Manchester City has unveiled plans for a footballing academy and training complex in the east of the city. The proposed youth development and first team academy in Openshaw will be built on an 80-acre brownfield site next to the Etihad Stadium. It will include 17 pitches and a 7,000 capacity stadium for youth matches. The club's Chief Football Operations Officer Brian Marwood said it would give "significant regenerative and economic benefits" to the area. The complex, which is yet to be given the go-ahead by Manchester City Council, is to be built on land that the club has purchased in the area over the last two years. Forming a large part of what Manchester City is calling the Etihad Campus, it will cater for up to 400 young players, 40 of whom will be accommodated and schooled on site. The club has said that the complex will benefit the local area in economic terms, creating around 160 jobs during its construction and a further 90 on its completion. It has also promised an environmental improvement with the planting of several hundred trees around the site. 'Successful and sustainable' The plans follow a six-week public consultation period, which saw 7,000 people offer their views on the proposals. Mr Marwood said the club was "delighted that so many people have taken part in our public consultation". Manchester City's Brian Marwood says the club want to make "a different type of player" "The feedback we have received points to a wide recognition by both local residents and fans of the significant regenerative and economic benefits of these proposals for the East Manchester area, which should not be underestimated. "It is important to also make clear that the development and recruitment of youth talent is at the heart of our long term strategy of building a successful and sustainable football club for the future. "The opportunity to build a world class facility supported by a well researched youth development plan would be a significant step in the realisation of that strategy." Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said he was particularly pleased with the community aspects of the plan, which will see around 5.5 acres put aside for community usage, including the possible building of a new swimming pool. He said he welcomed "the principle of this proposed development which reflects not only the needs and priorities of the football club, but recognises and reflects the community's priorities too". "It's a welcome demonstration of the club's commitment to the area and a boost for East Manchester and the city as a whole." Manager Tony Mowbray says his Middlesbrough players must maintain their work ethic to remain at the top of the Championship table. Second placed Boro are unbeaten this season with five wins in seven league games, while five-goal Marvin Emnes is among the division's top scorers. "It's important we keep our feet on the ground," Mowbray told BBC Tees. "The reason we are where we are is down to hard work and organisation, and the players making the game plans work." Mowbray remains cautious about his side's chances of maintaining a push for promotion this season, despite the excellent start. "I have been there before at the top end of the table, first season at West Brom we finished fourth, and then the second season we won the league," Mowbray added. "We know how difficult it is week in week out to keep going, and how you have to bounce back from set-backs, and dealing with expectation levels. "Teams do seem to suss you out, they look at the way you play, find ways to prevent you scoring goals, and give you problems. "That is always part of the equation, you have to react to what the opposition play, and it's a long season."
one of our rising stars. England wicketkeeper in the 1983 World Cup and close on 300 first-class games as a player, he's now taking on the world as an umpire. He enjoyed a wonderful World Cup this year and is about to set off on another tour of the globe during the summer on the ICC Elite panel. I've always found him one of the most engaging and terrific of men. Always chirping away on the stump microphones - always involved and always seemingly enjoying himself.
Robinson urges fringe players to perform MK Dons boss Karl Robinson has branded Gary MacKenzie's actions in the draw with Huddersfield a "disgrace". The defender was sent off late on in the match for what appeared to be a headbutt on Terriers striker Alan Lee, and will now serve a three-match ban. "It was a disgrace what he did, he knows that, I won't condone it," Robinson told BBC Look East. "He has been punished internally and he's accepted it like a man, which I knew he would." Robinson added: "It's not acceptable in the game and it's not acceptable in society. I'm sure I can back Gary not to do that again." Continue reading the main story If Gary Megson doesn't want him, we'll take him off his hands, but it's got to be at a price we deem fit for this football club Karl Robinson on Clinton Morrison MacKenzie, 25, conceded a penalty with his actions, but Lee Novak failed to convert from the spot. Meanwhile, Robinson, reacting to rumours in the national press, has admitted he would be interested in taking Sheffield Wednesday striker Clinton Morrison on loan, but expects to be priced out of any potential deal. "I hear [Wednesday boss] Gary Megson has said we've got to come up with some more money if we want to get him," he said. "If Gary Megson doesn't want him, we'll take him off his hands, but it's got to be at a price we deem fit for this football club. "We've not got the money that people think we have. "But if a player like Clinton Morrison became available, he knows how much I rate him, he knows I'd like him to come here for a month, we'll just have to wait and see."
