Weston Saint

http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/425399.html It may be being widely reported that Kabir Ali will leave Worcestershire at the end of the season, but county chief executive Mark Newton is adamant that won't happen unless someone agrees to pay £60,000 to release him from the last year of his contract. Kabir is said to have verbally agreed a three-year deal with Hampshire, but Newton remains determined over the issue of compensation. "£60,000 is the minimum we would accept to let Kabir leave," he told the Kidderminster Shuttle. "We feel very strongly about this. Do we run the risk of having an unhappy Kabir next season? Of course we do, but we all know Kabir well enough to know that if he is here next year then he will give 100%." If, as seems increasingly likely, no other county agrees to the fee, then he has the choice of seeing out his last year with Worcestershire or paying the money himself. Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire's chairman, also looked to play down his county's association with Kabir until the contract issue is resolved. "We can't agree a deal until he is released by Worcestershire. He is a player we are interested in, as I imagine are others, and we will continue to be interested in."

Someone who has mixed in LM's company regularly once said to me "the problem is that Laurie thinks the world owes him a living" I have spoken to Laurie a couple of times recently and found him pleasant and polite. I do know he is very unhappy at having to pay to go to SMS. Don't think he has attended since that happened. By the way I understand Crouch has not attended either but that may be for another reason. On the subject of paying to see Saints there is a consensus that the present ownership have got that wrong and should understand that ex loyal players and long standing past officials should be given a free season ticket to the club. It happens elsewhere. It happens at Hampshire Cricket as well. Time for Mr Oldknow to review this policy. Supporters want to see ex players in the stands. It is part of the "match day experience"

Spoke to Trevor Jesty before the start today. He said there was a rough area which might trouble left handers. I suspect Hants have held Ervine back by playing the right handers after the loss of Lumb & Adams. Seems to have worked so far. Only explanation I can give. I have not heard he is injured.

Spoke to Tim Tremlett and Chalky White today. He has not signed yet. Remember the quote says he has agreed a 3 year contract. He has to sort out with Worcestershire & it may be subject to us staying in the 1st Div. I think it may be pretty much nailed on but...........

http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/425176.html Kabir Ali has agreed a three-year deal with Hampshire, subject to negotiating his full release from Worcestershire. While the bowler hopes to join Hampshire ahead of the 2010 season, the thorny issue of compensation has yet to be resolved. Worcestershire have demanded £60,000 in return for releasing Kabir from the final year of his contract. The bowler, however, suggests that the club exasperated his injury problems by asking him to bowl when injured and failing to provide adequate medical treatment. Unless a compromise is reached, it is an argument that could have to be settled by lawyers. Kabir would certainly represent a decent signing for a Hampshire side that are still not certain of avoiding relegation. While he has missed much of the 2009 season through injury, Kabir has the best strike-rate of any England-qualified bowler (with more than 100 first-class wickets) and was close to an England recall before injury struck. Though several clubs expressed an interest in the fast bowler, Kabir only held talks with Hampshire and feels the club offer him the best opportunity to regain a place in the England side.

First, this is the wicket England & Australia played on Wednesday. Secondly it was the pitch chosen by Hants coaching staff. Thirdly, Durham have a good seam attach so to go for a wicket that will take spin it a good decision. Tremlett & Tomlinson are fit but not able to get into the side. Griffiths tells me he has agreed contract terms with Hampshire despite interest from Middlesex & Yorkshire. Club are looking to strengthen with quality players. No announcement yet and as always it may depend on staying in this division but I suspect they are still eying up Kabir Ali of Worcestershire. I also suspect that Simon Jones will not be coming. Shame about the bad light & rain

Thought this might be interesting. Bullet points from a meeting with Pompey Exec on 12th Sept Al Fahim does own the club Club will be close to break even this year Peter Storrie has saved the club this last year, and has had to fight off the banks (all of the Sky money this summer went straight to Standard Bank). Players had to be sold as Standard Bank were calling in their debts, all Sky money this summer went straight to them Peter Storrie is staying with the club The club has to refinance but Al Fahim has not done that so far Too much talk from Al Fahim, no actual doing as yet. Al Fahim is not giving answers on how the club is going to be funded Al Fahim currently in the States seeking refinance Al Fahim doesn't seem to have much grasp of the operations of English football...in fact, football at all The Al Farraj brothers are still interested in getting involved in the club The 48 page dossier doesn't exist, this seems to have been a publicity stunt Training ground cannot start until the club receives finance

The story was wrong. Lallana did not want out. He was still injured and Wotte was playing silly buggers with him, hinting that he was not committed. Adam will tell you that was far from the truth.

