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      Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou breaks silence on billionaire Joe Lewis’ insider trading charges in turbulent pre-season

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      ANGE POSTECOGLOU insists his Spurs revolution will be unaffected despite supremo Joe Lewis surrendering to US authorities over insider trading charges.Lewis faces 19 charges of securities fraud and conspiracy after appearing in a Manhattan courthouse.
      Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou insists Joe Lewis’ charges won’t affect the seasonCredit: EPA
      The billionaire, 86, whose family trust owns Spurs, has been accused of a “brazen” scheme which allegedly saw girlfriends, business assistants, personal pilots and friends net millions of pounds between them.
      But Spurs boss Postecoglou said: “It doesn’t affect me in terms of what I’m trying to do. No one’s said anything like that to me.
      “Tottenham have already said it’s not a club matter.”
      Lewis has been charged with 16 counts of securities fraud — the first 13 of which carry a max of 20 years in prison — plus three counts of conspiracy from 2013 to 2021 when he was Tottenham owner.
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      Lewis, a Bahamas tax exile, pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released after posting $300million in bail.
      He is due back in court on September 5.
      His lawyer David Zornow said: “The government has made an egregious error in judgment in charging Mr Lewis, a man of impeccable integrity and prodigious accomplishment.
      “Mr Lewis has come to the US voluntarily to answer the ill-conceived charges. We will defend him vigorously in court.”
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      Londoner Lewis bought a controlling stake in Spurs from Alan Sugar for £22m in 2001.
      But he officially ceded control of the club last year, with Bahamian lawyer Bryan Glinton replacing him as a director, according to Companies House.
      Lewis’ stake in the club — which he held through his ENIC group alongside chairman Daniel Levy — was formally handed to a family trust last year, too.
      Some of his family members remain beneficiaries of the trust. But Prem chiefs will NOT intervene as Lewis gave up his majority stake in the club in October.
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      Lewis faces 19 charges of securities fraud and conspiracyCredit: EPA
      A Tottenham spokesperson said: “This is a legal matter unconnected with the club and, as such, we have no comment.”
      However, the scandal could mean Spurs facing a cut-price takeover offer.
      City insiders suggest the club is valued in excess of £3.5BILLION.
      But, although the club pointed to Lewis’ share disposal nine months ago as proof of his lack of involvement, City insiders believe any would-be buyers from the US or Middle East will now move with low-ball offers nearer the £2.5bn mark.
      Tottenham disclosed the share changes to Companies House in October.
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      New York attorney Damian Williams said: “We allege that for years Joe Lewis abused his access to corporate boardrooms and repeatedly provided inside information to his romantic partners, personal assistants, private pilots and friends.
      “Those folks traded on that inside information and made millions of dollars in the stock market.” More

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      Ex-Premier League youngster forced to RETIRE aged just 22 after being diagnosed with heart condition

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      A EX-PREMIER LEAGUE youngster has been forced into retirement at the age of just 22.Lars Dendoncker made the decision to hang up his boots after being diagnosed with a heart condition.
      Lars Dendoncker has retired aged just 22Credit: Getty
      He had been diagnosed with a heart conditionCredit: Willie Vass
      The former Brighton and Hove Albion prospect looked to have a promising future in the game having regularly featured for Belgium’s youth sides.
      But after learning about his condition, he has decided not to risk his health and made his announcement with a heartfelt statement.
      The defender took to Instagram to share his news with his 3k followers.
      He wrote: “Hi everyone. Where do I start.
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      “As a child, I only had one dream. Become a professional football player.
      “But my professional career and dream has come to a very early end. Because of my heart condition, I have decided to stop playing because of my own health.
      “This was and will be the hardest decision ever in my life. But there is no going back and I have to look in the future. This will take time to process.
      “I’ve learned a lot throughout the years and had to sacrifice a lot. So this really hurts.
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      “11 years at the academy of Club Bruges where I made a lot of friends.
      “2 beautiful years with Brighton and a loan move to St. Johnstone where I made my professional debut.
      “I want to thank all the players and staff that I have worked with. ❤️”
      Dendoncker had been released by Brighton in May 2022 and has been without a club ever since.
      He is the brother of Aston Villa and former Wolves star Leander Dendoncker.
      Dendoncker is the second Brighton player to prematurely retire from football recently after Enock Mwepu hung up his boots in October 2022 as he was diagnosed with a rare hereditary heart condition. More

