Tuesday 01st April gossip column
TRANSFER RUMOURS
Birmingham loan signing Mauro Zarate is to have talks aimed at making his move from Qatar side Al-Sadd permanent. (Various)
Striker David Connolly will leave Sunderland for Sheffield Wednesday providing The Owls can avoid relegation. (Various)
Portsmouth target John Mensah has revealed that Reading and other unnamed Premiership clubs have also made enquiries about him. (The Sun)
Leicester's former Birmingham striker DJ Campbell is being watched by Watford, Charlton and Cardiff. (Daily Star)
Burnley are monitoring the progress of Manchester United winger Sean Evans, who will be free to leave Old Trafford this summer. (Daily Star)
West Ham are planning a summer move for Lazio's Swiss international midfielder Valon Behrami, who is stalling on a new deal with the Italian club. (Daily Star)
Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy is likely to leave this summer in an attempt to boost his international claims, with Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday interested in him. (Daily Star)
Pedro Moutinho's agent has warned Falkirk they risk losing the Portuguese striker unless they stop stalling on a new contract. (Various)
OTHER GOSSIP
Feuding Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have asked not to sit together at Wednesday's Champions League match with Arsenal. (The Guardian)
Bolton manager Gary Megson will not be sacked even if the club are relegated from the top flight. (Daily Mirror)
Norwich manager Glenn Roeder has banned his players from going to nightclubs after matches following Matty Pattison's arrest for drink-driving. (Daily Mirror)
Former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit says Avram Grant will never have respect at Stamford Bridge unless he wins a major trophy. (Daily Express)
Wigan boss Steve Bruce has urged owner Dave Whelan to emulate Portsmouth and invest heavily on established Premiership stars. (The Sun)
Barnsley defender Bobby Hassell insists he would have preferred not to reach the FA Cup semi-finals as it has affected the club's league form. (The Sun)
Spurs defender Jonathan Woodgate says the team needs to show more pride, following their humiliating 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle. (Various)
Derby manager Paul Jewell will be given around £10m to spend in the summer in an attempt to make an immediate return to the Premiership. (Daily Mirror)
Hearts have knocked back the chance of a repeat pre-season friendly with Barcelona to focus on their preparations for the next campaign. (Daily Express)
AND FINALLY
England coach Fabio Capello believes it might be easier for his players to learn Italian than him to speak English. (The Sun)
Accrington Stanley are to change their name to Lancashire Stanley United from next season. (Accrington club website)
Hartlepool have unveiled a new centenary kit for next season - in black-and-white hoops [the colours of local rivals Darlington]. (Hartlepool club website)
Bury manager Alan Knill, 43, has registered himself as a player for their relegation run-in. (Bury club website)
Luton mascot Harry the Hatter has been kidnapped on the way to Debenhams, while Oldham's Chaddy the Owl has had his costume stolen. (Luton and Oldham club websites)
Plymouth have unveiled a tartan away kit for next season, paying homage to manager Paul Sturrock and the other Scots on the playing staff. (Plymouth club website)
Port Vale are to move to a new £35m stadium named after chairman Bill Bratt, across the road from their current Vale Park home. (Port Vale club website)
Wycombe midfielder Sergio Torres is to record an album of folk songs. (Wycombe club website)
Preston are to pay tribute to their 1957/58 team by commissioning some "Invincible Gold"-coloured seats [suspiciously similar in colour to the tangerine of rivals Blackpool]. (Preston club website)
Oxford United will hold a Rodeo Day competition as the bronze ox statue outside their ground has been fitted with a "bucking bronco" setting. Making guest appearances at the event will be Billy Ray Cyrus, Billy Boy Walton, Billy Ray Reardon and Roy Walker. (Oxford club website).
Brighton's tired players have been training at theme park Chessington World of Adventures for three days this week, riding rollercoasters to rejuvenate their weary limbs. (Brighton club website).
