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By Phil o'Connor
FALKENBERG, Sweden Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:11pm GMT
Manchester United's manager David Moyes gestures during their English League Cup semi-final second leg soccer match against Sunderland at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England January 22, 2014. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
(Reuters) - Former Sweden striker Henrik Larsson believes David Moyes will do a great job at Manchester United - if he's given time.
Moyes has had a difficult first half season at Old Trafford since taking over following Alex Ferguson's retirement with United slipping outside the Premier League's top four, going out of the FA Cup and losing in the League Cup semi-finals.
However, former Golden Boot winner Larsson, who played 13 games during a loan spell at Old Trafford in 2007, said that Moyes would come good.
"It's always going to be tough to replace Sir Alex Ferguson, it goes without saying," Larsson, now Falkenberg's manager, told Reuters in an interview at the club offices.
"The team is not what it was, plus the fact that they've had a few injuries - if you miss Van Persie, you miss Rooney, any team in the world would miss those two players.
"But Moyes will do a great job there, I'm absolutely certain about that.
"He was the Everton manager for a long time, he had continuity there and he left them in a good place.
"(Roberto) Martinez is doing a great job (at Everton), but he's also reaping the fruits that Moyes sowed."
Defending champions United are currently in seventh place in the Premier League, a whopping 14 points behind leaders Arsenal.
"It's going to take time before he knows the players well and what he has to bring in," said Larsson, who played in seven league games as United won the title in the 2006-07 season.
"Continuity is the big key, and obviously you have to have good players. You work on something for a number of years and the players get to know each other. You do it by small steps."
Nike faces rivals for Manchester United soccer kit deal
By Keith Weir
LONDON Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:50pm GMT
Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj (C) challenges Sunderland's Marcos Alonso during their English League Cup semi-final second leg soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England January 22, 2014. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
(Reuters) - English soccer's reigning champions Manchester United are talking to several sportswear companies about a new kit supply deal to replace one with Nike that expires next year, the club said on Tuesday.
Manchester United had opened talks with Nike last year on a renewal, but the club has yet to clinch an agreement with the U.S.-based company. The club has now confirmed that they have also started talks with rival suppliers.
"We currently are in discussions with multiple parties regarding our global retail, apparel and product licensing business starting in the 2015-16 season," a United spokesman said.
"This process is a routine practice used for our global and regional sponsorship deals and helps us to maximise the value/ structure of the club's partnerships," he added.
The Nike deal generated revenue of 38 million pounds ($63.02 million) in the 2012-13 season, including United's share of the profit from global sales of shirts and other merchandise.
British newspapers have reported that United were seeking to generate upwards of 60 million pounds a year from a new contract. Nike would have the right to match any offer made by another company for the United contract.
"United are a valued partner and discussions are ongoing with them," a Nike spokesman said.
Nike and its German rival Adidas are the two dominant companies in the football kit market.
However, third-ranked Puma boosted its standing on Monday when it announced it had ousted Nike as the partner for Premier League club Arsenal.
United, owned by the American Glazer family, are having a poor season by their own high standards and are facing a battle to qualify for the lucrative Champions League.
However, they remain one of the world's most popular football teams. They proved their appeal to sponsors in 2012 when they agreed a record $559 million deal with General Motors to have the Chevrolet brand on their shirts for seven seasons starting from 2014-15.
Odemwingie joins Stoke, Cardiff land Jones in swap deal
Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:40pm GMT
Cardiff City's Peter Odemwingie (L) challenges Manchester United's Wayne Rooney during their English Premier League soccer match at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, November 24, 2013. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden
(Reuters) - Stoke City have signed striker Peter Odemwingie from Cardiff City with Kenwyne Jones joining the Welsh side in a swap deal, the Premier League clubs said on Tuesday.
Nigerian international Odemwingie becomes Stoke's third signing of the January transfer window after Stephen Ireland's loan from Aston Villa was made permanent and John Gudietti moved on loan from Manchester City.
Odemwingie joined Cardiff from West Bromwich Albion in September of last year and scored twice in 17 league and cup appearances.
"We're delighted to have signed Peter. Things haven't perhaps gone as well for him at Cardiff as he would have hoped and he's really keen to start afresh with us," Stoke manager Mark Hughes told the club's website (www.stokecityfc.com).
Trinidad and Tobago forward Jones joined Stoke in 2010 and scored 13 times in 88 appearances.
His first-team opportunities have been limited this season and he was fined by the club after refusing to make himself available for the game against Liverpool earlier this month.
(Writing by Justin Palmer; editing by Martyn Herman)
By Martyn Herman
LONDON Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:46pm GMT
Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho gestures during their English Premier League soccer match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London, January 19, 2014. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
(Reuters) - Chelsea will be more equipped to challenge for the Premier League title next season but will push Arsenal and Manchester City all the way in this campaign, manager Jose Mourinho said on Tuesday.
