Crystal Palace Desperately Need To Sell Victor Moses - Administrator

FOOTBALL - Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has been told by the club's administrators that he cannot play his prized asset Victor Moses again, saying dramatically that the future of the club could depend on it. According to Sky Sports News, the joint administrator of Crystal Palace Brendan Guilfoyle said: "I told the manager that it was my decision that Mr Moses was not available for selection - he's very unhappy about that but accepted it was my call and took the instructions. The future of the club could depend on the success of the sale and I couldn't sleep on the prospect that Moses may be injured in the game tonight."

Crystal Palace went into administration on Tuesday, automatically incurring a 10-point penalty from the Football League. The cash-strapped Championship club need to make some money out of selling Moses if they are going avoid further financial problems. As for Moses, he is only 19 years of age and has scored 6 goals from 21 appearances so far this season, which hardly strikes as being the profile of a multi-million pound footballer. Mind you, football clubs need £1 million to secure a new tea-lady nowadays, so maybe Moses is worth the money Palace are hoping to get for him.

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Mickey Arthur Quits As South Africa Coach

CRICKET - South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has made the shock decision to resign his post just days before the South African squad head out on a tour of India. The decision of 41-year-old Arthur has led to South Africa having to install Corrie van Zyl as temporary coach for the tour of India. "The timing is very unfortunate with an exciting two-test tour of India coming up, but the international cricket calendar these days means that there is never a good time," said Arthur when explaining his decision to quit. "But all good things must come to an end and now is the time for someone else to take over."

While Arthur is scheduled to hold a news conference on Wednesday to discuss his resignation, it has been rumoured in South Africa that Arthur has been at loggerheads with the South Africa captain Graeme Smith. It seems their working relationship had reached breaking point, the result being Arthur's decision to quit.

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Wladimir Klitschko To Defend Belts Against Eddie Chambers In Dusseldorf, March 20

BOXING - The world heavyweight WBO, IBF and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko is to fight the American Eddie Chambers on 20 March it has been confirmed. The fight will take place in Dusseldorf's 51,000-seater Esprit Arena. Klitschko, whose brother Vitali holds the WBC belt, last fought in June 2009 when he beat Ruslan Chagaev with a technical knockout in the ninth round.

Wladimir Klitschko said of his opponent: "Chambers is clearly the best heavyweight boxer in the United States and is for good reason ranked top. The fight will take place in a gigantic stadium and I am already looking forward to it."

As for Eddie Chambers, his record as a professional is stands at 36 fights and 35 wins, winning 18 by way of knockout, his only loss coming in an IBF eliminator with Alexander Povetkin in 2008 which he lost by unanimous decision. "Klitschko may be the favourite," said Chambers, "but I know what I am capable of and I will take a belt collection back home."

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Robbie Fowler Refuses To Play For North Queensland Fury

FOOTBALL - Robbie Fowler's time in Australia might be coming to an end after the former Liverpool and England striker refused to play in his side North Queensland Fury's latest game. Fowler spat the dummy out when his team's coach, Ian Ferguson, changed the side's formaton and relegated Fowler to the substitute's bench. Fowler then refused to play, instead plonking himself in the stands. Fowler is the highest profile signing in the history of the Australian soccer A-League.

North Queensland Fury chairman Don Matheson said he planned to talk to Fowler about the incident. "Although Robbie has been fantastic for the club, we're not a one-man team," Matheson said.

If Fowler left Australia it is difficult to see how he can continue with his career. Setting his age aside for a moment, Fowler was not really able to cut it when he last played in England. Fowler scored a remarkable 173 goals in 236 games during his first spell at Liverpool, but he never recaptured that form in a nomadic footballing life afterwards, last playing in England for Blackburn Rovers where he scored no goals in only 3 appearances.

