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      Steven Gerrard lined up for shock management return to Championship after rejecting chance to take over a Saudi club

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      STEVEN GERRARD is being lined up for a shock return to management in the Championship.The former Rangers boss remains available after rejecting the chance to take over a club in Saudi Arabia.
      Steven Gerrard is being lined up for a shock return to managementCredit: PA
      Steven Gerrard rejected the chance to take over a club in Saudi ArabiaCredit: EPA
      According to the bookies, Gerrard is the favourite to take over the vacant Sheffield Wednesday job at odds of just 6/4.
      The newly promoted Championship side are without a manager following Darren Moore’s departure on Monday.
      Former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Bruno Lage had previously been tipped as possible choice, but has since seen his odds drift.
      Gerrard currently leads the way with bookies ahead of Carlos Carvalhal, who previously reached the play-off final with the Owls in 2016.
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      Moore shockingly parted ways with Wednesday earlier this week, with the club announcing he had left by mutual consent.
      The move came just weeks after he had guided the club back to the second tier by beating Barnsley in the League One play-off final at Wembley.

      His backroom staff have also departed the club, who will discover their fixtures for their Championship return on Thursday.
      Gerrard’s links to the vacant job comes after he confirmed he had turned down an offer to manage in the Saudi Pro League.
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      The Liverpool legend had reportedly been close to being appointed by Al-Ettifaq after being pictured at the club’s training ground last week.
      However, he confirmed he had turned down the offer when he appeared as a pundit on Channel 4’s coverage of England’s win over North Macedonia on Monday.
      Gerrard explained: “I was invited over there [Saudi Arabia] to look at a potential offer, which I did.
      “But, as we stand right now, I won’t be taking that offer up.” More

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      Burnley boss Vincent Kompany tipped to manage ex-club Manchester City one day

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      VINCENT KOMPANY has been tipped as a Manchester City manager of the future – by one of his Burnley stars.The Belgian took the Clarets back to the Premier League at the first attempt and the second-tier champions face the Treble winners in the new season kick-off on August 11 at Turf Moor.
      Vincent Kompany led Burnley to the Championship title in his first season in chargeCredit: Getty
      Kompany was linked with the Tottenham job this summer but is staying at the Premier League newboysCredit: PA
      City boss Pep Guardiola reckons it is ‘written in the stars’ that the legendary defender Kompany will get a crack at the Etihad hotseat.
      And Burnley full-back Connor Roberts says his team-mates are relieved that the 37-year-old, linked with Tottenham this summer, has stayed put in Lancashire.
      But he concedes his boss Kompany is primed to reach the very top in management.
      Roberts said: “Vincent will go and have that Man City job one day. I can’t express how good Vincent and his staff are.
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      “I thought I knew quite a lot about football about how to play and what to do. But this season working with them, now I know a lot more.
      “There was relief, he’s a brilliant manager. To know they are going to be there going forward is brilliant because you learn so much from them.”
      Roberts says he can see the similarities between Guardiola and Kompany with City’s style having an influence on the way Burnley play.
      The Wales defender, 27, has been given the John Stones role by moving into midfield as an inverted full-back.
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      Roberts added: “They are similar, 100 per cent. I watch Man City and we aren’t them but I see massive similarities in the way we are asked to play. We might not be able to do it as good as they can.
      “But you do see similarities. Vincent and his staff are so good at getting their point across about what they expect of you.
      “When I watch games now, the messages he portrays come into your head.
      “You know what to do in every situation from build up to attack to defending in different parts of the pitch. You know where you should be in every moment of the game.
      “At the start of the season I played right centre-back and the manager pulled me in after three or four games. He said the role I was playing was very important.
      “I thought, ‘I’ll try my best and if I’m asked to do that and do it very well then I’m going to stay in the team’. I was a scholar at Swansea as a central midfielder so I knew what to expect.
      “I have enjoyed the new role massively. The hardest part is when you have players behind you and you’re not used to checking your shoulder or turning into them. I have done fairly well.
      “It’s something I never thought I could see myself doing when I was playing right wing for Swansea under Graham Potter.
      “I had no interest in being a coach or a manager before but working with Vincent and his staff means I might want to see if I can do it at a later date.
      “It helps that we have a lot of the ball. It will be interesting to see if I’m asked to play in the same way in the Premier League next season.”
      Burnley’s non-internationals returned to pre-season training on June 5 – even before City had finished their campaign.
      Roberts, who played for Wales in their embarrassing 4-2 home Euro 2024 qualifying loss to Armenia on Friday, said: “The manager didn’t want the boys to have eight weeks off since we finished.
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      “There is only a handful of first team players there.
      They put in the work and hopefully that will help us next season going into it with everybody ready and ticked over with not too long a time off. Then it could only affect us positively.” More

