Newcastle in black, but Coventry and Dunfermline see red and rock bottom

toon army

By Paul Nicholson
March 28 – Newcastle United have recorded only their second year of profit since billionaire Mike Ashley bought the club in 2007 for £135m. The £1.4m profit is a drop on the previous year’s £32.6m profit, but substantially better than the finances at Coventry (English Championship) and Dunfermline (Scottish Division 1) who both fell into the hands of administrators yesterday.

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West Ham say Olympic Stadium deal is near

Olympic stadium

By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – After months of inconclusive meetings and several delays, English Premier League club West Ham could now be days away from finally securing agreement to move into the London 2012 Olympic stadium – and avoid it becoming a classic post-Games white elephant.

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ESPN licks its wounds and exits UK with BT Vision sale

TV camera

By Paul Nicholson
February 26 – US broadcaster ESPN’s long awaited arrival into the UK television market was launched on the back of Premier League football rights. Its exit from the market, confirmed yesterday, comes following the loss of those same Premier League rights – such is the make-or-break power of the English league in the pay TV market.

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Pompey future in the balance as High Court date looms

pompey fans

By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent

February 12 – The latest stage in the long-running battle to prevent Portsmouth from being expelled from English football  is set to take place on Thursday with another High Court hearing into efforts by fans group Pompey Supporters’ Trust to save the club.

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