Agents happy with Stevens Report

Former Manchester United team-mates Ryan Giggs and Teddy Sheringham are honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Nine-time title winner Giggs is awarded the OBE for services to sport while veteran striker Sheringham is awarded the MBE for services to football. FA chairman Geoff Thompson is also made an OBE while Jim Leishman, director of football at Dunfermline Athletic, receives an MBE. Ex-Scunthorpe United centre-back and current vice-president Ian Botham- more probably for his legendary cricket status and remarkable charity fund-raising efforts - becomes a knight.

Despite seventeen transfers, five Premier League clubs and fifteen agents being named in Lord Stevens’ report into alleged transfer irregularities, the Association of Football Agents insist they are content with the outcome. AFA vice-president Chris Heaton-Harris explains:

“People who I represent are very comfortable with the findings. Most agents are actually reputable businessmen who just want to get on with their jobs and work with the Football Association and work with the Premier League and have worked very happily with Lord Stevens. There are, I’m afraid, still a few rogue agents out there and this inquiry has highlighted that. I guess money does corrupt a few.”

17 deals remain ‘uncleared’

Ashley increases Toon stake

Lord Stevens’ final report, on behalf of the Premier League, into alleged transfer irregularities highlights seventeen transfers and five Premier League clubs, but there is no evidence of irregular payments to club officials or players. The ‘uncleared’ deals involve Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Bolton Wanderers, Portsmouth and Newcastle United while managers Sam Allardyce, Harry Redknapp and Graeme Souness are named in the report as well as fifteen agents. The most prominent is Pini Zahavi. Although the outcome remains vague with a notable lack of specific allegations, Lord Stevens insists:

“Many lessons have been learned and strict adherence to and enforcement of the recommendations should ensure that the game and the transfer market can proceed in an untainted and transparent manner.”

The Premier League are to forward the findings to the Football Association and FIFA for further investigation while the League and FA agree to carry out future random spot-checks on transfers using Lord Stevens’ Quest team.

Despite the club and new manager Sam Allardyce being implicated in the bungs probe, Mike Ashley increases his stake in Newcastle United to 77.06% to remain on course to take the Premiership club from the stock market. The billionaire businessman plans to raise his stake to the 90% so forcing the remaining shareholders to sell their stakes.

Brooking backs full-time post

Jordan wins Dowie case

England let a two-goal lead slip against Italy in the European Under-21 Championships in Holland. The Group B game played in Arnhem ends in a 2-2 draw. The young Lions score twice in the opening half-hour through David Nugent and Leroy Lita before they are pegged back with goals from Giorgio Chiellini and Alberto Aquilani. With one more group game to play, despite the missed opportunity, coach Stuart Pearce remains confident of reaching the semi-finals: “

We know our fate now. If they can show that determination I think we will win against Serbia, but it will be a tough game again. I thought this was a great spectacle and a credit to the tournament.”

Stuart Pearce’s hopes of retaining his current Under-21 post on a permanent basis increase after Sir Trevor Brooking confirms that the Football Association intend to appoint a full-time England Under-21 coach. Until recently the manager of Manchester City, Pearce’s present deal runs out at the end of the European Championships. He seems the firm favourite for the full-time appointment as Brooking - the FA’s director of football development - says:

“We all feel the post should be full-time and we will be looking at that shortly after the end of the tournament. We have always said we will wait until the end of the tournament, but Stuart Pearce has organised them really well.”

Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan declares it has been ‘a good day for football’ as he wins his court case against the Eagles’ former manager Iain Dowie. Jordan waived a £1million clause in a compromise agreement when Dowie left his Palace post on 22 May 2006 as he wanted to be closer to his family in Bolton. Eight days later, he was appointed the new boss at London neighbours Charlton Athletic. The amount of compensation will be agreed at a later hearing after Mr Justice Tugendhat rules that the current Coventry City boss had lied to negotiate his way out of his contract with Palace. Although it will be less than £1million, Jordan feels his action has been fully justified:

“A judgement has been found in favour of contracts. The allegations made were not put forward in as dignified a manner as I would have wanted but I’m delighted that they were proven.”

