Christoph Daum has parted ways with Eintracht Frankfurt less than two months after taking charge of the Bundesliga club.The former Bayer Leverkusen and Fenerbahce boss took over in March, but only managed to pick up three points in his seven games in charge, condemning the club to relegation.

He announced on Monday he would leave his post after a meeting with club chairman Heribert Bruchhagen.

“Frankfurt should start their Bundesliga comeback with another coach,” Daum said.

“There was no prospect for me despite the club and team being in my heart.”

Eintracht’s relegation was confirmed when they suffered a 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, despite taking a second-half lead.

Daum said promotion back to the top flight ‘won’t happen immediately’ and he had given the club a clear message about the problems that needed rectifying.

“I’ve said some things very clearly internally,” he said. “Eintracht now has the chance to take corrective measures.”

Daum, who won the Bundesliga title with Stuttgart in 1992, was appointed with seven games remaining after Michael Skibbe was sacked, but he could only manage three draws to finish the campaign.

Daum’s chances of becoming Germany manager were ended when he admitted to cocaine use and was forced to leave Leverkusen in 2000, while he led Cologne to promotion to the top flight during his second stint at the club in 2008.

Bruchhagen said the club was already in search of a new manager to begin planning for next season.

“The first decision to be made now is the one of who will be the new coach,” the chairman said.

CONCACAF have made a dramatic back flip, re-instating Chuck Blazer as the federation’s general secretary.Blazer – a member of FIFA’s executive committee – accused AFC President Mohammed bin Hammam and FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner of corruption on Thursday, which led to the duo being suspended by the world’s governing body.

Blazer, whose allegations involved claims of corruption against Caribbean football federations, was removed from his post within CONCACAF after he received a letter from Lisle Austin – the temporary president of the federation in place of the suspended Warner – telling him his services were no longer required.

But just as news broke around the world of Blazer’s sacking, CONCACAF released a statement explaining that Austin did not have the power to remove the general secretary and that he would be re-instated immediately.

“Today an unauthorized declaration was made by Lisle Austin attempting to remove Chuck Blazer as General Secretary of CONCACAF,” the statement posted on the CONCACAF website said.

“This attempted action was taken without any authority. Under the CONCACAF Statutes, jurisdiction over the General Secretary rests solely with the CONCACAF Executive Committee which has taken no action.”

“Further a majority of the Executive Committee Members have advised Mr. Austin that he does not have the authority to take such action.”

“Chuck Blazer continues as CONCACAF General Secretary and with the full authority of his office. The Confederation continues its normal operations including the Gold Cup commencing on June 5th at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.”

The saga is just the latest episode in the FIFA corruption drama, with current president Sepp Blatter set to run unopposed for his current title on Wednesday.

Manchester City have started their pre-season with a tour of the USA as they target success in the Premier League and Europe next season.The FA Cup winners play Mexican side Club America on Saturday before a clash with MLS newcomers Vancouver Whitecaps two days later.

The players got the chance to relax and visited the home of the LA Dodgers baseball team, where goalkeeper Joe Hart threw the first pitch in the Dodgers’ MLB match with the San Diego Padres.

With the start of the new season approaching, City and the other top clubs are strengthening, and defender Vincent Kompany believes it will make the Premier League a more exciting competition.

“That’s a good thing and a good thing for the league and I think it’s not something that’s going to affect us too much,” the Belgian international said.

“We are getting stronger as well. One thing we are gaining and we are still going to gain in the future is that we know each other more and more, we’ve played a little bit longer with each other, it’s a different story for us now.”

“And with winning something last season, we have confidence so that’s an advantage we might have on certain clubs who didn’t win anything last season.”

Roberto Mancini’s side have brought in two players so far during the close-season transfer window in Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic.

And Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong believes the team have the right balance to challenge for major honours this term.

“The belief is the main thing,” De Jong said. “The belief has always got to be there. That’s the main thing the focus and the belief. I think this group is a year older again.”

“Most of the group still stay together and we are getting better and better by the day and we also know each other better.”

“Even the new signings can adapt really easily because the group is not so difficult. Everybody is always happy and smiling, so we hope this can be a big part for City and the success we get over the future.”