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Lee Westwood Claims His Golf Clubs Are Like Fishing Rods

GOLF - Lee Westwood has come uith a novel excuse for missing the cut at the Abu Dhabi Championship after claiming his golf clubs felt like fishing rods. Westwood openly questioned whether or not his equipment supplier, Ping, had fitted all his clubs with wrong shafts, or indeed fitted the clubs with fishing rods. "I will probably get a new set sent out and reshaft the lot over the weekend to see if that does any good. They just feel like fishing rods," the world number 4 Westwood claimed.

Westwood had finihed 2009 in good form. He had won the season-ending Dubai World Championship in November, as well as finishing first in the overall European Tour money list.

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Mikel Arteta All Set For Everton Return From Injury

FOOTBALL - Mikel Arteta appears to be on the mend after declaring that he will be ready to return to the Everton team sooner rather than later. Arteta has not played since damaging a cruciate knee ligament 11 months ago against Newcastle, but according to a statement Arteta made to the official Everton website he is not far off being back to full fitness. "I have been doing nearly everything in training with the lads over the last week and I am hoping to start doing contact work this coming week," said Arteta.

Arteta has been put through an extensive rehabilitation programme in order to get back to full fitness, and he is now starting to step up his bid for a comeback, saying: "I am back into my fitness and I am back with the lads. I am really enjoying it at the moment."

Everton have struggled without the talented Spaniard orchestrating things in midfield, winning only six games so far in the Premier League this season.

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Next Stop USA - Amir Khan Joins Golden Boy Promotions

BOXING - Amir Khan has joined Golden Boy Promotions in a bid to increase his profile and marketibility in the USA. Khan has teamed up with Golden Boy having spent his professional career to date being promoted by Frank Warren. Presumably, Khan and his team did not feel that Warren could give Khan the exposure - and ultimately, the money - in the USA that the fighter wants.

Golen Boy, who are fronted by former multi-weight champion Oscar De La Hoya, have said: "Amir Khan is one of the most talented fighters in the world at any weight. That talent, combined with his charismatic and outgoing personality, makes him a promoter's dream and I feel will one day lead him to being the face of boxing." Whether or not such lofty hopes ever become a reality is a different issue entirely. In the short term, Khan seems likely to fight mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana next, presumably somewhere in the USA.

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ICC To Review Umpire Referral System After England Complaint

CRICKET - The International Cricket Council (ICC) are to undertake an urgent review into the umpire referral system after a number of controversial incidents in the South Africa v England test series. Things have got so bad that the England and Wales Cricket Board have written a letter to the ICC, declaring the the umpire referral system as it stands is "a shambles".

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has said: "We have received a letter of complaint from the ECB and we will launch a formal investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the application of the decision review system (DRS) after completion of the Johannesburg test match." The ECB chairman Giles Clarke had previously stated that the old system was better, because "if the umpire is as blind as a bat, it's the same for both sides."

The ECB wrote their letter of complaint following Friday's third umpire decision not to give South Africa captain Graeme Smith out caught behind early in his innings before he went on to make a century, leaving England with an uphill stuggle to win the final match in the test series.

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Brazil Announce Spending Plans For 2014 World Cup

FOOTBALL - We have not got this year's World Cup in South Africa out of the way yet, but officials in Brazil are already looking beyond that to the 2014 World Cup when Brazil is due to host the event. At a ceremony in Brasilia, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the state officials agreed to start the work needed to bring up to scratch stadiums and facilities in the 12 cities chosen as venues for the tournament. In all Brazil's government have pledged spending on the 2014 World Cup of 20.1 billion reais (approximately £7 billion) to fund the neccessary upgrade of Brazilian infrastructure ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

It has been stated that around half of the money will be spent on improving public transport. Presumably this will also benefit the Olympic movement too, as the Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro is hosting the Olympics in 2016. For the record the London 2012 Olympics are set to cost around £9.3 billion if officials are to be believed, significantly more than a major sporting event which is due to take place two years later.

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Maria Sharpova Signs Record Endorsement Deal With Nike

TENNIS - Maria Sharapova has signed the most lucrative sports deal ever for a sportswoman. Sharapova has signed a deal with Nike worth $70m (£43m) to the Russian tennis star. The deal Sharapova has signed with Nike is spread over eight years. Bearing in mind the current global recession, the Nike deal is certainly huge.

What makes Sharapova's Nike deal even more interesting is that the 22-year-old Sharapova has been plagued by injuries since she first burst onto the scene when winning Wimbleon as a 17-year-old. She has since won the US Open and the Australian Open, but only returned to playing tennis in My of last year after suffering from a shoulder injury.

For those who are unaware, Nike also sponsor the sex-mad golfer Tiger Woods. Given that Woods was recently exposed as having had several affairs, mostly with blondes along the lines of his own blonde ex-model wife, we await with interest whether or not Nike will pair Sharapova and Woods together in future advertising campaigns.

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Manny Pacquiao Fights Joshua Clottey On March 13 - So Definitely No Superfight

BOXING - So, the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr in March is definitely off then. The WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has announced that he will defend his title against the Ghanaian Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on March 13. The announcement will put to an end any lingering hopes that the planned and then abandoned superfight between Pacquiao and Mayweather could be resurrected.

The Cowboys Stadium is a new arena that cost $1.2 billion to build, and it will seat 40,000 for the pay-per-view event. Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said that he was delighted with the venue. "Manny Pacquiao is the lone star of boxing," said Arum in reference to the nickname of the state of Texas. "There isn't a more appropriate place in the world for him to fight."

While Pacquiao is generally recognised as being the pound-for-pound best in the world (something Mayweather disputes), Clottey has a 35-3 record with 20 knockouts. He curently won the IBF welterweight title in 2008 by defeating American Zab Judah, but he lost a split decision to Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto last June.

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Latest Premier League Gossip - Jan 11

FOOTBALL - Today's Premier League gossip for January 11 is a mixture of the strange, the ordinary and the 'it definitely will not happen!' Take this story for example: according to The Times, Stoke City want to sign Ruud Van Nistelrooy from Real Madrid. We have heard gossip and rumours for a while now that Van Nistelrooy wants a return to the Premier League, but Stoke City? As if that will happen!

Another Premier League story from the Daily Mail that is slightly mad is the apparent demand by Portsmouth for £14 million if either Manchester City or Sunderland want to sign their defender Younes Kaboul. Bearing in mind Portsmouth are completely skint, they will not get £14 million for Kaboul. There is more chance of the Earth stopping spinning.

According to the Independent, the Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi has turned down a £3.5m move to Sunderland. Kuranyi held talks with club officials and his agents in Bavaria, but has decided against a move to the north-east. And no, we have not heard of him either.

Finally, The Times say West Ham are bidding to sign Portugal striker Nuno Gomes, who has scored four goals for Benfica this season. 33-year-old Gomes was a decent striker in his time, but this this season he has played only two league games at the time of writing, albeit scoring twice.

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US Jockeys Fighting At Philadelpia Park Video

HORSE RACING - This is not a sight you will see too often. Two US jockeys started fighting with each while still aboard their horses at Philadelphia Park this week. Eriluis Vaz, who was riding Divine Light, started punching Ademar Santos aboard Mi Helena down the backstretch. It is not exactly clear why they started fighting each other, or whether or not they continued fighting once they got off their respective horses. But here is the video anyway, even if we do not know the reasons why.



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Jonathan Woodgate Injury Problem Is Long-term

FOOTBALL - Jonathan Woodgate's mystery injury means he will struggle to play again this season according to Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp. Redknapp has said that the Tottenham Hotspur medical team are no closer to successfully treating Woodgate's long-term groin injury. "He is not able to train at the moment," Redknapp said. "It is just a case of trying to get to the bottom of what is causing the problem. He has had a few operations on that area and we are finding it difficult to solve the problem.

Woodgate has played in only three matches this season, the last of which came was Tottenham's 9-1 Premier League victory over Wigan Athletic in November. As the inability to treat Woodgate's injury has caused headaches at White Hart Lane, it has also created a dilemma for Redknapp with his central defensive options. Redknapp's other first-choice central defender Ledley King is also a permanent fixture in the treatment room.

