A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Moyes says Rodwell won't leave to appease the banks
DAVID Moyes has said Everton do not have to appease the banks by selling Jack Rodwell in January, but admits the club’s financial position leaves them vulnerable to big offers for their coveted players.
Rodwell has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea when the transfer window reopens and though Moyes insists there has been no approach from the Stamford Bridge club so far, he was unable to provide assurances that the 20-year-old will not be sold.
Everton have raised approximately €36 million in 2011 by trading in Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Jermaine Beckford, Yakubu Ayegbeni and James Vaughan, reducing their wage bill significantly in the process, plus selling their former Bellefield training ground.
Moyes insists the cuts have alleviated pressure from the banks to sell players in January and said that it would therefore be a football decision if the club, which values Rodwell in the €24 million bracket, does decide to cash in on another asset.
Webb gets Euro 2012 call-up
HOWARD Webb of England, who showed a record 14 yellow cards in last years World Cup final between champions Spain and runners-up Netherlands, was named yesterday on a list of 12 referees for Euro 2012.
The referees will be aided by goalline assistants in the finals in Ukraine and Poland following a decision by the International Football Association Board (Ifab) to continue with the experiment being used in Uefas club competitions.
The 12 are: Cuneyt Cakr (Turkey), Jonas Eriksson (Sweden), Viktor Kassai (Hungary), Bjorn Kuipers (Netherlands), Stephane Lannoy (France), Pedro Proenca (Portugal), Nicola Rizzoli (Italy), Damir Skomina (Slovenia), Wolfgang Stark (Germany), Craig Thomson (Scotland), Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) and Howard Webb (England).
The most notable absentee is Belgiums Frank de Bleeckere (45), who retired at the weekend.
Bannan regrets drink-fuelled crash
ASTON Villa midfielder Barry Bannan has admitted there would have been “no point in me living” had his drink-fuelled motorway crash resulted in any loss of life.
Bannan had an accident in his Range Rover Sport on the M1 near Watnall on October 23rd whilst over the legal drink-drive limit.
He fled the scene, and was arrested in a taxi office.
The Scotland international, who only held a provisional licence, was fined €5,400 and banned from driving for 18 months.
Despite this, the midfielder believes he has had a lucky escape. He said: “It still goes through my head now, it was a huge mistake and I regret everything I’ve done. It will never happen again. As much as I regret it, Im so lucky to be still here today.
“If I hit another car and killed someone else, then there’s no point in me living, really, after the things that would be going through my head. I’m lucky to be where I am today.”
United complain over FA Cup tickets
MANCHESTER United have complained to the English FA about the number of tickets they have been granted for next month’s FA Cup tie at Manchester City.
Under FA rules, United should be entitled to an allocation equivalent to 15 per cent of the ground capacity at the Etihad Stadium, which would be 7,100 tickets.
Instead, City have offered 5,500 – exactly the same as United were granted for the first leg of the League Cup semi-final two years ago. However, whilst that tie was agreed relatively quickly, United are digging their heels in on this occasion and are demanding their full entitlement.
City are refusing on the grounds that it would constitute a safety risk, so the FA have been asked to intervene on the matter.
The issue came to light over discussions about the tie, and the potential for a replay. United would not offer City 15 per cent of Old Trafford’s capacity for that.
Majstorovic out for six weeks
CELTIC defender Daniel Majstorovic yesterday underwent surgery on the fractured cheekbone he sustained in the 2-0 win against St Johnstone on Sunday and will be out for six weeks, the Glasgow club has confirmed.
The Sweden defender had to go off in the first half at McDiarmid Park following a challenge on Saints midfielder David Robertson, who was also replaced soon after.
O'Neill warns his players
SUNDERLAND manager Martin O’Neill has warned his players they have a responsibility to behave on and off the pitch.
Just weeks into his reign at the Stadium of Light, O’Neill has found himself having to deal with the arrest of skipper Lee Cattermole and striker Nicklas Bendtner over an allegation of criminal damage.
Both men were released on police bail after questioning last Thursday as inquiries continue, and were included among the substitutes at Tottenham on Sunday.
Sunderland will wait for the outcome of the investigation before deciding on their own response, but O’Neill has left his players in little doubt as to what is required of them. He said: “The police have to finish their inquiries, but it’s a very serious issue. We do have some responsibility here. Players and managers, I believe, have extra responsibilities now at football clubs.
“My own view is that behaviour on and off the field is of paramount importance, decent behaviour.”
Zamora no longer Jol's 'number one'
MARTIN Jol has warned Bobby Zamora he is no longer the “number one” striker in the Fulham attack, but denied there is any rift between the pair.
The England forward has recovered from the knee injury that ruled him out of the 2-0 win against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday and, although he is available for selection against Manchester United tonight, Zamora appears to have fallen out of favour at Craven Cottage.
Asked if Zamora would be in his strongest line-up when all his forwards are fit, Jol said: “He was at the start of the last match, but he was not fit so I had to play Andy Johnson, which in hindsight was a good decision.
“It would be silly when you’ve got 21 players to say, ‘this is my best team’.”