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      Southampton set to price Premier League new-boys Burnley out for striker Nathan Tella with shock valuation

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      RELEGATED Southampton are demanding £15million for Nathan Tella.The attacker, 23, helped Burnley win the Championship while on loan there last season.
      Nathan Tella is being priced out of a move to BurnleyCredit: PA
      But the Clarets are unlikely to pay that much to sign him.
      The former Arsenal trainee enjoyed a breakout campaign for Vincent Kompany’s side.
      He was their leading scorer with 17 goals, as Burnley secured top-flight football.
      However, while he was shining on loan, his parent club endured a miserable campaign.
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      The Saints finished rock bottom and were demoted from the top division for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
      They also parted company with three managers this term: Ralph Hasenhüttl, Nathan Jones and most recently Ruben Selles.
      As for Tella, Southampton are in a strong position with the player.
      The Lambeth-born winger signed a long-term contract at St Mary’s in 2020.
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      His deal on the South Coast doesn’t expire until 2025.
      Tella, himself, has also remained coy on his future.
      He told BBC Radio Lancashire: “I haven’t really thought about it, I know I’m contracted to Southampton so I’m looking forward to going back there and doing pre-season.”
      Tella is expected to be part of the Southampton squad that reports to Staplewood for pre-season training. More

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      Inside abandoned stadium left as a park with centre circle still intact and players’ entrance still there between houses

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      VETCH Field was once the proud home of Swansea City and occasionally the Wales national team.With a capacity of 12,000 when it closed and 30,000 in its heyday, it’s a place that Swansea City fans called home from 1912 all the way up until 2005.
      Vetch field was the home of Swansea City between 1912 and 2005Credit: PA
      The stadium had a 12,000 seater capacityCredit: PA
      Vetch Field is now Vetch parkCredit: The Sun
      A wall of the ground that remains intactCredit: Getty
      It was once host to The Who in 1976 and Stevie Wonder in 1984 for packed out concerts.
      However, there are few clues that Swansea’s stadium ever stood on the site of the Vetch now.
      The stands of the once iconic stadium were knocked down in 2011, after Swansea left for the Swansea.com Stadium in 2005.
      The stadium site is a local park and almost all remnants of the ground have been wiped out.
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      The only clues that a stadium once stood there is an old gate for the East Stand that now leads only to bricked up walls and a rusting players’ entrance that sits between two houses.
      There is also an old wall from the ground which sits in the corner of the park, which is helpfully labelled with Swansea City graffiti.
      But most shocking of all is the image of where the pitch once stood.
      Now a non-descript local park, it consists of a series of fields with only a concrete cage being present for anyone that wants to play football.
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      The Vetch had a Luton Town-style entrance between houses for its playersCredit: PA
      The gate now is part of what little is left of the stadiumCredit: The Sun
      The gates of the East Stand remain in the roads surrounding the parkCredit: The Sun
      West Ham visited Vetch Field during a 1999 FA Cup third round replayCredit: Getty
      The stadium lay completely abandoned between 2005 and 2011, much to the annoyance of fans.
      Pictures from those six years show a post-apocalyptic image of crumbling stands stood between grass that had not been cut since 2005.
      The site was meant to become a housing development but bureaucracy meant it stood derelict until 2011.
      When demolition finally began, angry fans ‘stole’ artefacts they thought should be preserved for the club’s history.
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      Most notable of this was the Vetch Field clock which went missing for a period of time before fans came forward to donate the artefact to the Swansea museum.
      One part of the Vetch does remain in tact among the confines of the local park however.
      It was ruled that the centre circle could not be touched during redevelopment due to fans’ ashes being spread on it.
      The centre circle of the Vetch remains in tact as fans’ had their ashes spread thereCredit: Getty
      Swansea have been at their new home, the Swansea.com Stadium, since 2005.
      During that period the team were promoted to the Premier League in 2011 which marked one of the most successful period in the club’s history.
      After establishing themselves as a top tier side, they went onto win the 2013 League Cup with an iconic side that included cult hero Michu.
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      Their new ground would go on to host Europa League football as a result, with a cup run that included a 3-0 away victory against Valencia.
      While the new stadium has seen some good times, many Swans fans still believe that the atmosphere cannot compare to the old Vetch. More

