Quinn: Bruce will be manager next season

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has insisted Steve Bruce will not be sacked even if the club are relegated.

The Black Cats ended a 14-game win-less run with a 4-0 victory at home to Bolton on Tuesday night but Bruce’s position remains a source of debate amongst supporters.

Quinn remains convinced that Bruce is the man to take the club forward - a view shared by American owner Ellis Short, who visited Wearside last week to offer his support to the manager and his players.

He said: “I can assure you now that even if we don’t win another game between now and the end of the season, Steve will be manager here next year. If we go down, he’ll still be the manager.

“Ellis is a big admirer of Steve and that continued despite the disappointing run we’ve had.

“Thankfully, he’s a realist and knows that this game can be tough.

“He knows that things rarely go smoothly in football and that there were a lot of factors such as injuries and suspensions and sometimes just the drop of the ball, that hampered us during that time.

“Ellis lets us run the business and he’s not affected by the message boards or the media speculation. He has faith in me and my chief executive Steve Walton and he has faith in the manager we thought was the perfect person to take the club forward.

“Despite the results the owner never once questioned whether we had the right manager.”

While Quinn is confident that Sunderland will retain their Premier League status, he revealed the club has taken steps to protect itself should the worst happen.

“We have got ourselves structurally very sound to deal with all eventualities,” he said. “Obviously the preferred eventuality is spending to improve the squad and move up the table.

“We do have an aim of being an established top-ten club over time, but we don’t want to find ourselves desperately losing sleep in April over whether we are going to be in this league every year.

“Nothing will hurt this club in the way it might have in the past. Anybody who comes to this club has to agree to a 40 per cent deduction in the event of us getting relegated and it’s the same for senior staff and players already here who sign a new contract.”

Stronger

The Black Cats are about to release their latest financial figures, with Quinn expecting them to reveal a £26million loss for 2008-09 - but that figure represents the most recent investment in the squad.

He said: “The accounts will show the word loss, but that should really be interpreted as extra signings. We could easily shown a profit, but we wouldn’t have [Michael] Turner, [Darren] Bent, [Lee] Cattermole or [Lorik] Cana.

Chief executive Steve Walton says the club remain on a solid financial footing with Texan tycoon Short converting a £48m loan into shares last summer.

He said: “What it means is that the money is effectively there forever and can’t be withdrawn. It has made us stronger.

“Not only did we cover investments but Ellis Short gave us money to reduce our external bank debts as well. It’s a very powerful picture going forward.”

But Quinn insists the American’s interest is more than just financial.

“He is Sunderland through and through, his family are. His son goes to school every day in a Sunderland shirt, which isn’t an easy thing to do in London. But that’s the difference in our owner,” he said.

“He doesn’t want publicity, he is not doing it to be patted on the back by fans. He is doing it because he is in there now, he is one of us.

“He is hoping there is a very big future here.”

Woodgate undergoes groin opertaion

Tottenham Hotspur and England defender Jonathon Woodgate is to undergo further groin surgery in Australia, in a desperate bid to cure his ongoing groin problem.

The former Leeds, Newcastle, Middlesborough and Real Madrid man has only made 3 appearances this season for the Spurs, in an important season that could inevitably see them enter the Champions League qualification stages.

The 30 year old defender had two operations during the summer, but none of them were very successful as he has not featured in many games this campaign. However if all goes well in Austrailia, Woodgate is expected to be back training in pre-season.

“Jonathon Woodgate has had an operation out in Australia today, so we will keep our fingers crossed.” explained Harry Redknapp.

“It was a groin problem he has had. Eventually he went to America and has ended up in Australia to see a specialist out there and they have operated on him.

“There were a couple of options but they confident they have got the right answer so we will have to wait and see. Will he play again this season? There is no real chance.” said the Tottenham chief.

Further problems

Harry Redknapp has been hit with a load of injuries to vital members of his squad, including Aaron Lennon (groin), Jermaine Jenas (groin), Tom Huddlestone (ankle), David Bentley (groin), Carlo Cudicini (wrist, pelvis) and club captain Ledley King (thigh).

