Britain’s super-rich were crying in their corn flakes yesterday morning as The Sunday Times Rich List detailed the damage to their collective banks accounts. In the past year, the number of billionaires has fallen from 75 to 43, and the cumulative wealth of the nation’s 1,000 richest people has fallen from £413bn to £258bn.
Roman Abramovich - who has had to cut back on his expensive yacht habit this year - remains in second place with an estimated fortune of £7bn, down 40 per cent from £11.7bn.
Popular Newcastle Utd owner Mike Ashley has also suffered from the nation’s reticence to buy Lonsdale hoodies
Wigan staff try to help one another win Fabio Capello over
Fabio Capello has named a number of unlikely candidates in his England squads over the last twelve months: Joe Lewis, Michael Mancienne, Jimmy Bullard and Carlton Cole to name a few. However, Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has pushed the boundaries even further by tipping Titus Bramble for a call-up.
The Wigan defender, famed for screw-ups like the ones in the video above, has had a good season but surely still has some way to go before he can justify the label “international standard”, especially considering many other English centre-backs like Phil Jagielka, Matthew Upson and Gary Cahill have impressed this year.
However, talking up one another’s England prospects appears to be in vogue right now at the JJB, as Steve Bruce, who was famously never capped, has put in a good word for Kirkland, labelling him “the best goalkeeper in England”. All that remains now is for Bramble to point out that Bruce should be the next England manager and a perfect triangle will be complete.
Two buyers lined up for top flight’s worst performing club
No one needs to remind Spurs that their season-opening form is their worst in over half a century (although it’s quite funny to do so), but their strength on the pitch is far exceeded by their strength in the financial market: the club are said to be close to selling up to one of two buyers, who are interested taking over the profitable and successful business chairman Daniel Levy has created.
The club constantly deny a sale is on the cards, but today’s Guardian says a billionaire from the Far East could take the reins by the end of the week if a reasonable price is agreed and ’super-agent’ Pini Zahavi can broker a deal.
BBC columnist Mihir Bose reports that Levy and the board believe an acceptable price would be around £400m, and that a British consortium is also in the running.
Joe Lewis, owner of 82 per cent of the club,lost around £400m when Bear Stearns went down the pan, and may be looking to recoup the loss by selling. He shouldn’t find the task as difficult as the one Mike Ashley faces,
An international tournament is very nearly upon us which can only mean one thing: it’s time for Cristiano Ronaldo to piss off England. At the 2006 World Cup, the C-Ron Likeability-ometer took a Big Brother villain-esque plunge following his winking tactics, and after his recent disloyal comments and impending departure, the tricky winger’s popularity will experience a similar fall. Despite the inflated importance of the C-Ron debate, the rumour mills have been turning elsewhere…
James Milner to Liverpool
Really? Until recently it didn’t look like Rafa Benitez had even heard of English players let alone ones nowhere near getting into the national team.
The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: We can just about believe Barry, but not Milner
Frank Rijkaard or Roberto Mancini to Chelsea
The Blues have decided that it might be a good idea to interview the only two guys that haven’t said no to the Chelsea job before they decide Blackburn might be a better option.
The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Definitely two of the frontrunners. Maybe.
Joe Lewis to Everton
It’s amazing what being part of the England squad can do to your valuation. Apparently Peterborough’s goalkeeper wasn’t just brought along for a laugh and is actually worth three million.
The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Have Everton even got three million?
Eidur Gudjohnsen to Newcastle or West Ham
Another transfer window opens and again Barcelona
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