A round-up of today's other stories in brief
McCourt also has bullets sent to him
BULLETS sent to Celtic player Paddy McCourt have been discovered in a package by British mail staff. It comes days after packets containing bullets were sent from Northern Ireland to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and player Niall McGinn. The package addressed to 27-year-old McCourt was discovered by staff at a Royal Mail sorting office in the east end of Glasgow. Police were immediately alerted and launched an investigation.
A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that we are currently investigation a suspicious package discovered at a Royal Mail sorting office in Cubie Street in Glasgow on Tuesday. Inquiries are ongoing.” McCourt has played for Northern Ireland and it is believed the packet was addressed to him at Celtic Park. Last week packages addressed to Lennon and McGinn were intercepted by staff at the Royal Mail sorting office in Mallusk, Co Antrim.
Ferguson back at Peterborough
DARREN Ferguson has targeted winning a third promotion with Peterborough after completing his shock return to London Road.
The 38-year-old took Posh from League Two to the Championship in successive years during his first spell in charge but left in acrimonious circumstances in November 2009 with the club bottom of the second tier.
A poor year in charge of Preston followed for Ferguson – where he was sacked after Christmas – while chairman Darragh MacAnthony has seen Mark Cooper, Jim Gannon and Gary Johnson try and fail to emulate his success with the League One side.
Johnson was the latest to depart on Monday but after a 2-1 win over Brentford on Tuesday night lifted Posh up to fifth, Ferguson is confident of an immediate return to the Championship.
He said: “You’d have to say automatic promotion is still possible this season.”
Bentley moves to Birmingham on loan
BIRMINGHAM City have signed David Bentley on loan from Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season.
The former Blackburn and Arsenal midfielder joined Spurs in July 2008 for a fee of €18 million, but has struggled to make an impact at White Hart Lane.
The 26-year-old underwent a medical at St Andrew’s earlier this week and has now completed a deal to join Alex McLeish’s side.
ASTON Villa manager Gerard Houllier is stepping up his bid to sign midfielder Jean Makoun from his former club Lyon in a €7 million deal.
Houllier also remains interested in signing Blackpool skipper Charlie Adam after making an improved €4 million bid.
Villa’s first offer of around €3 million was rejected, with Birmingham also interested in acquiring Adam.
Bellamy out on bail in Cardiff
MANCHESTER City striker Craig Bellamy has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of assault. The player was taken into custody after two men were injured in an early morning incident in Cardiff.
The 31-year-old, who is currently on loan at Championship side Cardiff, was bailed yesterday. He was arrested after the alleged assault on Caroline Street – informally known as Chippy Lane – at around 2.45am on Sunday.
Grant still in charge at West Ham
AVRAM Grant looks to have been given a stay of execution as West Ham manager after a board meeting at Upton Park yesterday ended with him still in place. Speculation has been rife that Grant is on the brink of the sack but he appears to have bought himself time to convince his employers he is the man to keep the club in the Premier League.
The future looked bleak for the former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss following last week’s 5-0 thrashing at Newcastle – which left the Hammers rooted to the foot of the table – but an FA Cup win over Barnsley and Tuesday night’s spirited League Cup victory over Birmingham earned him what looks to be a reprieve although bad results in their next two tough games against Arsenal and Everton could spell the end. West Ham confirmed the signing of Manchester City left back Wayne Bridge on loan until the end of the season.
Redknapp says Beckham will not face United
HARRY Redknapp has confirmed David Beckham will not face his former club Manchester United even if he does sign for Tottenham Hotspur this week.
Beckham is currently training with Spurs as the Premier League title hopefuls try to sign the midfielder on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy.
Spurs want the 35-year-old on a short-term arrangement, but as things stand, Beckham will only be at the club to train until February 10th, with Los Angeles said to be concerned over insurance issues should their midfielder suffer another injury like he did when on loan at AC Milan.
A deal could eventually be reached later this week ahead of leaders United’s visit to White Hart Lane on Sunday. However, Redknapp admits Beckham’s fitness is not yet up to scratch and he will not pick the ex-England captain to face his old club.
“Manchester United this Sunday would be a non-starter even if he does sign,” said Redknapp.
Platini wants Gulf World Cup
UEFA president Michel Platini has called for the 2022 World Cup to be played across the whole of the Arabian Gulf rather than just in Qatar. His call is likely to fuel the controversy sparked by Fifa president Sepp Blatter saying he expected the tournament to be played in the winter – neither proposal was suggested during last year’s World Cup bidding.
Platini has also labelled English football administration as “strange” but denied that resentment at Britain’s special status within Fifa led to England’s humiliating 2018 World Cup defeat. He said: “I hope it will be a World Cup of the Gulf. It could be the World Cup of Qatar but played in the Gulf. I think we need political people (for this to happen), but I think so.”
Asked why such drastic changes could be considered when they were never mentioned during the bidding campaign, Platini added: “Who will remember the words in 12 years? In 12 years everybody will be happy to have a very well-organised World Cup.”