Mourinho's side should maintain the pressure on the top two when they host struggling West Ham United on Wednesday although the Portuguese is playing down his side's hopes of finishing above them in May.
"The chance of champagne in the future is good but not this season," he told a news conference on Tuesday while marking his 51st birthday two days late by sharing some bubbly with reporters.
"We have to try to keep our good form going and let things happen naturally. Our main objective this season is to build a team.
"I can imagine next season we are going to be really strong. This season we are in the competitions and we always want to win."
Third-placed Chelsea, who have sold Spain midfielder Juan Mata to Manchester United and brought in Egyptian youngster Mohamed Salah from Swiss team Basel in the last week, are one point behind City and two adrift of Arsenal.
Chelsea travel to City on Monday and Mourinho says it is vital the Blues stay in touch by beating a West Ham side desperately trying to avoid relegation.
"We need to play against City with something to play for, not 10 points behind, and we should be one or two points from them," Mourinho said.
DIFFICULT MATCH
"I see a difficult match against West Ham. New players, fewer injuries, time to work and rest after a difficult Christmas period."
Chelsea will again be without injured striker Fernando Torres but Mourinho believes Samuel Eto'o is hitting top form after his recent hat-trick in the 3-1 victory over Manchester United.
"Samuel's contribution to the quality of the team is very high and he is playing very well," the manager said before adding that he would not rule out a new deal for the Cameroonian next season.
Salah will not feature against West Ham but fellow new recruit Nemanja Matic could occupy one of the two holding roles in midfield.
Neither can play in the Champions League this season and Mourinho said they are ones for the future.
"At the moment we have a 21-player squad which is exactly the number we want to have," he explained.
"With the natural improvement every big club has of bringing in one or two players, we are signing players for the future so I think we are doing well."
Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo could leave the club in the current transfer window.
The Italy international was suspended for two weeks last Thursday after an incident at the club's training ground that Southampton considered "a breach of the conduct expected of its players".
Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta confirmed the Serie A club's interest in the 28-year-old on Wednesday and Pochettino revealed a day later there was a chance Osvaldo may leave before the window closes on Friday.
With Southampton likely to want around €15 million to sell the former Roma man, Pochettino said: "At the moment there's no news regarding Dani Osvaldo.
"But there's still a day and a half left to finish the transfer activity so anything can happen.
"I don't know because I'm not in charge of that situation, anything is possible.
"For me the biggest talking point of the day is the game against Fulham, anything else is an individual matter that will be decided later.
"It's something that the club will evaluate if it does indeed happen."
Anzhi Makhachkala's Abdul Razak (L) fights for the ball with Tottenham Hotspur's Nacer Chadli during their Europa League soccer match at the Saturn stadium in Ramenskoye, outside Moscow, October 3, 2013. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
(Reuters) - Ivory Coast international midfielder Abdul Razak returned to the Premier League when he signed a short-term loan contract with strugglers West Ham United on Thursday.
West Ham, who battled to a 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Wednesday, are still in the relegation zone but said on their website Razak would "add athleticism and ability to Sam Allardyce's squad."
Razak, 21, was born in the Ivory Coast and moved to England as a boy, beginning his career with Manchester City before moving to Russian Premier League outfit Anzhi Makhachkala last year.
He has played five times for Ivory Coast and joins Italian internationals Antonio Nocerino from AC Milan and AS Roma forward Marco Borriello as new loanees at Upton Park.
Denmark international Kvist moves to Fulham on loan
LONDON Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:03pm GMT
Stuttgart's William Kvist (L) is challenged by Steaua Bucharest's Raul Rusescu (R) during their Europa League Group E soccer match at National Arena in Bucharest November 22, 2012. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel
(Reuters) - Premier League strugglers Fulham completed the loan signing of Denmark international midfielder William Kvist from VfB Stuttgart on Thursday, with the option of making the deal permanent at the end of the season.
"I'm very pleased to have got the deal done and I'm looking forward to contributing to this fantastic club," the 28-year-old told the club's website (www.fulhamfc.com) after joining from the Bundesliga club.
Kvist, who has played 44 times for his country, is a former team mate of Fulham's Norwegian centre-back Brede Hangeland having played with him for FC Copenhagen. He said Hangeland had convinced him top join Rene Meulensteen's squad as the Dutchman battles to keep Fulham in the Premier League.
"Of course I've heard a lot of good things from Brede and it's been a target of mine to come here so I'm delighted to be here," he said.
"The Premier League is the biggest league in the world. I've played in the Bundesliga which is also a really nice league, but this is the biggest challenge you could get as a footballer - this is the motherland of football."
Fulham also brought in their former player Clint Dempsey from Seattle Sounders on loan this month, while Bryan Ruiz has left for PSV Eindhoven.
