Chelsea drop two precious points
Owls out of drop zone
Bournemouth takeover collapses
Da Costa leaves Leeds
Alexander injury blow for Lions
Gyepes signs Northampton deal
McMullen buys Livi stake
Tade commits to Stranraer
Chelsea’s hopes of catching Manchester United at the top of the Premier League were severely dented at Stamford Bridge this evening as they dropped two precious points in a 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic. Michael Essien gave the West Londoners a 54th minute lead but an injury-time volley from Emile Heskey earned the Latics a point. Avram Grant’s men are now five points behind leaders United with four games left to play.
In the Championship, Sheffield Wednesday climbed out of the relegation zone after a 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle at Hillsborough. The visitors took a second minute lead through a deflected Peter Halmosi free-kick but Tommy Spurr levelled in the 81st minute.
EU UK Ltd have withdrawn their bid for League One strugglers Bournemouth after their bid for an extension to complete their purchase of the club was denied by administrator Gerald Krasner. It is thought that EU UK Ltd refused to meet specific terms required by Krasner for an extension to be granted. Krasner said: “They have the money, they just weren’t prepared to lodge it under the original bidding agreement. They had control of the money. I asked them to release a certain part of it for the funding, but they didn’t seem to want to do that and pulled out this afternoon. I don’t think they are in the bidding process at all now.”
Portuguese winger Filipe Da Costa has left Leeds United after the remainder of his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.
Millwall have suffered an injury blow with the news striker Gary Alexander has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Northampton Town defender Gabor Gyepes has signed a new one-year deal with the League One outfit.
Irish property developer Anthony McMullen has bought a 50% stake in Scottish First Division club Livingston.
Stranraer midfielder Gregory Tade has signed a new deal to keep him at the club until 2009.
Nathan Davies