Northampton could be deducted points after a complaint was lodged over the colour of socks they wore in a recent game. Boss Stuart Gray expects to hear something "before noon today". (Northampton club website)
Burnley plan to ground-share with arch-rivals Blackburn at Ewood Park in 2010/11 while Turf Moor is redeveloped. (Burnley club website)
Lincoln City are proposing to switch the kick-offs of matches from Saturday at 1500 to Monday at 1000, to reduce their carbon footprint. (Lincoln club website)
TRANSFER RUMOURS
Birmingham loan signing Mauro Zarate is to have talks aimed at making his move from Qatar side Al-Sadd permanent. (Various)
Striker David Connolly will leave Sunderland for Sheffield Wednesday providing The Owls can avoid relegation. (Various)
Portsmouth target John Mensah has revealed that Reading and other unnamed Premiership clubs have also made enquiries about him. (The Sun)
Leicester's former Birmingham striker DJ Campbell is being watched by Watford, Charlton and Cardiff. (Daily Star)
Burnley are monitoring the progress of Manchester United winger Sean Evans, who will be free to leave Old Trafford this summer. (Daily Star)
West Ham are planning a summer move for Lazio's Swiss international midfielder Valon Behrami, who is stalling on a new deal with the Italian club. (Daily Star)
Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy is likely to leave this summer in an attempt to boost his international claims, with Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday interested in him. (Daily Star)
Pedro Moutinho's agent has warned Falkirk they risk losing the Portuguese striker unless they stop stalling on a new contract. (Various)
OTHER GOSSIP
Feuding Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have asked not to sit together at Wednesday's Champions League match with Arsenal. (The Guardian)
Bolton manager Gary Megson will not be sacked even if the club are relegated from the top flight. (Daily Mirror)
Norwich manager Glenn Roeder has banned his players from going to nightclubs after matches following Matty Pattison's arrest for drink-driving. (Daily Mirror)
Former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit says Avram Grant will never have respect at Stamford Bridge unless he wins a major trophy. (Daily Express)
Wigan boss Steve Bruce has urged owner Dave Whelan to emulate Portsmouth and invest heavily on established Premiership stars. (The Sun)
Barnsley defender Bobby Hassell insists he would have preferred not to reach the FA Cup semi-finals as it has affected the club's league form. (The Sun)
Spurs defender Jonathan Woodgate says the team needs to show more pride, following their humiliating 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle. (Various)
Derby manager Paul Jewell will be given around £10m to spend in the summer in an attempt to make an immediate return to the Premiership. (Daily Mirror)
Hearts have knocked back the chance of a repeat pre-season friendly with Barcelona to focus on their preparations for the next campaign. (Daily Express)
AND FINALLY
England coach Fabio Capello believes it might be easier for his players to learn Italian than him to speak English. (The Sun)
Accrington Stanley are to change their name to Lancashire Stanley United from next season. (Accrington club website)
Hartlepool have unveiled a new centenary kit for next season - in black-and-white hoops [the colours of local rivals Darlington]. (Hartlepool club website)
Bury manager Alan Knill, 43, has registered himself as a player for their relegation run-in. (Bury club website)
Luton mascot Harry the Hatter has been kidnapped on the way to Debenhams, while Oldham's Chaddy the Owl has had his costume stolen. (Luton and Oldham club websites)
Plymouth have unveiled a tartan away kit for next season, paying homage to manager Paul Sturrock and the other Scots on the playing staff. (Plymouth club website)
Port Vale are to move to a new £35m stadium named after chairman Bill Bratt, across the road from their current Vale Park home. (Port Vale club website)
Wycombe midfielder Sergio Torres is to record an album of folk songs. (Wycombe club website)
Preston are to pay tribute to their 1957/58 team by commissioning some "Invincible Gold"-coloured seats [suspiciously similar in colour to the tangerine of rivals Blackpool]. (Preston club website)
Oxford United will hold a Rodeo Day competition as the bronze ox statue outside their ground has been fitted with a "bucking bronco" setting. Making guest appearances at the event will be Billy Ray Cyrus, Billy Boy Walton, Billy Ray Reardon and Roy Walker. (Oxford club website).
Brighton's tired players have been training at theme park Chessington World of Adventures for three days this week, riding rollercoasters to rejuvenate their weary limbs. (Brighton club website).
Northampton could be deducted points after a complaint was lodged over the colour of socks they wore in a recent game. Boss Stuart Gray expects to hear something "before noon today". (Northampton club website)
Burnley plan to ground-share with arch-rivals Blackburn at Ewood Park in 2010/11 while Turf Moor is redeveloped. (Burnley club website)
Lincoln City are proposing to switch the kick-offs of matches from Saturday at 1500 to Monday at 1000, to reduce their carbon footprint. (Lincoln club website)