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General Sports News

Barry offers explanation

Author: Rose Young
Date: 03/06/2009

England international Gareth Barry insists he has left Aston Villa and signed for Manchester City because he believes Mark Hughes' side have a better chance of winning trophies in the future.

The 28-year-old has moved to Eastlands in a 12million deal on a five-year contract, less than 12 months after almost signing for Liverpool.

Barry had previously made known his desire to play in the Champions League, but has now been seduced by the prospect of trying to help City break into the upper echelons in the Premier League.

Championship side Queens Park Rangers have appointed Jim Magilton as their new manager on a two-year contract.

The 40-year-old former Northern Ireland international was sacked by Ipswich Town towards the end of last season, having spent just under two years in charge at Portman Road.

Meanwhile, Wigan Athletic's chances of appointing Roberto Martinez as their new manager seem set to end in failure, according to Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins.

The Latics had pinpointed the Spaniard as a successor to Steve Bruce, who is on the verge of taking on the managerial role at Sunderland, but Jenkins has revealed the two clubs are 'miles apart' in their valuation of the Swans boss.

Birmingham City have splashed out a club record fee to sign Ecuador striker Christian Benitez from Mexican side Santos Laguna.

The 23-year-old has penned a three-year contract at St Andrew's. The South American, who needs to pass a medical and secure a work permit to seal his transfer, had also been linked with Wigan Athletic and PSV Eindhoven in recent weeks.

In rugby union, Leinster centre Gordon D'Arcy has flown to South Africa as emergency cover for injured British & Irish Lions stars Keith Earls and Riki Flutey.

Fellow centres Earls and Flutey are suffering from shoulder and thigh problems respectively and, although neither will be forced to return from the Lions tour, their temporary absence had left a hole in head coach Ian McGeechan's squad.

England manager Martin Johnson will give first international starts to Matt Banahan, David Wilson and Tom May this Saturday when Argentina are entertained at Old Trafford.

Five changes will be made to the team that lost 33-26 to the Barbarians last weekend, with Mark Cueto replacing Ben Foden and Steffon Armitage playing alongside brother Delon for the second time.

England's rugby league coach Tony Smith has named three uncapped players in his 19-man squad for the international against France later this month.

Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall, Wigan Warriors half-back Sam Tomkins and Huddersfield Giants hooker Scott Moore have all been handed their chance to impress at international level.

Only six players - James Graham, Danny McGuire, Adrian Morley, Jamie Peacock, James Roby and Ben Westwood - featured in last year's World Cup semi-final defeat to New Zealand.

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