Expect Redknapp to move for another central defender during the January transfer window.

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John Carew Transfer To Tottenham - Rumours Denied

FOOTBALL - John Carew's agent has dismissed reports which suggest the Aston Villa player is to be involved in a swap deal with Robbie Keane of Tottenham. There have been whispers that suggest Tottenham are keen on signing Carew, with out-of-favour Keane being offered to Villa in return, during this month's transfer window. However, Carew's agent has stated that his client is happy at Aston Villa.

Carew has been the subject of plenty of transfer talk lately, but his agent Per Flod insists Carew is happy to stay where he is for the time being. "It is speculation. John is very happy at Aston Villa," said Flod."No one at Aston Villa has spoken to me about selling John and the fact is he has a contract until 2011. Aston Villa is a very good club and John is playing well so why should he leave?"

Why would Carew leave Aston Villa? More money perhaps..?

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Landon Donovan Completes Everton Loan Move

FOOTBALL - On-loan US international Landon Donovan insists he has not moved to Goodison Park for a few months of fun. Donovan has transferred to Everton on a three-month loan from David Beckham's Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles Galaxy, and is determined to make an impact during his stint in the Premier League."I'm very excited about this opportunity," said Donovan. "This is almost the perfect opportunity."

27-year-old Donovan spent the corresponding time last season on loan at Bayern Munich, though he only made six appearances for Bayern. He had previously spent four years as a senior player in the Bundesliga between 2001 and 2004, making only seven appearances for Bayer Leverkusen. Donovan has scored 96 goals during his career in the USA.

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Brian O'Driscoll Named Rugby Player Of The Decade

RUGBY UNION - Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has been named as Rugby World's player of the decade. O'Driscoll made his international debut for Ireland in 2000, scoring a hat-trick of tries against France, and has played 95 times in all for Ireland scoring 38 tries. The Rugby World magazine's player of the decade accolade capped a fine decade for O'Driscoll who in 2009 captained Ireland to their first Grand Slam in 61 years.

The Rugby World team of the decade includes three members of England's 2003 World Cup-winning team in Martin Johnson, Richard Hill and Jason Robinson.

Rugby World team of the decade:

M Muliana (New Zealand); J Robinson (England), B O'Driscoll (Ireland), M Giteau (Australia), S Williams (Wales); D Carter (New Zealand), A Pichot (Argentina); G Jenkins (Wales), J Smit (South Africa), C Hayman (New Zealand), M Johnson (England, capt), V Matfield (South Africa), R Hill (England), R McCaw (New Zealand), S Parisse (Italy).

Replacements: R Roncero (Argentina), M Ledesma (Argentina), S Marconnet (France), JM Fernandez Lobbe (Argentina), F Du Preez (South Africa), J Wilkinson (England), Y Jauzion (France), JM Hernandez (Argentina).

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Mayweather And Pacquiao Call In Mediator To Help Save Megafight

BOXING - Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr have resorted to bringing in a mediator in order to save their proposed March 13 showdown. The super-fight had appeared to have fallen through after Maywether's camp demanded that Pacquiao had regular blood tests in order to prove that Pacquiao was not using performance-enhancing drugs, which led to Pacquiao starting legal proceedings against Mayweather. However, both camps will now use retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein as a mediator in a bid to ensure the fight will still go ahead.

The insistence by the Mayweather team that Pacquiao undergoes a series of blood tests jeopardises a fight that had agreed on just about everything else ranging from how the purse will be split to the wight and type of gloves to be used.

Of course, the whole drug-testing episode has helped promote further an already highly-anticipated showdown. We are sure the fight will still go ahead as planned.

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Owen Coyle To Be Announced As New Bolton Manager

FOOTBALL - Owen Coyle looks set to become the next Bolton Wanders manager. Coyle, currently the manager of Lancastrian rivals Burnley, is due to be announced as manager of Bolton within the next 24 hrs according to Sky Sports News. The 43-year-old Scotsman has earned widespread credit for making Burnley competitive in the Premier League, despite pre-season predictions that Burnley would spend much of the season propping up the division.