City deal setback

New owners at Hull

England miss the chance to open with a win in the Under-21s European Championships in Holland. Stuart Pearce’s team draw nil-nil with Czech Republic in Arnhem but only after Reading’s Leroy Lita misses a potentially costly 88th minute penalty.

Thaksin Shinawatra’s anticipated takeover of Manchester City is thrown into doubt ollowing reports that the former Thai prime minister’s bank accounts - said to total £830million - have been frozen. He fled Thailand last year after being ousted in a military coup and is being investigated for corruption by the Thai authorities. A statement by City reads: “The board and its advisers are in discussion with Dr Shinawatra’s advisers to confirm the implications of these developments.” Shinawatra’s lawyer Noppadol Pattama calls for patience: “The negotiations are underway, in line with English law. The result is likely to be good, and the negotiations should not take a long time,” City are currently in a state of limbo following the sacking of manager Stuart Pearce last month.

A takeover at Hull City goes through much more smoothly after chairman Adam Pearson agrees to step down after six successful years in charge of the Tigers. He has masterminded the Yorkshire club’s rise from brink of oblivion up to the Championship, and their move to the superb KC Stadium. Having narrowly avoided relegation last season, the former Leeds United director admits that now is the time for fresh investment: “If we are not able to invest in the club then ultimately we will fall back to where it took so long to escape from. We’ve come too far to allow this club to slip back into the lower reaches.” The new owners are a three-man south-east based partnership led by new chairman Paul Duffen - the co-founder of the Catalyst Media Group.

Altrincham handed reprieve

England players to play for nothing

Boston United are ‘relegated’ for the second time in the same season. Following their demotion from the Football League, it is decided at the Conferences’ AGM in Bournemouth that the Pilgrims will start next season in the newly-named Blue Square North - the second tier of non-league football. Boston went into administration on the final day of the season and, with no immediate resolution to their financial woes, it was felt that they are not in a position to compete on a national level. Conference chief executive John Moules explains: “All parties agreed that Blue Square North was the best place for them. They are in breach of certain rules.” United will not contest the decision. Their loss is Altrincham’s gain. For the second season in a row, the Robins are handed a reprieve from relegation from the Conference. They stayed up last season due to Scarborough’s severe money troubles.

England’s players announce they have decided to donate their match fees to charity, so effectively agreeing to play for their country for nothing. The charities likely to benefit include the Association of Children’s Hospices, WellChild, the Bobby Moore Fund and the Professional Footballers Association Charity Initiatives. The squad are to establish a Team England Footballers Charity. It should raise more than £1million before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Pearce blasts Bentley

The Football League closes the loophole that allowed Leeds United and Boston United to invoke the ten-point deduction for going into administration after they had been relegated, so avoiding the penalty being carried over into next season. The FL has now ensured that, in future, any club going into administration after the fourth Thursday in March will now have the ten-point penalty suspended until it is established when it will have the maximum impact. Football League chairman Lord Brian Mawhinney explains:

“I am delighted that clubs have backed their board so strongly on this issue. Clubs should suffer a sporting penalty as a consequence of going into administration, as this acts as a spur to better financial management.”

With only three days to before their opening game in the European Championships in Holland, England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce fumes at David Bentley’s decision to withdraw from the squad due to tiredness. The former Manchester City manager blasts:

“For me, representing your country is not about what suits you. It’s about what suits your country, whether it be on the sporting field, whether it be in the armed forces. When your country comes calling, you put them first and yourself second. I had an inkling on Wednesday when Blackburn boss Mark Hughes talked to me and mentioned that he’d like to pull the boy out. I said no. I spoke with David on Thursday. He said to me on the back of a long season, and possible burn-out next season, that he’d like to pull himself out of the tournament. I don’t agree with it in any way, shape or form.”

As the 22 year-old midfielder is not injured, he cannot be replaced in the named Under-21s’ squad.

