Football Dispatch

Monday Football
04 June 2007
Ken Bates has successfully refinanced his ownership of Leeds United. Requiring a 75% approval-rating from the club's creditors, Friday, the chairman was forced to wait through the weekend as the vote was re-counted. In the end, Bates' proposal to pay 1p per-pound of the club's 35M-pound debt was accepted by 75.2% of his financiers. The financial restructuring is just the first step in Leeds' transition to third-tier football. Over the next few weeks, the club will cull most of the existing roster and decide whether or not to play next season's home games at Elland Road.

Sheffield United will be granted a hearing with the Premier League in a fortnight. At issue is West Ham's illegal use of Argentine signings Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. Blades chairman Kevin McCabe is optimistic that his side will rule the day and be reinstated in the Premiership ahead of next season. Under such a scenario, West Ham would remain in the top-flight as well and the Premier League would proceed with 21-teams next term.

Claudio Ranieri is the new manager at Juventus. The former Chelsea boss had been in charge at Parma before resigning at the end of the season and was believed to be first in line for the vacant position at Manchester City. Prospective City owner Thaksin Shinawatra went so far as to insist that Ranieri succeed Stuart Pearce upon taking-over the club. With the Italian out of the picture, the managerial situation at Eastlands has become rather muddled.

AC Milan are preparing a shock bid for Thierry Henry. The Arsenal striker was sidelined much of this past season through injury and continues to be linked with Barcelona. But with Alberto Gillardino mulling a move away from the San Siro, Milan are wasting no time in examining their options. Both Filipo Inzaghi and Ronaldo are over thirty and past their primes; and Henry would replace the speed and constant goal-threat Milan lost when Andriy Shevchenko bolted for Chelsea last summer.

Joey Barton is at the centre of a tug-of-war between Newcastle and West Ham. Both Sam Allardyce and Alan Curbishley have offered 5.5M-pounds for the troubled Manchester City midfielder. Everton, once favorites to gain the 24-year-old's signature, seem to have fallen out of the running. Barton will be at St. James' Park and Upton Park during the week as part of his decision-making process. Allardyce, retaining some worry as to Barton's current legal situation, is seeking a get-out clause in the player's contract in the event that he is unable to play with the club due to legal reasons.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are sparring for Gabriel Heinze. The 29-year-old Manchester United left-back will make a decision on his future after the Copa America concludes in July. He seems intent on leaving Old Trafford and is viewed as the likely successor to Roberto Carlos at the Bernabeu. In Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and Gianluca Zambrotta, Barcelona already possess substantial depth at Heinze's position. United are set to make upwards of 5M-pounds from his sale.

Claude Makalele could be the next high-profile footballer to make an impact Stateside. The 34-year-old Chelsea midfielder is rumored to be at odds with manager Jose Mourinho over his continuing participation in Raymond Domenech's France squad. The Chelsea manager would prefer that Makalele retire from international football so as to prolong his international career. But with John Obi Mikel having asserted himself in the side this season, Makalele is weighing his options. He has previously been linked to Paris Saint-Germain; and a move to Major League Soccer has not been ruled-out, either.