Chelsea are confident of naming Guus Hiddink as their temporary manager this week, but the Russia coach could be taking on more than he is bargaining for after John Terry revealed the extent of dressing-room divisions at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking for the first time since Luiz Felipe Scolari’s shock sacking on Monday, the Chelsea captain expressed sympathy and admiration for the departed manager, although he added the important caveat that only “two or three” of his team-mates felt the same.
Terry’s carefully chosen words, as he took a detour from discussing England’s friendly international against Spain this evening, go some way to confirming what has long been suspected: that a series of cliques have developed in the camp.
Terry and Frank Lampard have made a point of standing up for Scolari, publicly and privately, all season and Ashley Cole was also sympathetic. But the tone of Terry’s comments suggests that the rest of the team were not. Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Petr Cech are known to have had doubts, telling Roman Abramovich, the owner, of their reservations at an informal meeting last Thursday to which Terry was not party.
“I have sympathy for Scolari,” Terry said. “He had my support, that’s for sure. Two or three other players will say the same thing, I’m sure. Unfortunately we weren’t playing well and it falls on his head. Maybe they should look at some of us. We underachieved. It’s unfortunate because the manager is a great man, but the overall picture needs to be looked at. The powers at the club need to look at that.”
Without naming names, Terry also criticised several of his team-mates’ performances this season, arguing that he and the players should take a greater share of the responsibility for Scolari’s dismissal.
“We’ve not been performing well individually and collectively as a squad, and that falls on the manager’s head, which is unfair because a few of us feel we could have done better in our time with the manager,” Terry said. “We started off very well, but things dipped in form and results. That’s unfortunate for Mr Scolari.”
Hiddink will not be in charge for Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie away to Watford, which will be supervised by Ray Wilkins, the assistant first-team coach. The Dutchman will return to Moscow from Russia’s training camp in Turkey today for talks with the Russian Football Union, which confirmed last night that it would allow him to combine two jobs until the end of the season.
Hiddink is expected to earn £2 million for 15 weeks’ work at Chelsea and is considering bringing in Johan Neeskens, who served as his assistant when he was in charge of Holland and Australia, as his No 2. “I must say that this is an exceptional situation,” Hiddink said. “If it was any other club aside from Chelsea my answer would be a straight ‘no’. But Chelsea is different because I have good relations with the owner. This would be a full managerial role, a day-to-day job, but only for the next two or three months.”
Chelsea also insist that Hiddink will be only a temporary appointment, but sources close to him conceded that he would be willing to discuss continuing to combine both jobs next season, with the proviso that he will stay in charge of Russia.
If Hiddink joins Chelsea, but then leaves the club in the summer, they will turn their attentions to Carlo Ancelotti, the AC Milan coach, who turned down an approach last summer. “If the position is open in July he may consider it,” Umberto Gandini, the Milan vice-president, said.
SOURCE:THE TIMES
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Victory was only a matter of time for Rory McIlroy, says Darren Clarke
As Rory McIlroy was putting the finishing touches to his maiden victory as a professional at the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, Darren Clarke, one of the players who has come to know the teenager better than most, displayed not the slightest surprise.
"I met him for the first time when he was 12 and knew within three minutes that he was something special," Clarke said. "He came to one of my Foundation days (in Northern Ireland) and I could see it as soon as he hit his first shot.
"You could tell straight away, even at that age. He's always had this prodigious talent and was hitting shots way beyond his peers. He was far ahead of the level you would expect him to be and was incredibly mature for his age. Still is."
McIlroy's first win would have been particularly pleasing for Clarke for the way he held his nerve when the pressure was at its most intense. He had led Justin Rose by six shots with six holes to play but came to the last leading the Englishman by just one stroke. But he got down in two shots from a bunker at the back a green that slopes towards water for a par that matched Rose - and the first of what is certain to be many titles was in the bag.
It was Clarke who had taken McIlroy aside and encouraged him after he had lost in a play-off for the European Masters in Switzerland last year, telling him not to get down on himself but to use the experience to become a stronger player. It was good advice.
"He's matured fantastically and I think that when he didn't win in Switzerland when he could have done, it was probably one of the best things that could have happened to him," Clarke said. "I spoke to him immediately afterwards and he was obviously disappointed. It hurt, but he has learnt from it.
"But the best thing about him," Clarke continued, "is his please and thank-yous. He's a very polite young man and will be a great champion, of that there is no doubt."
And what about Clarke partnering him perhaps in the Ryder Cup in 2010? Would he fancy that?
"If I'm anywhere near Rory two years from now, I'll be a very happy man," Clarke replied. It said it all. McIlroy's victory has ushered in the start of a new era. Exciting times lie ahead.
Source:the times
"I met him for the first time when he was 12 and knew within three minutes that he was something special," Clarke said. "He came to one of my Foundation days (in Northern Ireland) and I could see it as soon as he hit his first shot.
"You could tell straight away, even at that age. He's always had this prodigious talent and was hitting shots way beyond his peers. He was far ahead of the level you would expect him to be and was incredibly mature for his age. Still is."
McIlroy's first win would have been particularly pleasing for Clarke for the way he held his nerve when the pressure was at its most intense. He had led Justin Rose by six shots with six holes to play but came to the last leading the Englishman by just one stroke. But he got down in two shots from a bunker at the back a green that slopes towards water for a par that matched Rose - and the first of what is certain to be many titles was in the bag.
It was Clarke who had taken McIlroy aside and encouraged him after he had lost in a play-off for the European Masters in Switzerland last year, telling him not to get down on himself but to use the experience to become a stronger player. It was good advice.
"He's matured fantastically and I think that when he didn't win in Switzerland when he could have done, it was probably one of the best things that could have happened to him," Clarke said. "I spoke to him immediately afterwards and he was obviously disappointed. It hurt, but he has learnt from it.
"But the best thing about him," Clarke continued, "is his please and thank-yous. He's a very polite young man and will be a great champion, of that there is no doubt."
And what about Clarke partnering him perhaps in the Ryder Cup in 2010? Would he fancy that?
"If I'm anywhere near Rory two years from now, I'll be a very happy man," Clarke replied. It said it all. McIlroy's victory has ushered in the start of a new era. Exciting times lie ahead.
Source:the times
Premier League
14.12pm: Wayne Bridge takes a dislike to the advertising hoardings behind the goal and belts the ball at them. He's pretending it was a shot on goal.
14.09pm: Robinho runs around in circles to little effect, and finally manages to get a corner. Chris Riggott takes a knock somewhere in the melee, and has to have treatment just behind the goal. Just as well the corner isn't at all dangerous.
14.04pm: Shaun Wright-Phillips races down the right to chase an optimistic long ball, and he forces Pogatetz to concede a corner.
13.59pm: Free-kick to Boro, close to the corner flag. Downing loops it in, and it's deflected out for a corner-kick. It's swung in, and man of the moment Shay Given claims it.
13.57pm: GOAL! Manchester City 1 Middlesbrough 0 After Robinho makes a rather lacklustre attempt at a strike from outside the area, blocked by Huth, Craig Bellamy gets the ball on the right, and Pogatetz, isolated in defence, can do nothing to stop him from drilling it into the far corner.
13.54pm: Alves simply can't get his feet to a well-placed cross into the box from the right side.
13.53pm: Middlesbrough are tapping it about nicely. No cutting edge as yet - the Manchester City defence are staying tight on them.
13.51pm: Kick-off.
13.49pm: Shay Given salutes the fans as he jogs on to the pitch and into his hutch.
13.34pm: The last touch of the half goes to Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has a shot on goal, but it's an odd angle, and Brad Jones easily saves. So it's goalless at half-time, and Boro will be the happier of the two teams going into the interval.
13.29pm: It's a Boro free kick, but Downing skies it.
13.27pm: It looks like a dead cert for a City goal, but Ireland scrambles Bellamy's cross and somehow the ball goes wide.
Source: the times
14.09pm: Robinho runs around in circles to little effect, and finally manages to get a corner. Chris Riggott takes a knock somewhere in the melee, and has to have treatment just behind the goal. Just as well the corner isn't at all dangerous.
14.04pm: Shaun Wright-Phillips races down the right to chase an optimistic long ball, and he forces Pogatetz to concede a corner.
13.59pm: Free-kick to Boro, close to the corner flag. Downing loops it in, and it's deflected out for a corner-kick. It's swung in, and man of the moment Shay Given claims it.
13.57pm: GOAL! Manchester City 1 Middlesbrough 0 After Robinho makes a rather lacklustre attempt at a strike from outside the area, blocked by Huth, Craig Bellamy gets the ball on the right, and Pogatetz, isolated in defence, can do nothing to stop him from drilling it into the far corner.
13.54pm: Alves simply can't get his feet to a well-placed cross into the box from the right side.
13.53pm: Middlesbrough are tapping it about nicely. No cutting edge as yet - the Manchester City defence are staying tight on them.
13.51pm: Kick-off.
13.49pm: Shay Given salutes the fans as he jogs on to the pitch and into his hutch.
13.34pm: The last touch of the half goes to Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has a shot on goal, but it's an odd angle, and Brad Jones easily saves. So it's goalless at half-time, and Boro will be the happier of the two teams going into the interval.
13.29pm: It's a Boro free kick, but Downing skies it.
13.27pm: It looks like a dead cert for a City goal, but Ireland scrambles Bellamy's cross and somehow the ball goes wide.
Source: the times
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Colin Montgomerie enjoys rich new pickings
THE rest of the world may be going to the dogs, but European golf is booming, with bags of cash, plenty of talent and a new man at the helm of the flagship Ryder Cup team. It has not taken long for Colin Montgomerie to assume his status as diplomat and soldier. The man is courteous, sensible and positive in everything he says and is already brushing up his impersonation of Henry V on the eve of Agincourt.
The word he reiterated most in the press conference to confirm his appointment was “winning”. But he also made it clear that attention to detail will mark his captaincy.
That is good news for Europe, for it signals that of the six captains he played under in his eight Ryder Cup appearances, he will be most like Bernhard Langer, the best there has been.
Of Celtic Manor, the venue for the 2010 match, Montgomerie said he would “get to know every blade of grass on that golf course and where and what should happen down there”.
That too is good news, although not perhaps for the green-keeper, who will be given appropriate and very specific instructions in setting up the course.
At the K Club, the venue for the 2006 match, Ian Woosnam, the Europe captain, ordered the creation of bunkers and the planting of mature trees to help to nullify any advantage the long-hitters in the American team might have had. For length off the tee, Montgomerie has some big guns of his own, but we can be sure the course, and especially the greens, will be thoroughly tweaked to suit his men.
In Dubai, where as well as politicking and graciously receiving tributes, he has been playing in the Desert Classic, Montgomerie even found some decent form of his own, a pair of 70s enabling him to make the cut comfortably.
But he won’t worry for a second that perhaps he should be playing in the cup himself, for all he had to do to see how strong his team will be was to look at those ahead of him on the leaderboard. It is stacked with players who will form his squad, some proven, some with terrific prospects, all talented.
For although the Europe team may not have the charisma and brilliance at the very top that they enjoyed when Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Woosnam and Langer strode the fairways, their strength in depth is greater than it has ever been. Europe has four players in the world’s top 10 and 17 in the top 50. The United States has three in the top 10 and 12 in the top 50.
Montgomerie knows he will have the stronger team on paper, and that he will have no difficulty in blending solid experience with precocious youth.
In Dubai yesterday, with Padraig Harrington the only sure member of the team to be missing, most of the likely men were in contention. There were two strapping Swedes, Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson; two of England’s finest, Paul Casey and Justin Rose, and a clutch of brilliant Spaniards headed by Sergio Garcia. Lee Westwood is as solid as ever, while the return to form of Rose, who has had a poor start to his season, was especially welcome.
It would be tempting, although premature, to begin to jot down some formidable pairings.
But of all of the candidates, it is Rory McIlroy, the 19-year-old from Northern Ireland who is leading the event, who must be pleasing his prospective captain the most. He has not yet won a professional tournament, but McIlroy is the most exciting prospect in the world. It didn’t seem that way towards the end of last season. He had entered the professional arena with an expected flourish, coming third in the 2007 Dunhill Links, his second event on the Tour. But he stumbled and missed 12 cuts last year, so that he was in danger of losing his Tour playing card.
The introduction of a new driver, followed by the benefits of working out in the gymnasium during his Christmas break, added at least 15 yards to the average length of his drives and gave him a boost in confidence. McIlroy may not be quite up there with Alvaro Quiros, the Tour’s longest hitter (and another exciting talent that Montgomerie will be closely watching), but he’s not far behind, and as a shot-maker he has been remarkable since early childhood.
Long off the tee, uncannily accurate with his irons, with a swing that displays the suppleness and carefree mood of youth, McIlroy will surely play a significant part at Celtic Manor.
For those who count the Ryder Cup among the most intriguing and thrilling encounters in sport, pleasurable times lie ahead.
We can be sure that Montgomerie and the US captain, Corey Pavin, will perform tremendously in the propaganda war.
There is every chance that the battle itself will be close and tense, and it is more than likely that Montgomerie will emerge with what he most desires — his hands on the Ryder Cup.
MONTY: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
THE GOOD He has won eight European Tour Order of Merit titles and is undefeated in eight Ryder Cup singles games, winning six and halving two. In total, he has won 23.5 Ryder Cup points, holing the winning putt at Oakland Hills in 2004
THE BAD He has always fallen short in the majors. He has finished runner-up in five, including the US Open on three occasions
THE UGLY Monty often falls out with viewing galleries, snarling his way around the course. Most of his tussles have been in the United States, where they call him Mrs Doubtfire
Source:the times
The word he reiterated most in the press conference to confirm his appointment was “winning”. But he also made it clear that attention to detail will mark his captaincy.
That is good news for Europe, for it signals that of the six captains he played under in his eight Ryder Cup appearances, he will be most like Bernhard Langer, the best there has been.
Of Celtic Manor, the venue for the 2010 match, Montgomerie said he would “get to know every blade of grass on that golf course and where and what should happen down there”.
That too is good news, although not perhaps for the green-keeper, who will be given appropriate and very specific instructions in setting up the course.
At the K Club, the venue for the 2006 match, Ian Woosnam, the Europe captain, ordered the creation of bunkers and the planting of mature trees to help to nullify any advantage the long-hitters in the American team might have had. For length off the tee, Montgomerie has some big guns of his own, but we can be sure the course, and especially the greens, will be thoroughly tweaked to suit his men.
In Dubai, where as well as politicking and graciously receiving tributes, he has been playing in the Desert Classic, Montgomerie even found some decent form of his own, a pair of 70s enabling him to make the cut comfortably.
But he won’t worry for a second that perhaps he should be playing in the cup himself, for all he had to do to see how strong his team will be was to look at those ahead of him on the leaderboard. It is stacked with players who will form his squad, some proven, some with terrific prospects, all talented.
For although the Europe team may not have the charisma and brilliance at the very top that they enjoyed when Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Woosnam and Langer strode the fairways, their strength in depth is greater than it has ever been. Europe has four players in the world’s top 10 and 17 in the top 50. The United States has three in the top 10 and 12 in the top 50.
Montgomerie knows he will have the stronger team on paper, and that he will have no difficulty in blending solid experience with precocious youth.
In Dubai yesterday, with Padraig Harrington the only sure member of the team to be missing, most of the likely men were in contention. There were two strapping Swedes, Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson; two of England’s finest, Paul Casey and Justin Rose, and a clutch of brilliant Spaniards headed by Sergio Garcia. Lee Westwood is as solid as ever, while the return to form of Rose, who has had a poor start to his season, was especially welcome.
It would be tempting, although premature, to begin to jot down some formidable pairings.
But of all of the candidates, it is Rory McIlroy, the 19-year-old from Northern Ireland who is leading the event, who must be pleasing his prospective captain the most. He has not yet won a professional tournament, but McIlroy is the most exciting prospect in the world. It didn’t seem that way towards the end of last season. He had entered the professional arena with an expected flourish, coming third in the 2007 Dunhill Links, his second event on the Tour. But he stumbled and missed 12 cuts last year, so that he was in danger of losing his Tour playing card.
The introduction of a new driver, followed by the benefits of working out in the gymnasium during his Christmas break, added at least 15 yards to the average length of his drives and gave him a boost in confidence. McIlroy may not be quite up there with Alvaro Quiros, the Tour’s longest hitter (and another exciting talent that Montgomerie will be closely watching), but he’s not far behind, and as a shot-maker he has been remarkable since early childhood.
Long off the tee, uncannily accurate with his irons, with a swing that displays the suppleness and carefree mood of youth, McIlroy will surely play a significant part at Celtic Manor.
For those who count the Ryder Cup among the most intriguing and thrilling encounters in sport, pleasurable times lie ahead.
We can be sure that Montgomerie and the US captain, Corey Pavin, will perform tremendously in the propaganda war.
There is every chance that the battle itself will be close and tense, and it is more than likely that Montgomerie will emerge with what he most desires — his hands on the Ryder Cup.
MONTY: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
THE GOOD He has won eight European Tour Order of Merit titles and is undefeated in eight Ryder Cup singles games, winning six and halving two. In total, he has won 23.5 Ryder Cup points, holing the winning putt at Oakland Hills in 2004
THE BAD He has always fallen short in the majors. He has finished runner-up in five, including the US Open on three occasions
THE UGLY Monty often falls out with viewing galleries, snarling his way around the course. Most of his tussles have been in the United States, where they call him Mrs Doubtfire
Source:the times
Renault and Williams look for lift after testing new cars in Portugal
Renault and Williams became the latest teams to unveil their new Formula One cars yesterday. The Britain-based teams carried out low-key launches at the Algarve Motor Park in southern Portugal, where the first official test of the 2009 season began in wet conditions. Among the other teams putting new cars through their paces at the circuit at Portimão were McLaren Mercedes and Toyota.
While Renault and their lead driver, Fernando Alonso, are aiming to contest the podium positions this year, the Williams team were a little more cautious about predicting a jump from their lowly eighth-place finish last season to the top of the field, despite switching their development effort to the new FW31 car earlier than normal.
“It will be a very interesting year,” Sir Frank Williams, the team principal, said. “The new aerodynamic rules mean a different approach to the cars in a number of areas. However, by the time we get to Melbourne [for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March], I would expect the usual suspects to still be dominating the top two positions.
“More importantly, I hope Williams will have made a significantly large step forward with the FW31.”
Ferrari have chosen not to attend the test at Portimão and, instead, ran their new F60 car at the Mugello circuit in similarly wet conditions in Tuscany, Italy, with Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, at the wheel. The car completed 54 laps with no technical setbacks.
Source:the times
While Renault and their lead driver, Fernando Alonso, are aiming to contest the podium positions this year, the Williams team were a little more cautious about predicting a jump from their lowly eighth-place finish last season to the top of the field, despite switching their development effort to the new FW31 car earlier than normal.
“It will be a very interesting year,” Sir Frank Williams, the team principal, said. “The new aerodynamic rules mean a different approach to the cars in a number of areas. However, by the time we get to Melbourne [for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March], I would expect the usual suspects to still be dominating the top two positions.
“More importantly, I hope Williams will have made a significantly large step forward with the FW31.”
Ferrari have chosen not to attend the test at Portimão and, instead, ran their new F60 car at the Mugello circuit in similarly wet conditions in Tuscany, Italy, with Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, at the wheel. The car completed 54 laps with no technical setbacks.
Source:the times
Crusaders put their faith on the line
Given the resentment felt in parts of the game’s northern homeland when the Rugby Football League announced that the Bridgend-based Celtic Crusaders would be one of the two new teams admitted to the Super League this season, some people will be awaiting Friday’s season-opening fixture, when the Welsh club take on champions Leeds, with a certain amount of ghoulish relish.
Nobody who suggests the Crusaders, who have been in existence only since 2005, will be under-prepared when they travel to Headingley could be accused of mischief-making.Eight of what is likely to be coach John Dixon’s squad of 17 are not scheduled to arrive in the country until this morning, having been forced to spend the preceding month training with clubs in various parts of Australia while awaiting their new visas. To make matters worse, the Crusaders’ one pre-season friendly, scheduled to be played against the Harlequins at The Stoop last week, was cancelled because bad weather made the pitch unplayable.
Dixon, who has been working on the basis that the late arrivals would not be available, admits it isn’t the best way to approach the biggest match in the club’s short history.
“Our preparation has not been ideal, there’s no denying it,” said Dixon, the former headmaster, who, at 57, will be the oldest coach in the competition. “Coaches work on the basis that plan A might not work, so they always have a plan B and plan C, but in this case, we were down to plans Q and R, so we’re delighted it looks like all the players will be over and ready for the first match.
“They’ve been training hard, so there should be no problems with fitness, and only two of them are new signings, so most are familiar with the routines. Anyway, I come back to the thought that it was only this time three years ago that we played our first game of rugby league, against Hemel Hempstead in Division Two of the National Leagues. The problems we’ve been having pale into insignificance when put against how far the club has come and what we have achieved.”
