bromwich Albion 1-0 in the Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley. Stephen Pearson scored the only goal of the game after 61 minutes with his first goal for the club. After failing in the Play-Offs in the last two seasons with Preston North End, victory was a personal triumph for manager Billy Davies:

“It’s not about the money but the success of this club. “The players deserve it. They showed great courage. Now all we can do is go and enjoy it and give it our best. They were magnificent and they deserve all they get.”

West Brom become the only one of the three relegated clubs from last season not to make an immediate return. Manager Tony Mowbray was magnanimous in defeat:

“It is a cruel game sometimes. I thought we did okay, it was a decent performance but you don’t always get what you deserve. Derby took the honours and good luck to them. I wish them all the best for next season. We have to get back to work.”

A shadow is cast over Derby County’s promotion celebrations as victorious manager Billy Davies refused to commit his future to the club. The Rams boss is believed to have been at odds with certain members of the board for some time.
Davies said:

“I thank everyone at the club that has supported us and I thank everyone at the club that has constantly criticised our players and put the boot in at times when it was unnecessary. I thank them for the inspiration. A lot of the players didn’t deserve it. I think there is lots of talking to be done. I’m not saying I don’t want to be the manager of Derby County, I’m just saying that in life there is nothing 100 per cent guaranteed.”

Davies has worked without an assistant in his year at Pride Park and is known to be frustrated by the Rams’ failure to sanction David Kelly’s release from Preston North End.

Despite being billed as football’s richest game, there was over 15,000 empty seats at the new Wembley Stadium for the Championship play off final - despite both Derby and West Brom each selling-out their 33,500 ticket allocations. The problem was that the game failed to attract the interest of Club Wembley members - the largely corporate area of the stadium that is purchased for a 10-year period. The arena’s middle tier was almost empty but Wembley officials say the seats could not be made available for general sale because of crowd safety worries. The Football League’s chief operating officer Andy Williamson said:

“We are hugely disappointed that Wembley has been unable to find a solution to this problem in the time available and that these seats cannot be sold to genuine fans that have not been able to get tickets.”

Speaking at their extraordinary congress in Zurich, new UEFA president Michel Platini called for European football’s elite G14 group to disband. He especially wants the 18-club group to drop its compensation claims for players who are injured on international duty. The former France midfield star believes grievances should be resolved through a new body called the Professional Football Strategy Council:

“We can stop seeing each other before the courts, we can stop making a spectacle of ourselves in front of the whole of Europe. Presidents and heads of the major clubs; let us profit from your great experience and your ideas. Tell us about your convictions. UEFA’s door is wide open. Join us, and I promise you that you will not be disappointed.”

Evans quits Boston

LA issue Beckham warning

For the first time since 1978, Blackpool are back up to the second tier after comfortably beating Yeovil Town 2-0 in the League One Play-Off Final at Wembley. In reviving the memories of the famous Matthews FA Cup Final at the old Wembley in 1953, the Tangerines clinch promotion with a club record tenth consecutive win. Their previous record had stood since January 1937. Blackpool were in the bottom four after their first ten league games of the season. Manager Simon Grayson survived the dreadful start to the season to relish a day to remember:

“From the first whistle to the last we were outstanding and I’m very proud of this group of players. It’s a fantastic achievement. We’ll never take the history away but now there are players here who want to go and make names for themselves.”

Manager Steve Evans and his assistant Paul Raynor quit crisis club Boston United. The Pilgrims went into administration during their final game of the season when relegation from the Football League became inevitable. Last week chairman Jim Rodwell ordered the debt-ridden club’s ten office staff to stay at home as they - as well as the players - have not been paid for three months. United are not yet guaranteed a place in the newly named Blue Square Conference Premier as they have yet to release details of their entry into a CVA. Officially, league standings remain in place until 7 June when Boston and Torquay United are due to be replaced by Dagenham & Redbridge and Morecambe in League Two. The Pilgrims’ return to non-league’s top division will not be confirmed until the relevant documents from the club or their administrators are handed to the Conference.

