Crystal Palace have confirmed that Dougie Freedman has left his role as sporting director, with the former Scotland forward expected to join a club that has just been promoted from Saudi Arabia’s third tier. In a surprise turn of events, Palace announced on Monday evening that Freedman would be leaving with immediate effect “to take … Read more
Kieran Trippier has stressed that Newcastle’s Carabao Cup win will not distract the team from their overriding ambition this season of achieving Champions League qualification. Trippier is a key member of Newcastle’s dressing-room leadership group as vice-captain and his message to teammates will be unequivocal. “Myself and the rest of the leadership group will keep … Read more
On-course drama Solid A, if only for the most extraordinary running of Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle in living memory. The odds-on Constitution Hill’s departure at the fifth drew the biggest gasp of the week from the stands, while State Man’s fall at the last with a second successive title within sight prompted the biggest groan. The … Read more
After a three-month wait for restless fans since the conclusion of the group stages, Europe’s top clubs finally return to continental action this week as the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals get under way. The main question on everybody’s mind between now and the final in Lisbon on 24 May is: can anybody stop Barcelona? The … Read more
Well, that’s the nice bit done. Warm feelings, heritage bonds, a cocoon of distracting noise. Wembley is such a different place on these domestic cup days, certainly compared with the Cliff Richard concert vibe of a midweek international. And that feeling was there right from the start of the Carabao Cup final on Sunday as Newcastle … Read more
The Premiership will trial away sections for supporters in two forthcoming matches in April in an effort to improve atmospheres in top-flight fixtures. It is understood that Saracens’ fixture against Gloucester on 19 April and Leicester’s match against Harlequins on 26 April will see the creation of specific areas for visiting supporters to congregate in. … Read more
Virgil van Dijk has warned his Liverpool teammates they should not think winning the Premier League is a foregone conclusion after Champions League elimination and losing the Carabao Cup final. Liverpool are 12 points clear with nine matches remaining as they seek to win one trophy this season. They lost meekly 2-1 against Newcastle at … Read more
Chelsea have thrown their support behind Wesley Fofana and condemned “abhorrent” racist abuse aimed at the defender on social media after their defeat at Arsenal on Sunday. The club have reacted with outrage after Fofana used his Instagram stories to show how he was targeted with a string of offensive messages by other users on … Read more
“After years and years of hurt, it was just glorious,” said 67-year-old Paul Wearmouth outside St James’ Park on the morning after the night before. “It was tremendous. I’ll be honest, I was crying. They were tears of jubilation.” Wearmouth, a retired school caretaker, has been a fan of Newcastle United all his life and … Read more
McLaren’s superiority over the rest of the field after the opening race of the 2025 Formula One season came as a surprise to team principal Andrea Stella, he admitted after their performance in Australia on Sunday and he now believes their car may have an advantage that will make them hard to beat this season. … Read more