Other deals could yet be finalised before the window closes on Friday.
Fulham have lost their last three league matches and slipped into the relegation zone, just one place above bottom club Cardiff City, when they lost 2-0 at Swansea City on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Mike Collett, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Johnson red card revoked but Remy three-match ban stands
Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:47pm GMT
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (L) challenges Norwich's Bradley Johnson during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England, December 4, 2013. REUTERS-Phil Noble
(Reuters) - Norwich City midfielder Bradley Johnson's appeal for wrongful dismissal against Newcastle United in the English Premier League has been successful and his suspension revoked, the Football Association said on Thursday.
Newcastle's French international striker Loic Remy, sent off with Johnson for violent conduct in an off-the-ball clash between the two during Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Carrow Road, failed in his appeal and will serve a three-match ban.
"The claim involving Bradley Johnson was upheld meaning his three-match suspension is withdrawn," said the FA on its website.
"The claim involving Loic Remy was dismissed therefore his three-match suspension remains with immediate effect."
The players were shown straight red cards in the 82nd minute.
Johnson will be available for Norwich's match at Cardiff City on Saturday while Remy will miss the north-east derby at home to Sunderland and two more games.
Capoue opens door to Tottenham exit after Sherwood rant The 25-year-old has hit out at his manager over his plans to continually play him as a central defender and admits his chances of making France's World Cup squad look slim
Cardiff complete moves for Zaha & Fabio The Brazilian full-back has made a permanent switch to south Wales and will be joined by his former Manchester United team-mate, who signs on loan for the rest of the season
Southampton striker Osvaldo set for Juventus medical The 28-year-old is set to complete a loan move to the Bianconeri until the end of the season after being suspended by the Premier League outfit following a training-ground incident
Wenger rules out Draxler signing The Gunners dispatched representatives to Germany this week to thrash out a deal for the Schalke star but the two clubs have been unable to agree on a valuation of the player
Wenger '80% sure' of deadline-day signing The Gunners boss is confident of securing a deal before the window closes, with the emphasis on a midfield addition following confirmation of Aarron Ramsey's injury lay-off
Chicharito to reassess Manchester United future after World Cup The striker's agent has ruled out an exit from Old Trafford before the end of the season, but admits, with a number of clubs interested, he could leave during the summer
Manchester City push for deadline-day Fernando deal Manuel Pellegrini was spotted in Malaga on Thursday but his club are hard at work trying to secure the services of the 26-year-old and his team-mate Eliquiam Mangala
Manchester United launch €15m bid for Porto defender Otamendi The Portuguese club have yet to make a decision on whether to sell the 25-year-old, while the move has been complicated by Manchester City's pursuit of Eliquiam Mangala
Chelsea closing in on €14.5m Zouma deal The 19-year-old revealed earlier this month he had been contacted over the phone by Jose Mourinho, and it is believed that the Portuguese persuaded the youngster to join the Blues
Grenier turns down Newcastle to stay at Lyon, says agent The 23-year-old will remain in Ligue 1, with the midfielder's agent suggesting his prospects of making the France squad could be harmed if he left for St James' Park
Holtby set to complete Fulham loan move The 23-year-old has agreed to leave White Hart Lane for the Premier League strugglers, where he will hope to reignite a career which has faltered since leaving Schalke
Norwich sign Joseph Yobo on loan The 33-year-old central defender becomes the club's second signing of the January transfer window following Jonas Gutierrez's arrival from Newcastle
Konoplyanka set for Liverpool as Tottenham pull out of talks Spurs looked to be in a position to hijack the Reds' deal for the highly-rated Ukraine international, but have pulled the plug after coach Tim Sherwood expressed doubts
Arsenal consider options as Draxler deal drags on Arsene Wenger is targeting the veteran Germany striker and Spain's Under-21 international as alternatives to his first-choice forward target
Everton style attracted me, says Lacina Traore The Ivorian turned down the likes of West Ham to move to Goodison Park on loan and revealed that the commitment to a passing game under Roberto Martinez helped to sway him
Matuidi to snub Arsenal interest and extend Paris Saint-Germain contract The Gunners are targeting Southampton's £15 million-rated Morgan Schneiderlin as an alternative to the PSG midfielder following injury blows to Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere
Chelsea's Nemanja Matic, left shields the ball from West Ham's Kevin Nolan during their English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014. Alastair Grant / AP Photo
BY ROB HARRIS
AP SPORTS WRITER
LONDON -- Usually Friday night is one the quietest times in the frenzied world of the English Premier League. Players can be found on gaming consoles in hotel rooms on the eve of games, or resting at home in anticipation of a Sunday game.
But the pre-game calm will be shattered by the closing of the winter transfer window on Friday, with clubs racing to sign reinforcements or offload rejects for the final time this season.
