Ryan Giggs and David Beckham consider team GB

by

Ryan Giggs and David Beckham consider team GB Ryan Giggs and David Beckham have recently indicated that they would like to be considered for the football team competing at the 2012 Olympics. Nearly 100 players received letters from the Football Association inviting them to apply to be part of the Olympic team. Currently only seven of those selected have refused the invitation.

They can be three overage players selected for the squad and Giggs and Beckham are hoping that they will be two of these players selected for the team. The letter asked players to write back if they did not want to be included in the selection and the vast majority have not. Darryl Seibel is from the Olympic Association and he has stated, “The players understand what an opportunity this is for them to perform at the highest level of their sport.

The fact that we have only seen a few refusals confirms what we expected, that there will be a very big interest among players in the sport to compete for the British team at the Olympic Games this summer.” There has been no information released about the players who have refused to be selected but it is known they are from several clubs across the country.

 

Prime Minister wants more black people in football management

by

Prime Minister wants more black people in football management In order to fight racism in football, the Prime Minister has called for there to be more black people in managerial positions in the sport. The Prime Minister has stated, “Footballers are role models in our society and it is important that they put across the message that there is no place for racism in the United Kingdom.”

In recent weeks the issue of racism in football has come into the spotlight after two significant players have been involved in racial scandals. Luis Suarez was recently given an eight match ban for racial abuse targeted towards another player. The club also faced criticism because their supporters were seen with T-shirts supporting the player’s actions.

John Terry, the England captain and Chelsea player, has also been accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, the defender from  Queens Park Rangers.” Mr Cameron continued, “Football has an enormous capacity for good in this country and this is something that should be celebrated.

The sport has an incredible ability to tackle racism and set an example for people across the country. Campaigns such as Show Racism the Red Card have made an enormous difference and I know that in the future the Football Association are going to be working hard to eliminate racism in the sport.

“Many people, including myself, have become deeply concerned over recent racial events in the sport. My position on racism is absolutely clear, there is no place for racism in this sport, in this society and in this country.

Those involved in football happen to be role models for this society and it is important that we have a racially diverse group of leaders in the sport. I’m very glad to see that the Premier League are working hard on my vision to make sure that racism in football is kicked out forever.”

 

Chris Coleman wants Welsh job

by

Chris Coleman wants Welsh job Chris Coleman, the former manager of Fulham, will this week be meeting with the Welsh FA to discuss the managers vacancy for the national team. The FA is stepping up its recruitment drive to fill the gap left after Gary Speed took his own life last November, and Coleman has recently emerged as the clear front runner for the job.

Coleman, who played centre half for Wales, has been managing the Greek team Larissa, and he revealed that he will be speaking with the governing body in the next week, but he says that if he is appointed, he sees it as inappropriate to be on the bench for Speeds memorial game against Costa Rice on February 29th, but he would be present elsewhere I the stadium.

He said that personally, he didn’t think it was right for him to take part in the game, and that it was a tribute to Gary, and for the people who already worked at the club, so he would be watching from a distance. He told sky sports that he would be meeting the Welsh FA this week to discuss matters, and that it was a very sensitive situation, and if he was offered the job and accepted it ,he would have very mixed emotions.

Coleman also added that the circumstances were very difficult as well as sensitive. If it was meant to be, and the job was given to him, then it would be a pinnacle for him, as being the manager of your national team was the pinnacle for any manager. Although he wasn’t there yet, the talks would be taking place and it meant an awful lot to him.

Coleman was a close friend of Speed, so his mixed emotions are completely understandable. He has said that he feels guilty about taking part on talks with a view to replacing his friend at the helm, but on the other hand he would be the happiest man in the world if the talks went his way and he was appointed as the Welsh manager.

 

Dean Windass reveals the dark side of football

by

Dean Windass reveals the dark side of football Footballer Dean Windass has revealed that he hit rock bottom when his playing career came to an end and that he had attempted suicide. The 42 year old, whose many former clubs included Bradford, Middlesborough and Hull, has shocked the footballing world by admitting he tried to hang himself, the same way that Gary Speed took his own life, and giving up on his fight against depression.

Windass has told The People newspaper that in the two years since retiring he has cried every single day, and whilst those outside people seemed to think they lived a charmed life, he was in such a deep, black hole that he couldn’t see any way out of it. He says that it was just over a week ago t hat he hit the bottom and decided to end it all, first trying a overdose that didn’t work, and then deciding to hang himself.

Windass spoke frankly about he felt so along and truly believed that he has nothing more to live for. He sees the two failed attempts as a wake up call, that he realises how much he has to sort himself out and that is why he has chosen to speak to the paper. He added that the public perceived him as a big, tough man who could take anything that was thrown at him, and that he wasn’t ashamed to admit he wanted to end it all.

Windass, who in 2008 scored the stunning winner in the Championship play off final which saw his team Hull promoted to the premier league, is calling on the PFA, Professional Footballers Association, to assist their member more in what can be a traumatic and difficult transition from playing to retiring. He says that there are hundreds of footballers who find it hard after retiring, and the PFA needs to do more to help them.

 

Darlington going into administration

by

Darlington going into administration The football club Darlington have recently confirmed that they are going into administration. In recent weeks the future of the club was in doubt and these uncertainties about its future were confirmed when Raj Singh, the chairman of the club, announced that administrators had been called in.

It was initially hoped that a local group of business people were going to be able to take over the club but after several meetings a deal was unable to be struck. This is not the first time that Darlington football club have gone into administration, and they’ve struggled with their finances for nearly a decade having gone into administration three times previously.

An announcement on the club’s website from Mr Singh read, “It is very sad news that we have to inform our fans that the club has being taken into administration. When I became part of this club in 2009 I did not expect this and we have been trying to make cutbacks to save the club but unfortunately these have failed.

We have also been seeking out an offer for someone to take over the club and meet its running costs but unfortunately I have been unable to find a suitable candidate. It is my hope that as the club enters administration someone will be found who will have more success in taking Darlington football club forward.”

Mr Singh has mentioned that he has a great regrets about not being able to keep the club going and is worried about the points deduction that they might now face. He said, “I really hope that the fans understand the position that I’ve been put in, I have worked very hard for the club and have taken it to great heights but unfortunately I failed to sustain these heights, I just hope I don’t face too much unnecessary criticism.”