List of All Articles with Tag 'ball'

Bill Kenwright will stay on in his role as Everton chairman, the Premier League club have announced. Following the departures of chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director and former striker Graeme Sharp last week, the future of long-serving chairman Kenwright had appeared in doubt. However, Everton owner Farhad Moshiri revealed on Friday morning that Kenwright had accepted his request to remain at the club and help them through a period of transition. The recent board changes came in the wake of numerous supporter protests, with Kenwright, who has spent 19 years in his current role and is understood to have been planning to step down, the main target for fans’ anger. “I wanted Bill to remain as our chairman during this important period of transition for the club and I am delighted that he has accepted my request to do so,” Moshiri said in a statement on the Everton website. “Bill’s knowledge and vast experience will be crucial for us as we look to reset, deliver on external investment and position Everton for a successful future.” Everton also announced the appointment of Colin Chong as interim chief executive and director, while James Maryniak becomes interim chief finance officer. Chong is currently the chief stadium development officer and has been focusing on the move to Bramley-Moore Dock, with Maryniak the club’s director of finance. “In Colin and James, we have two experienced senior club professionals who have agreed to take on enhanced roles on an interim basis, and who we know can and will deliver immediately,” Moshiri said. As part of the changes, majority shareholder Moshiri will also join the board as a non-executive director alongside John Spellman, an experienced chartered accountant and Everton supporter. American investors MSP Capital are close to agreeing a deal to buy a stake in the club, possibly up to 25 per cent. Everton are also facing a Premier League charge for breaching profit and sustainability rules, having made cumulative losses of more than £430million over the last four seasons. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Ireland international Jean Kleyn cleared to represent South Africa Aston Villa captain John McGinn signs new long-term deal England bowler James Anderson admits struggles on ‘kryptonite’ Edgbaston pitch

Aston Villa have announced captain John McGinn has signed a new long-term contract. The midfielder’s new deal keeps him at the club until 2027. McGinn moved to Villa Park from Hibernian in 2018 and helped them earn promotion to the Premier League in 2019 with a goal in the Championship play-off final against Derby. The 28-year-old was named club captain last summer and was a key part of the Villa set-up last season, making 34 Premier League appearances. He helped the club secure European football for the first time since 2010 after a stunning turnaround under manager Unai Emery saw Villa finish seventh in the league. McGinn also represents Scotland on the international stage, earning 56 caps for his country, and he recently featured in their Euro 2024 qualifying wins against Georgia and Norway. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

What the papers say Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount looks set to sign for Manchester United after the clubs found a middle ground for the deal, according to the Mirror. United will get their man for £60million after their £50m bid was rejected. The Blues had hoped for £70m for Mount, who scored three goals in 24 Premier League games last season. Arsenal believe their top target Declan Rice could captain the club as they look to secure the West Ham and England international midfielder’s signature, the Daily Mail reports. The Gunners will face stiff competition as Manchester City are planning to join the race for the 24-year-old, the Guardian said. The Guardian also report that Tottenham are the frontrunners to sign Leicester City and England midfielder James Maddison. After Southampton’s relegation to the Championship, the Independent report that James Ward-Prowse is open to a move to Fulham. Social media round-up Players to watch Mohamed Salah: The 31-year-old Liverpool forward is being targeted by the Saudi Pro League, FourFourTwo reports. Viktor Gyokeres: Coventry City’s Swedish forward is in high demand with Brentford, Fulham, West Ham and Wolves fighting for the 25-year-old. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live On this day in 2013: England beaten by India in Champions Trophy final Rory McIlroy claims first PGA Tour ace at Travelers Championship Will Jacks heroics in vain as Middlesex pull off record chase against Surrey