Coyle previously managed Falkirk and St Johnstone before taking on his role at Burnley. Should he take over at the Reebock Stadium, he will have a fight on his hands to lift Bolton out of the bottom three in the Premier League, although The Trotters do have games in hand on many of their relegation rivals and are just four points adrift of Everton, who currently occupy 11th spot in the table.

Coyle's first match in charge of Bolton could not be in tougher. Bolton are facing the in-form Arsenal side on Wednesday away at the Emirates Stadium.

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Ed Morrison Leaps To Referees' Defence After Brendan Venter Criticism

RUGBY - The head of elite refereeing development in England, Ed Morrison, has reacted strongly to criticism from the Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter that match officials are to blame for killing rugby as a viewing spectacle. Venter has questioned the professionalism of referees this season, blaming their decisions - particualrly at the breakdown - for the negative rugby that has blighted the Premiership. Morrison responded to the criticism by saying: "The breakdown is a very competitive area and the more competitive it gets, the more complex it gets. When you look in the Premiership and how difficult a contest it is, the guys do a very good job in a highly pressurised environment."

For his part, Venter is facing a charge of bringing the game into disrepute. Among his barbs were: "We cannot [have referees] just rock up and say: 'Hi boys, I am here, where is the whistle? Chuck me an orange.' It can't work like that. We are professional here. If I can watch the opposition's last five matches how come the referee doesn't look at the last game and come prepared.

Venter's stinging criticism has attracted the support of fellow coach Tony Hanks of Wasps, but other Premiership coaches are keeping quiet on the subject, for the time being at least.

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Betting Corner - Over/Under Goals Explained

BETTING ADVICE - The over/under bet is a simple bet offered by bookmakers which allows you to bet on whether or not there will be more or less goals than a set number of goals determined by the bookmaker. Usually, the bookmaker will set the goal level at 2.5 goals. With the over/under football bet, because the bookmaker usually adds half a goal onto their goal quote, there are only two outcomes: either the total of goals is under 2.5 or over 2.5 goals.

The odds offered for over/under goals bets depends on the odds of each team in the outright match betting. If there is a large gulf in class between the two teams playing, it is fair to assume that there is a stronger likelihood of more goals being scored. But even not taking this into account, generally speaking the 'over' price will always be the shorter of the two prices, and the 'under' price will be bigger (e.g. over 2.5 goals might be 8/13, and under 2.5 goals 6/5).

Betting the over/under market is worth considering only when your homework on a match suggests that there might be an extreme result, by which we mean you believe that there will be very few goals or lots of goals. If for example there is a match where you believe each team has a very mean defence, and you think that the bookies have not taken this into account enough when compiling their over/under prices, then betting under 2.5 goals might be worth considering. Similarly, if the match is contested by two teams whose defences are suspect, or are weakened by the absence of key defenders, then a bet over 2.5 goals might be worth considering if you feel the bookies have not fully accounted for this.

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Florent Malouda Criticises Chelsea And Frank Lampard

FOOTBALL - Chelsea's Florent Malouda has criticised his club for playing Frank Lampard more than himself, saying that Lampard is getting more credit for his Chelsea performances than he deserves. 29-year-old Malouda told the French newspaper L'Equipe that the reason Lampard is favoured so much by Chelsea is because we are in a World Cup season. "It's his position in the national team," said the Frenchman Malouda. "But at a certain point, the status has to be in relation with the performances."

Malouda has started only nine games for Chelsea this season, and has said - in so many words - that he is prepared to leave Chelsea and move to another club in the January transfer window, presumably to enhance his own chances of appearing in the World Cup in South Africa this summer. Malouda said: "Finding another club is not a problem. But the club has closed the door to any departure, whether it be in January or in June. The coach is counting on me. We'll see from now until the end of the season."

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