Thursdays Gossip

[Scottish Mag 3]

LATEST WEST HAM GOSSIP

 

 

Former Chelsea striker Gianfranco Zola has agreed a three-year deal to be the new West Ham manager. (various)

 

Zola agrees to take West Ham job

 

Zola will be unveiled as Hammers boss at a press conference on Thursday (Various).

 

However, he will not start work until Monday. (The Sun)

 

The Italian's contract at Upton Park is worth £4.5m. (The Sun)

 

Zola will appoint Chelsea number two Steve Clarke and ex-Blues fitness coach Antonio Pintus as his backroom staff. (The Sun)

 

Another ex-Chelsea man, Pierluigi Casiraghi, will stay with the Italy Under-21 side after Zola resigned from his post in charge of that squad on Wednesday. (Daily Star)

 

Hammers caretaker boss Kevin Keen will continue on the coaching staff, although ex-West Ham striker Paolo Di Canio is not part of Zola's plans. (Daily Express)

 

Zola is still working towards getting a Uefa Pro Licence - the required coaching qualification to become a Premier League boss - but that is not expected to stop him taking the job. (The Independent)

 

 

LATEST NEWCASTLE GOSSIP

 

 

Newcastle want Blackburn boss Paul Ince to be their new manager. (Daily Mirror)

 

But Rovers are convinced Ince will not leave Ewood Park. (Daily Express)

 

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley wants a new boss installed in time for Saturday's home game against Hull City. (The Sun)

 

Tottenham first-team coach Gus Poyet, Zenit St Petersburg boss Dick Advocaat and Russia coach Guus Hiddink are all under consideration for the Magpies post. (Daily Telegraph)

 

Ashley is set to watch the match against the Tigers from the St James' Park directors box, rather than his usual position in the stand alongside Newcastle fans. (Daily Express)

 

 

TRANSFER RUMOURS

 

 

Wigan boss Steve Bruce has blocked Sheffield United's attempts to sign Michael Brown on loan. (Daily Mirror)

 

OTHER GOSSIP

 

Sheikh Mohammed has ditched Dubai International Capital and will use his own wealth to invest in Liverpool. (Daily Mirror)

 

Liverpool's owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are ready to sell the club but want £300m more than Sheikh Mohammed's valuation of about £450m. (Daily Mirror)

 

Arsenal's injured Croatian striker Eduardo, who suffered a fractured left fibula and an open dislocation of his left ankle in February, hopes to return to action before Christmas. (Daily Express)

 

Crocked Hearts defender Robbie Neilson is also hoping to make a comeback before the end of the year following his Achilles tendon surgery. (Daily Record)

 

Rangers star Lee McCulloch will speak out later this week to reveal why he chose to quit the Scotland set-up. (Daily Record)

 

Hibernian boss Mixu Paatelainen tried to lure ex-Hearts star Antti Niemi to Easter Road in the summer before injury forced the Finnish goalkeeper to retire. (Daily Record)

 

The £80m National Football Centre at Burton-on-Trent has again become a low priority in Lord Triesman's plans as chairman of the Football Association. (Daily Mail)

 

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes Reds defender Jamie Carragher will achieve his dream of becoming manager at Anfield in 10 or 15 years. (The Times)

 

 

AND FINALLY

 

 

Newcastle striker Michael Owen plans to build a £12m wonderland theme park on the Costa del Sol in the grounds of his new luxury retreat. (Daily Express)

 

Manchester City are spending £150,000 on a private plane to bring quartet Robinho, Elano, Jo and Pablo Zabaleta back from international duty in South America in time to face Chelsea on Saturday (The Sun).

 

Or City will use outgoing owner Thaksin Shinawatra's private jet to fly the quartet back to Manchester. (Daily Express)

 

Scottish referee Stuart Dougal has been ruled out for two months with a broken wrist after slipping on colleague Dougie McDonald's kitchen floor. (Daily Record)

[snakehips 0]

As you commented, the Daily Express have got their 'facts' right.

[Park Life 70]

If by some fluke we get Hiddink I will feel a tiny bit better.

[snakehips 0]

If by some fluke we get Hiddink I will feel a tiny bit better.

 

 

If Hiddink arrives at NUFC I'll buy you a case of beer!!

[snakehips 0]

Gotta love the story about Owen building a £12m theme park in the grounds of his Costa 'RETREAT'!!! Having a 'retreat' and then have thoosands and thoosands of prols visit you every day seems a bit straaaaaaaaaange. The British Press - you gotta love 'em.