Here are five things to know about the transfer deadline-day and the weekend's Premier League matches:
---
CLASH OF THE CHALLENGERS: Manchester City and Chelsea will be relieved their fixture has been shunted back to Monday, minimizing any disruption for their top-of-the-table meeting. "It's the ultimate test," Chelsea defender Gary Cahill said. "It's going to be a really, really tough game."
The City squad hardly needs much tinkering. Manuel Pellegrini's side took its goal tally this season to 115 in all competitions with a 5-1 thumping of Tottenham that took them back to the Premier League summit. At the same time, though, Chelsea was being frustrated by West Ham — drawing 0-0 — and travels to the Etihad three points behind City.
The game pits the stingiest defense — Chelsea has conceded 20 in 23 — against the league's most prolific attack — City has scored 68 in 23. "As a collective unit, as a whole team, we're working really hard defensively, not just at the back," Cahill said. Chelsea got the better of City in their last clash, winning 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in October.
ARSENAL BLIP: Being knocked off the top has taken the wind out of Arsenal's title charge. And after being held at Southampton, the Gunners host a resurgent Crystal Palace on Sunday. "The kind of performance we delivered at Southampton will not move us forward, so let's focus to come back on Sunday and produce a good performance," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
By then will there be any new faces in an Arsenal side looking to produce a first trophy since 2005? It's unclear. "Are we active? Yes. Are we close to sign anybody? No," Wenger said on Thursday. "There is not long now, that is true." Top of the target list is Julian Draxler, but Schalke doesn't seem to be a willing seller. Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt said he was "very convinced" the 20-year-old attacking midfielder will remain at the German club for the rest of the season. Arsenal will be without midfielders Jack Wilshere, who has an ankle problem, and Aaron Ramsey, who faces several weeks out with a thigh injury.
LEAKY TOTTENHAM: Tottenham was brought down to earth with a bang by City on Wednesday as Tim Sherwood's unbeaten start as manager in the league ended. The north London club, which has conceded 11 goals to City this season, has what seems to be an easy trip to Hull on Saturday. "We have to be positive because we are still fifth, three points behind Liverpool," goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said. "So it is open. We just need to be focused."
NORTH-EAST DERBY: Newcastle is preparing for the derby against Sunderland on Saturday still trying to replace Yohan Cabaye, having received more than $27 million for the midfielder from Paris Saint-Germain this week. Manager Alan Pardew is waiting for a bid for Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier to be accepted. "He has tremendous creative technical ability," Pardew said.
Sunderland, which is out of the relegation zone for the first time since August, signed Argentina striker Ignacio Scocco on Thursday from Internacional.
MOYES EYES MOMENTUM: Manchester United is chasing its first back-to-back league wins in a month when the champions face Stoke on Saturday still in seventh place. David Moyes' push for the top four is being helped by how easily record-signing Juan Mata slotted into the team for a 2-0 win over Cardiff on Tuesday after joining from Chelsea. "Juan looked like he had been here for years," winger Ashley Young said. "He had only been training for two days and it was his first game but he has gelled straight away."
Liverpool boss Rodgers backs Toure after costly error
LONDON Sun Feb 2, 2014 7:33pm GMT
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers reacts before their English Premier League soccer match against Aston Villa at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England January 18, 2014. REUTERS/Phil Noble
(Reuters) - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers refused to criticise defender Kolo Toure after his glaring error gifted West Bromwich Albion striker Victor Anichebe an equalising goal in their 1-1 Premier League draw on Sunday.
Liverpool, who stayed fourth in the table on 47 points, took the lead on 24 minutes when Uruguay's Luis Suarez set up strike partner Daniel Sturridge to score his 14th goal of the season.
Yet Pepe Mel's side equalised when Ivorian defender Toure played a stray pass across his own penalty area, allowing substitute Anichebe to drive the ball expertly past Simon Mignolet after 67 minutes.
"I'll never criticise players for trying to play football but Kolo probably shouldn't have received the ball under pressure and his pass was misplaced," Rodgers told reporters after the match.
"Kolo Toure has been brilliant since he's been here. He's been a real leader, an outstanding professional and, unfortunately, it was a mistake."
Despite such a costly error, Rodgers tried to put a positive spin on the result as he believes it shows how much his side have developed over the last year.
"It tells you everything about our expectancy now, we came here and lost, and lost at home to West Brom, last year. So to get four points out of six (this season) shows the improvement," he said.
"We've got 14 games to go and we're still in a great position, with big games to play, and the squad is very focused on our objectives."
West Brom head coach Mel was delighted with how his side pressed Liverpool in the lead-up to their equaliser and he expects this tactic to bear fruit in the coming weeks.
"In the second half the two strikers high pressed the midfielders of Liverpool and this is the way to do it because (Claudio) Yacob and (Youssouf) Mulumbu did good work," the former Real Betis coach told reporters.