Will Gidman hit a century, then followed that up with 76 not out as Gloucestershire followed on at Bristol. But Northants are still set for a final-day victory over their hosts. Winter signing Gidman hit an unbeaten 116 as Gloucestershire were dismissed for 288 at Nevil Road. Following on, Jack Brooks (3-43) then instigated a collapse before Jon Lewis (59) and Gidman gave hope, but the home side closed on 247-8, still needing 22 to avoid an innings defeat. Buzz is that the actress’s Mahima Chaudhry’s marriage with Bobby Mukherji, an architect, with whom she also has a four-year-old daughter Ariana, has hit a rocky patch. And according to sources, the actress has been staying with her parents in Lokhandwala, while Bobby has a house in Bandra. A source close to the couple says, “Mahima and Bobby have increasingly been having arguments over last few months even on the smallest of issues. Though they have tried hard to work out their differences, it just seems impossible. One of the main issue that has harmed their relationship is Bobby’s constant travelling. He is unable to spend time with their daughter which has created a rift between the two. Now Mahima has moved out with their daughter. However efforts are being made by Mahima’s brother who’s Bobby’s close friend to mend their relationship of six years.” Incidentally this is not the first time that reports of their marriage hitting rough weather have emerged. Back in 2008, there were reports of the two having some issues over Bobby’s ex wife who was then embroiled in a bitter custody issue with him. Bobby has two kids from his first wife. However, Mahima Chaudhry’s brothers, who are good friends to Bobby, are working hard to bring back their relationship to normal. It may be recalled that in 2008, there were same kind of speculations doing rounds but the Pardes actress clarified it and blamed the baseless rumours. “Bobby and his ex-wife were caught in a rather bitter court battle. And the stress combined with his hectic travelling put a lot of pressure on the marriage, but they were trying hard to make it work,” said a source. A principal court in Chennai, India, has granted choreographer/actor/director Prabhu Deva and his wife Latha a divorce by mutual consent. Prabhu Deva and Latha got married in 1995 and have two children. The two had been living separately for the past two years, after Prabhu Deva became involved with Southern actress Nayanthara. Prabhu Deva had reportedly married the Tamil actress earlier. There were bitter feuds between Prabhu Deva and Latha during this time. She filed a petition in a family court to get her relationship with him back on track. She even went on a hunger strike and filed a second petition to prevent Nayathara and Prabhu Deva from giving joint interviews. Now things appear to have been resolved between the two. As per the divorce agreement with Latha, he has paid Rs 10 lakh to her as permanent alimony. The actor also transferred property in Anna Nagar along with two cars to her name. He has also transferred land at Injambakkam village and his property at Alekhyas Kaushik Meadows in the names of his two children. Both children are under Latha’s custody, but the court has granted Prabhu Deva access to them as he wishes. He also agreed to bear cost of their education, marriage and other expenses in future. Both Latha and Prabhu Deva have agreed not to make any claims against each other in the future. How is it that Saif Ali Khan and Kareena haven’t been seen together? How come they have been maintaining a low profile in the media? “We both are shooting at different locations, baba,” she is heard to have said. The couple is extremely busy with their respective work and films. Some friends told us that didn’t want the evil eye on them too much and preferred being out of the public glare, trying hard to avoid buri nazar. “That’s not a bad way of looking at it, but Kareena and Saif are really busy. They recently took off time to spend together in Paris. They’ve hardly had time for themselves and found ti best to t away from the rumours and the madness going on in the city,” said a close friend of the actors’. John Abraham speaks about Bipasha Basu and his breakup in Simi Selects India’s Most Desirable. Here’s what he has said… “We had a beautiful relationship but it doesn’t exist anymore. I’m solely responsible for it. I didn’t want to get married, maybe one day I would, and I’ll take everyone by surprise. We’ve given closure to the relationship as I didn’t match up to the relationship, I was not ready to commit when the relationship needed culmination. I have grown out of the relation… the breakup is painful but you have to move on. We had decided, if we ever parted ways it won’t be for another man or woman.” Spotted: Saif at the Mumbai airport, wearing Kareena’s track pants(?)July 5th, 2011 . No Comments »Saif Ali Khan was back in Mumbai from Paris, with loads of shopping. (Did he pay the customs duty?) But the not so young dude made a fashion faux pas! Was that Kareena’s track pants that he was seen wearing? That too, with shoes! Now, we have seen Kareena borrowing her beau’s scarf, so does it allow Saif to borrow Kareena’s clothes? No, No, Saif, PLEASE wear your own clothes !!!!