More of today's football stories
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Martins.. injury doubt
KEVIN KEEGAN could have to renew hostilities with Manchester United chief Alex Ferguson without Obafemi Martins.
The Nigerian came back from the African Cup of Nations with an ankle injury and is a doubt for Saturday’s clash.
Newcastle’s boss, who famously lost the plot during a live interview in 1996, said: “My record against Sir Alex is not as bad as some. But Oba is looking doubtful.”
GARY MEGSON pulled the plug on a bid to bring Toulouse striker Johan Elmander to Bolton after being quoted £22million.
The Wanderers chief was keen to sign a replacement for Nicolas Anelka after the Frenchman moved to Chelsea.
Elmander was top of his list, along with Barcelona’s former Trotters striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Megson was looking to pay £9million for Sweden star Elmander.
He said: “His club wanted £22million. It was never going to happen at that price.”
ROCHDALE fans burned the midnight oil but could not prevent frost claiming last night’s home match against Notts County.
The League Two club’s fans lit wood fires in 20 empty oil drums which were placed around the pitch.
But, despite keeping the fires going on Monday night and yesterday morning, the game was called off at lunchtime.
Chairman Chris Dunphy said: “We’ll keep the fires burning to beat frosts before Saturday’s game with Wycombe.”
EVERTON are rewarding Lee Carsley with a new contract — six months after he almost left the club.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder, 34, was close to joining Wigan before a change of heart saw him sign a one-year deal.
And he has been such a key figure in their march to fourth spot boss David Moyes will hand him another extension for next season.
Huddersfield 1 Millwall 0
ANDY RITCHIE refused to apologise after his side claimed an “ugly” win.
The Terriers boss said: “It wasn’t pretty but we have to be pleased with the result. If we can win ugly and grind out results we can get where we need to be.”
Luke Beckett won and converted the penalty winner on 29 minutes for his 10th of the season.
Millwall chief Kenny Jackett said: “We showed plenty of promise but could not turn it into goals.”
Brighton 2 Cheltenham 1
JOEL LYNCH returned from injury to snatch Brighton’s second win in nine games.
The defender, 20, was thrown on at half-time after six weeks out — and turned the game on its head.
Trailing to Steve Brooker’s third-minute 20-yard blast, Lynch set up Seagulls’ 79th-minute leveller.
Striker Glenn Murray latched on to his long ball to net his third goal in four starts.
And Lynch finished the job with three minutes left, heading in following a scramble.
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MPs blast 'barmy' Scu
Scudamore.. plans wide consultation
RICHARD SCUDAMORE has vowed to push on with his ‘barmy’ plan to play matches abroad despite being slaughtered by MPs yesterday.
Premier League chief executive Scudamore wants to play an extra 39th game overseas each season despite opposition from FIFA, the FA, fans and now the House of Commons.
Politicians from all sides blasted the radical proposals yesterday.
Labour MP Mike Hall labelled the plan ‘completely barmy’ when Scudamore was grilled during a Government committee meeting on sport.
Another dismissed the idea as ‘daft’ with a third labelling it ‘bent’ — because it would distort the football calendar.
Scudamore said: “It is certainly not a dead duck. It has only just begun. It has had eight days of what will be a year-long consultation process.
“We have to consult widely and properly.
“My colleagues at the FA and the Football League will have to be comfortable with whatever direction we take.
“But we have until next January to shape our proposals.
“The whole game will benefit with our redistribution mechanisms. It is in its infancy and will go to FIFA within the next couple of weeks.
“It will be interesting to see what our international strategy looks like in 12 months time.”
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Becks: Don't alienate our fans
Forgeries.. David Beckham
A MASSIVE 85 per cent of fans are AGAINST Richard Scudamore’s plans to play games around the world.
And now David Beckham has warned the idea could alienate supporters AND players.
A poll has blown apart Premier League chief executive Scudamore’s claims that English fans will be happy to fork out to watch their teams abroad.
And ex-England skipper Becks, 32, said: “They have really got to be careful with this because there are so many games in the Premier League already.
“It would be nice for the fans to be asked what their ideas and thoughts are because they are the people who make that league and they are the ones it is going to affect.”
A poll among more than 4,000 supporters was conducted by Football Fans Census over five days.
And the findings back up the Football Supporters’ Federation accusations — revealed in The Sun yesterday — that Scu does not have a ‘Scooby Doo’ what he’s doing.
Fans were asked: “Are you in favour of Premier League clubs playing a 39th game abroad?”
Just 10 per cent said yes — and 85 per cent said no.
Mohamed Bin Hamman, president of the Asian Federation, said: “The Premier League are putting money before dignity.”
And Australia’s federation chairman Frank Lowy said: “We reject the notion of another country playing a round of their domestic competition in Australia.”
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Coleman: I am not a Yes man
Chris Coleman
CHRIS COLEMAN became Coventry’s eighth manager in seven years after telling chief Ray Ranson: I will never be a Yes man.
Ex-Fulham and Real Sociedad boss Coleman quit Spain because of interference from his president. And there were suggestions new Sky Blues chairman Ranson planned a hands-on role when he employed a successor to sacked Iain Dowie.
But Coleman (below) insisted: “If you are the manager of the football club you are judged on the players on the pitch and you are judged on results.
“I will not be blamed for players who are not cutting it that I never signed.
“It didn’t happen at Sociedad, which was strange for Spain because it usually happens. But I agreed on my contract that I would be responsible for signing players.
“But the new president went behind my back. Now it will be nice to work for a chairman who has been in football and to converse with someone who understands football.
“It will be a breath of fresh air.”
And Ranson echoed: “Chris is identifying all the players.
“I have to deal with the agents but this is something he and I discussed and straight away there was a mutual thing.
“He will identify the players and I’ll do my utmost to go and sign them.
“My role is to support the manager.”
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Southampton 00 Plymouth 2
Halmosi hails his opener
NIGEL PEARSON had a night to forget in his first game in charge of Southampton.
The sorry Saints slumped to their eighth home defeat of the season and remain just six points above the Championship drop zone.
Supporters booed the team off at half-time and when they went back for the re-start.
Pearson sent his team out with an ambitious 4-3-3 formation but the move did not come off.
Andrew Surman needlessly gave the ball away to Plymouth captain Lilian Nalis and he found Peter Halmosi, who blasted home after 31 minutes.
Pilgrims chief Paul Sturrock, an ex-Saints boss, saw his side double their lead just two minutes later.
And there was more shambolic defending as James Paterson tried his luck from 25 yards.
Keeper Kelvin Davis thought one of his defenders would block it but the ball flew straight past him.
That was the cue for hundreds of Southampton supporters to leave early for their half-time cuppa.
Just 17,806 fans turned up — the lowest league attendance at St Mary’s since they moved there in August 2001.
Argyle looked more likely to score again in the second half.
They did more than enough to win and move up to seventh.