LA Galaxy warn England coach Steve McClaren that they do not intend to release David Beckham if he is chosen for insignificant friendly matches. The 32-year-old’s surprise recall has increased the possibility of still playing in internationals when he moves to the United States from Real Madrid next month. General manager Alexi Lalas tells BBC Radio:

“From a business perspective, it is not the greatest news as we are selling a team with David Beckham in it and a lot of people are excited about seeing him play with the Galaxy. He has a responsibility on and off the field to our organisation and our sport and he recognises that.”

Celtic complete double

International friendlies

Bristol Rovers won promotion to League One after six seasons in the basement division after beating Shrewsbury Town 3-1 in the League Two play-off final at Wembley. It’s only the fourth promotion in Rovers’ history.

Celtic complete the Double after they finally break the brave resistance of relegated Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden Park. The Glasgow giants celebrate the 40th anniversary of their famous European Cup Final win with their 34th Scottish FA Cup success courtesy of an 85th minute goal from Cameroonian Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe. As he recovers from a recent hip operation, manager Gordon Strachan was cheered to receive his fourth domestic trophy out of a possible six in his two seasons at Celtic Park: “We’re a good side with a great squad of people. The second half was much better and we deserved to win. They worked hard but our goalie’s not had a save to make.”

It seemed his international involvement was over after 94 caps when he limped out of last summer’s World Cup defeat against Portugal in Germany, but David Beckham’s England career is resurrected after he is included in Steve McClaren’s squad to face Brazil the first Three Lions’ first game at the new Wembley and the Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia. Although coach McClaren admitted the door would remain open when the former captain was omitted from his first selection in August, he added: “I told David I was looking to change things, looking to go in a different direction, and he wasn’t included within that.” After disappointing recent performances, it would now appear that the England boss has changed direction: “Everyone knows David’s attributes and he’s a big-game player who can help us win in Estonia. We’ve a very important game in Estonia, we need to win it and it is a squad that can win it.” The ex-Manchester United superstar had been dropped from the Real Madrid team when he decided to accept a move to LA Galaxy in January.

In today’s international friendly matches, Wales draw 2-2 with New Zealand at Wrexham with two goals from Craig Bellamy while the Republic of Ireland complete their two-game trip to the USA with a 1-1 draw against Bolivia in Boston. They also drew 1-1 with Ecuador in New York on Wednesday.

Allen takes charge of Foxes

Houllier quits Lyon

Michael Owen makes his first international appearance since he was injured in last summer’s World Cup. The Newcastle United striker played in the whole game as England B beat Albania 3-1 at Burnley. Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing bags a brace after Alan Smith of Manchester United - in his first international outing for 19 months - nets the opener. With vital Euro 2008 qualifiers coming up in the next few weeks, coach Steve McClaren is delighted by Owen’s return: “Michael’s overall performance was very good, it was just the goal, the icing on the cake that was missing.”

Martin Allen is appointed the new manager of Leicester City. The former Barnet and Brentford boss leaves Milton Keynes Dons after a year in charge at the National Hockey Stadium. Foxes chairman Milan Mandaric said:

“This is a significant appointment as the club prepares for widespread changes that will bring on-field underachievement to an end. I needed someone with hunger, drive, commitment and potential to aspire to our dreams and Martin ticked the boxes. His undoubted ability is matched only by his infectious enthusiasm which will inspire the club. Last season’s campaign was painfully unacceptable and significant investment in the first team is a priority. Martin’s arrival is the first of many.”

The 41 year-old replaces Rob Kelly who was sacked last month.

Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier sparks speculation about a return to the Premiership after he unexpectedly quits his job as head coach at Lyon. The 59-year-old Frenchman admits that coming back to England is a possibility, but not yet:

“I need a break, full stop. I will not go to another club in France and initially not to a foreign club. I am firstly going to take a holiday. I need a rest. I’ve lived two exceptional years here which, in many ways, reminded me of the six years I spent at Liverpool.”