Scotland avoid embarrassment

Shepherd agrees to sell Magpies

England win their must-win game 3-0 on their first-ever visit to Estonia. Anything less than three points against a team that has yet to score in the qualifying campaign would have left their Euro 2008 hopes in disarray. But Steve McClaren’s charges heed his plea for patience and, following Joe Cole’s opener on 37 minutes, eventually run-out as comfortable winners. The recalled David Beckham once again produces an inspirational performance, especially with superb pin-point crosses supplying the second-half goals for Peter Crouch and Michael Owen. While Beckham still has two vital games for Real Madrid, it’s the end of the season for his England colleagues. That’s frustrating for Owen who, having missed almost all of the last year through injury, scores his first goal since last June’s pre-World Cup friendly against Jamaica so must wish the season was just starting. Steve McClaren can now look to the future with more confidence, if only because defeat tonight would almost certainly have ended his short tenure. Instead, the England coach looks ahead with hope:

“We have five games left and four of them are at Wembley. We’ve already shown that Wembley can be a fortress. We have looked a team over the last few performances. It’s in our hands. If we win our games we’ll qualify.”

Although England stay in fourth place, they close the gap on Group E’s rivals Croatia and Russia who drew 0-0 in Zagreb. Croatia lead the group with 17 points with England are three points behind. Israel are second after a 2-0 win in Andorra.

With the memory of being held in previous encounters, there’s no such embarrassment for Scotland this time as they come back from the Faroe Islands with a workmanlike 2-0 victory. First-half goals from Shaun Maloney and Garry O’Connor keep the Scots within a win of Group B’s top two. France beat Georgia 1-0 while Italy win 2-0 in Lithuania.

Mike Ashley is set to take control of Newcastle United. Chairman Freddy Shepherd agrees to sell his 28% stake in the club which means the billionaire businessman now has about 70% of the shares. He needs 75% to launch a full takeover
Last month he bought 41.6% of the club’s shares from Sir John Hall’s family. Shepherd, who is likely to stay at St James’ Park in some capacity, believes Ashley’s company will be ‘excellent custodians of Newcastle United’s heritage’.

Bates regains control of Leeds

Ranieri chooses the Old Lady

UEFA appear to get their retaliation in first as, prior to the publication of a report into the chaotic scenes at last month’s Champions League Final, director of communications William Gaillard brands Liverpool supporters as the worst in Europe.

“We know what happened in Athens; Liverpool fans were the cause of most of the trouble there. That was just the latest example. What other fans steal tickets from fellow fans or from the hands of children? There have been 25 incidents involving Liverpool fans away from home since 2003 and these are in the report. Most teams’ supporters do not cause any trouble at all.”

Angry Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry responds:

“What is most surprising about the latest comments from Mr Gaillard is that on the eve of the final, he quite rightly commented that Liverpool supporters ‘have a tradition of good behaviour’. Let’s not forget that these same supporters who Mr Gaillard is claiming are now the worst in Europe were praised by UEFA president Michel Platini after our semi-final victory against Chelsea only last month. They were commended for their behaviour in Istanbul in 2005 and actually honoured by UEFA at a gala dinner in Monte Carlo in 2001 as joint Supporters of the Years with Alaves after the UEFA Cup Final.”

Liverpool have sent their own report to UEFA highlighting their security concerns at the final. Many supporters with forged tickets or no tickets gained entry to a stadium which had no turnstiles and no ticket-counting facility. It meant that fans with legitimate tickets were denied access to the ground. Also, with Liverpool and AC Milan given only 17,000 tickets each, the recent viable example of setting up alternative means of watching the game via a big screen in the city centre was not followed when it is clear that the demand from tickets would exceed supply.

Following a re-count of creditors’ votes over the weekend, Ken Bates regains control of Leeds United. The former Chelsea chairman placed the Whites in administration with debts of £35million on 4 May. He required 75% of creditors’ votes to buy the club back, and the recount showed that 75.2% of creditors supported his plan to offer them just 1p in the pound of debts owed. Leeds must now seek the Football League’s approval, and may face a legal challenge in the courts. Some creditors are considering taking action, especially HM Revenue and Customs who were owed nearly £7million.

Manchester City’s hopes of appointing Claudio Ranieri as their new manager are dashed after the charismatic Italian takes over at Juventus. The 55-year-old replaces Didier Deschamps who resigned last week. City are in advanced discussions regarding a likely takeover by former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

England lose ground

Ryan Giggs ended his Welsh international career as Wales held the Czech Republic to a goalless draw in this Euro 2008 qualifier at the Millennium Stadium. The Manchester United legend is given a standing ovation when he is withdrawn two minutes from time. The stalemate almost certainly ends Wales’ hopes of reaching next year’s tournament. Meanwhile, the Germany replace the Czech’s at the top of Group D after beating San Marino 6-0.

England lose ground in Group E as the three teams above them, Croatia, Russia and Israel, all win. Leaders Croatia are now five points ahead of England after a 1-0 victory against Estonia in Tallinn. Russia and Israel are boh three points ahead of Steve McClaren’s men. Russia beat Andorra 4-0 in St Petersburg while Israel secure a 2-1 victory in Macedonia. England’s next Euro 2008 outing is in Estonia on Wednesday.

Worthington takes Irish challenge

Smith named SFA chief executive

After seven years on the road, England return to Wembley Stadium. They looked set for a morale boosting win against Brazil in the prestigious international opener at the new arena but were denied by a stoppage time equaliser by Ribas Diego. Aston Villa’s Billy Walker scored the first English goal at the old Wembley, and its captain John Terry who has the honour of scoring England’s first goal at the new Wembley. It comes in the 68th minute and, inevitably, comes from a free-kick by the recalled David Beckham. Having omitted the Real Madrid star from his earlier squads, Steve McClaren now believes that Becks is ‘the best right-sided midfielder in the world’. The Three Lions coach adds:

“We got the performance, against a very, very good team, one of the top teams in the world. To nearly get the clean sheet, to be 15 seconds away, shows that as a team we defended well. We saw that attitude, passion, tackles going in and we played good football as well. They came together as a team.”

Former Norwich City boss Nigel Worthington is named Northern Ireland manager for the remainder of their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Capped 66 times, he replaces Lawrie Sanchez who left to take charge at Fulham. Worthington ended the season in temporary charge of Leicester City before Martin Allen was handed the permanent post at the Championship club. Irish FA president Jim Boyce insists the 45 year-old is happy to accept another short-term deal:

“Many people would have insisted on having a contract not just until the end of the European Championships but to the next World Cup. He said ‘let them judge me after these six games’. I think that’s a credit to the man. I sincerely hope that Nigel Worthington will be the manager of Northern Ireland for a long time to come.”

Northern Ireland head their qualifying group and are still in a chance of reaching a major tournament for the first time in 20 years. Worthington will be assisted by Southampton first team coach Glyn Snodin and Bolton Wanderers goalkeeping coach Fred Barber.

Gordon Smith is named the new chief executive of the Scottish Football Association. The 52 year-old former Rangers striker is remembered south of the border for missing what would almost certainly have been the winner for Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1983 FA Cup Final against Manchester United. Since hanging up his boots, Smith has become BBC TV in Scotland’s top football pundit. He also owns a player agency. He replaces David Taylor who was recently appointed UEFA general secretary.

The creditors meeting to decide the future of Leeds United has gone into extra time. A prolonged and often heated meeting at Elland Road fails to meet a definite conclusion, so the interested parties will gather again on Monday morning. With the former champions heading towards League One for the first time in their history, chairman Ken Bates placed the Whites in administration last month with reported debts of £35million. Subject to creditor approval, the ex-Chelsea supremo immediately bought the club as the re-named Leeds United Football Club Ltd. His offer to creditors is 1p in the pound, and he requires 75% approval. The meeting is adjourned by administrators KPMG as the original count amazingly shows a 75.02% vote. A re-count is required, especially as five different consortia have expressed an interest.