TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Preston sack Irvine after run of bad results • Manager axed only six months after reaching play-offs• Irvine pays price for seven points from a possible 30Preston North End have sacked their manager Alan Irvine little more than six months after he guided them into the Championship play-offs.The former Everton assistant manager has won many admirers since being appointed at Deepdale in November 2007 and they claimed a top-six finish last season. Yet the Lancashire club have struggled badly in recent weeks and the chairman Derek Shaw decided to act after yesterday's 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United left Preston with just one win in their last 10 league outings.Shaw said: "The decision was not taken lightly. Alan did an extremely good job in keeping us in the Championship and took us to the play-offs last season. However, after a good start to the 2009-10 campaign we have only picked up seven points from a possible 30 since our last away victory against Sheffield Wednesday on 20 October."In that period we have only scored six goals and that sort of record is not something we could allow to continue without addressing it."The Preston assistant manager Robert Kelly has been placed in charge for Saturday's FA Cup tie at Colchester.Preston North EndChampionshipguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Bolton keen on Burnley's Coyle • Owen Coyle installed as favourite for Bolton job• Approach likely following FA Cup third-round tieBurnley are bracing themselves for an approach from Bolton Wanderers for their manager, Owen Coyle, amid a growing sense that he is more intrigued about the possibility of replacing Gary Megson than he let on when appearing to rule himself out of the running.Coyle is the new bookmakers' favourite to take charge at the Reebok Stadium and move from one Lancashire club to another even though the 44-year-old has publicly stated that he would not be prepared to leave the project he is "privileged to be building" at Turf Moor.The feeling at Bolton is that Coyle is just trying to play a political game in order not to be seen to be campaigning for the move but that he is seriously considering asking his current employers for permission to speak about the vacancy if an official approach was made. Bolton could offer him a considerable pay rise as well as a larger transfer budget and there is a strong emotional pull for Coyle after playing for the club from 1993 to 1995.However, a Burnley spokesman told BBC Radio Lancashire: "There has been no discussion about our manager's future and no contact from Bolton regarding Owen Coyle."Coyle guided Burnley to promotion last season, as well as reaching the Carling Cup semi-finals, and is renowned for making his team play with a passing style that was seldom evident at the Reebok during Megson's time in charge. He was prominently linked with the manager's job at Celtic before Tony Mowbray replaced Gordon Strachan.Peter Reid, currently the assistant manager at Stoke City, also features in Bolton's thoughts, as do Alan Shearer and Gary Speed. But the club are likely to make their first move for Coyle after Burnley's FA Cup third-round tie at MK Dons tomorrow.Premier LeagueBolton WanderersBurnleyDaniel Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Mokoena bails Portsmouth out of jail South Africa's Aaron Mokoena scored in the final minute of extra-time as crisis club Portsmouth came from behind to beat Coventry City 2-1 in an FA Cup third round replay. foxsports.com.au |
Athletic Bilbao shuts down Real Madrid's top guns: Spain Fernando Llorente's early goal gave Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Spanish league on Saturday. cbc.ca |
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger 'sorry' for William Gallas tackle on Bolton's Mark Davies Frenchman apologises for challenge which led to Arsenal's equaliser as side go top of Premier League with win over Bolton. telegraph.co.uk |