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General Sports News

West Ham sale completed

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 08/06/2009

West Ham United are under new ownership after a buy-out of the troubled Upton Park club was completed.

CB Holding, a company controlled by the Straumur-Burdaras Investment bank, have bought out the previous owners, who had suffered massive financial problems in recent months.

The Irons' new non-executive chairman, Andrew Bernhardt, told the club's official website: "CB Holding fully supports the executive management of the club and acknowledges the considerable progress achieved this season by Scott Duxbury and Gianfranco Zola.

"CB Holding has no intention of changing the executive management or direction of the club."

Meanwhile, Newcastle United have confirmed that the club is for sale for an asking price of 100million.

Magpies owner Mike Ashley is keen to sell his controlling interest in the ailing club, who were relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the season.

The agent of Manchester United centre-back Nemanja Vidic has dismissed rumours linking his client with a big-money move to Barcelona.

The 27-year-old Serbia international still has another three years of his Red Devils contract to run and agent Paolo Fabbri says that Vidic is content at Old Trafford.

Injured England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has started bowling again and is still on course to be fit for The Ashes.

The 31-year-old is still recovering from knee surgery, but Lancashire coach Peter Moores is content that Flintoff is making good progress following a net session.

He said: "He was bowling within himself but he came through nicely. He didn't feel anything.

"He looked in decent rhythm, so it was quite a promising day for him. It's his first time in the middle and we are very pleased."

Meanwhile, England's star batsman Kevin Pietersen has admitted that he is still struggling with an Achilles injury.

Pietersen missed England's opening World Twenty20 fixture with the Netherlands due to the problem, but was back in action in the victory over Pakistan.

England's betting odds have been slashed following Sunday's 48-run victory at the Oval.

Castleford forward Joe Westerman has replaced injured Wigan Warriors captain Sean O'Loughlin in the England squad to face France on Saturday.

O'Loughlin suffered a knee injury in the Warriors' 34-18 defeat of Salford on Friday, preventing him from joining up with the England side which flies to France on Monday.

British & Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has named an attacking line-up for Wednesday's tour match with Natal Sharks.

Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll will rekindle their centre partnership that decimated the Golden Lions last week, while a destructive-looking back row will concern the Sharks.

Team: Byrne, Williams, O'Driscoll, Roberts, Fitzgerald, O'Gara, Phillips; Heaslip, Wallace, Croft, O'Connell, A-W Jones, A Jones, Mears, Jenkins.

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