Ledley King was expected to be out for only a few weeks, but he has not responded well to treatment ever since he was forced to come off in Tottenhams 3-0 win over Wigan last month and is due to be out for a further two more weeks, which is a huge setback for Redknapp and his men.

Tottenham face Blackburn Rovers in tomorrows Premier League lunchtime kick off at White Hart Lane, in a must win game for Spurs if the want to strengthen their claim for that all important fourth place and final Champions League spot.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Blackburn Rovers live on Sky Sports from 12.30pm.

Keown: Players should move with times

Martin Keown believes players should learn to handle the media as it will boost their chances of getting into the England squad.

The former Arsenal defender, now a BBC pundit, says today’s footballers should “move with the times” and “get out there more” to enhance their international prospects.

The England international also criticised Sky Sports News for “manufacturing” stories to fill their 24-hour rolling news coverage.

Speaking at a World Cup event at the BBC in Manchester, he said: “If you work with the media then they will look after you.

“I don’t know why, but John Terry has signed up to do a piece for the Sun for the World Cup. Now the Sun are always the first to jump to his defence.

“Wayne Rooney is being talked about as captain material because he has learned to handle the media.

“Players should definitely get out there more and move with the times because there are instances where favouritism within the media has helped some players get into the England team.”

Although he feels the media can be manipulated, Keown warns they are a “powerful animal” capable of creating public animosity towards players.

“If a player doesn’t want to do interviews they become hard work for the media,” he said.

“If they feel they don’t need you, they will twist stories and that’s quite difficult to control.

“Sometimes journalists have to be creative and find the angle other people aren’t thinking of, but Sky Sports News have to manufacture stories and some of them are not true. This kind of media is a problem.”

While Keown advocates players using the media to their advantage, he thinks managers should be concentrating more on coaching their teams.

“It’s different for managers. If a manager says too much he is fined and hauled up in front of the FA.

“Steve Bruce said too much to the media, was fined £2,500 and dragged down to London in front of a committee.

“He should have been in Sunderland with his team who had not won in 14 games and lost a day’s training. He shouldn’t have been in London.

“We saw Rafa Benitez criticise Sam Allardyce recently but he needs to forget the side issues. I believe that’s what lost them the league last season.

“Managers try to be interesting, but it’s a balancing act.”

Cabanas released from hospital

Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas has left hospital but doctors cannot say if he will play football again.

Cabanas, who was shot in the head following an argument in a bar in January, will continue his rehabilition under close medical supervision at a clinic in Mexico City.

The Club America forward left intensive care last month but can only walk a few steps at a time and his speech is limited.

In a statement, America said: “After Tuesday’s evaluation, the doctor determined that Cabanas is in condition to leave the hospita to begin the next steps of his recuperation.”

The 29-year-old underwent a seven hour operation immediately after the shooting, but doctors decided it was too risky to remove the bullet from his brain.

Neurosurgeon Dr Ernesto Martinez said: “Salvador has already seen himself in a mirror and didn’t ask any questions, he just stayed there looking without showing any reaction.”

“Having a bullet in his brain would not necessarily impede him from returning to soccer but the neurological recuperation can take one, two or three years. We can’t say precisely.”

Cabanas was a key player in Paraguay’s successful qualification for this summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

The main suspect in the shooting, identified by police as Jose Jore Balderas, remains at large.

Real Madrid top “rich list”

Real Madrid have topped the league table of football’s richest clubs for the sixth successive year.

The Spanish giants became also became the first club to break through the €400million (£363m) barrier in a single year, according to Deloitte’s Football Money League.

Real’s arch rivals Barcelona have taken second spot in the list, ahead of Manchester United who fall to third.

Dan Jones, partner in the sports business group at Deloitte, said: “Real Madrid’s 10% increase in revenue to €401m (£342m) came despite a relatively disappointing season domestically and in Europe. Broadcast income provided Real with its largest increase in revenue and at €161m is now greater than the total revenue of all but the top 10 Money League clubs.

