A round-up of today's other stories in brief
High Court judge says Hicks and Gillett not to be trusted
A High Court judge in England yesterday said he did not trust two American businessmen who used to own Liverpool Football Club.
Mr Justice Peter Smith said Tom Hicks and George Gillett had “demonstrated” they would “abuse” the court process if it suited them.
Texas-based Hicks and Gillett lost control of Liverpool when the club was sold to New England Sports Ventures – headed by another American businessman, John W Henry – in a €367m deal in October 2010.
The judge criticised Hicks and Gillett when hearing evidence at the High Court in London in the latest phase of litigation launched following the sale.
And he refused to allow them to have “full and unrestricted” access to private documentation featuring in the litigation because of fears about “potential misconduct”.
The judge said an American lawyer representing Hicks and Gillett had twice misled an American court in October 2010 following the Liverpool sale.
“I do not trust your clients,” the judge told British lawyers representing Hicks and Gillett.
Ireland will regain crown if they defeat England
The Republic of Ireland can regain the Under-18 Centenary Shield tonight if they beat England in the concluding game of the campaign at the AMEX Stadium in Brighton (7.35pm).
It looked like Ollie Horgan’s side had blown their chance of claiming the five-nation crown by drawing 2-2 against Wales in Carmarthen a fortnight ago, but Northern Ireland’s shock victory over the Welsh last week has left the competition wide open.
A win for either team tonight would secure them the silverware.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (probable): E Comerford (CBS, Clonmel); F McMahon (St Macartan’s College, Monaghan), P Sweeney (Coláiste Ráithín, Bray), J O’Brien (Yeat’s College, Galway), A O’Donnell (Carrigaline Community School); C Horgan (Coláiste Éinde), B Lenihan (Presentation, Cork), R Lehane (Douglas CS), D Morrissey (Midleton CBS); B Sheedy (Coláiste Iosaef, Kilmallock), S Maguire (CBS Kilkenny).
Lerner and Faulkner give their backing to besieged McLeish
Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner have given their backing to manager Alex McLeish and his players as the club strive to win their Premier League relegation battle.
Lerner and Faulkner have issued their rallying call after Villa were left only three points above the bottom three following Tuesday’s home defeat by Bolton.
Fans called for McLeish to be sacked and Lerner and Faulkner understand the frustrations of the supporters and are calling for their backing for the final three games of the season.
Lerner and Faulkner, in a joint statement, said: “Right now everyone connected with Villa is hurting badly.
“A win was in sight against Bolton after a strong start and the tenacity the team displayed, although ultimately we weren’t able to hold on for the points.
We very openly acknowledge the frustrations of Villa fans and share in them completely.
“We know that the team will continue to fight through every minute of the remaining games and we hope Villa fans will continue to show their great support.”
Clubs face fines for fair play breaches
Clubs promoted to the Premier League in England who have not met fair play guidelines will be subject to a specially implemented tax, under new rules released by the Football League yesterday.
From the beginning of next season, clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two will adopt a fresh financial fair play model based on Uefa guidelines.
Clubs will be required to provide accounts to the Football League by December 1st each year highlighting whether they have stayed within limits on loss-making and shareholder equity investment.
Championship clubs will see permitted losses drop from an acceptable deviation of €4.9m in 2011-12 to €2.45m by 2015-16.
Sanctions for failure to meet these guidelines depend on whether the club was promoted, remained in the Championship or was relegated.
In the case of promotion, the club would have to pay a “Fair Play Tax” on the excess by which they failed to fulfil the fair play requirement, ranging from 1% on the first €122,000 to 100% on anything over €12m.