"The goal came from the high press, with (Zoltan) Gera and (Matej) Vydra pressing...
"Then they produced a bad pass. This is the way - a high press must be done together, not just with one player," added the Spaniard whose side are 16th on 23 points.
"I think we have done good work over two weeks and I think next week we'll get better."
(Reporting by Michael Hann; editing by Toby Davis)
West Ham hope Carroll avoids ban to lift survival hopes
Mon Feb 3, 2014 10:45am GMT
West Ham United's Andy Carroll reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London, January 29, 2014. REUTERS/Toby Melville
(Reuters) - West Ham United are hoping Andy Carroll's productive double-act with Kevin Nolan will not be derailed by a three-match ban as the Premier League strugglers look to ease their way out of relegation trouble.
Carroll, who has barely featured for the club due to injury since making a permanent move from Liverpool this season, helped set up both of Nolan's goals in the 2-0 win over Swansea City on Saturday, a partnership which combined to great effect last term while the striker was on loan.
However, the tall forward was sent off shortly after setting up Nolan's second early in the second half, following an innocuous looking clash with Chico Flores which left the Spaniard rolling theatrically on the Upton Park turf.
The 25-year-old faces a three-match ban if his appeal is not overturned, a loss which would hit West Ham's hopes of moving up to safety from 18th place.
"Hopefully we get justice in Andy's decision being overturned," midfielder Mark Noble told the club's official website (www.whufc.com).
"(Swansea manager) Michael Laudrup has come out on TV and said it wasn't a sending off, so that's good honesty from the man. If we can keep him and Kev firing together, with Jarvo (Matt Jarvis) and Stewart Downing producing crosses, hopefully we can stay solid and push up the table."
England's Carroll has recently returned to fitness, having missed the entire season since his 15 million pounds ($24.65 million) move due to ongoing foot injuries, leaving his side short of attacking options.
ATTACKING BOOST
Nolan's form has suffered as a result, and Noble said it was a boost to have the duo working together again.
"We did well on Saturday and with Kevin supporting off Andy, it works, it worked in the past and it's good to finally get them back together.
"That's what Kevin has got, that's what he has done his whole career, I don't know why everyone is so surprised. I know he hasn't got that many this year, but when he gets the chance he normally finishes it.
"You can see what effect Andy coming back had on him on Saturday."
As well as struggling in front of goal, West Ham have also been slack in defence, culminating in a humiliating 9-0 aggregate defeat over two legs to Manchester City in the League Cup semi-final.
Their woes at the back coincided with the loss to injury of Winston Reid, who helped his side to six clean sheets in their first 10 league matches.
The New Zealander made his return after a three-month layoff against Swansea, coming on with 11 minutes remaining to keep the opposition scoreless despite being a man down.
"The ankle's coming along." he said.
"I'm probably not 100 percent yet, as I've only just started training a couple of days ago. I think it was good for me to just go out there and feel that I was OK.
"I'm just trying to work hard, get back and get back to full fitness as quickly as possible."
(Reporting By Josh Reich; Editing by John O'Brien)
Mourinho plays down Chelsea title hopes after 'fantastic' win
3 Feb 2014 23:00:00
The Portuguese hailed his side's 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Monday night, but he believes it is only an "important step" and the side are not yet favourites for the title
Bet
Jose Mourinho praised a "fantastic" display after Chelsea completed a Premier League double over Manchester City, but played down his side's chances of lifting the title.
The Portuguese watched his side negate City's attack - which had found the net in their last 61 top-flight home games - to claim a 1-0 win and inflict a first domestic home defeat of the season on Manuel Pellegrini's men.
Branislav Ivanovic's goal in the 32nd minute of the match proved enough to secure all three points, but Chelsea - who beat City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the reverse fixture - refused to sit back on their lead and hit the woodwork on three separate occasions.
And while Mourinho was delighted to see his team produce such an effective performance, hailing the three points as a crucial milestone in Chelsea's development, he refused to label his side as title favourites.
"I think we played fantastic, to play the way we did is amazing," he told Sky Sports. "In this process of building the team to be one of the favourites for next season this is a very important step.
"The best team in the Premier League - we beat them twice, today we were fantastic.
"We had the better chances to kill the game, the players played with fantastic spirit. When they had the ball we were very humble and ready to work defensively, when we had the ball we played and played really well.
"We are there, but not favourites. For the team it's very important, the feeling is fantastic feeling for them. Today we won because we were the best team, not better than them but today they were fabulous.
"It is not our objective to win (the title this season), our objective is to build the team and complete the formation of the players.
"I want to start next pre-season and say this season we are going to compete and be one of the favourites."
