A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Quinn stands down as chairman to take new role
NIALL QUINN has stood down as Sunderland chairman to focus on a new role within the club. He will now “spearhead international development on behalf of the club”, while owner Ellis Short will take over as chairman.
Quinn, who had been linked with the vacant chief executive role at his former club Manchester City recently, said on the club’s website, safc.com: “This is a great opportunity for us to make the club stronger and I’m delighted that Ellis has agreed to support the plan.”
Quinn’s new role will involve “developing Sunderland’s profile and business interest overseas”, according to the club.
American owner Short, meanwhile, said: “I can assure our fans that it’s the same group of people continuing to lead the club.
“With financial fair play rules coming into effect it is essential for the long-term success of the club we develop interests on a global scale and there’s no-one better than Niall to sell the ethos of Sunderland to an international audience.”
Spurs vow to banish chanters
TOTTENHAM AND Arsenal are united in their determination to identify fans from both clubs who were guilty of offensive chanting during Sunday’s north London derby at White Hart Lane.
Sections of the home crowd taunted Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, while some away supporters were condemned for mocking the deadly gun attack on the Togo team bus in January 2010 which Emmanuel Adebayor survived.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp launched a stinging attack last night, describing the chants at former Gunners striker Adebayor as “disgusting”.
Tottenham confirmed yesterday several fans from both the home and away sections of the crowd were ejected from White Hart Lane during the game. In line with the club’s zero-tolerance policy on abusive chanting, they have promised to ban any guilty party for life.
Arsenal, meanwhile, intend to work closely with their counterparts at White Hart Lane to root out the offenders.
Ancelotti can see Arsenal vacancy soon
FORMER CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti believes there could soon be a vacancy at Arsenal as he plots his return to the Premier League.
The 52-year-old Italian admits he would be keen on the Arsenal job although he would also consider applying at Tottenham or Liverpool too.
“I have a strong will to remain in England,” Ancelotti told Italian newspaper La Repubblica. “For a coach, this is the ideal country.
“But I would only consider top clubs, including Tottenham and Liverpool. It’s evident that Wenger’s bench is wobbling and that in several months’ time, an English coach will be appointed to replace (England manager Fabio) Capello in the national team, which will free up a place in a club.”
Forest unlikely to consider Keane
NOTTINGHAM FOREST are expected to go for an up-and-coming manager to replace Steve McClaren, with Karl Robinson of Milton Keynes Dons and Exeter City’s Paul Tisdale likely to come under consideration, writes Stuart James.
Mark Robins, who has been out of work since he left Barnsley at the end of last season, is another name in the frame and it is understood Kevin MacDonald, the Aston Villa first-team coach, is also prominent in Forest’s thoughts.
An intriguing choice would be Roy Keane, who is strongly interested in the post and retains a close affection for the club where he spent three years before joining Manchester United in 1993. Forest, however, seem unlikely to go down that path.
The indications are they will look for a lower-profile figure after the experience with McClaren, who is all but resigned to resuming his managerial career overseas.
GuardianService
Chelsea closer to stadium move
CHELSEA moved a step closer towards building a new stadium last night after making an offer to buy back the parts of Stamford Bridge sold to supporters in the 1990s.
Chairman Bruce Buck and chief executive Ron Gourlay said that the club had still to decide whether to move to a new home but insisted they would not be able to do so unless they regained ownership of the pitch and stands at Stamford Bridge.
Those belong to a company called Chelsea Pitch Owners, which was formed in 1993 to prevent the stadium falling into the hands of property developers.
That threat has now receded and Buck and Gourlay yesterday appealed to the 12,000 CPO shareholders – most of whom are fans – to sell their 15,000 shares to the club for the price they paid for them in return for various incentives at any new stadium.
Rodwell hopes to have card revoked
EVERTON CAPTAIN Phil Neville hopes “sense prevails” and Jack Rodwell’s red card in the Merseyside derby will be rescinded. Referee Martin Atkinson has come under heavy criticism for dismissing the 20-year-old just 23 minutes into Saturday’s 2-0 win for Liverpool for a tackle which most observers did not even think was a foul. “I don’t think it was a sending off, it was a bad decision but we all have bad days,” said Neville.
