Rob Trent & Gavin Meaden profile Bournemouth's ownership
Who’s in charge at Bournemouth? Well, we’re not sure. Prior to the receivers being called in, the club has been in a state of turmoil, resignations from the board at one stage leaving us with only two directors. The general perception amongst the supporters is that Norman Hayward is now top bod. A month before that it was Ken Gardiner, who ‘resigned’ through ‘ill-health’.
Neil McCarthy explains why Arsenal's attempt to buy a teenager from Paris St Germain has incurred the wrath of the French football authorities
On the eve of Paris Saint Germain’s Super Cup match against Juventus, PSG announced that Arsène Wenger was attempting to “poach” one of their youth players, the 17-year-old Nicolas Anelka. The televizing of the Super Cup match was an excellent opportunity for eminent figures in French football such as Michel Platini and Noël Le Graët to denounce Arsenal’s move and, as PSG certainly hoped, the affair has become a major issue.
Keith Davidson reports on bad behaviour by Aberdeen fans who were nonetheless demonised by the Glasgow-based papers
George Young died on 10 January. In the 1940s and 1950s, he was a major figure – Rangers and Scotland captain and one of the few Scottish internationalists from before the modern era to represent his country more than 50 times. The powers that be at Ibrox decided to hold a minute’s silence at the very next home game as a mark of respect – which happened to be a Premier Division fixture against Aberdeen.
Steve Lilley explains how a lack of financial expertise brought about Millwall's collapse
The announcement on 21st January that Millwall Holdings plc had sought an administrative order came as a surprise to no one who had been following the club's ailing fortunes.
Wednesday 1 Another stumble for Liverpool, beaten by a Roberto di Matteo goal at Chelsea, prompting the first Gullitism of 1997: "We are a rough diamond that needs to be polished every day but it's beginning to have a nice shine." Arsenal close the gap to two points with a 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough, who drop into the bottom three after Blackburn and Forest win away at Everton and fast-sliding West Ham respectively. Man Utd, held at home by Villa, stay third but Newcastle are only a point behind them after beating Leeds 3-0.
Friday 3 Rangers all but wrap up their ninth successive Scottish League title with a 3-1 home win over Celtic, clinched with two late goals from Erik Bo Andersen, which stretches their lead to fourteen points. A judicial report into the Olympique Marseille corruption investigations alleges the club spent around £12 million in bribes to opposing players and officials and referees in European and domestic matches over a number of years. The club's former owner Bernard Tapie and ex French national team manager Michel Hidalgo are among 20 people to be charged with match-rigging.