| MacDonald expects Houllier to succeed • Coach ends caretaker spell this weekend• He was not offered assistant manager roleKevin MacDonald will oversee his final game as Aston Villa's caretaker manager against Bolton Wanderers tomorrow before handing over control of a team that he believes has the potential to "go places" if Gérard Houllier can harness their collective talent.Houllier will be watching from the stand at Villa Park before formally taking over as manager on Monday after finally coming to an agreement with the French Football Federation over the terms of his release from his position as technical director. The Frenchman has spoken to MacDonald on a daily basis since Monday's defeat by Stoke City and he could visit the dressing room after the Bolton match.MacDonald, however, has been given responsibility for picking the side and, before his last match as caretaker, he has extolled the strengths of the squad Houllier will inherit, including the promising academy graduates he has selected. "There's a lot to be excited about around here," MacDonald said. "There is a young, vibrant squad allied to some very, very good senior professionals. If he can manage that and bring them forward, the club is going to go places."Villa are hoping that Gary McAllister, Middlesbrough's first-team coach, will be alongside Houllier for the Carling Cup tie against Blackburn on Wednesday. Villa and Middlesbrough are discussing compensation for McAllister, who has made it clear he would like to join Houllier in the Midlands.MacDonald was offered the chance to work with Houllier, although he said one of the reasons he declined the opportunity was because "when managers come in they should have their own staff". It has emerged, however, that Houllier did not ask MacDonald if he wanted to be his assistant and instead offered him a position that came without a specific title and was more of an administrative role, something that would not have appealed to the Scot, who is happiest coaching.MacDonald, who will return to his post as reserve-team manager next week, has yet to make a decision about staying with Villa in the long term. He was "disappointed" to be overlooked for the manager's position but believes his time as caretaker has helped to change his profile. "For me to have an interview for a manager's job at this football club, alongside Gérard Houllier, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Alan Curbishley, that's a pretty big step I've taken in six or seven weeks."Aston VillaPremier LeagueGérard HoullierStuart Jamesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Armstrong staff member arrives to testify in LA By ANTHONY McCARTNEY 2010-09-29T17:13:58ZLOS ANGELES (AP) -- A staff member of Lance Armstrong's Team Radioshack has arrived at a Los Angeles courthouse to appear before a federal grand jury hearing evidence of alleged doping in professional cycling.... hosted.ap.org |
ICC to brief players on anti-corruption code at 2011 Cricket World Cup • ICC anti-corruption warning follows England v Pakistan furores• 2011 Cricket World Cup in India, Bangladesh and Sri LankaPlayers and staff at next year's Cricket World Cup will be formally briefed on the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption code, the ICC has announced in what appears an attempt to avoid a repeat of the spot-fixing scandal that marred England's recent Test series against Pakistan.After a meeting of the World Cup's central organising committee (COC), the ICC's chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, said: "It is absolutely vital for our flagship event and the future prosperity of cricket that we maintain public confidence in the integrity of the game."Repeating the education and awareness to players and support staff will leave no room for doubt. We are committed to a zero-tolerance approach to corruption."The ICC also expressed its confidence that all facilities in the host countries of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be ready on time. India has suffered a series of problems trying to complete venues for the Commonwealth Games taking place in Delhi. But the ICC's president, Sharad Pawar, who is chair of the COC, said: "I can assure everyone who attends the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 that they will be attending an exciting event staged in the most modern of cricket facilities."We have confirmed our deadline date for the completion of all stadia construction work to be 30 November 2010 and all playing facilities to be match-ready by 31 December 2010."All three host countries recognise that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 offers a unique opportunity to showcase their cricket and their country and all are committed to making this tournament a global success."Security in the subcontinent is another concern but Lorgat said: "I am satisfied with the overall progress made to date and, importantly, I am reassured to hear that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Security Directorate has all the safety and security plans in place for the event."Cricket world cup 2011Cricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Three and out: Bill Belichick has Patriots on the rise again Q: How will the Patriots survive without Randy Moss? A: With the NFL's most resourceful coach in Bill Belichick. New England demonstrated just ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
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