Eriksson urges City not to boycott tour

Football The extent of the opposition to the impending dismissal of Sven-Göran Eriksson was laid bare yesterday when it emerged that the Manchester City manager had to talk his players out of boycotting the club’s end-of-season tour to Asia. Senior players, believed to have been led by Richard Dunne, offered to sign a letter of protest indicating that they would not travel without their manager to Thailand and Hong Kong in just under a fortnight’s time.

Eriksson, whose press briefing today before the game away to Liverpool on Sunday has been cancelled, persuaded his players that it was not the right course of action. Athole Still, his agent, said that it was “still not 100 per cent” that Eriksson would leave City, but even if Thaksin Shinawatra decided not to sack him, it is impossible to see how the Swede could continue given that his relationship with the owner has become unworkable.

Double-edged sword

Football Promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship will be worth close to £60 million to each of the three clubs that join the Barclays Premier League next season, but that will also make them targets for takeovers by foreign billionaires looking to cash in. The Sports Business Group at Deloitte says that a promoted club stand to earn an extra £30 million next season in television revenues and their “parachute” payments, if they are relegated, have gone up to £12 million for each of two seasons.

Sunderland exodus

Football Sunderland are set for a mass exodus this summer after securing their position in the Barclays Premier League. Andrew Cole, Dwight Yorke, Stanislav Varga, Darren Ward and Ian Harte are among those whose deals expire soon, and Greg Halford, Russell Anderson and Graham Kavanagh are also expected to leave. Liam Miller and Ross Wallace are already up for sale.

Curbishley buoyant

Football Alan Curbishley has said that West Ham United are relishing the incentive of trying to damage Manchester United’s title prospects for a fourth time in 16 years when they meet at Old Trafford tomorrow. West Ham did so three times in the 1990s and have defeated their opponents in the previous three meetings. “The whole world will be watching and we want to do well,” Curbishley said.

Trapattoni’s mission

Football Giovanni Trapattoni, the new Ireland manager, is to meet Stephen Ireland, the Manchester City midfield player, in an attempt to persuade him to return to playing for his country. Ireland declined to play in the closing months of the reign of Steve Staunton, the former manager. Trapattoni, who took up his role yesterday, will enlist the help of Sven-Göran Eriksson, the City manager.

Barrett to leave early

Rugby league Trent Barrett, the former Australia stand-off, is to return to the NRL after Wigan Warriors said yesterday that he would complete this season but not the final year of his contract. St George Illawarra Dragons, his former club, head the teams vying for the 30-year-old’s signature after Wigan granted his request to leave in October because his wife is homesick. Barrett made his comeback from knee surgery as a substitute in Wigan’s 26-12 loss to Bradford Bulls last weekend and will start Sunday’s Millennium Magic fixture in Cardiff against St Helens.

Swede sets the pace

Golf Some of the big guns were left in the shade in sunny Seville yesterday after the opening round of the Spanish Open. Colin Montgomerie, returning after a five-week layoff, hit back after two opening bogeys to score 70 in the European Tour event, but Darren Clarke, last week’s winner in China, had to settle for a 72 and John Daly, of the United States, on a two-week trip to Europe, could do no better than 75. Leader by one after a seven-under-par 65 was Martin Erlandsson, of Sweden, and his two closest challengers were Ignacio Garrido and Jordi Garcia, the Spaniards.

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