Houllier won the title and the French Super Cup in each of his two seasons at the Stade Gerland and reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2006.

Ticket mayhem hits final

Ashley launches takeover bid

AC Milan are the Champions of Europe for the seventh time after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Champions League Final in Athens, courtesy of a brace from Filippo Inzaghi. Dirk Kuyt’s 89th minute header proved to be too little and too late. Rossoneri boss Carlo Ancelotti has now won Europe’s top club prize twice as a player and twice as a coach.
Having started the campaign on the back of last summer’s match-fixing scandal in Italy, he rates tonight’s triumph as the best of the lot:

“It’s an extraordinary achievement. This is an important victory because we did not lose sight of what we wanted to achieve. This is the greatest victory we’ve had. Few fans expected us to win the most important trophy. Maybe no-one.”

It was a disappointing night for Liverpool on the pitch, but some of their supporters in Greece missed the match altogether. Fans with genuine match tickets were refused entry to the Olympic Stadium amid reports that others were allegedly allowed in with forged tickets or no tickets at all. Riot police use tear gas and batons to disperse those outside the stadium when they react angrily after being told the ground was full.

Mike Ashley has launched a £133million takeover bid for Newcastle United. The billionaire entrepreneur buys Sir John Hall’s 41.6% stake in the Premiership club for more than £55million. Under stock exchange rules, he now has to make a cash offer for the remaining shares. Recently rated as the UK’s 25th wealthiest person, the Buckinghamshire-born 42-year-old collected more than £900million after the flotation of his Sports Direct retail chain and Lilywhites.

Premier League agree to Tevez arbitration

McCall returns to Bradford

Bryan Robson has been named the new manager of relegated Sheffield United and immediately aims for a quick return for the Premiership. The former West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough boss said:

“We’ve got a good squad and if we can fine tune it a bit, we can get back to the Premiership. The great thing about Sheffield United is the set-up. It’s surprised me how solid the foundations are. That gives you a great chance to go forward and improve the squad and hopefully get straight back.”

First-team coach Brian Kidd is promoted to assistant manager,

Robson takes over a week after Neil Warnock brought his seven-year Bramall Lane reign to a close. In a surprising statement, Blades chairman Kevin McCabe suggests Warnock should have gone earlier:

“Neil Warnock is a great motivator. We can reflect now maybe Neil Warnock wasn’t quite right for our Premiership ambitions. But he gave it his all. Hindsight is a great thing. Bryan is an experienced manager. We believe he’s the right man to get us back to the Premiership in the shortest possible space of time.”

Following weeks of increasing pressure, the Premier League succumbs and agrees to set up an arbitration tribunal to look at Sheffield United’s complaints over the controversial registration of Carlos Tevez. The Blades are hoping to win a reprieve from relegation but, according to an unofficial club source, hopes are not too high:

“We received a letter from the Premier League on Tuesday telling us they do not think we have any grounds to request arbitration - but they accept it is our right to do so. They have said they will not appoint anyone until Friday to give us the opportunity to withdraw the request - basically they are saying we are wasting everybody’s time. We still believe these matters need to be resolved so we will press ahead and ask for arbitration and we hope that this process can be concluded before the end of June.”

As ex-Bradford City boss Bryan Robson arrives at Sheffield United, assistant manager Stuart McCall departs to take over at the Intersonic Stadium. It’s the 42-year-old’s first managerial post although he is a very familiar figure at City having enjoyed two playing spells with the Bantams and a brief stint as caretaker manager following Chris Hutchings’ sacking in November 2000. McCall was with Bradford during their two seasons in the Premiership but returns as City return to the basement division for the first time since 1982.

Liverpool plan wholesale changes

Romario claims 1,000th goal

Sir Jack Hayward sells his 100% shareholding in Wolverhampton Wanderers to Steve Morgan - founder of the Redrow building firm - for £10. There is a slight condition; the new owner must invest £30million in the Championship club. A life-long Liverpool supporter, 54 year-old Mr Morgan made unsuccessful bids to buy the Reds in 2004. The Wolves deal will be completed next month and an official statement confirms that “Steve Morgan is keen to ensure stability and continuity by retaining Mick McCarthy as first team manager and Jez Moxey as chief executive.”

