jerradpeters.blogspot.com

Tuesday Football
13 November 2007
by Jerrad Peters

CARSON Yeung's proposed takeover of Birmingham City has hit the skids. The Hong Kong businessman has not been in contact with club chairman David Gold for more than a fortnight and has just over a month to secure financing for the transaction. Gold and David Sullivan possess the shares which Yeung requires in order to attain a majority stake in Birmingham City. Four months ago, Yeung acquired an initial 29.9% holding in the club for a reported 15M-pounds. He has until 23 December to make a formal offer to Gold and Sullivan. He currently owns the first division club Hong Kong Rangers and was formerly a major stakeholder in a chain of casinos. A lifelong Birmingham City fan, Yeung has previously been involved in failed takeover plots for both Reading and Sheffield United.

Djibril Cisse is set to make a shock return to England in January. The 26-year-old Marseille and France striker departed Liverpool in 2006 and only completed a permanent, 8M-euro move to the Stade Velodrome this past July. Despite his excellent pace and tantalizing skills, Cisse has been troubled by persistent injury problems throughout his career. After scoring an incredible 90-goals in 166 league appearances for Auxerre between 1998 and 2004, he made a high-profile 15M-pound move to Anfield after the European Championships in Portugal. More than three years later, West Ham and Manchester City remain keen on the big Frenchman. Hammers boss Alan Curbishley has been forced to address an injury bug which has claimed as many as eleven first-team players. Sven-Goran Eriksson, meanwhile, has been disappointed with the performance of Rolando Bianchi and is currently operating without a quality striker. Both would be willing to offer upwards of 5M-pounds for Cisse when the transfer window opens in January.

AC Milan teammates Kaka and Clarence Seedorf have blasted the Italian authorities in the wake of the latest round of football riots in that country. "First there was the Calciopoli (match-fixing scandal)," stated Kaka, yesterday. "Then, the police officer who was killed and now another tragedy. These acts of violence risk keeping the star players and champions away from playing in Serie-A. What blame can you give football if a motorway service area becomes the scene of guerrilla warfare? It's not the fault of football. This is a problem of the state." Seedorf echoed similar sentiments. In an interview with SkySports, the Dutchman declared, tongue-in-cheek, "The government is using football for the problems in Italian society. They should think about shutting down the government for a couple of weeks." Seedorf, referencing the looming threat that Italian football will be suspended as an inquiry is conducted into Sunday's events, insists that nothing has changed since the last such incident in the spring. "The situation following the Catania riots has not changed. They cannot blame football every time. The whole country is lacking leadership."

Atalanta president Ivan Ruggeri is intent on taking measures into his own hands. The Bergamo club was the scene of violence and rioting after word of the shooting of Lazio fan Gabriele Sanri traveled northward. The match against AC Milan was abandoned after just ten minutes. "The scenes we saw in Bergamo should never be seen in the football world," Ruggeri stated today. And he will fully back his comments with action. Atalanta is poised to close the La Curva section of its stadium -- the home stands of the club's sectarian ultra supporters. "I need the police to help me," Ruggeri pleaded after revealing his plan. "Alone I cannot achieve it."

Paul Jewell has rejected the latest overtures from Wigan Athletic to return as manager at JJB Stadium. The 44-year-old resigned from the club in May, citing a desire to spend some time away from the game. But after his former assistant, Chris Hutchings, was sacked in the midst of a poor string of results, club chairman Dave Whelan approached Jewell about a comeback. Jewell was rumored to be seeking a major wage-hike in addition to the re-hiring of Hutchings in order to return. But one or both parties backed away from the table yesterday. Jewell is thought to have his eye on a possible vacancy at Middlesbrough.

At The Riverside, meanwhile, Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson reiterated his support of manager Gareth Southgate, yesterday. Despite taking just three of a possible 24-points in recent matches, the chairman expressed his confidence in Southgate to a group of senior players. Still, the vote of confidence may come as the kiss of death. Both Jewell and Grame Souness are thought to be waiting impatiently for the job to open.

There are two managerial vacancies in Italy after the weekend. On Monday, Siena sacked Andrea Mandorlini. A day later, Cagliari pink-slipped Marco Giampaolo. The 40-year-old Giampaolo had been in his first job at the Sardinia club following stints as an assistant at Pescara, Giulianova, Treviso, and Ascoli. Sixty-six year-old Nado Sonetti has already been linked with the position. Sonetti, with 33-years of experience in top-level coaching, managed Cagliari as recently as 2006.