Changing room chat: O'Neill lands another win – in court

Published on Tuesday 28 April 2009 22:11

WITH the rise of the football phone-in and internet forums, it seems anyone is fair game when it comes to criticising players and managers.

Gordon Strachan, for one, is continually bemoaning the moaners, but instead of getting mad, the Celtic manager could perhaps learn how to get even from his predecessor, Martin O'Neill.

The Northern Irishman, now in charge of Aston Villa, was yesterday awarded "substantial damages" and an apology for an article carried on a 365 Media Group website last May under the headline "Porkies?".

In it, the website alleged that O'Neill had spoken with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez about the potential sale of Villa captain Gareth Barry, a false story that had apparently been republished from the Daily Mirror, who were forced to carry an apology.

O'Neill has previously won libel cases against the Independent, the Daily Record and the BBC while manager at Celtic, and was also awarded damages for a story on another football website last April.

Of course, with O'Neill having been a law student and with a keen interest in criminology, perhaps this shouldn't be too surprising.

Arsenal allow Vela to return

SWINE flu has become the world's dominant issue – but at least Arsenal appear to be in the clear.

The Champions League semi-finalists welcomed back Mexican striker Carlos Vela to training yesterday after he was told to stay away from the club on Monday due to concerns that a visit from friends from back home could have passed the epidemic on to him.

"It was basically down to the fact he had visitors from Mexico, friends who came to visit him last week," said Arsenal manager Arsne Wenger.

Morecambe's got the best pies

CALM down Kilmarnock fans, this is merely the verdict of Tom Dickinson, a football anorak who has spent the season visiting all 92 English league grounds and sampling the pies at each one. The 22-year-old is writing a book of his experiences, entitled 92 Pies, in which he hopes to provide some interesting comment on the state of football and pastry.

Dickinson said the best he tasted was at Morecambe's Christie Park stadium. And the worst? "That's got to be Walsall," he said. "It didn't have much heat or meat in the middle."

TALES FROM THE TABS

BOUGHERRA FOR THE OFF?

IF RANGERS don't win the SPL title next month then supporters should not expect to see Madjid Bougherra run out at Ibrox next season.

That's according to the Sun, who claimed on their back page yesterday that Birmingham City and Newcastle United will fight it out over the 4million defender if Celtic are crowned league champions.

"Cash-starved Gers will have to sell some stars if they don't pip Celtic to the crown," said the paper. "The Ibrox club are desperate for the 15million passport direct into the Champions League that comes with the title. And if they don't get it, Algerian ace Bougherra will be high on the list of potential departures."

The same tabloid said that Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies is set to make a "double swoop" after keeping his eye on Kevin Diaz and Gary Mason.

Diaz plays for Dutch second division club FC Eindhoven, and Jefferies went over to see the 26-year-old winger in action in a 2-0 win over Zwolle. Mason, a 29-year-old midfielder, is currently struggling to hold down a regular place at St Mirren.