Sir Jack, who will be 84 next month, bought Wolves for £2.1million in 1990. As chief executive Jez Moxey explains, this deal is in stark contrast to the familiar trait of departing owners walking away with a fortune:

“Sir Jack has done the most benevolent thing you can ever ask of anybody in football. The £30million is being used exclusively for the benefit of Wolverhampton Wanderers. We decided on £10 because Sir Jack said he’s going to frame it. It could have been a pound but we thought that would have been more difficult to frame. He wanted it framed so he could look at it and say: ‘That was once worth £50million to me’.”

Two days before they face AC Milan in the Champions League Final, it is revealed that Liverpool’s playing staff is set for a massive summer overhaul. The Reds are being linked with a number of top name stars after owner Tom Hicks told the Liverpool Echo:

“I know we will make changes. I think (manager) Rafa (Benitez) will be a very busy man after Wednesday. Next year we want to contend for both the Premiership and Champions League. Actually, we want to challenge for all four competitions. In the Premiership, you need a depth of players and motivated players. There’s no problem finding the motivation to beat Barcelona or Chelsea. We know we have to have more consistency.”

Liverpool have not won the league title since 1990.

Although FIFA have today refused to recognise the feat, former Brazil striker Romario claims he scored the 1,000th goal of his career yesterday. The 41-year-old admits his total includes goals scored in youth, friendly and testimonial games.
The 1,000th goal was a penalty in the game between Vasco da Gama and Sport of Recife in a Brazilian national championship match played in Rio de Janeiro. He was immediately mobbed by his team-mates then surrounded by television crews as more than 15 minutes passed before the game could be restart. FIFA insists it only counts goals scored in official tournaments. To boost his goal count, Romario has also recently played in minor league games in the United States and Australia. The only other player to have claimed a 1,000 goal tally is fellow Brazilian legend Pele who is said to have scored 1,282 goals.

Aberdeen clinch UEFA Cup slot

Confusion abounds at Torquay

In front of a 40,000 crowd at Wembley, Morecambe are promoted to the Football League for the first time in their 87-year history after beating Exeter City in the Conference Play-Off final. In a far more exciting game than yesterday’s FA Cup Final, Lee Phillips headed the Grecians into an early lead. Morecambe wasted the opportunity to level from the penalty spot before Gary Thompson made it 1-1 shortly before the break. Danny Carlton stuck the all-important goal on 82 minutes with a fearsome shot into the top corner. Shrimps boss and former Manchester United star Sammy McIlroy is thrilled with their success:

“It ranks right up there with the FA Cup finals, World Cup finals and managing Northern Ireland. It was a brilliant feeling, one of the best I have had in my time in the game. When the winner hit the net it was such a magnificent goal I wanted to celebrate with the players.”

The last afternoon in the SPL season saw Aberdeen secure third position and qualification for next term’s UEFA Cup. The Dons beat Rangers 2-0 at Pittodrie with a first-half brace from Scott Severin.

Confusion surrounds a takeover at Torquay United. Following their relegation to the Conference, Leroy Rosenior returned as manager on Thursday but he believes he lost his new job only ten minutes after the conclusion of the press conference to announce his arrival. He received a phone call from owner Mike Bateson explaining that he had agreed the sale of the club to a consortium including Colin Lee, who would be returning as director of football. However, managing director Debbie Hancox insists the deal has not yet been concluded and a few guns have been jumped:

“Colin Lee is not involved in the consortium at all. There are about eight people behind it but he is not one of them. Whoever the new owners decide to appoint as manager will be up to them but it is a long way from going through yet.”

The current record for shortest-serving manager belongs to Bill Lambton when decided to return to his coaching role at Grimsby Town only three days after agreeing to be the manager at Scunthorpe United in April 1959.