Football News: News Round Up As Pardew Hits Out At Former Palace Manager And Everton Dismiss Talk Of Lukaku Agreement
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1. Five gone from Swindon
Swindon Town have officially confirmed that they have lost five players from their squad, as four loanees head back to their parent clubs. QPR recalled on loan midfielder Ben Gladwin, with new manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink telling their official website that he will be involved in the FA Cup 3rd tie with Nottingham Forest, after the Hoops invoked a recall clause. Adam El-Abd, Wes Thomas and Louis Thompson have all left the club after their loan agreement expired. El-Abd has returned to Bristol City, Thomas to Birmingham City and Thompson to Norwich City. Henrik Ojamaa has also left Swindon after the Estonian agreed a mutual termination of his contract, with 11 appearances for the Robins under his belt.
2. Sky Blues add new defender
Experienced centre back back Peter Ramage has become Coventry City's first signing of the January transfer window. The 32 year old had been on trial with Coventry for the last fortnight, and managed to do enough to convince manager Tony Mowbray to sign him to a permanent deal. Ramage has just returned from a spell with Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters, having previously played for Newcastle United, QPR and Crystal Palace. Mowbray said: "We're delighted to get Peter into the club as he has really impressed during his time training with us. He has a wealth of experience behind him, with clubs in the Premier League or Championship which will be invaluable to the squad as the season progresses. One of my main objectives in this transfer window was to add to our defensive options as we've been short in that area, especially over the Christmas period. Peter is a player who I see challenging for a spot in my starting XI week-in, week-out and I'm looking forward to working with him."
3. Pardew gets in Colin dig
Alan Pardew has responded to recent comments by Neil Warnock (popularly known by an anagram of his name Colin W***er), which suggested Pardew's side, Crystal Palace, should look to buy QPR striker Charlie Austin. Pardew, while ruling out acting on Warnock's advice, also managed a little dig at Warnock, who used to be Palace manager. Pardew said: "Neil Warnock was manager here and he didn't do very well. I'm not really interested in his opinion. Charlie Austin is of no interest to us. I've seen all of the names linked with us and not one of them is true. Someone is giving out false misinformation. It would be stupid for me to say who we are in for. Steve Parish and I are in contact every day. We're in a position where we can perhaps can be a little more relaxed about it. There is a little less pressure. That doesn't mean we are not on our game and that we're determined to make sure that if something is there for us it is right."
4. US Open Cup gets less open
The US Open Cup has decided that it is no longer open to lover division farm teams. The US Soccer Federation announced that any outdoor professional team that is majority-owned by a higher level outdoor professional team is ineligible for the tournament. While the thinking behind it makes sense, as it does pose risks to the integrity of the competition if parent clubs are facing feeder clubs, it does make a bit of a mockery of the name! Eight teams from the third division of the United Soccer League will now be barred from this year's competition. Bethlehem Steel, who are linked to Philadelphia Union, LA Galaxy II, New York Red Bulls II, Orlando City B, Portland Timbers 2, Real Monarchs SLC, who are linked to Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders 2 and Swope Park Rangers KC, who are connected to Kansas City, are all barred from the competition.
5. China sack Alain Perrin
The Chinese national team have sacked their manager, Alain Perrin, following the failure of the team in World Cup qualifying matches. The final straw came after a high profile draw against Hong Kong, on the island, at the end of last year, which the team needed to win to stand any realistic chance of qualification to the next round of qualifiers. Perrin took charge in February 2014, after a series of previous managerial failures, and led China to last year's Asian Cup quarter finals, which was their best performance in more than a decade. Despite this, China are still ranked just 82nd in the world, below the likes of Equatorial Guinea and Haiti.
6. Martinez dismisses talk of Lukaku exit agreement
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has given short shrift to rumours surrounding Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku having a verbal agreement to leave the Toffees in the summer. The Spanish boss has denied that there is a verbal agreement to allow Lukaku, or any other of Everton's young stars, to move elsewhere in the summer. Lukaku's agent, Mino Raiola, had publicly said that there was an understanding between his client and the Toffees boss. "That is not true, I would never do that," Martinez said. "I think that would be very negative. If you do that could you imagine the last two months for that player? He would never put a leg in or never challenge for the ball. I don't agree with doing that. I know you can do that to keep a player for another 12 months but if you're not going to have a player 12 months down the line you need to start replacing him to have a stronger team."
7. Aubameyang Africa's player of the year
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed out the annual prize for African Footballer of the Year. This year the recipient was Borussia Dortmund's star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese forward beat Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure and Swansea City attacker Andre Ayew to lift the prize. With Dortmund flying under Thomas Tuchel, and Aubameyang in incredible goalscoring form for them, it was a well deserved prize for the winger turned striker.
8. More police raids as FIFA scandal continues to evolve
The South American football confederation (CONMEBOL) has headquarters in Asuncion, Paraguay, which were the subject of a police raid. With an ongoing international investigation into FIFA and its alleged corruption scandal, the scope has now been expanded. The U.S. Justice Department last year indicted a number of top FIFA officials and businessmen in relation to the scandal, with a number involved in a scheme that allegedly involving receiving bribes in return for broadcast rights to Copa America games. The Paraguayan Public Ministry have said that investigators were combing CONMEBOL headquarters in search of documents or information on computer hard drives in relation to the FIFA case.
9. Platini admits defeat
Disgraced and suspended UEFA chief Michel Platini has finally accepted that he can no longer run for FIFA president and withdrawn his candidacy. "I will not present myself for the presidency of FIFA. I am withdrawing my candidature. I no longer have the time nor the means to go to the voters, to meet people, to fight against the other candidates," said Platini in reference to the January 26 deadline for nominations to succeed Sepp Blatter. "In withdrawing, I am dedicating myself to my defence. It is a question of the calendar, but not only that. How can you win an election when you are prevented from campaigning?," he told French sports daily L'Equipe. "I had received 150 declarations of support - 100 official letters from federations and 50 promises. All in two days."
10. Adam re-signs for Cowdenbeath
Former Rangers keeper Grant Adam, the younger brother of Stoke City's midfielder Charlie Adam, has returned to Cowdenbeath. Adam was with Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton earlier this season, and is cup tied due to playing for Morton in the Scottish Cup, making him unavailable as for the Blue Brazil's cup tie on Sunday at Ibrox versus Rangers.
Written by Tris Burke January 08 2016 10:51:39