Abramovich wipes out £340 million Chelsea debt
December 30 – Roman Abramovich (pictured) has effectively written off the club’s £340 million debts to help the Premier League club comply with future UEFA financial controls.
News
Saudi Prince poised to buy 50 per cent of Liverpool
By Duncan Mackay
December 25 - A Saudi Arabian Prince is about to buy 50 per cent of five-time European Cup winners Liverpool after co-owner George Gillett (pictured) signalled his intention to sell, it has been claimed.
Portsmouth hopes for new stadium dashed
December 23 – Portsmouth’s plans for a new stadium are again in the balance after the Council dropped plans to designate an area of the city for development for a state-of-the-art ground for the Premier League strugglers.
Kroenke close to Arsenal takeover after buying more shares
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December 21 – Stan Kroenke (pictured) has bought a further 25 Arsenal shares and the American businessman is now only 17 shares from being required to make a full takeover bid.
Ipswich to turn to Olympics for coaching help
By Duncan Mackay
December 20 – Ipswich Town manager Roy Keane (pictured) is to send some of his training staff to work with Britain’s leading Olympic coaches in the hope of picking up some tips that will help the club return to the Premier League.
Hughes pays the price for not satisfying Middle East owners
December 19 – Manchester City’s billionaire Middle East owners tonight sacked manager Mark Hughes (pictured) and replaced him with former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini to try to justify their investment in the Premier League club.
Tottenham promise Redknapp support after tax charge
By Duncan Mackay
December 19 – Tottenham Hotspur have promised to support manager Harry Redknapp (pictured) after it was revealed that the taxman is to start proceedings against him next month.
Taylor battling to save Watford from administration
December 17 – Former England and Watford manager Graham Taylor (pictured) has been appointed interim chairman at Vicarage Road as the Coca-Club Championship club battles for its survival.
Gold and Sullivan make £50 million offer for West Ham
December 14 - Former Birmingham City owners David Gold and David Sullivan (pictured) have made a £50 million offer for West Ham United, who are currently struggling in the bottom three of the Premier League.
Police rule out criminal investigation into Birmingham City
December 11 – West Midlands Police have ruled out a criminal investigation into allegations of “financial irregularities” in the accounts of Premier League Birmingham City, they announced today.
Exclusive: Liverpool are a club going nowhere fast says Marsh
By Duncan Mackay
December 11 – Liverpool’s problems, already serious following their elimination from the Champions League and struggling in the Premiership, could become even worse, former Manchester City and England star Rodney Marsh has warned today.
Usmanov increases holding in Arsenal
December 11 – The battle for control of Arsenal has begun to heat up Uzbekistan’s Alisher Usmanov (pictured) increased his stake in the club.
Exclusive: Keegan and Curbishley cases have changed landscape for English managers
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By Mike Rowbottom
December 9 – When, a little more than a year after he had managed Derby County to the 1974-75 First Division title, Dave Mackay read a national newspaper story claiming he was to be replaced, his reaction was characteristically defiant. As he admits in his autobiography The Real Mackay (Mainstream, £15.99), he stormed into the boardroom and challenged the club’s directors to deny that they had been behind the article.
American Kroenke close to making Arsenal takeover bid
November 23 – American businessman Stan Kroenke (pictured) has bought 10 more shares in Premiership club Arsenal to put him closer to the threshold that forces him to make a takeover bid.
West Midlands Police called into investigate Birmingham City
November 17 – West Midlands Police have visited Premirship club Birmingham City after being called in by new owner Carson Yeung (pictured), who is angry after inheriting bills for over £6 million from various agents’ fees and transfer instalments.