News

Hammers have new owners

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 20/01/2010
Football betting

Former Birmingham City co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold are back in football after completing their takeover of West Ham United.

The duo sold their controlling stake in Birmingham to Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung in October 2009 and had been looking for a route back into Premier League football.

Meanwhile, Sullivan has assured manager Gianfranco Zola that his job is safe despite the Hammers toiling down in 16th place in the Premier League table.

Can Gianfranco Zola keep West Ham in the Premier League this season? - Latest Football Betting

Elsewhere, Portsmouth's turbulent season has taken another twist after they failed to block a winding up order issued by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

The Premier League's bottom club and sportsbook favourites for relegation were hoping to avoid a court hearing following the petition which was presented in December.

The beleaguered Fratton Park outfit had been in dispute with HMRC over the amount of VAT outstanding on their unpaid tax bill.

However, Mr Justice Newey has ruled that Pompey must face the winding up order at a hearing which is now likely to be on February 10.

In rugby union, Stade Francais prop David Attoub has been banned for more than 16 months by an European Rugby Cup disciplinary panel.

The Frenchman was handed the massive 70-week suspension after being found guilty of eye-gouging.

The incident occurred during Stade Francais' Heineken Cup clash with Ulster in December after which Attoub was cited for gouging lock Stephen Ferris.

Club president Max Guazzini has said that Attoub will appeal against the suspension which is effective from December 18 2009 and lasts until April 22 2011.

The ban follows a 24-week suspension given to Attoub's team-mate Julien Dupuy for gouging the same player in the same game.

Dupuy appealed against his suspension which was eventually reduced by just one week.

Meanwhile, Wales have been handed a boost after a scan revealed that Dwayne Peel's groin injury was not as bad as was first feared.

Wales coach Warren Gatland had left the scrum-half out of his 35-man Six Nations squad after Peel limped out of Sale Sharks' Heineken Cup defeat at Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

In the world of Formula One, Sauber have confirmed that Pedro de la Rosa will be Kamui Kobayashi's team-mate this season.

The 38-year-old Spaniard has featured in 72 Grands Prix since making his debut almost 11 years ago.

De la Rosa, who has been a test driver for McLaren since 2003, is looking forward to returning to the starting grid, saying after signing his contract: "I always firmly believed I would be given another chance as a team driver."

BET NOW