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      Leicester name Enzo Maresca as new manager just days after helping lead Man City to stunning Treble triumph

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      LEICESTER have confirmed Enzo Maresca as their new manager.The Italian, 43, leaves his position as a Manchester City coach after helping Pep Guardiola’s side clinch a sensational Treble.
      Enzo Maresca has been confirmed as Leicester’s new head coachCredit: Getty
      Maresca, left, was a part of Pep Guardiola’s Treble-winning Manchester City staffCredit: Getty
      He will now look to guide Leicester back to the Premier League following their final-day relegation down to the Championship.
      Speaking about joining the club, Maresca told the club website: “I’m very excited because of the Club [I’m joining] and because we have a big season ahead of us.
      “At the beginning, the target is to play in the best way we can. From there, we can build, day by day, our idea and our philosophy, and the most important thing is to try to win games.
      “First of all, we’re going to give 100 per cent, absolutely, because the Club deserves this. It’s our job, our duty to do that.
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      “Then, as I said, day by day, step by step, absolutely we’re going to improve.”
      Dean Smith took charge from Brendan Rodgers for the final eight games of last season.
      Leicester interviewed a host of names for the position – including Smith, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Graham Potter, Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker.
      But Maresca is understood to have impressed in conversations with Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and director of football Jon Rudkin – where he “outlined his philosophy and vision” for their future.
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      His only past experience of being a head coach came at Parma where he was sacked after 14 games.
      Maresca, who was linked with the Southampton job during the 2022/23 campaign, will find out his opening day opponent when the Championship fixtures are announced on June 22.
      Leicester are in the midst of a huge squad overhaul.
      Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey, Nampalys Mendy, Ayoze Perez and Ryan Bertrand all departed when their contracts expired at the end of the season.
      James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Wilfred Ndidi and Timothy Castagne are also being linked with moves away from the King Power Stadium. More

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      Fans baffled as Premier League club release new badge labelled ‘bland, boring and not needed’

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      FOOTBALL fans are far from impressed with Burnley’s new badge.Burnley updated their club crest earlier this week, changing the primary colours from blue, yellow and back to just claret and white.
      Burnley have changed their club badge
      The new version of the badge already features on all of the club’s social media pages as well as the website.
      However, fans have complained that it is too “boring”.
      One person tweeted: “As a designer, so much cleaner. As a football fan, soulless.”
      Another commented: “Downgrade, very dull.”
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      A third added: “I actually really like their old badge. Not a fan at all of this new one. Really boring and feels like a poor attempt at making it look modern.”
      While a fourth wrote: “Just like every other new football badge, it’s bland, boring and not needed.”
      Burnley will return to the Premier League next season following a successful campaign in the Championship.
      The Clarets earned promotion by winning the division under the management of Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany, who was appointed last summer.
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      Burnley are expected to make several new additions this summer.
      Out-of-favour Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga could make the switch to Turf Moor, with Kompany eyeing a reunion.
      The duo worked together at Anderlecht before Lokonga joined the Gunners in 2021.
      Burnley also want to sign Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, who is expected to cost £20million. More

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      Leicester set to name untried Man City coach as new manager after interviewing five ex-Premier League bosses