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      Tottenham billionaire Joe Lewis, 86, pleads NOT GUILTY to insider trading charges and posts staggering £230m bond

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      TOTTENHAM billionaire Joe Lewis has pled not guilty to charges of insider training.The 86-year-old, whose family trust controls a majority of Spurs, surrendered to the US authorities in Manhattan and appeared in court on Wednesday.
      Joe Lewis leaving court in Manhattan on WednesdayCredit: Reuters
      The billionaire has been charged with insider tradingCredit: Reuters
      Lewis’ family trust controls a majority of Tottenham football clubCredit: Reuters
      He entered his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo in Manhattan federal court.
      Prosecutor Nicolas Roos says Lewis would be released on a 300 million dollar bond secured by his yacht, named the Aviva, and private aircraft.
      Two of Lewis’ pilots, Patrick O’Connor and Bryan Waugh, also pleaded not guilty to related insider trading charges, after being accused of making millions of dollars in illegal profit from Lewis’ tips.
      Their bail was set at 250,000 dollars each.
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      Lewis was charged with 16 counts of securities fraud and three counts of conspiracy, for alleged crimes spanning from 2013 to 2021, and could theoretically face decades in prison.
      O’Connor and Waugh, who are residents of New York and Virginia, respectively, each face seven counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy.
      Separately on Wednesday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil insider trading case against Lewis, O’Connor, Waugh and Lewis’ former girlfriend Carolyn Carter.
      “None of this was necessary,” Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, said in a statement. “Joe Lewis is a wealthy man.”
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      Prosecutors said that in 2019 Lewis lent each pilot 500,000 dollars [£387,000] and encouraged them to buy stock in oncology company Mirati Therapeutics before it released favourable clinical results.
      O’Connor texted a friend that he thought “the Boss has inside info”, according to the indictment.
      After Mirati announced the positive results, its share price increased 16.7 per cent in one day, and both pilots repaid Lewis for his loans, it is claimed.
      Lewis is a self-made billionaire who was born in London – but rarely spends time in the UK.
      He is worth £4.7m, according to Forbes magazine.
      As per the Forbes rich list, he has an estimated fortune of a whopping £4.3billion.
      Lewis is the founder and primary investor of Bahamas-based investment firm Tavistock Group.
      He bought a controlling stake in the Premier League club from Lord Sugar in 2001 for £22million.
      Lewis officially ceded control of the club last year, with Bahamian lawyer Bryan A Glinton replacing him as a director according to Companies House.
      His stake in the club – which he held through the ENIC Group alongside Daniel Levy – was formally handed to a family trust last year.
      Family members of Lewis remain beneficiaries of the trust.
      Read More on The Sun
      It is understood the Premier League does not consider Lewis as a person with control at Tottenham, and therefore not subject to its owners’ and directors’ test.
      A Tottenham club spokesman said: “This is a legal matter unconnected with the club and as such we have no comment.” More

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      Wolves boss Lopetegui blasts his own club’s transfer dealings after selling host of stars and only signing ex-player

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      WOLVES manager Julen Lopetegui has blasted the club’s summer lack of transfer activity “a big disapointment.”The Spaniard took over last season and managed to turn their fate around and saved the club from relegation. 
      Julen Lopetegui takes pre season training in PortugalCredit: Getty
      Yet this summer Wolves have only made one signing after ex-player Matt Doherty returned on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid.
      And Lopetegui is is furious at the lack of backing by the club’s board.
      “It is not just for me, but for the sporting director, a big disappointment.”
      Wolves finished 13th last season and Lopetegui asked for the clubs reassurance that they would be able to buy more players this summer.
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      The ex-Real Madrid manager said: ”It was bad news for me.
      ” I tried in the summer. This summer was plan A. 
      “We went to a plan B, trying to think about cost-effective players, but it’s true at the moment we can’t develop this plan, too.”
      Wolves have made transfer moves for West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell and Bristol City’s Alex Scott.
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      But to raise funds for these transfers the club had to sell star players Ruben Neves, Conor Coady, Nathan Collins and Raul Jimenez for a total of £84m. 
      In a period of hyper wealthy clubs dominating the Premier League Wolves are struggling for next season not having any investment.
      Lopetegui added: “I came here with a project and idea that, if we were able to save the team, we would be able to improve.” More

