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    League of Ireland legend Dermot Keely returns to Dundalk amid club’s financial uncertainty ahead of book launch

    IT WAS long down the list of priorities but Dundalk’s difficulties left Dermot Keely wondering whether he needed to source a new venue for his book launch.Keely will touch down in Ireland today for a whistle-stop tour of Q & A sessions around Ireland to promote his autobiography ‘Better Without The Ball’ which I have written with him.Dundalk legend Dermot Keely has written an autobiography ‘Better Without The Ball’Dermot Keely in action for Dundalk back in 1980Although a Dubliner, Oriel Park – where we will be in The Lilywhite Lounge from 7:30pm tomorrow – was a natural first port of call.Fans gathered there on Monday evening amid fears liquidation was on the cards. Thankfully, they have been allayed for now but there is still work to be done to ensure the club’s future is safeguarded.Keely’s return will serve as a reminder of its illustrious past.He won honours with the club both as a player and a manager. His sons Alan – now sadly deceased – and Peter settled in the town and he, too, lived there for a time but is now based in Lanzarote.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL The news that club was in danger of going out of business may have come as a shock to those reared on domestic dominance and reaching the group stages of the Europa League.But, for Keely, it was a reminder that, throughout the 1994-95 season which ended with an unlikely league title, the wolf was never far from the door.An injection of £100,000 was said to be needed to keep the club afloat with the loan signing of Warren Patmore cancelled to cut costs.Fewer than 200 turned up for an early fixture against Cobh Ramblers. Most read in FootballOne director suggested wages should be linked to how many people came through the gate to which Keely responded that presumably he would have been OK if the same logic had applied when 19,000 turned up to see Celtic in 1979, a game in which he had played.Keely told SunSport: “I wrote in the book about this cycle of boom and bust. I was there for part of the boom times when I was a player at Dundalk and I was there as manager when the club was struggling to keep going.Inside the world’s abandoned stadiums, which have been abandoned and left to rot after years of disuse and in desperate need of repair“So it’s not the first time this has happened.“The book is important to me because I’ve spent a lot of time on it but there are people’s jobs on the line here and it was, and still is, a worrying time and I really hope things work out in the end.“Something has to be done with the structure of the club to ensure that it can continue.“Shamrock Rovers is a good example of a club that could have gone to the wall and is now well-run, playing out of a stadium owned and developed by the local council.“Then you’ve Sligo Rovers who raised more than €500,000 last year through fundraising.“There has to be a part for the fans to play in the running of the club now. It’s a great club which is supported by people that really love the club, they’re not fly-by-nights, and they have to have a voice.“This has to be a big wake-up call for everyone and you can’t ignore it. It’s only a few years ago that they were playing in the group stages of European football, it’s not the distant past.“It needs everyone to sit down and decide what’s the best way forward for Dundalk FC for Dundalk rather than person A, B or C.“And the FAI has a lot to answer for with someone coming in and taking over the club when the licensing process has been completed with no due diligence done.“I’m sure there are fans of other clubs thinking that could be them next week, next month or next year.”A 37-year career in the League of Ireland made him well aware of just how precarious the industry here could be.Aside from Dundalk, he was player-manager at UCD when their dabbling in professionalism did not work out, leading to a move to Shamrock Rovers.He was at Rovers when the club owners sold Milltown. And he freely admits in the book that he failed to grasp the significance of that in the same way that supporters did, having been sold – and bought – a pup to say Tolka Park would be developed.He was at Dublin City when the club shut down and returned to Shelbourne – his last job – when it too had come close to extinction.But, along the way, there was a lot of success. As a player and manager, he won nine league titles and the FAI Cup seven times, the first with an amateur Home Farm side in 1975 which also included his brother Joe.PERSONAL ACCOLADES Dermot was PFAI Player of the Year once and SWAI Personality of the Year twice.Having lined out against them in Europe, he turned down the chance to sign for Celtic, unhappy with the basic wage on offer, along with the requirement to sell his house, surrender his passport and shave off his beard.He was stunned to learn from a customer – and Shels fan – John Davis, in the now-closed Keely’s Bar in Lanzarote, that his dad, Peter, had also rejected a cross-channel move, to Leeds United, in 1947, having also decided he was better off staying put.Although Dermot managed full-time in his first stint with Shels, he was more comfortable combining football with his day job as a teacher with current Reds boss Damien Duff among his students.And he was at his happiest at provincial clubs, particularly Dundalk and Sligo Rovers.There the travel involved provided hilarious anecdotes involving John Gill’s Mini and scattered and flattened geese, missed trains in Edgeworthstown as well as stolen clothes from an end-of-season trip to Spain.He won silverware north of the border with Glentoran in the early 1980s and can recall receiving an anonymous threatening phone call to the house, being driven at by a team-mate and needing police protection.Learning that previously-unknown detail about his dad’s career prompted him to write an account of his own.The process came to a halt during the Covid-19 pandemic which had been preceded by a dispute with the landlord over a new lease for the premises where Keely’s Bar was located. It did not reopen.The recording of his footballing life recommenced following the tragic sudden passing of his son Alan in his sleep in 2021, something he combined with working a couple of nights a week in Paddy’s Bar in Puerto del Carmen’s Old Town.The book opens with a moving account about Alan’s loss and the impact it has had on him and Alan’s partner Maria and children Mia and Daniel.Despite living out of the country for six years, his legacy is such that he has been able to attract names such as Duff and former Ireland boss Stephen Kenny to different nights.Even so he said: “I’m s****ing myself, I’ve done everything, played in cup finals, played in Europe, and I was never nervous.“I was always able to hype myself up and get going, I couldn’t guarantee everyone else was going to play but I could guarantee I would. This is the first thing I’ve done I’ve been nervous about.”Dermot Keely Question & Answer SessionsThursday September 19: The Lilywhite Lounge, Oriel Park, Dundalk, 7:30pmFriday September 20: The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 6pm (prior to Derry City v Shamrock Rovers)Saturday September 21: The Showgrounds, 6pm (prior to Sligo Rovers v Dundalk)Monday September 23: Home Farm FC, Whitehall, Dublin, 6pmWednesday September 25: Shelbourne FC, Tolka Park, Dublin, 7:30pmThursday September 26: Glen of Aherlow Bar, Inchicore, Dublin, 7:30pmFriday Saturday 27: Tallaght Stadium, 6pm (prior to Shamrock Rovers v St Patrick’s Athletic)READ MORE SUN STORIESSaturday September 28: The Oval, Belfast (prior to Glentoran v Glenavon)The book is priced at €20 and will be available for purchase with cash or Revolut at the Q&A sessions. More

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    England star Anthony Gordon asks his fiancée to bring self help book Cristiano Ronaldo swears by to Euro 2024

    ANTHONY GORDON has asked his missus to bring a self-help book out to Germany with her that Cristiano Ronaldo swears by.England winger Gordon is a big reader of non-fiction as part of his holistic approach to maximising his potential.Anthony Gordon is a big believer in a holistic approachCredit: AlamyKnowing Cristiano Ronaldo read Tony Robbins’ Life Force impressed GordonCredit: GettyHere’s the new reading for Three Lions’ wideman GordonCredit: AmazonSo his ears pricked up when Three Lions training goalkeeper Tom Heaton revealed at dinner that Portugal megastar Ronaldo, 39, is a huge fan of Life Force by Tony Robbins.Gordon, 22, then told fiancee Annie to buy it so he can add it to the other two reads he has with him at the Euros.The Newcastle forward revealed to BBC Radio 5 Live: “Tom Heaton was talking about Ronaldo at the table the other day and said that was the book he was reading and had suggested to the Man Utd lads.“I was earwigging about the stuff he was saying, what’s good for the body, and I was thinking, ‘If Ronaldo reads it, I’m going to have a little read and see if I can pick anything out!’”READ MORE ENGLAND NEWSGordon has already brought The Art of Winning: Ten Lessons in Leadership, Purpose and Potential by New Zealand rugby union icon Dan Carter.As well as Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within, a memoir by retired NAVY Seal and ultra-marathon specialist David Goggins, designed to unlock the true power of your grey matter.The content of all three and Gordon’s interest in them speaks to the Liverpudlian’s obsession with self-improvement.He is a huge believer in the merits of visualisation and meditation, as he divulged to Gary Neville on his fascinating recent episode on Sky Bet’s The Overlap.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSThe book Gordon claims has made the biggest impact on his life so far is called Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness by elite performance coach turned bestselling author, whose clients included basketball legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.Though it does not sound like there will be too many of the current England squad taking Gordon up on any of his reading recommendations.Gary Neville says ‘I’m struggling to see how we go the whole way’ as he reveals England’s major weakness at Euro 2024The former Everton man said: “Have we got a book club? We definitely do not have a book club!“I’m not sure how many of us read, everyone is into different things.“I think there’s a few of us who read, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you who.“It’s sort of like a meditation for me, now.“I like self-help books, a lot of psychology things. I feel like I’m going to read it and be better or come out of it knowing something that I didn’t before.”Gordon is the type of professional athlete that will turn to sources outside football to help his game.He grew up boxing and claims the sweet science has helped with his physicality and durability on the pitch.While he taught himself chess during last summer’s Under-21 Euros in Georgia – a competition he ended up winning and being named player of the tournament.It was also where he started scribbling down his life goals in the past tense.He explained: “I write them as if they have already happened. That gives me no time to debate them and it’s a clear path to follow.Success stories don’t come much greater than Dan Carter’sCredit: AmazonLong-distance runner David Goggins wrote about brain powerCredit: Amazon“I started doing it in the Under-21 Euros. I came off a season when I was struggling. I had just joined Newcastle and I couldn’t really get in the team.“I went to the Under-21 Euros and my main goal was to win player of the tournament and to win the tournament, which I did.“They were two massive goals that have gone on to change my life really, because my trajectory (since then) has gone upwards.”Gordon’s goal last term was to score ten goals for Newcastle, which he surpassed, and become Eddie Howe’s most valued player, which arguably he was, along with Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes.It led to him being included in the England squad this summer, but declared his Euro targets as “private”.Gareth Southgate has been hugely impressed with the Toon star, though he did not use him in Sunday’s 1-0 opening win over Serbia.Gordon sees a similarity between his national boss and Carlo Ancelotti, who managed him at Everton.The explosive attacker said: “They are both very good man-managers, they are very approachable.“They take the pressure off the football a lot. They’re not too tense during pre-match game and around training .READ MORE SUN STORIES“They’re always quite light-hearted, and I like that as a player because if everyone is tense during training and we can all feel the pressure – because we’re all nervous, we all feel pressure – so the more people can make the environment comfortable the better.“They’re very similar in that way.”Meet the grumpy ROBOT waiter looking after England stars at the Euros
    ENGLAND stars will be served by a grumpy ROBOT called Robbie at the Euros.
    Robbie is a key part of 160-strong staff at the vast 350-acre leisure site at Blankenhain, eastern Germany, where Gareth Southgate’s squad will be staying for the tournament.
    The real-life WALL-E – kitted out in a Germany shirt with the name Kehrbart and the squad number 24 on it – helps out in the restaurant.
    Robbie, with flashing blue eyes, says phrases in German including “Excuse me” and “Please let me get on with my work” as he collects dishes from guests at one of the hotel’s six restaurants.
    A source told The Sun: “Robbie is usually a slate grey colour with flashing blue eyes and helps staff deliver plates and dishes.
    “But the German team stayed at the hotel recently so he was given a new look and new name to support them.
    “I’m not sure whether the England team will want to change his look when they arrive but a Three Lions shirt and an English name might be a good idea.”
    Find out all about Robbie the robot waiter… More

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    Tyson Fury teases huge tactical switch for Oleksandr Usyk showdown that could prove to be a huge risk

    TYSON FURY has teased a shock change of tactics for the biggest fight of his career.The Gypsy King is just days away from throwing down with former pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk for all the heavyweight marbles in Saudi Arabia.Tyson Fury faces Oleksandr Usyk for all the heavyweight marbles on Saturday nightCredit: EPAThe Gypsy King took part in an open workout in Riyadh on WednesdayCredit: AFPFury stunned watchers by performing his workout in a southpaw stanceCredit: AFPFury, 35, will have the chance to write his name into the history books by becoming the first undisputed ruler of the division in nearly 25 years.And he seemingly plans to win all the belts by fighting as a SOUTHPAW.The WBC heavyweight king stunned fight fans around the world during Wednesday night’s open workouts by ditching his orthodox stance as he drilled pads with coach Sugarhill Steward.And the switch didn’t go unnoticed, with one boxing fan saying: “Tyson Fury is in southpaw.”READ MORE ON FURY VS USYKAnother said: “Tyson Fury boxes his media workout in southpaw.”And another said: “Is Fury going to fight southpaw?”One remarked: “Tyson Fury does his whole workout in southpaw with Sugar Hill. “THE END OF DAYS.”Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnother chimed in: “Tyson Fury is actually a natural southpaw.”But he was forced to fight orthodox at a very young age in all his fights, so he became a true switch hitter.”Boxing legend Colin Hart has his say on Fury vs Usyk – and reveals who he thinks will winFury’s teasing of a switch to southpaw came just days after former trainer Jamie Moore tipped him to ditch his traditional orthodox stance.During TNT Sports’ Fight Breakdown, the 45-year-old said: ” We’ve seen Fury, in the past, box southpaw a lot.”And I’ve got a feeling he’s gonna box this fight southpaw.”Because he’s quite adaptable and he’s really good at fighting a southpaw.”And it’s easier to get to a southpaw if you’re a southpaw and you know what you’re doing.”And I can’t recall Usyk boxing a top-level southpaw. Not since he was an amateur.”So I’ve got a feeling that’s what Fury’s tactics might be.”READ MORE SUN STORIESMoore, however, reckons Usyk and his team will have anticipated Fury pulling a shock stance switch.He said: “So if I’m putting myself in Usyk’s coaches’ shoes, I’m going, ‘See I think he’s gonna go southpaw.'”Tyson Fury could shock boxing fans by fighting Oleksandr Usyk in a southpaw stanceCredit: AFP More

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    Tottenham had to flog Paul Gascoigne to avoid going bust over £10m debt – now Daniel Levy wants more than £4bn to sell

    TOTTENHAM were once moments from going bust with a debt of £10million they could not repay to the bank.But now Daniel Levy wants £4.25billion for the club, according to a well-placed financial source in a new book published this week.Daniel Levy would want upwards of £4bn to sell the clubCredit: AFPSpurs had to sell Paul Gascoigne to stay afloatCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdEx-Spurs vice-chairman David Buchler revealed how a receiver called in at the club ready to declare it insolvent.That was until a split board finally accepted that the sale of Paul Gascoigne to Lazio for £5.5m was the only solution to saving Spurs from going under.Levy is after new investment but would not accept an outright takeover offer unless it started at £4bn.Tottenham are in talks with potential investors and long-term adviser, Rothschild & Co, has stated that the club “requires a significant increase in its equity base” in order to continue to invest in its teams and “undertake future capital projects”.READ MORE ON SPURSSpurs have received offers from the Far East, Middle East and US but “nothing has been put on our table that we felt has been in the interests of shareholders”.Buchler, of the financial firm Buchler Phillips, has for the first time told the inside story of how close the club came to going bust in 1992.And the former Spurs vice-chairman reveals a tumultuous period in the North Londoners’ history.He said: “My first introduction to the board was during the latter part of 1990 when the club was facing difficulties with their bankers, Midland Bank, over a £10m overdraft.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“I advised the board on insolvency matters and when Nat Solomon became chairman at the beginning of 1991, I became chief executive and vice-chairman. Most read in FootballI remember my first meeting with Midland Bank, meeting Stephen Adamson, a partner of Ernst & Young and a friend, who was introduced to me by Midland Bank as their receiver and manager.Roy Keane told Paul Gascoigne ‘Gazza, stop it’ after England legend taunted Man Utd icon over his ‘wife’“Luckily, because our personal relationship was good, and Midland Bank knew me and respected me, the discussions relating to the reduction in the £10m overdraft quickly became cordial and not confrontational.“This helped me find a solution to what otherwise was a difficult problem. In the end the solution was to sell Paul Gascoigne as he was the only asset the club had that came anywhere near the £10m bank debt.“Realising Gazza’s value was the only way of avoiding the appointment of an insolvency practitioner as receiver and manager — that had become a real possibility, that the bank would appoint a receiver to take control of the running of the club.“It even reached the critical stage that at one meeting, Brian Clair, the Midland Bank director in charge of matters relating to Spurs’ £10m overdraft, had attended with the purpose of recovering the loan.Buchler has said Spurs’ stadium is Daniel Levy’s crowning achievementCredit: RexThe overdraft had hit £10m but you would really laugh today to think that the club nearly went under for that small amount as it’s now worth over £4bn!“Daniel Levy gets a bad press but he is extraordinary, very intelligent and he is like a dog with a bone — but he has done an exceptional job at the club.“The training ground is beyond brilliant, the stadium is something else, as good as you get anywhere in the world.“Both are unbelievable achievements. In years to come, you will look back and say, ‘Wow, did he really do that?’“Of course, he has excelled off the field but on it there could have been more silverware. “However, I am convinced that it will eventually come, particularly under Ange Postecoglou, the new manager.Our beautiful game is broken, says Dave KiddBy Dave Kidd
    WHEN Manchester United got lucky in their FA Cup semi-final, Antony’s first instinct was to goad heartbroken opponents Coventry. To rub their noses in the dirt.
    Antony seems to be a vile individual but this isn’t really about Antony. Because Antony is merely a symptom of the hideous sickness within England’s top flight.
    There is so much wrong.
    After our elite clubs persuaded the FA to completely scrap Cup replays — which gave us Ronnie Radford and Ricky Villa and Ryan Giggs — without due recompense or reasoning with the rest of English football.
    The previous day, after his Manchester City side had defeated Chelsea in the other FA Cup semi-final, Pep Guardiola whinged about the fixture scheduling of TV companies who effectively pay much of his £20m salary.
    Up at Wolves, Guardiola’s friend and rival Mikel Arteta was playing the same sad song about fixture congestion, despite his Arsenal side having played two fewer games this season than Coventry — who don’t have £50m squad players to rotate with.
    Chelsea, oh Chelsea. The one-time plaything of a Russian oligarch now owned by financially incontinent venture capitalists who have piddled £1billion on a squad of players who fight like weasels in a sack about who should bask in the personal glory of scoring the penalty that puts them 5-0 up against Everton.
    Read Dave Kidd’s full column as he takes aim at Nottingham Forest, Fulham’s ticket prices, the 39th game, VAR and much more…

    “Daniel has tried, he has brought in some world-class managers and he has spent as much, if not more, than the biggest clubs, so he can hardly be at fault for the failures of those managers.“As for what he has done with the club, in my opinion he has made it worth £4bn.“I believe Spurs are now a long way ahead of Manchester United and Chelsea, with a stadium that can host football and NFL.“Although Joe Lewis is the majority shareholder, I believe it will be Daniel’s decision whether to sell or not.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I don’t think he particularly wants to sell having brought the club to this level in this new super stadium. But if there’s a realistic offer that matches his valuation, then the club could be sold.” A HISTORY of Spurs — On the Pitch & Off the Drawing Board by Harry Harris & Paul Trevillion, foreword by Glenn Hoddle, price £25, contains over 300 pieces of original Trevillion artwork. Available direct from Empire Publications: enquiries@empire-uk.com More

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    Jack Grealish has enough sexy ‘swagger’ to be character in next book, says saucy author Jilly Cooper

    SAUCY author Jilly Cooper says footie star Jack Grealish has enough sexy “swagger” to be a character in her next book.The 86-year-old best-selling writer — dubbed the Queen of the Bonkbuster — admitted she is mesmerised by the £100million England star.
    Jilly Cooper says Jack Grealish has enough sexy ‘swagger’ to be in her next book
    The saucy author says she’s mesmerised by the England starCredit: Getty
    Jilly said: ‘I love Manchester City. Jack Grealish is like a character from my books’Credit: PA:Press Association/PA Images
    Manchester City’s Jack has adoring fans in a spin with his tight-fitting shorts and rolled down socks, showing off his stocky calves.
    Paired with his long, slicked-backed hair and ­permanent tan, the 28-year-old regularly tops the league for fans when asked to rank the hottest footballers.
    Jilly said: “I love Manchester City. Jack Grealish is like a character from my books. He’s got swagger. I think football is riveting.”
    And she confessed she found the business fascinating while researching for her latest novel, Tackle!
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    The book — tagline “If you want to score, you’ve got to be a player” — sees character Rupert Campbell-Black buy failing club Searston Rovers, attracting the attention of the Wags.
    Jilly said of pro footballers: “They are rich slaves, aren’t they? Footballers are bought and sold.
    “You can be in a team and your contract can be stopped just like that. They might get huge wages, but are under constant scrutiny. Careers are brief.”
    Grealish, who is featured topless on the front cover of the latest Arena Homme Plus magazine, has amassed a £100million personal fortune thanks to his success on the field and a string of lucrative modelling contracts.
    Most read in Football
    The author’s latest novel, Tackle!Credit: Bantam More

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    I’m UK’s most notorious football hooligan – but I went from fighting on terraces to bestselling author & cult movie icon

    A MAN who was once one of the UK’s most notorious football hooligans turned his life around to become a bestselling author and cult movie star.Carlton Leach, 64, built up an infamous reputation for fighting on the terraces at West Ham in the 1980s and ’90s, but now leads a life far away from crime.
    Carlton has left the world of gangs and football hooliganism far behind himCredit: Twitter/Carlton Leach
    Carlton Leach gave up his criminal life in 1995 after his friends were killed in a drug-related shooting
    Leach, who was born in Canning Town, East London, got involved in crime at an early age, after joining the brutal Inter City Firm (ICF), who follow West Ham FC, known as the Hammers.
    The gang got its moniker from using InterCity trains to travel to away matches and start fights with the opposition’s fans.
    The ICF became notorious for leaving a business card on the bodies of those they attacked that read: “Congratulations, you’ve just met the ICF.”
    While he was a part of the gang, Leach met drug dealers Tony Tucker, Craig Rolfe, and Pat Tate.
    Read More on Football Hooligans
    The four men later became members of the notorious Essex Boys gang which sparked a savage drug war in the 1990s.
    Leach was one of Britain’s most feared faces during his 20-year career as a criminal.
    However, he decided to turn his back on a life of crime after three of his best friends and gang mates were murdered in a drug-related shooting.
    Tucker, Rolfe, and Tate were all shot during the 1995 Range Rover shooting.
    Most read in Football
    The three drug dealers were shot in their car on a small farm track in Rettendon, Essex.
    Leach started telling his story in the hope it would deter others from following in his criminal footsteps.
    In 2003, he wrote his first autobiography called “Muscle” about his experiences as a criminal.
    The ex-footie thug then wrote his second memoir in 2009, titled, “Rise of the Footsoldier: In My Game, the Choice Is a Jail or a Grave,” which detailed his stories of violence, gang crime, and the loss of his best friend.
    In October 2021, Leach released his final, bestselling autobiography, entitled, Carlton: The Final Say.
    The book details his early and criminal life, as well as the two most recent decades of his life since.
    His first memoir was turned into a film in 2007, entitled, Rise Of The Footsoldier by Bafta-award nominated director Julian Gilbey.
    It starred actor Ricci Harnett, who played Leach.

    The British crime and gangster film grossed £220,868 and had a second part made in 2015, that followed Leach in the aftermath of the Rettendon murders.
    The 64-year-old also inspired the 2015 film, Essex Boys: Law of Survival, which detailed the Essex boys gang and Range Rover murders of 1995.
    Carlton was previously a member of the football hooligan gang InterCity FirmCredit: Exclusivepix Media
    Carlton has penned three books about his lifeCredit: Twitter/Carlton Leach More

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    ‘It disappoints me terribly’ – Arsenal snub David Dein as they refuse to stock former chief’s book in club store

    DAVID DEIN is being snubbed by old club Arsenal — who refuse to stock his new book in their shop.The former Gunners supremo was one of the main reasons for their successful era under Arsene Wenger and has just published his life story.
    David Dean is being snubbed by old club Arsenal — who refuse to stock his new book in their shopCredit: Getty
    Dein confirmed that the popular book was banned from the Emirates store.
    He revealed: “I’m sad to say it’s not in the Arsenal shop and that disappoints me terribly. It’s very delicate to answer why.
    “The publishers tried to put it in and I heard that the media department wanted to protect the owners, which was unfortunate.”
    Dean was vice-chairman of Arsenal between 1983 and 2007.
    READ MORE ON ARSENAL
    And he recently admitted letting Ashley Cole sign for Chelsea in 2006 was among his greatest regrets.
    He told talkSPORT: “We should never have lost him in my opinion.
    “His contract came up for re-negotiation and we didn’t offer him the right sort of money and meanwhile Chelsea did.
    “And then there was this clandestine meeting. I got a call one day from a journalist from the News of the World at the time.
    Most read in Football
    “He said, ‘We’ve got a hot story off the press that your player Ashley Cole is actually being tapped up by Chelsea, I think you should come and see us’.
    “So I went down to their offices and they showed a signed statement from a waiter in a restaurant, in a hotel where Cole was meeting Chelsea.
    “He was an Arsenal fan, the waiter, clearly, and he gave the story to the News of the World and it broke there and then. That really was the end of that.
    “It was a great shame because Ashley was homegrown, he was an Arsenal boy, and I regret we didn’t do enough at the time to keep him at the club.
    “It was also at the time of building the stadium and financing, tensions were raging about how we were going to finance the new stadium and we were watching every penny.
    “Consequently we didn’t do enough to keep him and I regret that with hindsight. So Ashley, if you’re listening, I’m sorry.”
    David Dean was vice-chairman of Arsenal between 1983 and 2007Credit: Getty More

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    George Foreman reckons Bruce Lee could have been world champion boxer as he was so good he left him with ‘chills’

    BRUCE LEE could have become a boxing world champion, according to one of the legends of the sport George Foreman.A book charting the life of the martial artist, ‘Bruce Lee: The Life of a Legend’, was released in 2020 on the anniversary of his death.
    Bruce Lee: The Life of a Legend delves into the life of arguably the greatest ever martial artist
    George Foreman says watching Bruce Lee in action gave him ‘chills’Credit: Getty – Contributor
    Lee, who died in 1973 after suffering a brain injury, would have been 80 on July 20, 2020.
    Foreman has revealed that watching Lee do his thing in films left him with “chills”.
    And the 73-year-old claims that Lee could have made a big success in the sport where he himself became famous.
    In an excerpt from the book seen by SunSport, Foreman said: “Bruce Lee was a good athlete and he could’ve been a good boxer.
    Read more in sport
    “He could have been anything. In his weight class, he would have been a boxing champion.
    “I remember I was in Hawaii in 1973 and I went in to see the movie Enter the Dragon.
    “When I walked out after the movie, on all my back I had chills on me!
    “I was the heavyweight champion of the world, by the way, but all I could think was, wow!
    Most read in Sport
    “I was in shock! He left all the audiences awestruck. Bruce Lee changed everything!”
    Foreman believes Lee will continue to have “a lasting impression” even another 50 years from now for his “box-office appear and his action skills”.
    He is credited with paving the way for what we know as MMA today with his founding of Jeet Kune Do – a martial art with “minimal effort with maximum effect and extreme speed”.
    Foreman retired from boxing in 1997 at the age of 48 and is a two-time heavyweight champion with a record of 76 wins and five defeats.
    Bruce Lee: The Life of a Legend by Fiaz Rafiq is available now in bookstores and on Amazon More