Patrick Harverson explains why the football authorities' waiving of their own rules will make more corporate takeovers difficult to prevent
It is understandable that there is a lot of anger within football about the proposed takeover of Manchester United by Rupert Murdoch’s British Sky Broadcasting. Any deal that combines the country’s most-liked club with its most-feared media tycoon is bound to go down like a lead balloon.
Richard Lander explains how Manchester United supporters are attempting to resist the proposed sale of the club to BSkyB
Behind the tears and the sentiment, the goodies and the baddies – and not least, the £87 million set to be trousered by Martin Edwards – the real problem with Sky’s bid for Manchester United is a clash of business interests that threatens the heart and soul of football.
AS Thomas finds out more about the Swans' unpopular chairman
Distinguishing features Large, camp waddler with a horrendous comb-over. Always seen at The Vetch in a green bulging Barbour coat irrespective of the climate.
Boyd Hilton tells us why the widespread opinion of the ex-Arsenal boss is wide of the mark
Anyone even vaguely interested in football thinks they know what George Graham stands for. So when Alan Sugar (allegedly vaguely interested in football) decides to bung George a few million, even he must have had a pretty good idea what he is going to get for his money. Sugar is investing in a pragmatic philosophy of winning at the expense of everything else. Success first, style second; the apparent opposite of the Spurs credo over the years.
Revolutionary times at Fir Park, where the board has been cutting prices and attracting bigger crowds. David Innes reports on their crazy, madcap schemes
Motherwell FC are not a very fashionable side. We have the dubious honour of having lost more Premier League games than any other team, due to the fact that we have avoided relegation narrowly in the majority of seasons since we were promoted in 1985.