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      Premier League legend unrecognisable as he turns his hand to painting and decorating at the home of racing icon

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      FORMER Middlesbrough star Craig Hignett looks unrecognisable after he was pictured painting and decorating at the house of racing legend Derek Thompson.Thompson, 72, a horse racing commentator and presenter, shared an image of the pair in his home on Wednesday.
      Look who’s turned up to help me decorate my house today! Former ⁦@Boro⁩ star Craig Hignett @higs8 – swapped his kit for new overalls as he didn’t want to get Messi ⚽️😂 pic.twitter.com/krQaBitD6N— Derek ‘Tommo’ Thompson (@tommoracing) July 25, 2023

      And he added the caption: “Look who’s turned up to help me decorate my house today! Former ⁦@Boro star Craig Hignett.
      “@higs swapped his kit for new overalls as he didn’t want to get Messi ⚽️😂.”
      Hignett spent six years as a Boro player between 1992 and 1998.
      He racked up more than 100 appearances for the North East outfit, helping them secure promotion from the second tier as champions in 1995.
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      Hignett, who played as a midfielder, winger and striker, then featured in both the League Cup and FA Cup finals in 1997.
      But Boro were on the wrong end of both.
      They lost to Leicester in the League Cup final after a replay, before Chelsea beat them 2-0 in the FA Cup.
      Prior to his time at the Riverside Stadium, he came through as a youth team player at Liverpool and went on to sign for Crewe.
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      Craig Hignett played for Middlesbrough for six yearsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      He also enjoyed stints at the likes of Blackburn, Leicester and LeedsCredit: PA:Press Association
      After leaving Boro, he featured for the likes of Barnsley, Blackburn, Leicester, Leeds and Hartlepool.
      Hignett hung up his boots in 2009 following a 21-year career in the game.
      And he has gone on to take charge of Hartlepool on three separate occasions – the last of which came in 2019.
      Reacting to the picture of him in painting and decorating gear, one person said: “Two legends x.”
      Another replied: “Some player.”
      And a third added: “Hope that Paint is Red Tommo?”
      He last took charge of Hartlepool back in 2019Credit: Getty More

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      Abdoulaye Doucoure slams Frank Lampard and claims ex-Everton manager ‘had something personal against me’

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      EVERTON star Abdoulaye Doucoure believes former manager Frank Lampard had something “personal” against him and that is why he left him out of the first team.Doucoure joined the Toffees from Watford in 2020 and played regularly under previous bosses Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez but dropped down the pecking order under Lampard two years later.
      Everton star Abdoulaye Doucoure slammed former manager Frank LampardCredit: Getty
      Doucoure claims Lampard had something personal against himCredit: PA
      The ex- Chelsea manager initially used the midfielder in the 2021-2022 run-in but restricted him to substitute outings last season, despite starting him in the first two games of the campaign.
      However, the 45-year-old tactician was sacked after a series of poor results dropped the team to 19th place and was replaced by Sean Dyche in January.
      Once the ex-Burnley head coach took over, the Mali international returned to the fold immediately and greatly contributed to the club’s survival.
      The 30-year-old played the full 90 minutes in Dyche’s first game that led to a major 1-0 win over Arsenal and registered the exact same amount he managed in the previous four months under Lampard.
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      The Malian star also scored the winning goal during a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth that sealed the Merseysiders’ survival in the final game last May.
      Doucoure told The Athletic: “If the previous manager had stayed a few weeks more, I would have been gone.
      “It was impossible to not play for a year, but I think with him that was the plan.
      “Even if I was training well and fresh, I don’t think he’d put me in the team.
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      “It was like he had something personal against me. I knew if the club changed manager, I would get a chance again.
      “So I had to keep my head down, waiting for my chance and it worked well. I was happy to be the one to score the goal to help the team stay up.
      “It was a long season with low and high moments. For me personally, it was a challenge but it helped me to grow and achieve more success.
      “Since the new manager came in, there was a lot of hard work from everyone and we deserved to stay up.”
      This comes after reports suggested Lampard was involved in a huge dressing room bust-up with his own Everton players shortly before his dismissal.
      Doucoure was allegedly involved and that led to him training on his own as a result. More

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      Jordan Henderson already training with Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq with Liverpool star on brink of £700k-a-week transfer

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      JORDAN HENDERSON is already training with Al-Ettifaq ahead of his £700,000-a-week transfer.The Liverpool captain is set to leave Anfield to reunite with Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia.
      Jordan Henderson has completed his move to Al-EttifaqCredit: PA

      Henderson has reportedly agreed a three-year deal with the Saudi Pro League side, through to the summer of 2026.
      The contract will reportedly see him earn four-times his Liverpool salary.
      His move comes after 12 years with the Reds, having signed from Sunderland in 2011.
      During his time on Merseyside, Henderson made 492 appearances for Liverpool and won eight trophies.
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      The 33-year-old has met up with his new team-mates at their training camp in Croatia.
      Footage from training shows Henderson has already taken part in a session with Al-Ettifaq.
      He could make his debut in a friendly against North Macedonia’s Rabotnicki on Thursday.
      Meanwhile, his competitive bow should be on August 14 against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in their opening league match of the season.
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      Henderson will link up with Steven Gerrard in the Middle East, with the Liverpool legend the manager of Al-Ettifaq.
      Gerrard returned to management earlier this summer after being named the club’s new boss.
      He immediately made Henderson his top transfer target ahead of the start of next season.
      The departure of Henderson is the latest development in Liverpool’s midfield overhaul.
      Steven Gerrard is the manager of Al-EttifaqCredit: Reuters
      His exit sees him follow Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out of the club.
      As for incomings, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have both joined Jurgen Klopp’s side. More

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      Ex-Man Utd and Arsenal ace Alexis Sanchez ‘ready to agree stunning Premier League return in shock transfer’

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      ALEXIS SANCHEZ could be ready to make a shock return to the Premier League, according to sensational reports.The Chilean, 34, racked up 63 goals in 154 top-flight appearances for Arsenal and Manchester United.
      Alexis Sanchez could make a shock free transfer back to the Premier LeagueCredit: AP
      But after his miserable spell at Old Trafford, he was loaned to Inter in 2019-20 before joining the Serie A giants permanently.
      Two years later, he signed for Marseille and scored 14 goals in 35 Ligue 1 games last season.
      However, after only penning a one-year deal, he is now a free agent.
      And reports in Chile claim Sanchez is ready to accept a stunning offer from Nottingham Forest.
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      The City Ground side narrowly avoided relegation last season in their first term back in the top flight since 1999.
      El Futbolero say Sanchez is willing to forego Champions League football and mega wages to make the unexpected comeback to England.
      Sanchez starred at Arsenal after arriving from Barcelona but struggled to live up to his mammoth £505,000-a-week wages at United.
      Incredibly, the Red Devils paid the 155-cap international a staggering £20million per Premier League goal and £28,800 per touch.
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      After his stint at Inter, Sanchez enjoyed a fruitful campaign with Marseille.
      But the report adds that relations with the French outfit were severed and he was not handed a contract extension.
      Marseille have already brought in another big-money former Premier League man in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer and therefore decided against keeping Sanchez.
      The forward was reportedly a transfer target for Turkish rivals Galatasaray and Besiktas, with suggestions of a £45,000-a-week contract on the table.
      However, he could be set to link up with the likes of Chris Wood, Brennan Johnson and new signing from Manchester United Anthony Elanga in the East Midlands.
      Sanchez performed well for Arsenal but struggled at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty More