In a story which will be cited for years to come as proof human endeavor knows no bounds, Leeds fan Andy Ballantyne has been crowned as the official Guinness World Record holder for (deep breath) the most rejection letters ever received in application to a managerial post at a football club.
Andy has been knocked back from his own club, Celtic, Hull, Spurs, England (twice) and recently got a ‘thanks, but no thanks’ letter from Sven for the Notts County job.
The obsession started after applying to take the reins at Spurs in 1998, he told the Yorkshire Evening Post:
Football chiefs could face £900k compensation bill…
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has been forced to pull out of England’s Qatar-based friendly with Brazil on Saturday, after picking up a hamstring injury brought on by the ‘cramped’ team plane.
The FA are now reportedly facing a £900,000 compensation claim from the Blues, as they look to reclaim the £151,000 p/w wages they’ll be shelling out while Lampsie is sprawled out over a physio’s bench.
According to The Sun, Lampard tore a thigh muscle during England’s first training session, after attempting to “burst into a sprint” (seriously, those were the words they used.) The finger of blame was immediately pointed at a pokey jet the FA had chartered to fly its team 3,000 miles to Qatar.
West Ham striker’s career finally succumbs to ankle injury…
Could Dean Ashton be joining Eric Cantona, apocalyptist goalkeeper Carlos Roa, and, to a lesser extent, Dean Richards, amongst the ranks of footballing heroes whose careers were prematurely cut short? Today’s papers are buzzing with news the West Ham striker is close to quitting the beautiful game, after being ruled out for over a year with a persistent ankle injury. Ashton has only featured in four matches in the past 18 months, altogether making just 42 appearances in four years at Upton Park:
West Ham will be making an insurance claim, believed to be about £7 million, for the loss of Ashton. However, any claim by the club against the FA could become complex, with Ashton having appeared to recover from the initial injury
He was injured in a collision with Shaun Wright-Phillips, the Manchester City winger who was playing for Chelsea at the time. Ashton could consider making an insurance claim against the FA and/or Wright-Phillips.
West Ham sources have confirmed that, despite no definitive decision having been made yet, it doesn’t look good for the 25-year-old.
Spurs talisman may call time on his career, for his own good…
It was all smiles around White Hart Lane this Saturday, as Heurelho Gomes‘ heroics and a wanky penner from derided ex-Spur Darren Bent propelled Tottenham to 4th spot, after a 2-0 victory against Sunderland. However, not everything went to plan for Harry Redknapp’s men - vice-captain Ledley King was subbed, through injury, 10 mins after the restart.
So far this season King has only played a full 90 minutes five times in eight league games, despite his infamous ultra-low intensity training sessions. Contract up for renewal in the summer, the Spurs backroom have a genuine dilemma on their hands as to whether the defender should stay on - and the cons are stacked against him.
Weeks after The FA was embroiled in a row over appearing to buy off the FIFA’s executive committee (or at least their wives) with designer handbags, in the hope of securing some votes for England’s World Cup 2018 bid, FIFA vice-prez Jack Warner has decided he doesn’t want his anymore.
The £230 Mulberry bag has been sent back, along with a tear-stained letter claiming it’s brought him nothing but bad press:
Had [my wife] or I known then that the acceptance of what we all felt was a kind gesture would have resulted in the tainting of her character and mine together with the untold embarrassment to which we are still being subjected, none of us would have attended the dinner, nor would she have accepted what we thought was a gift in honour of her birthday [We’ll assume she thought it was in honour of the all the other wives’ birthdays as well - The Spoiler]
I have faced and continue to face all kinds of indignities from all manner of persons, but when these insults touch my wife, it represents an all time low.
Loading ...