“I want to play Champions League football,” said Ruben Neves, as, all of a month ago, he explained why he might leave Wolves. Maybe he had just omitted a word, because, after winning the Saudi league, Al Hilal can provide him with that chance. He is bound for the Asian Champions League. A swift change of destination on the exit from Molineux – to Riyadh rather than Barcelona – has left Neves accused of paying greater attention to his wallet than his heart, to his bank balance than his ambitions. If many of the others decamping to Saudi Arabia are in their thirties, signing up for a final pay day, Neves is 26. He may be a trendsetter if others in their prime follow suit or, like Oscar, who left Chelsea for China at 25, be seen as a player who gave up his seat at the top table too soon. The simplistic accusation may be to brand Neves a mercenary. The reality may be more complex: not for the first time, he is an example of trends in the modern game. He is joining Al Hilal for £47m; the price could appear inflated, given that he had a solitary year left on his contract at Wolves, or market value, considering his class as a passer. Either way, it put him beyond Barcelona’s reach, even before the availability of Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer meant they could acquire a top-class alternative rather cheaper. The dream move was stripped of any realism. Barcelona’s financial difficulties have altered the equation for many another who might otherwise have been bound for Catalonia, as Neves’ Portugal teammate Bernardo Silva can testify. The broader collapse of the European transfer market is part of a wider theme affecting Premier League clubs and their greater struggle to sell. There are only a handful on the continent capable of paying a £47m fee for a midfielder; if, for various reasons, they can be ruled out, it reduces the alternatives to the big buyers in England. That they have overlooked Neves points in part to the high number of talented midfielders on the market this summer, but also to the sense he is a man out of time. A languid passer may not suit sides with a greater focus on pressing. Neves may not be a Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola or Mikel Arteta-style midfielder. But the changing dynamics in the game may have meant he was an ever more incongruous presence at Molineux. Odd as it felt that he traded the Champions League – where, at 18, he was its youngest ever captain in his Porto days – for the Championship, his first three years at Wolves were an unqualified success, with promotion and successive seventh-place finishes. The last three, however, have been underwhelming, with mid-table finishes, a lack of goals, and this season, a flirtation with relegation. Neves has still been excellent. Wolves have not been. He has been their classiest player since their golden age more than six decades ago; the added benefit was that he stayed for six years and 253 games. The axis of Neves and Joao Moutinho brought a level of style Wolves may not see again in midfield for decades. But if Neves is leaving a traditional club for a new player in the football firmament, an alternative perspective is to say he has traded one moneyed project where Jorge Mendes has exerted an influence and where Portuguese players have signed up for another. The super-agent has a habit of spotting opportunities and Wolves, under the ownership of Fosun, provided one. Not that Wolves provides such scope for signings this summer. As even Julen Lopetegui seems to have belatedly acknowledged, they have an issue with Financial Fair Play. Heavy spending in the last two windows was often misguided – Goncalo Guedes and Matheus Cunha, particularly – while a lack of buyers on the continent means Wolves cannot recoup much of their money. Neves was one of the few remaining assets, a footballer who had publicly said his time was up without having a better exit strategy. Lower mid-table at Wolves followed by a spell in Saudi Arabia was scarcely the career trajectory that many envisaged when he was skippering Porto in the Champions League as a teenager. Sympathy may be in short supply, given the probable scale of his remuneration. He may be happy at Al Hilal. But Neves, a quality player at his peak, seemed short of options. And if that is a shame, it is also part of a bigger picture. Once again, Neves is a sign of how the game is changing. Read More Saudi Arabia money has turned transfers into ‘chaos’ – will it last? N’Golo Kante, the midfield miracle worker who changed football

No. 5 seed LSU advances into CWS Final in 11-inning thriller over top seeded Wake ForestSure, the NBA Draft was tonight, and you were lucky to have the chance to see a once-in-a generational talent in Victor Wembayana selected to the San Antonio Spurs. But that’s not where the excitement w...

Hugo the Hornet didn't look thrilled by Charlotte's pick of Brandon Miller.

Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders is undergoing emergency surgery for blood clots found in his legs.Last week, there were rumors that former NFL player and current Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders might have his left foot amputated after years of issues concerning the foot. An...

Amber Barrett struck twice as Republic of Ireland came from behind to beat Zambia 3-2 at the Tallaght Stadium. Zambia hit the front 18 minutes in when Courtney Brosnan put through her own net and held the lead at half-time. The home side levelled things up from the penalty spot just after half-time through Barrett after Susan Katongo handled inside the area. Ireland’s second-half fightback was complete just after the hour mark when Claire O’Riordan nodded in Megan Connolly’s delivery and they made it three with 20 minutes to go through Barrett’s second of the night. Racheal Kundananji replied for the visitors late on but Ireland held firm to secure the victory as their preparations for the World Cup continue.

Former LSU basketball coach Will Wade not only delivered issues on the court but now has affected the gridiron due to his "strong ass offer."So much for that "strong-ass offer." Because former LSU basketball coach Will Wade couldn't keep it together, two programs are now...

