- My thanks to Dom for informing me that all is not necessarily lost!
June 2009
Monthly Archive
June 22, 2009
June 22, 2009
- More effing Tommy Smyth
- More inane punditry
- TSN arse-fest with goodness knows who… Dick Howard…. jaaysus!!!
- More out-of-pocket dosh than the current $15 per month with Setanta
- Will we get HD broadcasts now?
ESPN Snaps Up Premier League TV Packages
Soccernet
ESPN has won the rights to broadcast 46 live Premier League matches in the United Kingdom for the 2009-10 season, and has also been awarded a contract for the 2010-13 seasons.
The sports broadcaster, parent company of Soccernet, picked up both 23-match packages on offer in Monday’s auction. ESPN’s 46 live games will be split between Saturday evenings and Monday nights in the coming season. For the three seasons from 2010-11 to 2012-13 ESPN has the rights to a single package of 23 matches previously awarded to Setanta.
The Premier League ended its association with Setanta on Friday after it failed to meet a final deadline over a £30m payment which had been due this month. Setanta was also stripped of its Scottish Premier League contract on Monday.
“We are clearly delighted that our bid for exclusive media rights to the Barclays Premier League matches in the UK has been successful,” said Lynne Frank, ESPN Managing Director in Europe, Middle East and Africa. “This is a huge step for our business, and we look forward to working with the Premier League, football clubs and distributors to bring UK sports fans all the excitement they expect in Premier League football.”
“Premier League football is one of the world’s most sought after sports properties, and we are very excited to be expanding our business in the UK with England’s top football product,” said Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, ESPN International. “This move demonstrates our commitment to British sports fans and our ongoing commitment to delivering football to fans around the world across a variety of media.”
Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said: “The Premier League is extremely pleased to have added ESPN as a UK rights holder. They have a formidable worldwide reputation and experience in sports and I am sure we will enjoy a long and fruitful relationship with them.”
ESPN plans to make its Barclays Premier League coverage widely available across multiple pay-TV platforms. As a first step to this distribution strategy, ESPN has reached an agreement for its coverage to be retailed by Sky to residential and commercial customers.
June 22, 2009
Glen Johnson has signed… it’s official. 17.5 million squid for our first major signing of the off-season.
Two to three more signings & a fire sale to come. Stay tuned.
June 21, 2009
GG Rids Himself Of The Habs… Now, Either Naff Off Or Sort This Stadium!
Posted by Dara under News WireLeave a Comment
Gillett Agrees Montreal Sale
Anfield Online
Liverpool co-owner George Gillett Jnr has agreed the sale of his 80% stake in the Montreal Canadiens NHL side for over £335 M.
The Molson group who already own an existing 20% stake are taking full control of Gillett’s group which also includes the Bell Stadium.
A press conference is expected to be held shortly, but Gillett did say:
“Our family has been very proud to be associated with the Montreal Canadiens over the past eight years and particularly to be a part of their Centennial Season. I am fully confident that the Molson brothers, who have been a great part of the heritage of the Club, will ensure the preservation and development of this great sports institution.
Both of Liverpool’s owners have been looking to reduce their participation in their American sport franchises. Hicks is involved with both the Dallas Stars in the NHL and the Texas Rangers baseball team.
Liverpool’s owners have until the 24th July to refinance a £350M loan that is hanging around Liverpool’s necks, and costing the club around £40M a year in interest payments.
June 21, 2009
Report in Spain are saying that Liverpool have signed Jesus Joaquin Fernandez from Cadiz.
Barcelona, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Villarreal were all in pursuit of the 15-year-old, but Diatio de Cadiz claim Rafael Benitez has beat the four Spanish teams to the young star.
A five year deal is on the cards.
June 20, 2009
Please click here to download St. Michael’s portfolio / CV as presented by his agent & distributed to all top Premier League outfits.
The password is greatrednorth.
June 19, 2009
Share Liverpool FC Welcomes Early Day Motion (With Caution)
Posted by Dara under SLFCLeave a Comment
The broken promises of Liverpool FC’s owners have not gone unnoticed by MPs. As the deadline for the refinancing of the loan to LFC’s owners looms, MPs have urged the government to put pressure on RBS not to extend the loan.
According to reports in the Liverpool Echo, MP for Walton, Peter Kilfoyle, acknowledged that RBS is an autonomous organisation, but explained that the government, as majority shareholder, has some considerable power in influencing decisions.
The Early Day Motion, tabled by Peter Kilfoyle, relates to ‘Royal Bank of Scotland and Liverpool Football Club.’ It states:
‘That this House notes the Government’s 60 per cent stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland; further notes that the Royal Bank of Scotland provides a credit facility for the American ownership of Liverpool FC; is aware that the American owners have failed to deliver a new stadium for Liverpool FC, thereby delaying indefinitely the regeneration of one of the most needy areas of the country; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that the Royal Bank of Scotland does not renew that credit facility at the end of its current term.’
(EDM 1669, 15th June 2009)
ShareLiverpoolFC share these concerns surrounding the delay in building the new stadium, and especially its effect on the local community, but our fears for the future of Liverpool FC lie deeper than this. The financial statements released recently give us real cause for alarm. Not extending the loan is not enough to safeguard the future of Liverpool Football Club. We are urging the government and RBS not only to refuse to renew credit facilities to the current owners, but also to consider plans to put the Club into the hands of the only people we can be sure will look after its long-term future: the Fans.
ShareLiverpoolFC would like to reassure you as ‘registered members’ that we are doing all we can to become involved in negotiations. We are working closely with Supporters’ Direct and Spirit of Shankly, as well as leading businessmen and politicians to achieve this end. We must be able to offer a sound alternative to the current regime and your support helps us do this with credibility.
David Moores Quits
With the announcement that David Moores has joined Rick Parry in quitting the board of LFC, no doubt many who blame him for selling to the Americans will be delighted. However, we should remember that between them, Parry and Moores exercised their rights on the board to limit the amount of debt Hicks and Gillett could place on the club, and ensured that they gave personal guarantees for up to £40 million. Now they are no longer there, there is nobody to restrict the owners’ freedom of action – except perhaps the banks themselves.
ShareLiverpoolFC
June 18, 2009
For reasons as yet unknown, David Moores has resigned from the Board of Director’s at Liverpool Football Club.
He, needless to say, regrets the sale of the club to Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee. He shall, however, retain his status of Honorary Life President. We shall still see him & his big ol’ Jason King at the match.
All the best David & Walk On!
June 18, 2009
June 17, 2009
Not The Best League & Champions League Overall Fixture List
Posted by Dara under Fixtures, News WireLeave a Comment
Liverpool FC Face Tough Clashes After European Games
Rafael Benitez looks set to once again be thumbing through his diary after the announcement of the fixtures for the 2009/10 Premier League campaign landed Liverpool FC with some tough scheduling after European games.
The Reds boss was embroiled in a row with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson last season, during which he claimed Liverpool were “handicapped” by the timings of matches – even quipping his rival should perhaps “organise the fixtures and everything in his office and send them to us”.
The debate for the campaign ahead is likely to once again centre on which of the ’Big Four’ teams play at home and which have to travel following potentially testing midweek European ties.
Arsenal, who finished fourth, have already had their Premier League match against Bolton on August 18 postponed because of the need to go through a two-legged qualifier.
It is, though, Liverpool who could perhaps feel somewhat aggrieved at the way some of their domestic games have been allocated.
After the opening games of the new Champions League season on September 15/16, the Reds are set to travel to West Ham, while all of their rivals will be at home – United involved in the Manchester derby which could well be switched to a Sunday kick-off giving the league champions more recovery time.
On Matchday Two, Liverpool head to title rivals Chelsea, while again United and Arsenal are also at home.
Benitez and Ferguson will go head to head at Anfield on October 24, which follows the third of the opening Champions League group games.
Chelsea are at home, while the Gunners, should they qualify, would face only a short trip across London to West Ham.
Not until after Matchday Four do the Reds appear to get a break, when they host promoted Birmingham, while United travel to Stamford Bridge that weekend and Arsenal are at Wolves.
The small matter of the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park follows Champions League Matchday Five on the weekend of November 28, when Arsenal will host Chelsea.
Liverpool find themselves involved in another ’Big Four’ encounter when Arsenal visit Anfield directly after the concluding group matches in early December.
With the second leg of the knockout round scheduled for either March 09/10 or 16/17 next year, the Reds could be faced with a trip to Old Trafford on March 20 – again another potentially decisive fixture in the domestic title race so soon after a European game.
United and Chelsea, meanwhile, are scheduled to clash immediately after the Champions League quarter-finals first leg on March 30/31.
If still involved by the semi-final stage, which swiftly follows the FA Cup semi-finals, then Liverpool are set to travel to Chelsea – who knocked them out of Europe last season – over the penultimate weekend of the Premier League campaign.
