Gary Oliver on a breakaway "SPL2" becoming reality
The skewed values of Scotland’s sports editors were never more apparent than on January 18. While back pages devoted inordinate space to Stan Collymore’s declared interest in joining Celtic, in most papers the day’s most important football story was tucked away near the racing form. And the hot tip there was that soon the Scottish Football League would be further weakened by yet another breakaway.
Ken Booth, the current Rotherham United owner, has been trying to sell the club almost since he bought it. Nigel Wilkes tells us exactly who the chairman is
Distinguishing Features Has been described as a cross between Bill “I love scrap” Fraser in the Barnstoneworth episode of Ripping Yarns and Uriah Heep (the Dickensian character, not the ones who sang Gypsy), but I think he looks more a superannuated ferret.
Footballers want the same rights to move around the EU as all other workers. Tim Springett explains how FIFA and UEFA are trying to make life easier for players
There is panic among football clubs, mirrored by unbridled glee among agents. The European Commission believes football’s transfer system contravenes EU laws on free movement of labour. Transfers have already seen one major shake-up recently courtesy of Mr Bosman, to which football still has yet to adjust fully and which is currently prejudicing the football authorities’ ability to act rationally.
Will Wimbledon FC be based in Wimbledon much longer? Kris Stewart doesn't seem the think so, unfortuantely
On May 4, 1991, Wimbledon lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace at Plough Lane. It wasn’t until after the game that I knew for certain we were moving to Selhurst Park. Plough Lane had done us proud since 1912, but the demands of the Taylor Report, we were told, made a “temporary” move inevitable. Since then, we have played 486 consecutive matches away from home. As soon as we moved, we started hearing rumours linking us to all sorts of places, the worst being a plan to take us to Dublin.
Is football a law unto itself? The normal freedom of movement laws don't appear to be used in football
Is football a law unto itself? Perhaps the realisation is dawning that whatever practices have gone on in the past, it will be increasingly difficult for football clubs and associations to operate as if the law and normal rules of behaviour did not apply to them.