“Barcelona’s unprecedented on-pitch success, winning a domestic double and the Champions League, helped drive a revenue increase by €57m, the largest absolute increase of any Money League club, to €366m.”

Manchester United earned a total of €327m, marginally up from €324.8m last year.

The list, based on clubs’ revenue excluding transfer fees, also sees Arsenal overtake Chelsea with the Gunners recording a 7 per cent rise in revenue to £224m compared to their London rivals’ £206m – a 3 per cent fall in revenue.

Jones added: “Chelsea’s revenue has dropped because last season was a bit worse than usual on the pitch, they had frozen season ticket prices and there was not a lot going on in big new commercial developments.

“Arsenal have the advantage in matchday income with a new 60,000-seater stadium and they made the semi-finals of both the Champions League and the FA Cup.

“All the English clubs were impacted by the continuing depreciation of the pound against the euro and the scale of this is shown by the fact that if exchange rates remained at their June 2007 level, United would be top of the money league table.”

The top 20 was again dominated by Europe’s “big five” leagues, with five clubs coming from Germany, four from Italy and two each from France and Spain.

There are seven English sides in the list - Liverpool are seventh, Tottenham are 15th, Manchester City 19th and Newcastle 20th.

The Top 20

1 Real Madrid (Spain)

2 Barcelona (Spain)

3 Manchester United (England)

4 Bayern Munich (Germany)

5 Arsenal (England)

6 Chelsea (England)

7 Liverpool (England)

8 Juventus (Italy)

9 Internazionale (Italy)

10 AC Milan (Italy)

11 Hamburg (Germany)

12 AS Roma (Italy)

13 Lyon (France)

14 Marseille (France)

15 Tottenham Hotspur (England)

16 Schalke (Germany)

17 Werder Bremen (German)

18 Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

19 Manchester City (England)

20 Newcastle United (England)

Chelsea v Manchester City Preview

" What you looking at?"

All eyes will be on John Terry and Wayne Bridge at Stamford Bridge tommorrow lunch-time as Chelsea host Man City.

The pair will come up against each other  for the first time since allegations of an affair between the former England captian and Bridge’s ex-girlfriend surfaced.

Bridge declared himself as unavailble for England citing his postition as ” divisive and untenable” within the squad.

The major talking point will be the pre-match pleasantries with many speculating that Bridge will refuse to shake Terry’s hand.

Roberto Mancini’s men will have to reverse the form book if they are to even score at The Bridge. Paul Dickov was the last City player to manage that feat back in December 2000.

Team News:

Both sides will look to bounce back from midweek defeats with weakened line-ups.

The league leaders will be without goalkeeper Petr Cech after he tore a calf muscle in the San Siro with Portugese stopper Hilario is set to  deputise.

Frank Lampard will start after missing the last domestic game at Molineux while Yuri Zhirkov, Jose Bosingwa, Michael Essien and Deco will all miss out.

The Sky Blues will be without suspended duo Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Adebayor both of which are serving bans for violent conduct.

However Carlos Tevez returns from compassionate leave after the premature birth of his daughter in Argentina.

Possible Starting Line-ups:

Chelsea (4-3-3): Hilario, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, Belletti, Mikel, Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba

Manchester Cty (4-5-1): Given, Richards, Lescott, Kompany, Bridge, De Jong, Barry, Zabaleta, Ireland, Bellamy, Tevez

One To Watch: Carlos Tevez

Sky Bet Odds: Chelsea 4/9 Draw 16/5 Man City 13/2

Detour Prediction: 2-0

Capello has selection headache

With injury to Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge’s withdrawl the door is wide open for English left backs to steal a march to this summers World Cup.

England manager Fabio Capello is casting a keen eye over left-backs Stephen Warnock, Leighton Baines and Joleon Lescott ahead of the World Cup.

After the news of Wayne Bridge making himself unavailabe for selection, promising left-backs all over the country are queuing up to impress Capello.

