List of All Articles with Tag 'sport'

Play in the year’s second Grand Slam tournament begins Sunday at Roland Garros, and for the first time in nearly two decades, Rafael Nadal will not be competing in the French Open

Even when the NFL institutes a rule designed to reduce concussions, it can’t shake the perception that it doesn’t care what players and coaches think

President Joe Biden is preparing to host the NCAA men's and women's championship teams at the White House

The Arizona Cardinals have released three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a salary cap move made after they failed to find a trading partner in the offseason

Two-time champion Takuma Sato led a strong showing from the Chip Ganassi Racing quartet in final practice for the Indianapolis 500 on Friday

Southeastern Conference leaders will continue debating what to do with their football schedule when they meet in the Florida Panhandle next week

Wigan Athletic’s campaign ended in disappointing fashion after they were relegated from the Championship, bottom of the table - and 2023/24 is set to start in equally bad fashion. The Latics were handed a four-point deduction for next season by the EFL after failing to pay players’ wages on time, with that reduction set to impact on their immediate start to life in League One. However, they were also given a second suspended four-point penalty which would come into effect if either the club owner failed to deposit a required amount to more than cover payments into a designated account by 24 May or if Wigan failed to pay wages again between now and the end of next term - and that second penalty has now been activated, meaning they’ll start 23/24 on minus eight points. The EFL confirmed on Friday that they had requested Wigan owner Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi deposit funds equating to 125% of their “forecast monthly wage bill” into the club account. A statement from the organisation added they had “spent the past 48 hours in dialogue with the Club in an attempt to find a positive outcome” before confirming the additional points penalty had been executed. This follows Wigan being late with two instances of paying players, on Friday 24 March instead of Friday 10 March and on Tuesday 16 May instead of Friday 5 May. They had also been charged with misconduct following three late instances of payments in 2022. A statement from the club confirmed they intended to consider an appeal. “The football club has been very transparent with the EFL, who have had clear visibility of the eight-figure sum to finance the remainder of this season and the whole of next season,” it said. “The club will now consider all options open.” Wigan also revealed their intent to restructure the club financially, appearing to suggest that promotion to the Championship ahead of schedule caused cash flow problems as a result of the need to “strengthen again in the summer and in the January Transfer Window” which left “the wage budget...unfortunately becoming more and more unmanageable”. A series of meetings have agreed a wage budget for next season which will be 65% lower than this year, while the club anticipate beginning life back in the third tier with a new CEO and sporting director in place as well as greater emphasis on youth development. While that should lead to a more sustainable future, given they’ll start the year eight points adrift already, fans will no doubt be fearing that could lead to a second successive season with Wigan fighting against relegation. Read More It’s his problem – Frank Lampard says next Chelsea boss has to turn club around ‘Business as usual’ as Chelsea look to wrap up Women’s Super League title Andy Pilley steps down as chairman and director of Fleetwood

It’s the final day of the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich contesting the closest title race for years

Iowa says athletic director Gary Barta will retire on August 1 after 17 years at the university

All of those questions about who would step to the fore once Serena Williams walked away from the tennis tour seem to be getting answered with three names: Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina

Frank Lampard said turning around Chelsea’s fortunes will be the next manager’s problem as he prepares to bow out from his interim role after Sunday’s game against Newcastle. The team’s wretched season slumped to a new low with a 4-1 thumping against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday, the ninth defeat of Lampard’s 11 games in charge. If results go against them on the final day they could finish as low as 14th and equal their worst placing in the Premier League era. They are already guaranteed to end with their lowest points tally in the competition, with the fewest number of goals the club have scored in a Premier League campaign. Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be appointed as the club’s next permanent manager in the coming days and his in-tray will include quickly slimming down a bloated first-team squad and installing cohesion in a team that has lost its way since Graham Potter was sacked in April. Chelsea have won only once in the almost two months since Potter was removed seven months into a five-year contract, and the task of rediscovering the team’s form has seemingly grown more daunting with each defeat. A remedy has proved beyond Lampard in his short time in charge, and he was asked whether the incoming manager will have the toughest job of any Chelsea boss in the last 20 years. “It’s a good headline but I don’t know,” said Lampard. “It remains to be seen, I can’t jump into the future. “I think it is a fantastic job because it is the Chelsea job and when I took it first time (in 2019) I came I probably got it it was because a lot of top managers didn’t want that, I know that for a fact. “I enjoyed the process and I enjoyed coming in and I wish the new manager well. “I don’t know… it’s his problem I guess – is that the headline you wanted?” One of the hindering factors during Lampard’s reign has been the size of the squad, with 34 first-team players vying for selection following co-owner Todd Boehly’s whirlwind transfer activity during his first 12 months in control. It has meant limited playing time for younger members of the squad, even those signed for large fees and with high expectations. Carney Chukwuemeka joined from Aston Villa for £20million last summer but has struggled for minutes, whilst Noni Madueke arrived for £29m from PSV Eindhoven and has featured just 11 times. Both players started the loss at Old Trafford and played 82 minutes before being substituted and Lampard said he was pleased with the application of players that came in having not been regulars in the side. “I don’t want to go into individuals,” he said. “I thought Carney did really well (against United) coming in to midfield with personality. It has been one of the harder parts of my job with the numbers in the squad. “Going with a team to win important games and working with the younger players who we haven’t seen before because normally there is a process and a pre-season. “We haven’t had that time. I thought Carney did well, I thought Noni did pretty well again and the flip of that was that Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta) was fantastic with his captaincy and attitude. “It is 70 per cent of the game how you apply yourself and your attitude.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Aryna Sabalenka to begin French Open against player who ‘hates’ her Andy Pilley steps down as chairman and director of Fleetwood ‘Business as usual’ as Chelsea look to wrap up Women’s Super League title

Andy Pilley has stepped down as chairman and director of Fleetwood as discussions continue surrounding a change of ownership and control at the Sky Bet League One club. Pilley will be sentenced next month after being convicted on four counts of fraud. The 52-year-old was found guilty last week of two counts of fraudulent trading, fraud by false representation and being involved in the acquisition, retention, use or control of the proceeds of fraudulently mis-sold energy contracts. Pilley was remanded in custody and he will be sentenced on July 3. Also chairman of BES Utilities, Pilley had been involved in High Court litigation with Cheshire West and Chester Council, but lost a civil court fight over investigating allegations of mis-selling. Pilley had been the chairman and owner of Fleetwood for 20 years and overseen the club’s rise from non-league status to the English Football League. In announcing the boardroom changes, Fleetwood, who finished 13th last season, said it would be “business as usual” while working through the transition of ownership. A statement on Friday afternoon read: “Fleetwood Town can confirm Andy Pilley has stepped down as chairman and director of the club. “Steve Curwood, who has been the club’s CEO for 15 years, will be appointed interim chairman with current vice chairman Phil Brown to join the board as a director. “The club have this week entered discussions with the EFL in relation to requirements surrounding a change of ownership and control. “The club would also like to clarify there will be no other changes to the board before the planned change of ownership. “In the meantime, the club will continue to operate business as usual and will make a further announcement in due course.”