Weston Saint

Pre Match press conference cancelled because Avram Grant did not want to do it, according to Sky!

Further confirmation http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/frattonlatest/Stoke-criticise-Pompey-over-James.6006749.jp What a joke!

http://thepompeychimes.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54266

Paterson is a shy lad and a forced move out of his comfort zone is just what is required. Would have preferred a loan period as I think we might regret letting him go in a few years. Still if Barnard keeps relatively injury free this is a good deal for Saints in the short term.

Worcestershire have announced they have released Kabir from the final year of his contract. Expect Hampshire to announce signing soon.

Correct, not the trial. He will be asked his plea which will be not guilty and then the Judge will set a time line for certain things to happen by certain dates.

Not massive. Advice briefs will be about £500 each. Solicitor costs at £300 per hour - Jacob will likely waive his Brief fee for court hearing about £4,000 each unless QC's used then about £8,000 each for the first day with a likely second day refresher at £2,000 each. Reckon about £35,000 all in

No the hearing was on Friday but it may have been completed this morning. The Judge may wish to sit and look at the arguments, may be discuss with another experienced Judge before he prepares his judgement. Not unusual for civil cases

Judgement reserved means very little, it just means the Judge wants more time to consider the issues. In this type of case the solicitors for both sides will be handed the judgement an hour or so before given in court. I had a reserved judgement in the London Commercial Court a few years back. The judgement was handed to both sides QC's (it was about £1m riding on it) the night before but they were under strict instructions not to disclose to anyone including the clients until it was handed down by the Judge. All I got was a call saying it was being handed down at 10:30 am the following day and I could sleep well Looks like Pompey may have arguments worth considering.

Echo are quoting that Doncaster are asking for £800,000 but we feel that is too much. He was signed by Doncaster from Bournemouth for £150,000 I would assume that Saints value about £500,000 Stock contract with Doncaster expires June 2011.

It is 4 4 2 with Lallana & Lambert up front. Just had it confirmed

Players from Pompey visited sick children at Portsmouth QA yesterday. "It's nice to put a smile on the faces of those worse off that we are and are facing a long uphill struggle" said David Smith age 6

Waigo is a tricky player with a bit of pace and will always cause headaches to the opposing defence. He can pass well. He needs to sort out his offside problems but he brings enough to the game so I would say yes, sign him up at the end of the season as our wide right player

You are right, I forgot about Antonio remaining with us. Take Holmes out of subs and put Antonio in his place.

No correct decision was to bat. Smith said he would have done the same.

Still injured and 50/50 so doubt he will be risked

Sidebotham will do well on this wicket if he bowls intelligently, as he can. Have to say though that it looks a decent wicket with a bit of swing and I would expect SA to score 300+ 155-9

Possible team? ---------------------Davis-------------------- Otsemobor---Seaborne----Fonte---Harding --------------------James------------------------- Lallana---Schniederlin---Hammond----Waigo -------------------Lambert------------------------- Subs- Bialkowski, Wotton, Perry, Gobern, Mills, Holmes, Paterson

Forgot Pericard. Swindon were favorite but now we have saved on Ward wages it could well be him. We will know at 11am

No it says next signing Anyone fancy another signing? Next transfer announcement will be in 20 minutes . . . as ever, check http://www.saintsfc.co.uk for details #saintsfc

No, just have the Saints Twitter in my history file. Don't use Twitter or Facebook.

I go for Danns. Ward deal is dead imo

Yep, wonder who?

http://www.cricinfo.com/rsaveng09/content/current/story/443574.html South Africa have had to shelve plans to assess their spin-bowling options after they were forced to withdraw Imran Tahir from the squad for the final Test against England. Tahir, the Pakistan-born legspinner, was thought to have qualified for South Africa last April, but issues have arisen around his residency situation and it's unclear when, or if, he will be able to start an international career. It is a messy affair for Cricket South Africa, who have been caught unawares by the latest development. There is even uncertainty over whether Tahir, who is married to a Durban woman, has spent enough time in South Africa over the last four years, or whether the problem stems from him not having a local passport. "To be honest, I'm not 100% sure," Mickey Arthur, South Africa's coach, said. "I think it's something with Home Affairs and hopefully we will get some clarity on it over the next couple of days." Although he was named in the 15-man squad for the Wanderers, Arthur said that Tahir had not been in line for a debut at the Wanderers, even before this situation arose. However, the management were keen to watch him ahead of the India tour next month, and haven't given up hope of being able to include him on that trip. "We had him mind for down the line, we feel we need an attacking spinner because we go to India, then West Indies," Arthur said. "He was the guy we had our eye on. I'm sure we can try and get something sorted at Home Affairs but he certainly wasn't available for this Test. We included him to have a look at him and to see if he fits the bill." Although Tahir is now out of the frame for the immediate future, his original selection shows South Africa aren't convinced by their current spinning options. Paul Harris began the series with a five-wicket haul at Centurion, but has gone steadily downhill to the extent that he was outbowled by JP Duminy in the second innings at Newlands. Mike Procter, the convenor of selectors, voiced his concerns to Cricinfo a few days ago. "It is a little disappointing when your frontline spinner wasn't able to extract more on a wicket that turned." Arthur said that Tahir's call-up would have been a chance to see the spinner at close quarters. "It would have been exploratory. When we brought him in we certainly weren't thinking of him playing here, it was a case of seeing what made him tick, getting to know him a little and having a look at him in training just to convince me in my mind that he has what it takes. Unfortunately that's probably not the case now, but we'll see how it pans out." The other problem for Tahir at the moment is a lack of first-class cricket, having fallen out of favour with the Titans, who have identified a future legspinning prospect in the 23-year-old Shaun von Berg. Though Tahir is set to move to the Durban-based Dolphins franchise for next season, he has had to rely on the amateur three-day competition to keep him in action of late. "He's still bowling, getting five-fors and ten-fors each week," Arthur said. "I'm not entirely sure what the issues are between him and the Titans, but the Titans obviously aren't going to pick him because they'd rather pick the young leggie they have. We'll play Imran Tahir by ear." Andrew McGlashan is assistant editor of Cricinfo

Don't you believe it. He will be focused