First choice Ashley Cole is crocked with a broken ankle and set to be out until Chelsea’s last game of the season against Wigan on 9th May. This will leave him with just a month to regain full fitness and rediscover the form that lead to him being touted as the best left back in the world.

Choices

There is no shortage of Englsih left-backs playing at the highest club level, the Premier League.

Stephen Warnock of high-flying Aston Villa is just one of the names to have been thrown into the equation. Warnock always had ambitons of representing his country and hopes to impress Capello in this Sundays Carling Cup final against Manchester United.

He said: “All I can do is concentrate on my form for Aston Villa and hopefully that is enough to impress the manager.

I always felt that if my form was good enough and if I could push Wayne Bridge as hard as I could I would be happy with that.

But obviously with the events that have unfolded, then possibly it opens the door and you never know what could happen.”

Leighton Baines, of Everton, is also eyeing a place in the squad yet isn’t getting too far ahead of himself.

He said: “We’re all aware Ashley Cole’s injury means there’s a space in the next few squads for a left-back.

It’s only right all of us will be thinking about the possibilities. If England comes along it would be fantastic, but I’m realistic enough to know there are other left-backs who are ahead of me’

Joleon Lescott can also fill in at left back if needs be.  The Manchester City player has played at left back before yet prefers, and suits, playing at centre back. Lescott has been struggling for fitness since joining the sky blues in the summer for £24 million but hopes to get back on track.

He said: “All I can do is work as hard as I possibly can in training and take my chance when it comes. With so much at stake here and the World Cup coming at the end of the season, I obviously want to be playing regularly.”

Bookies Favourite

It remains to be seen who will start at left back against the USA in Englands opening fixture, its Capello’s choice yet the bookies rarely get it wrong. SkyBet still have Ashley Cole as the favourite.

Ashley Cole: 1/3

Stephen Warnock: 6/1

Leighton Baines: 8/1

Joleon Lescott: 12/1

Portsmouth can rise again, says Mandaric

Portsmouth are the first club in the top flight to enter administration, with debts in excess of £70 million.

They now face a nine point deduction, which will leave them 16 points off Burnley who are in 19th place and almost certainly see them relegated to the Championship.

Pompey who have struggled through the course of this season have had four different owners, all of which have failed to stabilise the club.

The south coast club were set to face a winding up order on March 1, but opted to go into administration in a desperate bid to save the club.

It was believed that there were four separate parties who were interested in taking over the club, but no deal was completed before Thursdays deadline.

Rise again

However in the midst of all this mess, former Portsmouth chairman, Milan Mandaric, now chairman of Leicester City, believes that his old club can rise from the ashes and become and force once again.

“What’s happened is sad. It’s been one mess after another. It’s something we didn’t want to see happen but we have to deal with it.

“The community lives and breathes for the club there and there is no reason why it can’t grow out of this and be even stronger.

“I’m quite sure Portsmouth in two or three years time can be as solid as they were two or three years back.

Pompey, who just two years ago contested and won the FA Cup final under Harry Redknapp, now see themselves preparing for life it he second tier of English football.

Stepping down

The club’s chief executive Peter Storrie revealed today he will leave the club when he has helped a new buyer take over.

In a statement posted on the clubs official website Storrie said:

“Once the sale is complete, I will tender my notice to the new owners as set out under the terms of my contract.

“I have really enjoyed my eight years at the club and the success we have enjoyed on the pitch: winning promotion to the Premier League and seven years in top-flight football, culminating in winning the FA Cup in 2008.

“I will really miss the genuine fans who have been so supportive and good to me…”

Portsmouth travel to Turf Moor for tomorrows Premier League encounter with Burnley, hoping to get a vital three points to at least give themselves a fighting chance of staying in the Premier League.

Carling Cup Final Preview - Aston Villa vs Manchester United

Rooney will be key

The Premier League’s meanest defence takes on the League’s best attack this sunday as Wayne Rooney will be the man taking centre stage once more.

Rooney will be looking to make amends after missing last years showpiece final through illness and he has a chance to help United to retain a cup trophy for the first time in their history.

