TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Hibernian 1-4 Rangers And then there were two. The festive troubles of Dundee United and Hibernian, coupled with Rangers' emphatic form, means onlookers can only infer that the title race will now revert to that of a two‑horse variety from now on. Fittingly the protagonists, the Old Firm, meet on Sunday at Celtic Park.Hibs had entered this fixture with hopes of prolonging their interest in the championship. They ended the day as Rangers' latest victims and eight points behind the league leaders, Walter Smith's team now having scored 19 times in five outings."Maybe some of our players are not as good as we think they are," John Hughes, the Hibs manager, said after what was, in fairness, their only defeat in 13 games.To add insult to the hosts' injury, they had gone in front after 12 seconds, before Rangers had touched the ball. Matters disintegrated rapidly thereafter. The Rangers attack is in quite prolific enough form without the assistance they were afforded in Edinburgh. Hibs are a side capable of attacking brilliance and began the weekend with one of the best defensive records in Britain. However, they retain a damaging capacity for calamity.Anthony Stokes claimed the quickest goal in the brief history of the SPL, collecting a Merouane Zemmama pass before securing his sixth goal in four outings. Kenny Miller supplied Rangers' first response, although Yves Ma-Kalambay should have done better with the striker's 18-yard shot.From then on, Hibs were as ragged as Rangers were dominant. Kris Boyd converted Madjid Bougherra's cross to establish a half-time lead for the visitors before Nacho Novo capitalised on another Ma-Kalambay error for a third.By the time Miller secured his second of the afternoon, clipped under the Hibs goalkeeper after Boyd turned supplier, Rangers were swaggering. "We are playing in a similar way to the second half of last season," said Smith.Man of the match Nacho Novo (Rangers)Scottish Premier LeagueHibernianRangersEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Rangers offer Kris Boyd new deal to ward of English poachers • Striker interests Birmingham and Middlesbrough• New terms believed to be £18,000 a weekWalter Smith says he is optimistic that Kris Boyd will sign a new Rangers contract at Ibrox, despite the interest the prolific striker is attracting.Boyd, who is being tracked by Middlesbrough and Birmingham City, has six months left on his current £12,000-a-week deal. Amid Rangers' financial troubles supporters fear he could be sold during this transfer window but the 26-year-old has been offered new terms, believed to be worth £18,000 a week until 2013."Kris's agent spoke with [Rangers' chief executive] Martin Bain on Thursday to talk about the offer that was being made," Smith said. "So far I haven't heard anything back. We've made him the offer, we would certainly be hopeful that he would sign it. According to Martin, the talks were fairly amicable. It's a big decision he has to make and it's up to him but we hope he will stay with the club."Smith refused to admit that the figures which have been publicised represent an admission that Rangers are taking more meaningful steps than many thought possible to retain Boyd. "That's a dangerous thing," he said. "I don't think quoting figures is right, period, so there's no way I'm going to be quoted on the figures in the newspapers."It is widely known that Boyd, who rejected a move to Birmingham a year ago, wants to stay at Rangers in the short term at least. That factor means Smith's optimism is not unfounded, even if English clubs could still significantly beat Rangers' wage offer.The manager revealed talks are also under way with other players who have contracts which expire in the summer, Nacho Novo and Kirk Broadfoot among them. Smith said such developments are simply necessary rather than an indicator that Rangers' monetary situation is beginning to improve. He is unwilling to let any players at all leave this month."We have quite a number of players out of contract in the summer," Smith added. "If we don't start to offer some of them an opportunity to stay at the club, we'll cease to operate, never mind anything else. It's as simple as that."Kris is one of the ones we've started with but we've been in negotiations with quite a few others at the same time. Obviously it's something that has to happen."If you look at our squad overall, we only had two – Maurice Edu and Steven Smith – on the bench at Celtic Park last week as over-age professionals and we only have two available to us again this weekend. We need all our players between now and the end of the season."The Rangers manager, who claimed he has heard nothing of Sporting Lisbon's interest in the midfielder Pedro Mendes, takes his team to Hamilton on Sunday for one of the few matches which has survived the big freeze. The manager is pleased the Scottish Cup fourth-round tie has beaten the elements. "I'm happier to play than not to play," he said. "I'm happy to have the games going on, so we don't start to face a fixture pile-up."RangersScottish Premier LeagueEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
The Glazers' London operation How Manchester United's US owners have helped increase turnover by using global marketingManchester United's turnover has increased from £210m to £279m in the three financial years since 2006-07. While much of that can be put down to increased ticket prices and bumper new Uefa and Premier League TV deals, it is true that commercial turnover has substantially increased – from £56m to £70m.Representatives of the Glazers point out the role played by the club's satellite London office in boosting sponsorship revenues. A sales team, part of a 45-strong commercial operation at an office in Pall Mall, is responsible for identifying sponsorship categories and targeting global companies. They are the engine of the Glazers' plan to maximise United's global commercial potential. While the income brought in directly from Manchester United's much-trumpeted global fan base of 139 million "core fans" is relatively modest (£6.45m in 2008‑09), attempts aggressively to target overseas sponsors appear to be bearing fruit.A new shirt deal with the US risk management company Aon will bring in £80m over four seasons, although £35.9m has already been banked upfront. The offer document reveals that total sponsorship from other sectors has almost doubled since the Glazers bought the club, from £11.8m to £19.5m.It believes that Manchester United's global brand, digital opportunities and the changing media marketplace, will combine to realise "significant potential to expand this platform" by establishing a model similar to that successfully implemented by Uefa, Fifa and the IOC, where a range of sponsorship deals are sold on a local and global basis across eight to 10 categories.Manchester UnitedPremier LeagueOwen Gibsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
World Cup 2010: Michael Owen asks Wayne Rooney how to influence Fabio Capello Michael Owen seeks advice of Man United team-mate Wayne Rooney as he looks to break into Fabio Capello's England squad. telegraph.co.uk |
Burnley sign former Manchester City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver • Weaver joins Burnley until the end of the season• Returns to England after spell with Dundee UnitedBurnley have signed the former Manchester City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver until the end of the season.Weaver has joined the Clarets after a spell with Scottish Premier League side Dundee United.The 30-year-old, who has also played for Charlton Athletic, will be available to face Chelsea on Saturday, subject to international clearance.Transfer windowBurnleyPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |