F.A. Premiership 2009/2010

[abadani69]

Wayne Rooney steered Manchester United to a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United that sent them six points clear at the top of the Premier League on Tuesday.

Rooney's side were looking to keep the pressure on second-placed Chelsea, who visit West Ham United on Wednesday, and took a fourth-minute lead through midfielder Michael Carrick.

England striker Rooney made sure of the points five minutes into the second half at Old Trafford, lashing the ball home after a fine move.

Arsenal climbed to third with a 3-1 home victory over Manchester City in the night's other game.

Manchester United are on 81 points from 33 games while champions Chelsea have 75 from 32. Arsenal have 62 from 34 matches, one point ahead of Liverpool who host Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

It was a lacklustre performance from Manchester United, who made an ideal start when Carrick latched on to an angled pass from winger Cristiano Ronaldo and sent the ball over keeper Paddy Kenny. Rooney made it 2-0 after controlling a ball over the top from winger Ryan Giggs and adding a superb finish for his 20th goal of the season.

Manchester United, already hit hard by injuries in defence, lost left back Patrice Evra to a rash 21st-minute challenge from Colin Kazim-Richards.

It left the hosts with two midfielders at full-back, Kieran Richardson on the left and Darren Fletcher on the right.

Manager Alex Ferguson said Evra would have a scan on Wednesday.

"It was a pleasing result and our performance was...maybe the word is economical. We didn't kill ourselves, which was important," Ferguson told Sky Sports.

With five league matches to go, he said: "I look on most games now as cup finals, they're all so important. The form of the team is good...and they've got the right temperament."

ARSENAL GRIND

Arsenal ground out victory in the closing stages at the Emirates Stadium.

Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky gave them a 12th-minute lead but American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley levelled for City against the run of play before the break.

Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who got Arsenal's winner on Saturday against Bolton Wanderers, restored the advantage with a 73rd-minute volley before Brazilian Julio Baptista netted after good work by Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt Fabregas's strike was the turning point.

"That changed it because straight away City changed their shape and opened up more," he said. "Then we had many chances to score the third."

[abadani69]

Chelsea beat West Ham 4-1 on Wednesday to move within three points of Premier League leader Manchester United.

Shaun Wright-Phillips scored two goals, and Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba added the others for the two-time defending champions. Carlos Tevez scored for West Ham.

Kalou chested the ball to Wright-Phillips, who scored his first goal of the season in the 31st. The Chelsea midfielder avoided several defenders before changing direction with a dip of the shoulder and shooting past West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green.

Tevez briefly tied the score in the 35th with a long shot that Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech appeared to misplay. The goal ended a string of eight straight shutouts for both Chelsea and Cech.

Chelsea reclaimed the lead less than a minute later, when defender Wayne Bridge ran down the left side and crossed to Wright-Phillips, who volleyed past Green.

Kalou made it 3-1 in the 51st by tapping in a rebound after Drogba had nearly scored off Frank Lampard's cross.

Lampard was able to set up Drogba for the fourth goal, sending a looping pass that the Ivory Coast striker controlled with one touch and then shot through the legs of Green. The goal was Drogba's 19th in the league this season.

Man United beat Sheffield United 2-0 on Tuesday and has 81 points. United is trying to win three major trophies this season, while Chelsea is aiming for four.

Besides fighting for the Premier League title, both teams have reached the English FA Cup final and the Champions League semifinals. Chelsea already has won the English League Cup.

Liverpool got two goals from Steven Gerrard to move back into third place with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, and Blackburn beat last-place Watford 3-1.

[abadani69]

Arsenal face an uncertain future after David Dein suddenly quit as vice-chairman on Wednesday after 24 years with the club, British media reported.

The Times' back page headline on Thursday read: "Arsenal plunge into chaos as Dein departure splits the board", while The Sun predicted: "Club face 650 million pounds hostile U.S. bid."

The same paper also said the futures of manager Arsene Wenger and striker Thierry Henry were in doubt.

Dein, who brought Wenger to Arsenal in 1996, quit because of "irreconcilable differences" with fellow board members.

The Times, noting that 63-year-old Dein holds 14.5 percent of the club's shares, said there was an "intriguing possibility" that he could sell to American businessman Stan Kroenke, who recently bought an 11 percent share.

That could force a hostile takeover bid, said the paper.

The Sun's business editor said Dein's departure almost certainly means that in financial jargon Arsenal are "in play."

Although Chairman Peter Hill-Wood and the other board members own 45.45 percent of the shares and are committed to retaining them, that still leaves over 50 percent that could fall to Kroenke, who has various sporting franchises in the U.S.

The Sun says that if Kroenke bought Dein's share he would not be far short of the 30 percent needed to trigger an automatic takeover bid under stock market rules.

The Star notes that Henry is represented by Dein's son Darren and has close ties with the former vice-chairman.

Arsenal's big rivals Manchester United and Liverpool are owned by Americans. Champions Chelsea are owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

[abadani69]

Tottenham held Arsenal to a 2-2 tie Saturday in the Premier League behind an injury-time goal by Jermaine Jenas.

Jenas scored with a 25-yard shot about 12 minutes after Emmanuel Adebayor had given Arsenal the lead in the 78th with a header off a free kick from Cesc Fabregas. Robbie Keane scored first for Tottenham, giving the hosts the lead in the 30th. Kolo Toure made it 1-1 in the 64th.

The last time Tottenham beat Arsenal in any competition was 2-1 in the league in November 1999.

Arsenal ended a week of turmoil off the field. David Dein was forced to quit as vice chairman and director Wednesday after falling out with board members. Dein reportedly backed a possible takeover by American businessman Stan Kroenke.

Liverpool beat Wigan 2-0 to ensure it will finish in the top four and play in next season's Champions League. Dirk Kuyt scored twice for Liverpool, which has also reached the semifinals of this season's Champions League.

Watford was relegated after a 1-1 tie with Manchester City. U.S. defender Jay DeMerit's team will play in the League Championship next season.

Darius Vassell gave Man City the lead in the 53rd, but Tamas Priskin tied the score in the 75th. U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, who scored third goal for City against Arsenal on Tuesday, limped off injured in the first half.

[abadani69]

Chelsea failed to take full advantage of Manchester United's draw against Middlesbrough as the champions were held to a goalless draw at Newcastle.

The Blues were never at their best at St James' Park, and it could have been even worse for Jose Mourinho's men as Kieron Dyer and Andrew Carroll had chances to win it for Newcastle in the second half.


It all means it's as you were at the top of the Premiership, with Manchester United leading by three points.

Sunday's other Premiership game also ended goalless as Aston Villa and Portsmouth failed to find a goal at Villa Park.

Pompey keeper David James kept a Premiership record 142nd clean sheet, but there was little else to note in a drab encounter.

[abadani69]

Chelsea was held to a 0-0 tie at Newcastle on Sunday, missing a chance to close the gap on Premier League leader Manchester United.

Chelsea, which is trying to win its third straight Premier League title, had hoped to capitalize on United's 1-1 tie with Middlesbrough on Saturday. With four games remaining, Chelsea has 79 points, three behind United.

"If you ask if Chelsea deserved to win this game, I don't think so," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said. "Newcastle were fresher and were dangerous on the counterattack."

Chelsea hosts United on May 9 in a game that could determine the title.

"We are in a position to fight for the premiership," Mourinho said. "One win is not a lot."

Joe Cole had Chelsea's best chance during injury time when he sent a cross from Paulo Ferreira wide. Antoine Sibierski came close for Newcastle with a looping header in the second minute and Obafemi Martins sent a shot that was deflected wide in the 16th. Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech saved a close shot from Kieron Dyer in the 59th.

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James earned his 142nd Premier League shutout in Portsmouth's 0-0 tie at Aston Villa -- beating David Seaman's previous record. Seaman retired in 2004 after playing for Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League.

[abadani69]

Manchester United extended its lead at the top of the Barclays Premiership to five points Saturday, coming back from two goals down to defeat Everton, 4-2, while Chelsea could only manage a 2-2 home draw with Bolton.

Everton seized the initiative at Goodison Park when Alan Stubbs' 12th-minute free kick deflected into the net off Michael Carrick. It doubled its lead five minutes into the second half when Manuel Fernandes rifled a shot past Edwin van der Sar.

John O'Shea pulled one back for United after an hour's play. The Red Devils equalized through Phil Neville's own goal.

It became 3-2 when former Everton man Wayne Rooney found space on the left of the box, jinked past Tony Hibbert and then steered a low shot past Iain Turner in the 79th minute. Rooney scored twice in this week's Champions League win.

Substitute Chris Eagles curled in a fourth in stoppage-time to seal the victory.

Bolton grabbed a surprise lead at Stamford Bridge when Lubomir Michalik marked his first start for the club with a goal from close range.

The lead lasted just three minutes, however, as Salomon Kalou scored with a brilliant diving header from Wayne Bridge's precise cross in the 22nd minute.

The Blues took the lead 12 minutes later when Kalou's header was unwittingly helped into the net by Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. But Sam Allardyce's side fought back again, and Kevin Davies' 54th-minute header leveled matters.

In the fight to avoid relegation, West Ham recorded a valuable 3-0 victory over Wigan. West Ham moved level on points with Wigan and leapfrogged Charlton into 18th.

Lucas Neill's floated ball over the top was chased down by Luis Boa Morte, who managed to loop it over the onrushing John Filan with half an hour played at the JJB Stadium.

The Hammers added a second after 56 minutes as Yossi Benayoun added the final flourish to a swift counterattack. Marlon Harewood added a third as Wigan piled forward and left gaps at the back.

Alan Curbishley's team remain three points behind Sheffield United, however, as Neil Warnock's team beat already relegated Watford at Bramall Lane. The Blades' goal was credited to veteran Watford defender Chris Powell, who deflected Michael Tonge's shot into his own net to move the hosts up to 15th.

Charlton's survival hopes dwindled as it suffered a 4-1 defeat at Blackburn. Jason Roberts' low shot was fumbled into the net by the usually excellent Scott Carson on the hour and Ben Thatcher was sent off three minutes later.

The Londoners equalized after 70 minutes when Stephen Warnock inexplicably headed towards his own goal, hitting the crossbar before Darren Bent followed up to score.

However, Blackburn forged ahead again as Hermann Hreidarsson diverted Morten Gamst Pedersen's cross into his own net and Roberts added a third from close range. Substitute Matt Derbyshire's smart finish sealed the win as Charlton heads dropped.

Portsmouth boosted its hopes of securing a UEFA Cup qualification spot with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Fratton Park.

Benjani Mwaruwari managed to latch on to David James' long goal kick, lift the ball over the hesitant Jerzy Dudek and steer it home after 26 minutes. Portsmouth added a second five minutes later when Lauren's crossfield ball picked out Niko Kranjcar on the left, and the Croatian finished coolly.

Sami Hyypia pulled a goal back for the Reds in the 59th minute, but Pompey held on.

Tottenham, still hopeful of returning to the UEFA Cup next season, was a 3-2 victor at Middlesbrough. Robbie Keane's 12th-minute strike from Dimitar Berbatov's pass set Spurs on their way, and the Bulgarian star added a second two minutes into the second half.

After Mark Viduka (66) halved the deficit, Keane restored Tottenham's two-goal cushion and Emanuel Pogatetz (89) set up a nervy finish.

Aston Villa defeated Manchester City, 2-0, in a mid-table encounter at Eastlands.

Villa forged ahead in the 24th minute when John Carew nodded in Ashley Young's cross from the left. City wasted a chance to draw level when Joey Barton missed a penalty kick just before halftime and Shaun Maloney added an excellent second for Villa with 15 minutes to go.

[abadani69]

Manchester United scored four straight goals to beat Everton 4-2 Saturday and took a five-point lead in the Premier League. Second-place Chelsea tied Bolton 2-2.

United has 85 points, followed by Chelsea with 80. They play each other in the league May 9 and in the FA Cup final May 19.

ADVERTISEMENT


United manager Alex Ferguson said his team has a "marvelous chance with three games left."

Wayne Rooney put United ahead 3-2 at Goodison Park in the 79th minute when he latched onto a cross from John O'Shea, beat Tony Hibbert and side-footed a shot past Everton goalkeeper Iain Turner.

Everton had gone in front 2-0 when Alan Stubbs' free kick was deflected into the goal by United midfielder Michael Carrick in the 12th minute, and Manuel Fernandes scored in the 50th from the edge of the penalty area.

United tied it with goals by O'Shea in the 61st and an own-goal by former United defender Phil Neville in the 68th. United reserve Chris Eagles scored a late fourth goal.

U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard was ineligible to play for Everton under terms of his loan deal from United.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho didn't start Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Didier Drogba because of Tuesday's Champions League return leg at Liverpool. Lampard entered in the 29th minute and Drogba started the second half.

The Blues fell behind in the 19th minute when Lubomir Michalik scored in his first start for Bolton after Michael Essien and Salomon Kalou had failed to clear the ball. Three minutes later, Kalou tied it with a header past Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

In the 34th, Kalou headed the ball against the bar. Bolton's Idan Tal didn't react quickly enough and the ball was deflected over the line by Jaaskelainen. Bolton struck in the 54th when a free kick from Tal was floated into the box. With Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech stranded, Kevin Davis nodded the ball home.

First-half goals from Benjamin Mwaruwari and Niko Kranjcar lifted Portsmouth into seventh place and challenging for a UEFA Cup spot with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool. Robbie Keane scored two goals and Dimitar Berbatov added another to lead Tottenham to a 3-2 win at Middlesbrough, which had goals from Mark Viduka and Emanuel Pogatetz.

West Ham downed Wigan 3-0 to climb to No. 18 with 35 points, one place behind Wigan, which is just out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

[abadani69]

ليگ برتر فوتبال باشگاه*هاي انگليس نوشت ضربه آزاد " آندرانيك تيموريان " بازيكن ايراني تيم بولتون لرزه به اندام دفاع چلسي انداخت.

اين سايت عصر روز شنبه نوشت مدافعان تيم چلسي نتوانستند ضربه تيموريان را دفاع نمايند و توپ جلوي پاي لولومير ميشاليك افتاد و وي توانست آن را از پيتر چك بگذراند و نخستين گل تيم بولتون را به ثمر رساند.

ديدار تيم*هاي بولتون و چلسي در چارچوب مسابقات فوتبال قهرماني باشگاه*هاي برتر انگليس به تساوي ۲بر ۲رسيد.

[abadani69]

English Premiership powerhouse Arsenal have no intention of selling the club to Stan Kroenke because they do not believe the American tycoon will improve the team.

Kroenke recently boosted his stake in Arsenal's parent holding company to 12.19 percent, sparking rumors he may launch a hostile takeover.

Diamond dealer Danny Fiszman, Arsenal's biggest shareholder with 24.11 percent, claims he and fellow board members will "listen to anything that will improve the club" but cannot see how selling to Kroenke would achieve that aim.

"We are open to anything that will improve the club but we're going to have to be seriously convinced that it would improve the fortunes of the club," Fiszman told Sky Sports. "It's going to be very, very difficult to explain to me and to the rest of board how you can actually make a substantial investment - which would be another 400 million, 500 million, 600 million (pounds) - and expect a return for that.

"If it's just an 8-10 percent return, you're talking about 50 million or so. That's got to come out of the club, otherwise there's no point making a purchase. I don't know how they're going to be able to improve the finance of the club at that sort of amount."

Kroenke Sports Enterprise own the NBA's Denver Nuggets and NHL's Colorado Avalanche under its group umbrella, along with co-owning the NFL's St. Louis Rams.

The group already had developed an initial "innovative strategic relationship" with Arsenal, which was set up earlier this year through MLS team Colorado Rapids.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood sent a letter to shareholders Friday revealing he planned to meet the American to "hear what he has to say." Bt the board already have pledged not to sell their 45.45 percent stake for at least 12 months.

"Mr Kroenke is now quite a substantial shareholder and it is certainly right for us to meet him and discuss and understand what his plans are," Fiszman added. "So far, we have actually heard nothing from him."

Fiszman warned Kroenke that even if he increases his stake to the 30 percent needed to make a formal takeover, the board and their "friends" will refuse to fold.

"The board has 45.5 percent of the shares. We also obviously have friends which takes us over 50 percent," Fiszman said. "They can mount a hostile bid but they're never going to get control of the club. The future of the club is in the hands of the board."

[abadani69]

Sam Allardyce resigned as manager of Premier League club Bolton Wanderers with immediate effect on Sunday but the reason for his decision to leave after eight years remained unclear.

Club chairman Phil Gartside told the club's Web site (www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk): "He has given his reasons for wanting to leave the club at this time, which are private and we respect that privacy."

Allardyce said: "After nearly eight privileged years with Bolton Wanderers, I would like to announce that, after careful consideration and dialogue with my close family and senior officials within the football club, I will be resigning as manager of the club with immediate effect."

Allarydyce said it was mutually decided that he would leave now, rather than the end of the season, which is another successful one for Bolton who are currently fifth and on course for a UEFA Cup place.

Some newspapers have linked Allardyce with Manchester City, who are involved in takeover talks, but Allardyce, who lost out to Steve McClaren for the England manager's job last year, made no reference to any other position.

This season he has had a bumpy relationship with the media after the BBC's Panorama programme accused him of accepting illegal payments related to transfers. Allardyce denied the claim and has refused to speak to the BBC for most of the season as a result.

AVOIDED RELEGATION

Allardyce, an uncompromising central defender with Bolton in his playing days, took over from Colin Todd in 1999 and won promotion to the Premier League two years later.

After narrowly avoiding relegation in his first two seasons, Bolton then became established as a major Premier League team finishing eighth, sixth, and eighth.

They also reached the League Cup final in 2004.

Allardyce specialised in getting the best out of "difficult" players who other clubs struggled with, while he was in the forefront of the appliance of scientific methods to training and diet.

His squads were among the most multi-national in the league while his teams' no-nonsense approach meant that Bolton became feared opponents. On Saturday they came back to draw 2-2 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a result that severely weakened Chelsea's grip on the title.

"The decision to leave the club, which has been my spiritual home for over 18 years, as both a player and manager, is one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make in my life," Allardyce said.

"I believe the foundation of the next phase of the development of the stage is well and truly in place. It is with this knowledge that I feel confident that I am moving on with my life content with the legacy that I have tried to create for this special club and I wish the owner, chairman, staff, players and above all the fans every success in the future."

Gartside added: "Since joining the club as manager in October 1999 he has helped lead a fantastic transformation of this famous Lancashire club and has helped design and build an infrastructure that will enable the club to continue the progress that we have undoubtedly made in his period of office."

[abadani69]

England striker Michael Owen played for the first time since injuring his knee at the World Cup, appearing for Newcastle in a 1-0 loss to Reading on Monday in a Premier League game.

Owen played the entire game after being sidelined for 10 months. He ruptured a ligament in his right knee while facing Sweden on June 20.

Owen made only his 11th start for Newcastle since moving from Real Madrid in August 2005. It was his first start since Dec. 31, 2005, when Newcastle lost 2-1 to Tottenham. He played only 45 minutes against Tottenham because of a broken foot, an injury kept him out until just before the World Cup.

This was the first time Owen had played under Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder, who took over in February 2006.

On Monday, the lone goal came from Dave Kitson in the 50th minute. It was his first league goal since August, and it gave Reading its third straight victory.

Reading is in seventh place and contending for a place in next season's UEFA Cup in its first Premier League season. Newcastle is 12th.

[abadani69]

Liverpool's new co-owner George Gillett admitted he had no idea how good a manager Rafael Benitez was when he purchased part of the club.

Gillett and Tom Hicks, the team's other co-owner, watched Liverpool's Champions League semifinal triumph over Chelsea at Anfield Tuesday and then hailed the Spanish coach who has taken the club to its second European Cup final in three seasons.

After the penalty shootout victory, Gillett was seen hugging and kissing fans who besieged the director's box. Gillett embraced everyone in sight as he was mobbed by delirious fans, who are now eagerly awaiting Liverpool's seventh European Cup final as they bid to win the trophy for an amazing sixth time in Athens on May 23.

But when the uproar had died down, Gillett admitted his admiration for Benitez.

"We knew he was good - but not this good," he said.

Gillett, speaking exclusively to PA Sport, revealed he and his co-chairman have been blown away by the quality of the manager they have inherited.

"Rafa has been tremendous," Gillett said. "My sons and I followed the sport before we came. We knew about Rafa Benitez and what he had done in Europe. We knew of him, but I don't think we realized how good he was - and not just as a coach.

"Not only was he a brilliant coach but he is a very sharp, savvy businessman. He knows what he wants and how to get it. The more we have seen of him the more impressed we have become."

Gillett also made sure to point out that the team's relationship with Benitez will be determined by more than finances.

"We have talked money, but that is not the main point," Gillett said. "We have discovered that the way people operate privately is not always the same as in public. We will be supporting him during the summer, but it is not about money, it is about athletes and giving people opportunities."

Gillett revealed his reaction was prompted by the warmth of support he had received from fans since the takeover and that he would definitely be at the Champions League final later this month.

"You bet I will be in Athens, I have seen some marvelous games already in Europe and that will be another," he said. "I am hugely impressed by the way myself and my family have been received here, it is truly wonderful, that is why I wanted to share the moment with the fans. They are amazing. Everywhere Tom and I go it is the same, people are pleased and so welcoming."

Gillett also lauded the fans for their tremendous support.

"I wanted to shake their hands, to embrace them at the end because they had been magnificent for their team," Gillett said. "It is all about them, it is not about us. The success since we have been here has been marvelous, I just wanted to thank them. I suppose chairmen don't do that sort of thing usually but it is just how I feel about them."

And while Gillett was gleefully enjoying the moment, Hicks was making it very clear the new stadium plans are close to being unveiled and that he has no intention of allowing any of the club's star names - particularly Steven Gerrard - to leave.

"And as far as keeping our players, that is on-going too. We have sat down with Rafa a few times now and know what he wants," Hicks said. "But I cannot imagine Gerrard playing for anybody else but Liverpool. He will be here for a long time - we have already been speaking to his agent and those of our best players.

"On the new stadium, we will honor the plans already in place but things are being changed. We have talked to people and we do not want to start over with the plans again."

He admitted that there still is work to be done.

"So far we have worked on its insides, the outside is next, but we are near to being able to announce our new plans," Hicks said. "We have to compete with Manchester United who can get over 70,000 in their stadium, while Arsenal's new ground has 60,000, and with London prices.

"Liverpool has a unique market. We have a huge waiting list of fans wanting to buy tickets so we want a bigger stadium than the one previously envisioned."

Chief executive Rick Parry was equally overjoyed at the prospect of another European final.

"I did not expect to see anything that would be as good as 2005 when we beat Chelsea at this stage before but we got it this time," he said. "On the stadium, we are close to unveiling our new plans and a lot of work is currently going on to make the new stadium even bigger and even better. That is really exciting."

[abadani69]

Fans of English Premiership giants Arsenal want to meet American sports mogul Stan Kroenke to discuss his plans for the club should he decide to launch a takeover bid.

Kroenke, who owns the NBA's Denver Nuggets, NHL's Colorado Avalanche and MLS' Colorado Rapids, has a 12.2 percent holding in Arsenal and is thought to be considering a buy-out.

Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman has met with Kroenke, who has bought the shares under the umbrella of his Denver-based company, Kroenke Sports Enterprises and will meet chairman Peter Hill-Wood.

The club's minority shareholders, who could be crucial in any takeover bid, will talk to Edelman later this month to discuss how dialogue with Kroenke has gone.

The Arsenal Supporters' Trust would also like discussions with Kroenke.

"We're willing to talk to him, he's an important shareholder of the club and we want to better understand his intentions," said Trust member Nigel Phillips. Until we meet him and ask him the difficult questions - how is he going to finance any possible takeover, what are his long-term and short-term plans - then we can't take a view.

"We are not automatically opposed to a change of ownership but we have to sit down and have the intentions explained."

Phillips admits the future of manager Arsene Wenger is of great concern for Arsenal fans and shareholders. Wenger's closest ally at the club, director David Dein, quit last month, citing "irreconcilable differences" with the rest of the board.

"The big unknown is where the manager stands as he was so close to David Dein," Phillips added. "We expect something further this month when Keith Edelman will address members of the Trust, who are predominantly shareholders. It should be quite a meeting."

[abadani69]

رييس كنفدراسيون فوتبال آسيا (اي.اف.سي) گفت: تور تيم فوتبال منچستريونايتد انگليس به اين قاره در ماه ژوييه ممكن است تاثير منفي بر مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا داشته باشد.

به گزارش خبرگزاري رويترز از كوالالامپور، "محمد بن*همام" پيش از آغاز نشست كميته برگزاري مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا اظهار داشت: زمان تور پيش از فصل منچستريونايتد به آسيا بسيار نزديك به زمان برگزاري جام ملت*هاي آسياست و مي*تواند اين رقابت*ها را تحت الشعاع قرار دهد.

وي افزود: مسابقات مختلف در داخل و خارج از آسيا بر برگزاري جام ملت*هاي آسيا تاثير مي*گذارد. نگراني خاصي نسبت به سفر منچستريونايتد داريم. تاريخ تور منچستريونايتد با مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا تداخل دارد و كنفدراسيون آسيا نمي*خواهد هيچ مسابقه*اي در ماه ژوييه برگزار شود. برگزاري زودتر اين تور نيز خلاف توافقات انجام شده*است.

منچستريونايتد قرار است روز ۲۷ژوييه ( ۵مرداد) يعني دو روز قبل از فينال جام ملت*هاي آسيا در جاكارتا، در مالزي بازي كند. اين تيم همچنين قرار است در كشورهاي چين، ژاپن و كره جنوبي نيز توقف كند.

كنفدراسيون فوتبال آسيا و اتحاديه فوتبال مالزي در ماه نوامبر توافقنامه*اي را امضا كردند كه بر اساس آن جام ملت*هاي آسيا نبايد تحت تاثير تبليغات براي مسابقات فوتبال ديگر در اين كشور قرار گيرد.

جام ملت*هاي آسيا تابستان سال جاري به ميزباني مشترك كشورهاي اندونزي، مالزي، ويتنام و تايلند برگزار خواهد شد.

"تنگكو عبدالله سلطان احمد شاه" رييس اتحاديه فوتبال مالزي ماه گذشته اعلام كرده بود كه مسووليت اين كشور در قبال جام ملت*هاي آسيا روز ۲۵ژوييه يعني روز برگزاري يكي از مسابقات مرحله نيمه نهايي در اين كشور، تمام مي*شود. مسابقه منچستريونايتد دو روز بعد برگزار مي*شود بنابراين هيچ تداخلي وجود ندارد.

وي افزود: تداخلي به وجود نخواهد آمد گذشته از اين سفر منچستريونايتد بخشي از برنامه*هاي مالزي براي جشن پنجاهمين سال استقلال اين كشور است.