Newcastle United's owner Mike Ashley (L) speaks with Director of Football Joe Kinnear during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Hull City at St James' Park in Newcastle, northern England, September 21, 2013. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
(Reuters) - Newcastle United's controversial director of football Joe Kinnear has quit seven months into a three-year deal after his second spell at the Premier League club in which they made no permanent signings for the first-team squad.
Kinnear, 67, had come under fire after Newcastle, who were thrashed 3-0 at home by local rivals Sunderland in the league on Saturday, did not buy any new players in the January transfer window and lost playmaker Yohan Cabaye to Paris St Germain.
"Newcastle United can confirm that Joe Kinnear has this evening resigned from his position as director of football with immediate effect," the north-east club said in a statement on their official website (www.nufc.co.uk).
Kinnear was responsible for attracting talent to the club but strikers Luuk de Jong and Loic Remy, on loan from Borussia Moenchengladbach and Queens Park Rangers respectively, were the only players added to the first-team squad under his watch.
Newcastle, who lie mid-table in the league, failed to sign Clement Grenier from Olympique Lyon as a replacement for Cabaye, who left for a fee that British media said could reach 25 million euros (20.7 million pounds).
After the Sunderland defeat, manager Alan Pardew told reporters: "If I was in charge, solely, of transfers, things might be different, but I'm not. I think I've made my opinions very clear this week and all the rest of it is confidential."
The club's difficulties in the January transfer window were the latest twist in Kinnear's difficult relationship with the fans, who never warmed to the outspoken Irishman.
He returned to Newcastle, where he was manager for four months in the 2008-09 season before his tenure was ended by a heart attack, in controversial circumstances.
Many fans and the media questioned whether the Irishman's appointment by United owner Mike Ashley would undermine Pardew's role at the club with speculation about who had the final say on transfers despite Kinnear saying it was a joint decision.
BIZARRE INTERVIEW
The day before Kinnear was officially appointed in June last year, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Ireland fullback gave a bizarre radio interview in which he rounded on his critics.
He also made a series of gaffes in which he pronounced the names of players and club officials incorrectly and claimed credit for a signing in his former spell as Newcastle manager when the player was actually recruited by another.
Kinnear, who has also had spells as manager of Nottingham Forest, Luton Town and Wimbledon, had little time for critics.
"I don't know what angle they've got," he told Talksport.
"If they want to sit down and argue with me, some of them are talking out of their backsides, a load of tosh and I'm not accepting it. It's as simple as that. I've certainly got more intelligence than them, that's for sure."
He was first appointed at St James' Park after Kevin Keegan left in September 2008 before stepping aside in early 2009.
His initial spell in charge was marked by an expletive-ridden rant at a news conference when he swore 52 times at reporters. He also upset former Newcastle player Charles N'Zogbia by referring to him on television as Charles 'Insomnia'.
Last June he called current player Hatem Ben Arfa 'Ben Afri' and Cabaye 'Kebab' and boasted about his contacts within the game and how he could "pick the phone up and speak to any manager in the league, any manager in all divisions."
However, the club's only permanent signing during his second spell was teenager Olivier Kemen from Metz in July.
With Kinnear and Ashley absent during Saturday's derby defeat at St James' Park, Pardew was left to face the fury of fans alone.
Anderson: I never said players want Manchester United exit
By Ed Huntley
Feb 4, 2014 11:29:00 AM
The midfielder was quoted as predicting an exodus of players from Old Trafford but he has now vehemently denied doing the interview and underlined his love for the club
Anderson has rejected quotes attributed to him claiming a number of Manchester United players are keen to leave Old Trafford.
The midfielder reportedly said "a lot of people want out", even naming winger Nani, after he completed a loan move to Fiorentina - adding that he has no intention to return to the club.
But, writing on his Instagram page, he insisted the interview never happened and underlined his affection for United.
"I'm shocked and surprised with a supposed interview that never existed," he wrote.
"I never gave any interview, much less to say bad things about a club that I love, a club where I grew up and that gave me so much. Shame on you!!!!
"I'm like a fan and love the club."
Anderson arrived at United seven years ago in a big-money move from Porto but failed to live up to initial expections and has now joined Fiorentina until the end of the season with the option of a permanent move
Manchester United announce United States pre-season tour
By Alex Young
Feb 4, 2014 1:21:00 PM
The club return to North America for the first time since 2011 and are rumoured to be joining the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City in the 2014 International Champions Cup
Manchester United have announced plans for a pre-season tour of the United States.
The trip marks the first time the club will return to North America following tours in 2010 and 2011 and is rumoured to be part of the 2014 International Champions Cup.
Last season's ICC involved eight teams - including the likes of Chelsea, Juventus, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy - facing selected opponents in America and Spain, with Madrid beating Jose Mourinho's side in the final.
Real Madrid will reportedly defend their crown this summer in a 12-team version, along with the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and United - though official participation is yet to be confirmed.