Would appear you might have been spot on. Sporting Index said that in the early days of the Premier League you could only bet if their was a live game on TV. Spread Betting was it its infancy and live TV was the only way of keeping track of what was going on. Sky also confirmed that the game, played on Easter Monday, was never shown live by them.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/4625896.New_twist_to_tale_of_the_Le_Tissier_betting_scam/ But last night it transpired that the Premiership match in question against Wimbledon in 1995 was not screened live on TV – meaning that the betting system would not have been available to gamblers.

Sussex only got 2 batting & 2 bowling points. Assuming they draw that puts them 12 behind us with 2 games to play.

Spoke to Tim, his dad as there was rumour of Sussex and Surrey interested. He said he had heard nothing. Griffiths is out of contract and Middlesex & Yorkshore are interested. Hants talking to him about a new contract when I spoke to him. He may have a difficult decision to make. He is a Man Utd supporter by the way!

We only need 4 runs to win makes 21 points

For the Somerset game he had a shoulder injury and was having an injection. He played in the 2nd 11 as stated above but his figures were not impressive. Simple fact is that he cannot get in the side at present even when fit.

I was told they had left before I got there

Accounts still being sorted but it looks like about £3,000 raised for Smile4Rich Charity.

Mick Channon there as well. Ian Botham popped in for a chat before going into the media, Brett Lee & Watson came in after the game and a nice between innings chat from John Crawley. Also had a nice chat with Geoff Miller, Chairman of Selectors before the game

Spoke to Matt Le Tissier last night. We lost the Golf again

Working doing what?

I believe whoever comes in as Sporting Director, and I have thought for some time it might be Coppell, will be Pardew's boss. He will set the job targets and consult with Pardew but I doubt he will interfer with the training or tactical side. Pardew will go to him and identify a weak area in the team and, following consultation with his coaches/scouts will say who he wants. the SD will then negotiate and try to make it happen. He will also negotiate contracts freeing Pardew to concentrate on team matters on the pitch/training Of course as Sporting Director will have overall control and report to the Chairman. Pardew would not have a say in who is appointed to that position but I suspect he will be content if the set up is as I suggest above and someone with the experience of Coppell got the job.

I saw enough today to suggest we will soon start winning games. Defence looked sound, central midfield needs to create more and get forward to support the forwards. Lallana had a good game out wide and showed he can play there effectively. Mills looked good when he came on. Paterson lacks confidence and needs to avoid getting caught offside. He is just not ready yet. We had enough of the game but just could not break down their defence. Very frustrating but not as bad as many early comments on here from those who did not attend (not having a go at their absence just that they cannot get perspective from verbal or written commentary)

The natives are still restless bless them. POMPEY VIRTUAL ALLIANCE STATEMENTPosted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:48 am Portsmouth Football Club has been bought. The transfer window is closed. The time has come for a united front. We welcome the takeover of the club by Sulaiman Al Fahim in principle. In moving decisively to buy PFC, he has seemingly ensured the spectre of administration has been exorcised for the foreseeable future and that the dead hand of Sacha Gaydamak has been lifted. Al Fahim has pursued the club with a single-minded dedication and clearly wants to take it forward. He brings energy, a flair for entrepreneurialism and a contacts book to die for. We await with interest to see to what extent he is willing to invest himself and bring investment into the club ahead of the next transfer window. We would also like clarification as to the means by which the takeover was financed and its implications for PFC. The interests of PFC are also served by ensuring Peter Storrie, the club's Chief Executive Officer, is allowed to continue, at the very least, in his current role. We recognise and are grateful for the work Storrie has put in to ensure PFC remained on a relatively even keel during the last ten months. We also acknowledge his role in bringing an alternative consortium to the table, which we hope may yet have a significant part to play in the longer-term future of the club, especially if they really are able take the club to a 'level you wouldn't believe' as Storrie thinks. We feel that there is a golden opportunity for a coming together of all parties in the medium to long term to ensure Portsmouth Football Club is able to finally engage in the vital infrastructure projects it needs to ensure its financial self-sufficiency. These include a new stadium and training ground, as well as investing prudently in team building to maintain Premier League status. Above all, the club needs to cultivate improved relations with its fan base. To that end, the supporters represented by the websites in Pompey Virtual Alliance are seeking clarity, reassurance and a sense of common goal. PFC has been - and remains in some quarters - an easy media target. Many damaging statements have been allowed to gain currency among fans and foes of the club alike. It is time to come together to clear away the uncertainty which has sapped morale in the past six weeks. We seek clarity and detail on the long-term vision for PFC, already outlined by Mr Al Fahim. We seek reassurance on the ownership status of the club and its ongoing debt position. We seek acknowledgement that a successful future for the club is intrinsicly bound to engaging in constructive dialogue with fans, leading to a shared sense of a common goal.

Seems to me "people who live in glass houses........." applies to both sets of supporters. Good fun though

Ah, thanks for that.

Injection in the shoulder is all I know.