TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Wigan 'very confident' Blackburn fixture will go ahead • Monday night's game against Bolton postponed• Latics spend five-figure sum ensuring there is no repeatAfter Monday night's match against Bolton was postponed because of icy conditions around the ground, Wigan Athletic have spent a five-figure sum attempting to weather-proof the DW Stadium and are confident that the Boxing Day match against Blackburn will go ahead as planned.The Latics have hired a JCB snow plough and bought seven tonnes of grit to spread across pathways and car parks, which are the most treacherous areas.Wigan's chief executive, Brenda Spencer, said: "Ultimately, we can't control the weather of course, but we are doing everything in our power to try and keep the game played on Saturday. Our first priority has to be the safety of the supporters of both teams, and that is why we are gritting the area and ploughing the snow."At the moment the forecast seems quite favourable in that there could be a slight thaw before the weekend. But we cannot afford to leave anything to chance which is why we are trying to clear the stockpiles of snow now and spending a considerable sum of money to make this happen."Spencer added: "At this stage we are very confident the game will be played."Wigan AthleticPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Tottenham Hotspur 2 West Ham United 0: match report Luka Modric returns to help Spurs maintain their impressive record against London neighbours West Ham. telegraph.co.uk |
Togo attack: Angola minister defends African Nations Cup matches in Cabinda Togo team had crossed border from Democratic Republic of Congo into Angolan enclave of Cabinda when they came under fire. telegraph.co.uk |
Wigan beat Middlesbrough to sign Celtic defender Gary Caldwell • Scottish international signs four and a half-year contract • Defender had been expected to join MiddlesbroughRoberto MartÃnez has moved to shore up Wigan's fragile defence by signing Gary Caldwell from Celtic for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £1m.The Latics have conceded 41 goals in 18 Premier League games this season and MartÃnez described his new recruit, who has signed a four and a half-year deal having rejected a rival approach from Middlesbrough, as "a commanding defender"."Gary is a leader and he is exactly the right character we need at the club," the Wigan manager said. "He is a commanding defender who will lead by example on and off the pitch."He has been part of a winning team at Celtic and brings with him great experience, having won league titles and cups and played in the Champions League. He is a winner and will become a huge asset for Wigan Athletic."Caldwell, 27, becomes Wigan's third signing of the January transfer window following deals for the Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic and the Ivory Coast defender Steven Gohouri.Caldwell, who took part in his first training session today, made 151 appearances in all competitions for Celtic, scoring seven goals, since joining from Hibernian in the summer of 2006.Despite falling down the pecking order under Tony Mowbray and subsequently losing his Scotland place, Caldwell believes he is entering his prime."I feel like I'm coming into the best years of my career – as a defender once you get into your 30s I think you do your best stuff," said Caldwell, who discussed the move with his brother Steven, the Burnley captain, and could make his debut at Wolves on Saturday."Hopefully Wigan have got my best years and I'll do well for the club."He described leaving Celtic, the club he supported as a boy, as a "wrench" but was lured by the prospect of playing in the Premier League and was persuaded to move to the DW Stadium by the enthusiasm and drive of MartÃnez."The manager made it quite clear what his ambitions are for this club and how much he wanted to bring me here," Caldwell added. "To play in the Premier League has always been an ambition of mine but I know how tough it's going to be to get in the side and I need to focus on winning a place and doing the best I can for my new club."It's a massive wrench for me to leave a club like Celtic but I want to thank the club and all the fans for the support they've given me in my time there. But I'm a Wigan player now and I can't wait to get started."Wigan AthleticTransfer windowPremier LeagueCelticScottish Premier LeagueMiddlesbroughChampionshipguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
AS Roma beats 10-man Juventus with injury-time goal John Arne Riise scored an injury-time winner to give AS Roma a 2-1 win over Juventus on Saturday after goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was sent off in the 83rd minute. cbc.ca |