| Bruce demands inquiry into blades • Manager fears firm pitches and blades are dangerous• Antonio Valencia and Fraizer Campbell seriously hurt in bladesSteve Bruce has called for a conference on footballers' footwear and the state of modern pitches in the wake of horrific injuries suffered by players wearing fashionable blades rather than conventionally studded boots. Already this season Manchester United's Antonio Valencia and Sunderland's Fraizer Campbell have sustained appalling injuries after their feet became trapped in the turf as they contested possession."The pitches are so good, so firm, these days that they are really hard compared to the way they used to be and the grass is also much stronger which means the blades can stay stuck there," the Sunderland manager said. "I think we've really got to look at this because there is a problem. It would be interesting to see some research into modern pitches and also footwear, which, on a lot of occasions, leave a lot to be desired."In recent seasons it has become increasingly fashionable for players to opt for blades instead of traditional conical studs with many feeling they offer better grip while maximising sprinting ability. Managers increasingly harbour reservations, though, particularly as the new boots are so lightweight that they might pass as slippers. Bruce believes a review is overdue."I think there should be a comprehensive study and medical report into the amount of injuries players wearing these blades are getting," he said. "I'd like to see stats comparing the number of players getting serious injuries wearing blades with those getting seriously injured wearing studs."Matters are complicated by the lucrative commercial contracts most leading players have with boot manufacturers. Accordingly, once the proposed study was published, Bruce would advocate the staging of a conference involving the football authorities and boot companies to plot a safer way forward."Maybe it's time for everyone to sit down together and see if there's anything we can do to make things better," Bruce said. "When we next sit down at the League Managers Association I'll certainly have an opinion."Sunderland have lost Campbell, their England Under-21 striker, for at least six months due to the serious knee injury sustained when his blades caught in the Stadium of Light's turf and his knee twisted under pressure as he challenged Manchester City's Micah Richards for possession. "When you see the replays, Fraizer drags his foot, his foot gets stuck and his knee just pops," said Bruce. "It's awful to see."Similarly, Valencia suffered a fractured leg and dislocated ankle as well as significant ligament damage during United's Champions League game against Rangers at Old Trafford on Tuesday and may not play again this season.The Ecuador winger underwent surgery today after his foot became lodged in the grass as he contested for the ball with Rangers' Kirk Broadfoot. "The operation went well," said a United spokesperson. "A plate has been inserted to stabilise the fracture but there is obvious significant ligament damage that follows a dislocation and he will be out for a good portion of the season."Bruce, who managed Valencia during the pair's days at Wigan Athletic, was left depressed. "You never want to see that. It's scary shit. But I know Antonio very well and if anyone can get back from that it will be him. He's one of the most dedicated kids I've ever worked with. He's strong and as tough as they come but he'll need to be; it's an awful injury."SunderlandAntonio ValenciaManchester UnitedLouise Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Gilmour threatens to poop Saints' party Giants' ex-Saint will not let sentiment get in the way for the last match at Knowsley Road, with Keiron Cunningham bowing outKeiron Cunningham has been mentally preparing to wish Knowsley Road a fond farewell throughout his own swansong season. Back in January, halfway up Millbank Tower overlooking the Thames for the official Super League launch, the great St Helens hooker dismissed the possibility that he could be tempted to play on for one more year and therefore appear at the new stadium that is due for completion next August."People have asked me about going on for another year so I can play in the new stadium but I'm happy to finish with the old one," he said. "My heart is Knowsley Road – it is a bit of a shed but the atmosphere is second to none."Tomorrow night Cunningham will adorn that shed for one last time in his 495th Saints appearance, as they aim to reach a fifth successive Grand Final."It's going to be an emotional night, of course it is," said the 33-year-old. The worry for Cunningham and Saints ahead of a tricky semi-final against the under-rated Huddersfield Giants is that they have already used up their allocation of happy endings. The club staged its official farewell to the ground three weeks ago for the last league game of the season against Castleford, to avoid the uncertainty surrounding play-off fixtures and to ensure all the gate receipts went into their coffers rather than being split between all 14 Super League clubs.Cunningham provided the perfect finish on that occasion, crashing over for a last-minute try that secured the 10-point victory necessary to earn another home game the following Friday in the first round of the play-offs against Warrington. "You couldn't have made that up," he later agreed.The Warrington game also stuck to a suitable script, with Cunningham rumbling down the blind side for another crucial score as Saints maintained their hold over the Wolves with plenty to spare.But whereas Saints went into that derby with confidence – and the knowledge that even if they lost they would have another opportunity to sign off from Knowsley Road in more fitting style – this time there is a hint of unease. Everyone at the club, from the coach, Mick Potter, and the captain, Cunningham, downwards, was uncomfortable at being forced to select their opponents under Super League's controversial Club Call system.They tried to take emotion out of the decision by stressing they were always going to choose the lower-ranked of the two available teams, which meant sending Wigan across the Pennines to face the champions Leeds and inviting Huddersfield to be the last opponents at Knowsley Road, where they have not won since 1978. But Cunningham knows that the Giants are dangerous and that in Lee Gilmour they possess a player who also has a host of happy memories of the Saints' shed – and, like him, is 80 minutes away from a record-equalling eighth Grand Final appearance.Gilmour played 146 times in six seasons with St Helens from 2004‑09, lining up alongside Cunningham at Old Trafford in each of the past four years having already reached two of the first three Grand Finals with Wigan and another with Bradford. He already shares one distinction with Cunningham, as the pair will have appeared on opposite sides in the last game at each of old Lancashire's most celebrated rugby league venues, having been involved in the grand farewell to Wigan's Central Park back in 1999.But only one of them will be at Old Trafford on Saturday week to match the tally of Grand Final appearances shared by Jamie Peacock and Leon Pryce. "Keiron's a mate," said Gilmour. "But if I have my way, it's going to be a sad day for him. It's a shame. I'd like to be able to cheer for him but I can't. We've worked hard this year and we want to get to the Grand Final and win it."St HelensSuper LeagueHuddersfield GiantsRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
TMS sales hit a speed bump Skyrocketing Texas Motor Speedway season ticket sales have hit a speed bump. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Johnson and French clubs set to clash • Wilkinson, Haskell and Palmer must report for England training• French clubs want the three to play in Top 14 matchesEngland are adamant that their three elite squad players who are based in France – Jonny Wilkinson, James Haskell and Tom Palmer – will report for a pre-autumn international training camp on 24 October even though the two clubs involved, Toulon and Stade Français, want the trio to play in the Top 14 the following weekend.Wilkinson has a clause in his contract with Toulon guaranteeing that he is available for every England training session, regardless of whether it falls within the International Rugby Board's regulation governing the release for international rugby duty, but the position with Haskell and Palmer is less clear."We have assurances from their agents that they have the release dates for England training weekends locked into their contracts," said a Rugby Football Union spokesman. "Martin Johnson [the England team manager] will have first call on them on 24 October and whether he subsequently releases them back to their clubs for league matches will be up to him."England are determined to assert their authority over the trio because the first of their November internationals, against New Zealand at Twickenham on 6 November, falls outside the official international window. That means the French clubs would not have to release their players for the game unless they were contractually obliged to do so.There is a full Top 14 programme that week with Toulon travelling to Perpignan and Stade Français taking on Bayonne. Both have demanding away matches the previous weekend with Toulon in Toulouse and Stade making the trip to the champions, Clermont Auvergne.All three players are likely to be required by Johnson for the All Blacks match. Palmer started the two summer Tests in Australia in the second row while Wilkinson and Haskell, a back‑rower like Lewis Moody, whose fitness for New Zealand will not be known for another couple of weeks, were replacements.Wilkinson is expected to sign his new contract at Toulon this week after his father, who acts as his financial advisor, was sighted there today.Scarlets have offered the second row Gavin Quinnell, who lost the sight in his left eye after an incident during Llanelli's Welsh Premiership match at Cross Keys this month, a place on their coaching staff. The 26-year-old Quinnell is unlikely to play again for fear of suffering damage in his other eye and he is still coming to terms with his injury, which is the subject of an investigation by Gwent police."We are devastated for Gav," said the head coach, Nigel Davies. "He has been so brave and dealt with the incident magnificently. I have spoken to him and told him there would be a number of opportunities for someone like him with the club in our coaching team. He is very important to us."England rugby union teamJonny WilkinsonMartin JohnsonAutumn internationalsToulonStade FrancaisRugby unionPaul Reesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Coyotes hopeful on sale Coyotes hopeful on sale feeds.bizjournals.com |