Richard Arnold, United's group managing director, said in a statement: "I'm delighted to announce that the team will be returning to the USA for our 2014 Tour, presented by Aon.
"Since the club's last visit in 2011, the appeal of football in America has grown rapidly. NBC reported that this season's Barclays Premier League opening weekend saw the average viewership rise by 78 per cent from the 2012-13 season, with Manchester United's match against Swansea being the most-watched game.
"Manchester United has over eight million followers in the United States and the 2014 Tour presents an exciting opportunity for these fans to get up close to the club they love."
Rio Ferdinand still valued at Manchester United - Moyes
By Ed Huntley
Feb 4, 2014 10:23:00 AM
The Scot has spoken of his admiration for the veteran defender, who has struggled with injuries this season, and revealed he was key to him settling into his role at Old Trafford.
Manchester United manager David Moyes has insisted he still considers Rio Ferdinand a valuable member of his Old Trafford squad.
The former England captain has struggled with injuries this term, falling behind Jonny Evans and Phil Jones in the pecking order, making just seven Premier League appearances this season.
But with Jones and Evans doubts for Sunday's visit of bottom-of-the-table Fulham, Moyes says Ferdinand could return to the starting line-up after making just two outings in the last two months.
"Rio is back training," Moyes told reporters. "He is back and we will continue to use Rio at the right times and the right moments.
"He has made a great contribution, especially in the first half of the season. He has competition for centre half, but he is very much valued and looked at as one of the senior players here."
Moyes also revealed that Ferdinand helped him make the transition to Old Trafford after being named as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor.
He added: "He was a big part in helping me to settle. He helped me get my feet under the table a little bit."
Pellegrini: Manchester City will recover from Chelsea defeat
By Alex Fisher
Feb 4, 2014 9:59:00 AM
Chelsea ran out deserved winners at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night as the hosts lost their 100 per cent home record, but the manager dismissed talk of a lasting negative impact.
Manuel Pellegrini remained positive despite Manchester City falling to their first domestic home defeat of the season against Chelsea.
City - who had won 19 of their previous 20 matches in all competitions - started Monday's clash strongly, but Chelsea slowly worked their way into the game and sealed a 1-0 win thanks a superb Branislav Ivanovic strike just after the half-hour mark.
Jose Mourinho's side went on to hit the woodwork on three occasions as City's goal lived a charmed life, while at the other end the hosts struggled to test Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
The result represents the first time since November 2010 that City have not scored at home in the Premier League, a run of 61 matches, but Pellegrini is confident his side can recover.
"For Chelsea it was a decisive game, for us it was an important one," the Chilean told Sky Sports. "We're still two points behind Arsenal.
"It was a very tough game, they score a beautiful goal but we had clear chances at least to draw.
"We couldn't do and they had two or three chances against the post. It was a very close game, they played well. We are not going to have any problems [bouncing back]."
City were dealt a blow before kick-off with an injury to Fernandinho - and Pellegrini admitted their task was made harder without their Brazilian midfielder and other high-profile absentees.
"Missing players [made it tough]," he added. "To play without Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri, Fernandinho and Javi Garcia was difficult. Fernandinho was a big loss."
Chelsea are 'little horses' in title race - Mourinho
Feb 4, 2014 12:00:00 AM
The Portuguese hailed his side's 1-0 victory over Man City, but he believes it is only an "important step" and the side are not yet favourites for the title
Jose Mourinho suggested Chelsea are just "little horses" in the Premier League title race after their 1-0 win over Manchester City on Monday.
The Portuguese watched his side negate City's attack - which had found the net in their last 61 top-flight home games - to claim a win and inflict a first domestic home defeat of the season on Manuel Pellegrini's men.
Branislav Ivanovic's goal in the 32nd minute of the match proved enough to secure all three points, but Chelsea - who beat City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the reverse fixture - refused to sit back on their lead and hit the woodwork on three separate occasions.
Despite the narrow victory over the fellow title challengers, the former Real Madrid boss played down the Blues' hopes of lifting the Premier League title this season.
"There are two big horses and a little horse," Mourinho told reporters. "A horse that next season can race.
"We can win it if they lose it. Arsenal are working for many, many years for the evolution of their team. What we are doing this season is what Arsenal have been building to for years.
"We are there, but are not favourites. We are preparing the team to be one of the favourites next season and this is a very important step."
The manager was delighted to see his team produce such an effective performance, hailing the three points as a crucial milestone in Chelsea's development, he refused to label his side as title favourites.
"I think we played fantastic, to play the way we did is amazing," he told Sky Sports. "The best team in the Premier League - we beat them twice, today we were fantastic.
"We had the better chances to kill the game, the players played with fantastic spirit. When they had the ball we were very humble and ready to work defensively, when we had the ball we played and played really well.