He has a point, but it also serves to emphasise the manner in which the Crusaders franchise — there is surely no other word — has been fast-tracked by an RFL determined to prove that the game has a future beyond the M62 corridor. Encouraged by the success of the Catalans Dragons, the Crusaders were chosen ahead of clubs in areas where the game’s roots run deep, including Widnes, Leigh and Featherstone. For some, the way they were also given three years to establish themselves without fear of relegation added to the sense of betrayal. And Dixon’s decision to recruit largely from the Australian NRL — six of his nine close-season signings — hasn’t helped. But the coach insists he is acting in the best interests of both the club and the game.
“It’s a huge step we’re taking and we think it’s very important to be as competitive as we can from the start,” he said. “That meant bringing in as many players of proven quality who will not only help us achieve our goals on the field, but also show the younger guys what they need to do to succeed at the higher level.”
Two of those new signings, Adam Peek (Cronulla) and Mark Bryant, whose last game for Manly was their Grand Final win over Melbourne, were already in Britain but props Ryan O’Hara (Wests Tigers) and Jason Chan, who scored a try for Papua New Guinea against England in the World Cup, as well as club captain Jace van Dijk, leading try-scorer Tony Duggan and last season’s player of the year Damien Quinn, are all among the eight due to touch down this morning.
Geraint Rhys Davies, who has been with the club since its inception and has won a place in Dixon’s first-team squad, maintains the Crusaders are going about things the right way. “Look, if John picked a team of Welshmen, we’d be battered,” said the 22-year-old forward. “The local talent is starting to come through, but it takes time, most of us were schooled in rugby union and there are fewer similarities between the games than many people realise. We have to learn, and we are.
“In the meantime, the best rugby league teams in the country will be coming to Bridgend, and that’s pretty exciting, not just for those of us who’ve loved the sport for a long time but for the area as a whole.
“We were getting crowds of between 2,000 and 3,000 last season and that should at least double because I guarantee that once they’ve watched a game or two, people will want to come back. The excitement is non-stop.”
The Crusaders can legitimately claim to enjoy an element of national support. An inaugural Welsh Assembly Rugby League dinner was held at the Millennium Centre last week, attended by the Welsh heritage and sports minister, Alun Ffred-Jones, and the Leader of the House, Carwyn Jones, as well as dual-code rugby legend David Watkins.
With the number of Welsh schools playing the sport also increasing rapidly, and plans for a £40m, 15,000-capacity stadium already submitted to Bridgend borough council, the long-term outlook would appear to be solidly positive.
Friday, however, might be a case of hoping for the best, in every sense.
“I’m confident of one thing. Every player will give their utmost and Leeds will know they’ve been in a game,” said Dixon. “This is what the dream was all about. To be part of the team that sees that dream fulfilled, to go down in history as being the first Crusaders to wear the shirt in Super League, will be a fantastic feeling.
“We’re in this for the long haul and nobody has any false expectations that we’re going to carry all before us but the adrenaline will be pumping.”
Source:the times
Nobody who suggests the Crusaders, who have been in existence only since 2005, will be under-prepared when they travel to Headingley could be accused of mischief-making.Eight of what is likely to be coach John Dixon’s squad of 17 are not scheduled to arrive in the country until this morning, having been forced to spend the preceding month training with clubs in various parts of Australia while awaiting their new visas. To make matters worse, the Crusaders’ one pre-season friendly, scheduled to be played against the Harlequins at The Stoop last week, was cancelled because bad weather made the pitch unplayable.
Dixon, who has been working on the basis that the late arrivals would not be available, admits it isn’t the best way to approach the biggest match in the club’s short history.
“Our preparation has not been ideal, there’s no denying it,” said Dixon, the former headmaster, who, at 57, will be the oldest coach in the competition. “Coaches work on the basis that plan A might not work, so they always have a plan B and plan C, but in this case, we were down to plans Q and R, so we’re delighted it looks like all the players will be over and ready for the first match.
“They’ve been training hard, so there should be no problems with fitness, and only two of them are new signings, so most are familiar with the routines. Anyway, I come back to the thought that it was only this time three years ago that we played our first game of rugby league, against Hemel Hempstead in Division Two of the National Leagues. The problems we’ve been having pale into insignificance when put against how far the club has come and what we have achieved.”