Michael Duff has been named Swansea’s new manager on a three-year contract, the Sky Bet Championship club have announced. The 45-year-old joins from Barnsley to replace Russell Martin, whose move to Southampton was confirmed on Wednesday, and has cost the Swans £500,000. Duff emerged as the Swans’ first choice last weekend with the club having been interested in former assistant Chris Davies as well as Birmingham boss John Eustace. “We need that one team mentality; the players, staff, fans, and board. Everyone needs to pull in the same direction because that’s the only way you’re going to achieve success,” Duff told Swansea’s official club website. “I’ve had seven promotions in my career as a player and manager so I know what an environment should look and smell like. “I want to play good football and I know that there is an expectation of that at this football club, but it’s about evolving it, moving it and being a bit more on the front foot and a bit more progressive at times. “It’s about getting the balance of all those things because ultimately it’s a winning business. You’ve got to win.” Former Burnley midfielder Duff spent just a year at Oakwell but guided them to the League One play-offs last season. The Tykes lost 1-0 in the last minute of extra time to Sheffield Wednesday in the final at Wembley. Duff spent four years as Cheltenham manager, winning League Two in 2021 – the club’s first league title in their history – before cementing the Robins’ place in League One and joining Barnsley last summer, finishing fourth. Swansea finished 10th in the Championship last season under Martin. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

England Under-21s head coach Lee Carsley praised the spirit of his squad after goals from Jacob Ramsey and Emile Smith Rowe secured a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic in their Euro 2023 opener. Chelsea forward Noni Madueke had signalled England’s intent early on when his effort came back off the crossbar. Although the Czech Republic also had chances, with Vasil Kusej spurning the best of them when clear through on goal, the Young Lions maintained their composure to make the breakthrough at the start of the second half through Aston Villa midfielder Ramsey. After Anthony Gordon saw a goal ruled out with 20 minutes left for Morgan Gibbs-White blocking a free-kick in the build-up, England continued on the front foot and were eventually rewarded during stoppage time when substitute Smith Rowe slotted home following a counter-attack. England reached the semi-finals of the tournament in 2017, but failed to make it out of the group stage in both 2019 and 2021. With holders Germany and Israel having played out a 1-1 draw in Kutaisi, Carsley’s side now find themselves in the driving seat for qualification from Group C. “I am really pleased to get the result,” Carsley said on UEFA.com. “The preparation has gone really well, but I didn’t want to jinx us before the game by saying that. “There is a brilliant spirit within the lads. We feel like we’re in a good place.” Carsley’s side next face Israel on Sunday before tackling Germany in Batumi on June 28. Arsenal midfielder Smith Rowe said: “We wanted to make a statement in the first game. “We knew the Czechs would be really strong, so we are really happy with the three points.” The Czech Republic will now regroup for their second game against Germany. “A match like this has to be the best motivation for the future despite our loss,” coach Jan Suchoparek said. “It is not the end of the tournament for us and I am sure we will fight in the next two matches even more.”

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has admitted “not everything was perfect” for supporters at the Champions League final in Istanbul. Manchester City supporters reported issues with transport to the out-of-town Ataturk Stadium for the showpiece match on June 10 against Inter Milan, as well as a lack of toilets and limited access to water. Football Supporters Europe is gathering fan accounts from Istanbul in order to compile a report to present to UEFA. Ceferin, speaking at the European Football Fans Congress in Manchester, said this year’s men’s and women’s club competition finals “proved UEFA had learned from past mistakes”, but he added: “We’re well aware that in Istanbul not everything was perfect and I’m certainly not playing down the problems encountered by some. “But let us continue working together to improve what we can improve. I’m thinking in particular of transport links, to better understanding the hosting of disabled supporters and access to water and toilets for everyone. “I can assure you that next year’s Champions League final at Wembley and Euro 2024 in Germany will be a unique experience for fans.” Close to the start of his address, Ceferin referenced the extremely serious issues which faced Liverpool fans in particular at the 2022 Champions League final in Paris. An independent report into the chaos at the match in the French capital found UEFA bore “primary responsibility” for what almost became “a mass fatality catastrophe”. Good intentions are often not enough, we know that and we are sorry for that. Aleksander Ceferin on the Paris Champions League final Ceferin said: “Given what some of you experience recently, I would understand if I got a cold reception. “I also came here to say sorry. We would love to erase events that happened last year. Everyone welcomed the decision to move the Champions League final from St Petersburg to Paris and we know what happened. “Good intentions are often not enough, we know that and we are sorry for that. “I think we should roll up our sleeves and ensure that attending a football match remains a unique and unforgettable experience for everyone.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Chelsea owners buy stake in Strasbourg as part of plans for multi-club ownership England Under-21s beat Czech Republic to get Euros campaign off to winning start Tom Davies to leave Everton after turning down new contract