The Manchester United and England striker has been in sensational form this season hitting 27 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions and it will be up to Aston Villa to stop him for a third time this season. Rooney says he is eager to play in Sunday’s Carling Cup Final.

He explains: “This is why you join a club like Manchester United, to win trophies and play in cup finals. Playing at Wembley is still a great feeling. Hopefully, I’ll play Sunday and we can win the trophy.”

The England man is well on the way to being the 4th manchester united player in a row to win PFA player of the year and Villa will surely have to keep him quiet if they are to win their first trophy for 14 years.

Aston Villa however, will have to overcome a team that they have beaten just twice in 37 attempts. This Aston Villa team seems to be made of sterner stuff these days though after taking four points from Manchester United this season including an impressive 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neil is relishing the challenge of bringing back the glory days to Villa Park, the former leicester boss won the trophy twice in his time their. “This is a fantastic challenge,” O’Neill said.

“I am well aware of the history of this football club. Trying to restore it to its days of former glory seems a long way away, but why not try? It is nearly 25 years since they won the European Cup but that is the dream.”

Manchester United who, at times, have looked a shadow of the team that has won 3 consecutive premier league titles and been to one champions league are going in to the game without Rio Ferdinand, John O’Shea and Anderson.

However the return of Nemanja Vidic to the starting line up will be a boost to the defence that was exposed badly by Everton and at times by AC Milan.

The semi finals have re-ignited a lot of interest into the carling cup this year, Aston Villa’s stunning 7-4 win against Blackburn followed by Manchester United’s epic late winner in the manchester derby were arguably two of the games of the season.

Manchester United will rightly be favourites this Sunday, but this is not the same Manchester United from 2008, and Aston Villa are an ever improving side.

Match Prediction:- Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United, Wayne Rooney to have a good game but Agbonlahor to steal the show.

match odds:- Manchester United: 4/5,  Draw: 13/5,  Aston Villa: 7/2

Possible starting XI\’s: Aston Villa: Friedel, Warnock, Collins, Dunne, Cuellar, Petrov, Milner, Downing, A Young, Agbonlahor, Heskey

Manchester United : Foster, Neville, Vidic, Brown, Evra, Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Valencia, Rooney

Bruce Under Pressure

Under pressure manager Steve Bruce will be hoping his Sunderland take the much needed three points aganist Fulham on Sunday .

After a promising start to the season Sunderland have gone 13 games without a win, which has lead them to slip down the league from eighth to 14th. although they have only lost twice at home this season.

On the other hand Fulham are on an impressive run after knocking out last years winner Shakhtar Donetsk in the Uefa Cup and also a league run that has seen them take ten points from a possible 12.

Cattermole

The England Under-21 star is back after his one match suspension and has described the next few home matches as most wins.

“This run of four home games is massive now – absolutely vital.”

Team News

Sunderland

Sunderland welcome back midfield hard man Lee Cattermole after serving his one match ban following a red at Portsmouth. who will add  the much needed fight if they are to survive this relegation battle.

However Jordan Henderson is still out for six weeks along with Andy Reid who could miss four weeks with a hamstring problem.

Fulham

Roy Hodgson is hopeful that his top scorer Bobby Zamora will be fit after limping off with an Achilles tendon injury on Thursday.

The Cottagers will be without Andrew Johnson, Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil.

Top Scorers.

Sunderland: Bent 16 goals overall/15 league

Fulham: Zamora 15 overall/8 league

Next Five Fixtures

Sunderland

Fulham (H)

Bolton (H)

Man City (H)

Birmingham (H)

Liverpool (A)

Fulham

Sunderland (A)

Man Utd (A)

Man City (H)

Hull (A)

Wigan (H)

Team details (probable)

Sunderland (4-4-2): Gordon, McCartney, Turner, Ferdinand, Mensah, Hutton, Richardson, Cana, Cattermole, Bent, Jones.
Fulham (4-4-1-1): Schwarzer; Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Shorey; Davies, Etuhu, Murphy, Duff; Gera; Zamora.

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