He has a point, but it also serves to emphasise the manner in which the Crusaders franchise — there is surely no other word — has been fast-tracked by an RFL determined to prove that the game has a future beyond the M62 corridor. Encouraged by the success of the Catalans Dragons, the Crusaders were chosen ahead of clubs in areas where the game’s roots run deep, including Widnes, Leigh and Featherstone. For some, the way they were also given three years to establish themselves without fear of relegation added to the sense of betrayal. And Dixon’s decision to recruit largely from the Australian NRL — six of his nine close-season signings — hasn’t helped. But the coach insists he is acting in the best interests of both the club and the game.
“It’s a huge step we’re taking and we think it’s very important to be as competitive as we can from the start,” he said. “That meant bringing in as many players of proven quality who will not only help us achieve our goals on the field, but also show the younger guys what they need to do to succeed at the higher level.”
Two of those new signings, Adam Peek (Cronulla) and Mark Bryant, whose last game for Manly was their Grand Final win over Melbourne, were already in Britain but props Ryan O’Hara (Wests Tigers) and Jason Chan, who scored a try for Papua New Guinea against England in the World Cup, as well as club captain Jace van Dijk, leading try-scorer Tony Duggan and last season’s player of the year Damien Quinn, are all among the eight due to touch down this morning.
Geraint Rhys Davies, who has been with the club since its inception and has won a place in Dixon’s first-team squad, maintains the Crusaders are going about things the right way. “Look, if John picked a team of Welshmen, we’d be battered,” said the 22-year-old forward. “The local talent is starting to come through, but it takes time, most of us were schooled in rugby union and there are fewer similarities between the games than many people realise. We have to learn, and we are.
“In the meantime, the best rugby league teams in the country will be coming to Bridgend, and that’s pretty exciting, not just for those of us who’ve loved the sport for a long time but for the area as a whole.
“We were getting crowds of between 2,000 and 3,000 last season and that should at least double because I guarantee that once they’ve watched a game or two, people will want to come back. The excitement is non-stop.”
The Crusaders can legitimately claim to enjoy an element of national support. An inaugural Welsh Assembly Rugby League dinner was held at the Millennium Centre last week, attended by the Welsh heritage and sports minister, Alun Ffred-Jones, and the Leader of the House, Carwyn Jones, as well as dual-code rugby legend David Watkins.
With the number of Welsh schools playing the sport also increasing rapidly, and plans for a £40m, 15,000-capacity stadium already submitted to Bridgend borough council, the long-term outlook would appear to be solidly positive.
Friday, however, might be a case of hoping for the best, in every sense.
“I’m confident of one thing. Every player will give their utmost and Leeds will know they’ve been in a game,” said Dixon. “This is what the dream was all about. To be part of the team that sees that dream fulfilled, to go down in history as being the first Crusaders to wear the shirt in Super League, will be a fantastic feeling.
“We’re in this for the long haul and nobody has any false expectations that we’re going to carry all before us but the adrenaline will be pumping.”
Source:the times
ICC reverses 2006 Oval Test decision
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has changed the result of England's Test match gainst Pakistan at The Oval in 2006 from a draw to an England win.
The controversial match, which ended with Pakistan refusing to return to the field after a tea break following a decision to award England five penalty runs for alleged ball tampering, was initially called as a forfeit in England's favour.
The ICC amended that decision in July of last year, calling the result as a draw, but the governing body changed it again today at the second day of an ICC board meeting in Perth.
An official statement read: "After reconsideration of the matter, which included consideration of legal advice and input from the MCC, the custodians of the Laws of Cricket, the board decided that the original umpires' decision to award the match to England, should apply."
Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, said: "I'm gratified the board reached the conclusion it did as this ensures the integrity of the game and the laws of cricket have been upheld. I am especially grateful to the PCB for its understanding in this matter."
Source:the times
The controversial match, which ended with Pakistan refusing to return to the field after a tea break following a decision to award England five penalty runs for alleged ball tampering, was initially called as a forfeit in England's favour.
The ICC amended that decision in July of last year, calling the result as a draw, but the governing body changed it again today at the second day of an ICC board meeting in Perth.
An official statement read: "After reconsideration of the matter, which included consideration of legal advice and input from the MCC, the custodians of the Laws of Cricket, the board decided that the original umpires' decision to award the match to England, should apply."
Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, said: "I'm gratified the board reached the conclusion it did as this ensures the integrity of the game and the laws of cricket have been upheld. I am especially grateful to the PCB for its understanding in this matter."
Source:the times
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