City kick-off their Premier League campaign at home to promoted Swansea City on August 15.

Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, has praised the club for trying to sign Aston Villa’s Stewart Downing, as a £20 million deal is being negotiated. The Guardian report that Kenny Dalglish has flown back to England from the outfit’s Asian tour earlier than planned to finalise the deal.

“It’s a terrific signing, there is no doubt about that whatsoever,” the former England international stated after an open training session in the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Malaysia.

“He will definitely make a difference with his ability to go outside and down the line to get in quality crosses. He was Aston Villa’s player of the year and he will give us something we have been lacking – genuine quality on the left-hand side.

“When you look at the players who have not come out here – Steven Gerrard, Pepe Reina, Luis Suárez, Jordan Henderson and Glen Johnson – they would make the basis of a top team. We are not going to make any statements about what might happen next season but it is pleasing things are looking positive once again.

“I know him, so does Stevie. He knows Andy Carroll and Johnno from playing with England so he is not going to be walking into a dressing room and feeling all on his own,” the veteran concluded.

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If the former Middlesbrough winger does move to Merseyside he will become The Reds third major summer transfer after the captures of Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam.

Australia coach Holger Osieck has cautioned against complacency after his team were handed a kind qualifying draw for the 2014 World Cup.The preliminary draw, conducted in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, saw the Socceroos placed in Group D of Asian third-round qualifying, alongside Saudi Arabia, Oman and Thailand.

Australia begin their campaign – with a place in the final two fourth-round groups at stake – at home to Thailand, a team 96 places below them in the FIFA rankings and seemingly an easy target for the Asian Cup finalists.

But German Osieck, who succeeded Pim Verbeek as head coach in August 2010, dismissed any suggestion that his team were guaranteed a place in Brazil next year.

“There are a lot of strong teams in Asia right now. We know that from experience,” Osieck said.

“You shouldn’t underrate the teams we will play in the group, they all went through the second round, they qualified, so they must have some potential.”

“Take for instance the Asian Cup when we had India … it was important for us to go into the tournament, play well, score a couple of goals and build our confidence.”

“And the same happens here – we will definitely have the best team available.”

While attempting to play down expectations of a swift passage to the fourth round, Osieck did endorse the ability of his players, calling on them to demonstrate their quality with a flying start in the first match on September 2.

“Our target is simply to go through to Brazil,” he said.

“We are at the first stage, so we have to take every single step very seriously.”

“Football is not a wishing well, and you can’t predicate anything. It would be an ideal scenario that we could make the qualification for the second round as early as possible, but there’s a lot of unpredictability.”

“What I don’t like in football is to calculate. First we play, then we go from there.”

“I’m a positive thinker. I want to see our guys play. We have a lot of potential; I want to see them perform. It’s very important to have a very positive start to the campaign and … to really build on the confidence we should be in from that first game.”

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is confident his ageing squad can win the league title, but he is keen to sign younger players.The Portuguese manager, 33, is aiming to better their second-place finish in the English Premier League last season after taking the reins following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti.

Villas-Boas said he was confident his experienced contingent, including captain John Terry (30) and Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba (both 33), could take the London club to their fifth league title.

“The market that we have moved in at the moment, and the players we have shown interest in, they are also of a young age so they are also looking into the future – the future of this club,” Villas-Boas said on Friday.

“You might see similar moves in the future from us because the squad is old – it’s one of the oldest squads in the Premiership.”

“But we respect them and we are happy we have enough quality – we have to be able to challenge for the title. But we are also looking into the future and the options we are looking at in the market at the moment are also looking into the future.”

The Stamford Bridge outfit edged Manchester City to second spot on goal difference last campaign, finishing nine points adrift of champions United.

Villas-Boas said he expected the big six – Chelsea, United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham – to contend for the title.

“Manchester United are the title holders and will be a reference for everybody, but you can see the amount of activity that Manchester City have had in the market, which shows pretty clearly that they have a title objective as well,” he said.

“Liverpool did more or less the same (as City). Tottenham want to get back to the first four of the Premiership so they’ll be challenging as well and Arsenal is always a threat.”

Chelsea complete their tour of Asia against Aston Villa in the final of the Asia Trophy on Saturday.