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      LEICESTER are reportedly set to appoint Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca as their new manager.The Foxes were relegated down to the Championship on the final day of the Premier League season.
      Man City coach Enzo Maresca, left, is set to take charge at LeicesterCredit: Getty
      Dean Smith took charge from Brendan Rodgers for the final eight games of the campaign.
      But he left at the end of the season and The Telegraph are now claiming Maresca is poised to take charge.
      The Italian, 43, was one of Pep Guardiola’s coaches during Man City’s Treble-winning triumph.
      He is understood to have impressed in conversations with Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and director of football Jon Rudkin – where he “outlined his philosophy and vision” for the club’s future.
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      Leicester, who are said to have sought the view of ex-player Esteban Cambiasso during their hunt for a manager, interviewed a host of names.
      They included Smith, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Graham Potter, Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker.

      But they seem to have landed on Maresca – who was linked with the vacant job at Southampton during the 2022/23 season.
      His only past experience of being a head coach came at Parma where he was sacked after 14 games.
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      Leicester are in the midst of a huge squad overhaul.
      Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey, Nampalys Mendy, Ayoze Perez and Ryan Bertrand all departed when their contracts expired at the end of the season.
      James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Wilfred Ndidi and Timothy Castagne are also being linked with moves away from the King Power Stadium. More

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      Three A-list sports stars in running to invest in Leeds United amid takeover by NFL giants

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      SURPRISE sporting superstars have been revealed as potential investors in a multi-million-pound takeover of struggling football giants Leeds United.Rickie Fowler has revealed he is one of three top US golfers looking to get involved in Leeds as part of an imminent buy-out by 49ers Enterprises.
      Relegated Leeds United are on the verge of multi-million-pound US investmentCredit: PA
      The American investment group is set to take charge of the club after agreeing a deal to purchase chairman Andrea Radrizzani’s controlling stake.
      And Fowler has now told of being converted to the Elland Road cause – along with fellow golfers Jordan Spieth, a three-time major winner, and double PGA Championship title-holder Justin Thomas.
      The trio – thought to have a combined net worth of £175million – became fans of the West Yorkshire club thanks to another player Matt Fitzpatrick’s Leeds-supporting caddie Billy Foster.
      Sheffield-born Fitzpatrick won his first major, the US Open, in June last year.
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      The American threesome’s new-found enthusiasm comes despite Leeds being relegated last month from the Premier League to the Championship, having gone through three managers in the past season – Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and ex-England boss Sam Allardyce.
      Fowler told Sky Sports News: “There’s the group that’s moving forward with being involved with Leeds – myself, JT and Jordan, so potentially we’ll be a part of it.
      “It’s cool to have these opportunities. I know we’re looking into it, and it would be fun if we get to be a part of it, if not we’ll continue to root for Leeds.
      “Obviously they got relegated but to get to go to a Premier League game, a Champions League game – any of that.
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      “It’s called football over there, we call it soccer here but it’s a massive sport and I feel like it is continuing to get bigger in the States.
      “Since I haven’t been to a game, I don’t have the true appreciation until I’ve been actually able to go and be there and feel that energy.”
      Leeds confirmed that a deal had been reached with 49ers Enterprises last week, despite being forced back to the negotiating table in the wake of the team’s relegation to the Championship.
      The American group, also the owner of NFL side the San Francisco 49ers, has been a majority shareholder in Leeds since 2018.
      The firm increased its stake to 44 per cent in 2021, with the option of buying Radrizzani’s remaining 56 per cent before next January.
      But the club’s recent relegation has seen its buy-out price plunge – reportedly from £400million to £170million.
      Fowler said of caddie Foster’s influence: “We told him after knowing he is a huge Leeds United supporter.”
      Former England boss Sam Allardyce was unable to keep Leeds in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Outgoing Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani is selling up to 49ers EnterprisesCredit: PA
      Golfing star Rickie Fowler has gone public on plans to splash out on Leeds UnitedCredit: Getty
      Three-time major-winner Jordan Spieth could also invest in the Yorkshire clubCredit: Getty
      Fellow American Justin Thomas has similarly become a fan of the Elland Road sideCredit: Getty More