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Pompey handed seven-day reprieve

Harry Harris, Football Correspondent — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:57:23 GMT

Portsmouth have been given a seven-day reprieve to sort out their financial mess after Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) told the High Court that the club are "insolvent". The club must be provide a "statement of affairs" by 4pm GMT on February 17, or the club will be shut down.

Coyle talks up Wilshere England prospects

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:48:46 GMT

Bolton boss Owen Coyle has been impressed by the start youngster Jack Wilshere has made to his Wanderers career and is convinced he has an England international of the future on his hands.

Chamakh: I haven't signed for Arsenal yet

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:15:03 GMT

Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh insists he has not agreed a deal to move to Arsenal but admits he is unlikely to remain at the Stade Chaban Delmas once his contract expires at the end of the season.

Chygrynskiy out as Barca defensive crisis deepens

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:07:27 GMT

Barcelona's have been dealt yet another defensive blow after Dmytro Chygrynskiy became the latest player to be ruled out of their weekend trip to Atletico Madrid.

Scottish Cup draw: Celtic travel to Kilmarnock

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:54:20 GMT

Rangers and Celtic were kept apart in the draw for the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup on Wednesday afternoon.

Brown hails Rooney influence

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:40:27 GMT

Wayne Rooney's presence is enough to give Manchester United a lift such is the aura that has been built up around the England striker, according to club and international team-mate Wes Brown. Rooney took his goal tally for the season to 23 in the 5-1 win against Portsmouth on Saturday.

Barca "flatly deny" Fabregas move

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:26:26 GMT

Barcelona "flatly deny'' they have reached an agreement with Cesc Fabregas to bring him back to the club at the end of the season. Reports in Spain suggested the Arsenal midfielder could be heading back to Barca in the summer, but the club have acted swiftly to rubbish the reports.

Striker Jovanovic reaches Liverpool agreement

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:55:59 GMT

Highly-rated Serbia international Milan Jovanovic has revealed that he will join Liverpool on a free transfer this summer, after his contract at Standard Liege expires.

Under-fire Japan boss Okada vows to play safe

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:26:50 GMT

Japan coach Takeshi Okada has admitted to having cold feet about fielding untested players in his side's East Asian championship game against Hong Kong on Thursday.

Ex-Spurs chairman Sugar blasts irresponsible clubs

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:17:47 GMT

Former Tottenham chairman Lord Sugar has criticised the "irresponsible manner'' in which he thinks most football clubs' finances are run, with Portsmouth facing the threat of being wound up on Wednesday over an unpaid tax debt.

McLeish crosses fingers on Christian Benitez injury

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:25:50 GMT

Alex McLeish is hoping Birmingham striker Christian Benitez will be fit "sooner rather than later'' after being forced to change his starting line-up for the first time in 13 Premier League games.

Copa Libertadores: Catolica qualify, Cerro win

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:12:53 GMT

Paraguay's Libertad, Uruguay's Cerro and Colombia's Once Caldas won their opening fixtures in the Copa Libertadores group stage on Tuesday.

Maradona closes door on Riquelme return

Reuters — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:07:10 GMT

Diego Maradona has put an end to a growing campaign for the return to the Argentina team of playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme.

Ronaldinho left out of Brazil squad by Dunga

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:56:03 GMT

Ronaldinho has been dealt a major blow to World Cup ambitions after he was left out of Brazil's squad for their final warm-up match against Republic of Ireland in London.

Nani: I've never considered quitting United

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:42:46 GMT

Manchester United winger Nani has claimed he never thought about quitting Old Trafford even in the depths of his miserable form, and revealed he is aiming to become "one of the best in the world".

Lazio appoint Reja to replace sacked Ballardini

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:24:36 GMT

Lazio have sacked coach Davide Ballardini and replaced him with former Napoli boss Edy Reja. Ballardini had been under immense pressure following last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Catania that dropped Lazio into the Serie A relegation zone.

Wenger: Arsenal can't afford to buy big names

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:05:30 GMT

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that budget restrictions mean he "cannot afford" to bring big-name players to the club, and also insisted that football lives in an "artificial world".

Sydney FC captain Corica announces retirement

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:29:33 GMT

Sydney FC skipper and former Australia international Steve Corica will bring the curtain down on a career spanning 21 years after today confirming his decision to retire at the end of the current A-League season.

Portsmouth seek 28-day delay to winding-up order

Harry Harris, Football Correspondent — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:13:59 GMT

Portsmouth have failed to reach agreement with the Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs over a £7.5 million debt and will go to the High Court begging for a 28-day delay to a winding-up order.

Premier League: Pompey fight on, City loom up

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:09:34 GMT

Manchester City's hunt for fourth place continues after a routine yet unconvincing 2-0 defeat of Bolton Wanderers. Adam Johnson and Patrick Vieira were able to make debuts and the younger Englishman was the more impressive in winning the penalty that gave Carlos Tevez to score City's first goal.

Benitez plans to copy rivals to smother Arsenal

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:48:42 GMT

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez plans to follow the counter-attacking blueprint set by Manchester United and Chelsea when his side take on Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

Bruce woes eased as Malbranque escapes injury

Soccernet staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:07:33 GMT

The dark cloud surrounding Sunderland after their Premier League draw at Portsmouth has been given a silver lining with the news that winger Steed Malbranque has been released from hospital after having tests on a chest injury.

Portsmouth 1-1 Sunderland: Last-gasp Dindane

soccernet.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:48:09 GMT

Portsmouth 1-1 Sunderland: Last-gasp Dindane

Wigan Athletic 1-1 Stoke City: Potters snatch point

soccernet.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:41:08 GMT

Tuncay Sanli's second-half header denied Wigan a precious victory as Stoke made off with a point at the DW Stadium.

Fulham 3-0 Burnley: Zamora wraps up points

soccernet.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:19:26 GMT

Fulham moved into ninth place in the Premier League with a comfortable win over Burnley at Craven Cottage.