"We are there, but not favourites. For the team it's very important, the feeling is fantastic feeling for them. Today we won because we were the best team, not better than them but today they were fabulous.
"It is not our objective to win (the title this season), our objective is to build the team and complete the formation of the players.
"I want to start next pre-season and say this season we are going to compete and be one of the favourites."
The Dane was perceived as being more concerned with his own career progression, while clashes over transfer targets and managing expectations also led to his demise
SPECIAL REPORT
By Liam Twomey
If a week is a long time in football, 345 days is an eternity. Less than a year after leading Swansea City to the first major trophy in the club’s history Michael Laudrup finds himself unemployed, and no one who has been keeping up to date with events on the south coast of Wales over the past 12 months can be truly surprised.
Indeed, the parting might have come even sooner. Last week the Swansea board met to discuss the possibility of sacking Laudrup, before opting instead to undertake an overhaul of his backroom team and publicly insist their coach was safe. But following Tuesday’s crunch meeting with the Dane on his return from a two-day break in Paris, chairman Huw Jenkins decided to pull the trigger.
“After thinking long and hard about the best way forward, I felt it was unlikely we would achieve a stable environment at the club to allow us to get back to basics and produce the performance levels that have served Swansea City so well over the last few years,” Jenkins concluded in a statement on the club’s official website.
The chairman's words highlighted his belief that the most spectacular success story in British football over the past decade has lost its way. Swansea, since their Capital One Cup triumph over Bradford City at Wembley last February, have won just eight of 35 Premier League matches, drawing nine and losing 18.
Confined within a single season that total of 33 points would put them more or less where, two points above the drop zone, they currently find themselves – stuck in a fierce relegation battle.
In mitigation, Laudrup could point to the Europa League commitments which have seen Swansea play four more matches (37) than at the same stage last season, or the injury problems which have deprived him of last season’s top scorer Michu, No.1 goalkeeper Michel Vorm and key midfielders Pablo Hernandez and Jonathan De Guzman for long periods, along with several others.
But results were not the only cause of tension between Laudrup and Jenkins. Relations have been cooling for months, stemming from last season’s incredible achievements.
In building on the solid foundation afforded him by Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers and leading Swansea to their first ever major trophy, Laudrup established himself as one of the most fashionable managerial targets in Europe.
A timely poll of 40,000 Real Madrid supporters conducted by Spanish newspaper Marca in the week of the Capital One Cup final revealed 78 per cent wanted the Dane to succeed Jose Mourinho in the summer, well ahead of rival candidates Rafa Benitez and eventual appointee Carlo Ancelotti. On hearing the result, Laudrup admitted he was “proud” and “grateful” for the endorsement.
Rumours of an exit persisted for weeks, and the perception grew among senior figures at Swansea that their manager was more concerned with his own progression than that of the club.
Eventually Bayram Tutumlu, Laudrup’s agent, confirmed at the end of May that his client would stay at the Liberty Stadium despite offers from other clubs, before firing an ominous warning: “A good team is no problem. If [Swansea] don't have the possibility of making a good team, I don't know what can happen. Michael needs good players.”
Transfers soon became another point of conflict. In June Laudrup publicly criticised his employers’ inaction in the summer market, and days later Swansea cut all ties with Tutumlu amid suggestions he had attempted to sell Ashley Williams and buy, among others, Arouna Kone and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang “behind the club’s back,” according to a South Wales Evening Post report.
Swansea eventually strengthened with six players for a combined cost of just over £20 million – including striker Wilfried Bony for a club-record fee – but the bad feeling lingered.
Laudrup’s attempts to manage expectations after an historic season also raised ire. “Unless we find a couple of hundred million pounds I think last season we achieved nearly the maximum we can in terms of the table,” the Dane remarked in May when questioned about the possibility of his team improving on their ninth-placed finish. “Even consolidating is going to be very difficult.”
But Jenkins, who encountered sceptics at every stage of Swansea’s incredible rise through the divisions, is a firm believer that ambition should not be stifled. “We have to make sure whoever comes in to manage, coach and play for us in the future, they can't be talking about different levels of leagues within a league,” he told reporters in November. “To me, that is complete failure.”
Decline was never going to be tolerated. Neither was indiscipline, and the high-profile training ground spat between Chico Flores and new caretaker boss Garry Monk (a penny for the Spaniard’s thoughts when he heard about that appointment) combined with reports of worsening dressing room fractures between the Spanish contingent and the rest, raised understandable fears that Laudrup was losing control.
In such a climate the end was inevitable, but the timing is significant. Laudrup’s trademark reticence after November’s south Wales derby loss away to bitter rivals Cardiff City is understood to have particularly infuriated Jenkins. With the return match on Saturday, the task of restoring the city’s pride now falls to former captain Monk, a man more tightly woven into the fabric of this unique club.