They face Scottish champions Rangers on August 6 before beginning their Premier League campaign against Stoke City eight days later.

Spain striker Fernando Torres has been told by international manager Vicente Del Bosque that unless he starts scoring for Chelsea, he will not feature for the world champions.

El Nino was not even named on the bench for the Spaniards 6-0 win over Liechtenstein on Tuesday, with the European side having an embarrassment of riches in attack, and was forced to watch the game from the stands.

Del Bosque has explained his selection process, and urged Torres to start finding the net for his club if he wants to feature in Euro 2012.

“Torres is an important player, but those who stand out with their clubs will get the call to the national team, not the other way around,” the former Real Madrid boss told the Spanish press.

Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo started the match on Tuesday, scoring two goals, and reveals that Torres congratulated him on this feat.

“He came down to the locker room after the game and congratulated me. I’m not going to get into whether he was upset or not. I would understand it if he were, because it is not pleasant to come and then not play a minute. But he is still a great team-mate and one of the national team’s captains,” the forward stated.

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Torres has had an ill-fated time at Stamford Bridge following his £50million move from Liverpool in January, and will find the competition for first team places even more intense this season with the summer additions of Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku.

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Chelsea look set to beat rivals Arsenal and Tottenham in the race for Bolton defender Gary Cahill when the transfer window opens in January the Metro understands.

Stamford Bridge boss Andre Villas-Boas is keen to strengthen his back line and it’s now being reported that the Blues have an agreement in place to sign Cahill.

The 25-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Arsenal and Tottenham in the summer with both clubs failing with late bids for the player who’s form over the last 18 months has seen him become a regular in the England setup.

Valued at around £15 million by the Trotters boss Owen Coyle described the offers from North London as ‘derisory’ but with Cahill’s contract expiring at the end of the season his price will be significantly reduced come January.

It’s likely the centre back will look to leave the Reebok Stadium at the start of next year with Bolton currently rooted to the foot of the Premier League table.

With Cahill looking to maintain his place in the England squad a move to Chelsea will appeal to him as they can offer Champions League football as well as a chance to challenge for the league.

[divider]

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FREE football app that pays you to view ads

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Carlo Ancelotti has hinted that he would relish a return to management in England with the big clubs in England. The Italian suggested that Wenger is up against it Arsenal, while claiming that with Capello set to be replaced by an Englishmen for the national team there is likely to be a vacancy to fill at the end of the season (Tottenham job anyone?)

Elsewhere in the news today Everton pledge action on unruly fans; Maiga wants Newcastle move, while Chelsea toy with Stadium move.

 

Capello wants a win in Montenegro

Ancelotti wants management role in England

Chelsea toying with Stadium move

Revenge on Scholes’ mind

Everton pledge action on unruly fans

Wenger gives up on title ambitions

Niall Quinn moves roles at Sunderland

Maiga wants Newcastle move

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Andy Carroll thanks Liverpool fans

Sagna leg break confirmed

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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is unhappy with his side’s upcoming fixture list, that will see The Reds play two games in the space of 48 hours.

The Anfield outfit take on Manchester City on Sunday 27th November in a 4pm kick-off, before travelling down to London to face Chelsea in the Carling Cup on the following Tuesday night.

The Scottish coach has admitted to trying to shuffle the fixtures around, and is frustrated by the lack of understanding from the Football League.

“It is disgraceful in this day and age that players are being asked to play a key Premier League game and then a League Cup quarter-final in London just 48 hours later,” he stated to Liverpool’s official website.

“It’s understandable with the Spurs v PAOK Salonika (Europa League) match and the TUC rally that the Met Police have said that our game cannot be played on the Wednesday.

“But it’s surely the duty of the football authorities to think of other solutions which consider the welfare of the players and this clearly hasn’t happened.

“When we ask the Football League to move our game to a later date, we’re told it’s impossible. Where’s the logic in that?

“If the Football League want to devalue their own competition, that’s up to them, but they shouldn’t then be upset if people use these games to help in the development of young players.

“The one thing I will say to our fans is to think carefully before buying tickets for the League Cup game.

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“We do not want them spending their money and then we decide there is no other option but to use only young players in the tie,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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