TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Reid and Shearer head Bolton wish list • Stoke No2 has not managed at top level since 2003• Tony Pulis says club would not stand in Reid's wayPeter Reid has emerged as the leading candidate for the managerial vacancy at Bolton Wanderers. Although a formal approach has not yet been made, it is understood that there is real interest from the Reebok in the Stoke City No2, and that his current employers would not stand in his way if he is offered the job.The board is also investigating the possibility of employing Alan Shearer and Gary Speed as manager and assistant while Darren Ferguson also remains on the radar.Speed, currently coaching at Sheffield United, was an extremely popular senior player during his Bolton days under Sam Allardyce. The club would love to bring him back, possibly in tandem with his good friend Shearer, who is keen to accept a new managerial challenge after his brush with the role at Newcastle last season.With Owen Coyle, a Bolton favourite as a striker, making it clear he is not prepared to leave the project he is "privileged to be building" at Burnley to make an emotional return to a club "very close to my heart" and Mark Hughes understood not to be interested in the position created by Gary Megson's sacking on Wednesday, Reid remains a viable option.Reid last managed in the Premier League in 2003 but Tony Pulis's current assistant boasts considerable experience accrued while in charge of Manchester City, Sunderland, Leeds and, most recently, Thailand. He also owns a home in Bolton, watches the team he started his playing career with whenever possible and may be willing to take the job on an initial short-term deal until the end of the season.One potential stumbling block is Reid's friendship with Allardyce, who experienced an acrimonious parting of the ways with Phil Gartside, Bolton's chairman, when he left the club but Pulis clearly suspects this may not be a serious impediment."If Peter came and said to me he wanted to be a manager again, that's no problem," said Stoke's manager yesterday. "If people think there is something better for them out there then I'll always support them. But I would be desperately disappointed if Peter doesn't speak to me and Bolton don't speak to this football club first."Ferguson, recently sacked by Peterborough United after leading the struggling Championship side to two straight promotions, is available and would relish a chance to manage in the Premier League but hiring the Manchester United manager's son would nonetheless represent a gamble on Gartside's part.Reports from the continent claim that Walter Zenga, the former Italy goalkeeper, is in the frame but Zenga's managerial record in Romania, Turkey, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates and Italy is distinctly mixed.Bolton WanderersPremier LeagueLouise Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
United ready for Birmingham test • Ferguson says standard of Premier League has improved• Alex McLeish lauded for doing a 'fantastic job'Sir Alex Ferguson will be on his guard against Birmingham City, saying manager Alex McLeish is doing a "fantastic job".A measure of Birmingham's progress will come on Saturday when they host Manchester United in the Premier League. After losing to Ferguson's side on the opening day of the season they have now gone unbeaten in 11 top-flight games. It is a remarkable run considering it is their first season back in the top flight after finishing runners-up to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship last season.McLeish, who played under Ferguson at Aberdeen nearly 30 years ago, has turned things around after arriving as manager in November 2007. The Scot overcame relegation in his first season to steer the club straight back up again. Now Birmingham are eighth in the table and are only five points off a Champions League place."There is an improvement in the league. You have to assess it that way, " said Ferguson. "Look at Birmingham and the fantastic job Alex McLeish has done. He only had a small amount of money to budget with when they came into the Premier League."He brought Barry Ferguson down from Rangers and brought in the centre-half from Cardiff [Roger Johnson]. He has used players who have been there for a long time now. What he has done has been marvellous."Ferguson added: "They are now eighth in the league and have gone 11 games without defeat. It tells you that Birmingham had to improve as a team from last season. They have done that remarkably well."The general standard of the league has improved. That is why you are getting so many different results."Sir Alex FergusonManchester UnitedBirmingham CityPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Arsenal confirm re-signing of Sol Campbell until end of the season Sol Campbell has finalised a deal that sees him officially rejoin Arsenal until the end of the season, the club have confirmed. telegraph.co.uk |
Man City's Tevez haunts former club Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez scored twice against former club Manchester United to clinch a 2-1 victory in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal on Tuesday. cbc.ca |
Alan Hansen: Fabio Capello must fear Wayne Rooney's World Cup burnout for England Wayne Rooney's form is great news for Manchester United but it increases the danger he will go to World Cup at risk of burnout. telegraph.co.uk |