Arsenal crowned richest club in Britain
School to help England practice
Premier League await Grant papers
Scolari appeals ban
Oubina out for six months
Arca sidelined
Arsenal are now Britain’s richest football club. Latest figures reveal the club’s turnover has broken the £200m barrier after the move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners have been subject to takeover rumours after Alisher Usmanov increased his share in the club to 21% but managing director Keith Edelman says these results prove that Arsenal don’t need any outside investment.
Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College in Altrincham will host Steve McClaren’s England squad ahead of the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia. The college has been chosen as a practice venue as it boasts an exact replica of the artificial surface that England will play on at the Luzhniki Stadium on 17 October. Headmaster John Cornally said:
“For our school to play a part in helping England qualify is marvellous. Lessons might be difficult that day but what we don’t want to do is get in the way of the important thing, which is for the England team to train without any interruptions or distractions. In exchange for a few autographs and signed shirts, we will make sure that happens.”
The Premier League is still awaiting documentation that will allow new Chelsea manager Avram Grant an extension to attain a Uefa pro licence. The 52-year-old Israeli can manage the club for a 12-week period without the necessary Uefa certificate. However, the Blues believe Grant has the equivalent qualifications that will allow him to continue beyond that.
Luiz Felipe Scolari has appealed against his four-match ban meted out by Uefa, which will be heard by the organisation’s Appeals Body on Thursday 4th October. Scolari was punished for an altercation with Serbia defender Ivica Dragutinovic, was suspended for four games and fined 12,000 euros (£8,360) for the row.
Birmingham City midfielder Borja Oubina - on loan from Celta Vigo - will be sidelined for at least six months with a knee injury.
Julio Arca is set for at least two months out with medial knee ligament damage. The 26-year-old Middlesbrough midfielder was carried off during the first half of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland.
Nathan Davies
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September 25th, 2007 at 11:51 am
So good that McClaren and everyone involved with England have decided to use a college to train on as it has the exact same pitch.
Shows the amount of preparation that goes in and great that it looks like England are doing as much as they can to prepare for what will definitely be a different game on a strange surface.