UEFA announce shake-up
Wembley may host 2010 CL final
Horsham hold Swans
Cardiff squad in plane scare
FIFA release Player of the Year shortlist
Moyes out of running
South Africa omit McCarthy
Robins announce stadium plans
Holloway recruits backroom staff
Hodgson resigns as Finland boss
UEFA have announced a shake-up of their competitions. The format of the Champions League has been reviewed and the new structure will see the top three Premier League clubs qualify automatically for the group stage. In all, 22 clubs qualify automatically, including the Scottish champions while five more places will go to the 15 leading countries in Europe, decided through qualifying rounds, and the remaining five reserved for the champions of the lowest 40 clubs. However, the fourth-placed Premier League side will face a stiffer test in the qualifying round, as they are more likely to face stronger opponents than under the current format. The Intertoto Cup is to be abolished while the UEFA Cup will be drastically revised between 2009 and 2012. There will eventually be 12 groups of four teams, with the top two of each group progressing to the knockout stage, where they will be joined by the eight clubs that finish third in the group stage of the Champions League.
It was also announced that from 2010 the Champions League final will take place on a Saturday afternoon instead of a Wednesday night - with Wembley in the running to host that year’s final. Wembley faces competition from Berlin’s Olympiastadion, the Allianz Arena in Munich, Real Madrid’s Bernabeu and the Mestalla in Valencia.
Isthmian League outfit Horsham held Swansea City to a 1-1 draw at their Atspeed Stadium, courtesy of an 85th minute equaliser from the penalty spot by Lewis Taylor, and will now take their place in the FA Cup third round draw.
An aeroplane carrying the Cardiff City team to Humberside Airport, ahead of their Championship clash with Hull City, has been diverted to Manchester Airport after suffering instrument failure. The Cardiff squad will continue the journey by coach.
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The three-man shortlist for the FIFA player of the year award has been announced. Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, AC Milan’s Kaka, and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi are in the running. The award, which is voted for by managers and captains of national teams of FIFA’s member countries, will be made on December 17.
Everton boss David Moyes has ruled himself out of the running to become the next Scotland manager.
South Africa have announced their squad for the 2008 African Cup of Nations and surprisingly omitted Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy. South African’s national coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira also left out first choice defender Bradley Carnell and midfielders Delron Buckley and Macbeth Sibaya.
Bristol City have announced plans for a new 30,000 capacity stadium. A site in south Bristol was already earmarked for the development. The club hopes planning permission will be in place by the end of 2009 and the new stadium will be ready in time for the 2011-12 season. For legal reasons, the exact location of the ground could not be specified but it is said to be “not too far” from the Ashton Gate ground, which could now be sold off for housing.
Leicester City’s new manager Ian Holloway has recruited Tim Breacker and Des Bulpin as his assistants while Gary Penrice has been brought in as head of recruitment.
Roy Hodgson has resigned as coach of Finland, which could lead to offers of the vacant manager’s jobs with England, Scotland or the Republic of Ireland.
Nathan Davies