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      John Stones vows to play until he’s 40 as he makes most of second chance at Man City under Pep Guardiola

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      JOHN STONES would love to make the most of his second chance — by playing on at Manchester City until he is 40.The England centre-back’s time at the Etihad looked to be over when he lost his place in Pep Guardiola’s side in the summer of 2020.
      John Stones has had a career resurgence under Pep Guardiola after looking like he was out in the cold three years agoCredit: Getty
      The centre-back has already won four Premier League titles under PepCredit: News Group Nrewspapers Ltd
      Yet he is back at the heart of the champions’ defence — and looking to make history in what could be a thrilling end to the season.
      It all starts with the visit of old rivals Liverpool tomorrow, when City will be aiming to keep themselves firmly in the title race.
      Stones, 28, could have been forgiven for fearing days like these had gone for good when he slipped out of Guardiola’s first-choice team three years ago.
      The manager picked wantaway Eric Garcia ahead of him for key games — and a few months later paid what was then a club-record £64.5million to sign Ruben Dias.
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      Guardiola strongly hinted that Stones may be allowed to go that summer — but the defender was determined not to give up without a fight.
      He knuckled down and won his place back and is looking to be part of a City team that makes history.
      Stones said: “This is home for me now and has been for seven years — I would love to play here for as long as I can. I would even love to finish at 40 if I could.
      “The time when I was out of the side was hard. I didn’t want to leave first and foremost. I didn’t want to give up.
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      “I’ve always been a fighter from when I had setbacks in age groups because they said I was too small.
      “I wanted to stay true to myself and show — not anyone in particular, but myself — that I could do it.
      “I believe I am here for a reason and I am good enough.
      “That seems a while ago now but I’m really proud of myself for what I did and what I’m doing now.

      “I’m trying to go from strength to strength. I want to achieve everything I can . . . trophies, make history.”
      Some might say he has done that already — as Stones is one of several players at the club to already have four Prem title medals in his back pocket.
      The former Everton defender has also lifted five domestic cups with City — but says the feeling in the dressing room is that they are by no means finished.
      Stones told Arab News: “We definitely want to be remembered among the great teams of the past.
      “I think we have already done that with some of the milestones we’ve achieved. I’d love to be in this club’s history — and go down as maybe the best-ever team.
      “That comes with time, though, and you don’t really think about that when you are in the moment.
      “It happens after you finish and I will always give 110 per cent to the team, to myself — and hopefully that shows out on the pitch.”
      But to have any chance of being remembered in those terms, City will have to end their long wait for a Champions League trophy.
      Stones has been part of the journey that took them agonisingly close in the last couple of seasons, only to come up short both times.
      They have reached the quarter-finals again but German giants Bayern Munich and then either Real Madrid or Chelsea — teams who have ended their dream in the last two years — stand in the way of reaching Istanbul in June.
      But Stones said: “We can achieve whatever we want.
      “We have got the ability, we’ve got the chemistry together and we all want the same thing as well, to be successful.
      “We have got that hunger, which is exciting. My aim is to win the Premier League again, then to make history and win the Champions League for everyone.”
      First, though, City have to get past Liverpool as the two old rivals line up for what could be another epic clash.
      Stones famously produced an incredible goalline clearance to deny the Reds what could have been a crucial goal in this fixture back in January 2019.
      That was a moment that cemented his place in the hearts of City fans.
      And he added: “I think the fans have always had a love-love relationship with me. I can’t thank them enough.
      “I hope they appreciate that I also appreciate them, I always give everything and fight right until the end.”
      As well as carrying on with City for at least another decade, Stones revealed his other target is to win 100 caps.
      Between November 2018 and March 2021, Stones made only two appearances for England — and did not feature at all in the last 17 months of that spell.
      Stones, on 66 caps, said: “I set my goal for England at 50 caps and didn’t think I was going to get to that when I wasn’t in the squads and I was on 42.
      “Now my next goal is to get 100. I’ve set the bar high, but why not? I think it’s achievable.”
      Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s own England ambition has stalled.
      The Liverpool right-back was left out of the last squad — and he is now concentrating on helping the sixth-placed Reds spring a surprise at City.
      He said: “We’ve got it in us. We haven’t shown that this season but we’ve been together long enough to know our qualities — we know we are able to put a run of great results together.
      “There’s no better way to go and start than against the reigning champs. We’re excited to go and try to get that started on Saturday.
      “We’ve got our aims — to make sure that we get Champions League football for next season.

      “This is a very important week to go on and secure it.
      “And every time you play against Man City, the motivation is there.”
      Stones says he wants to play until he is 40Credit: Getty
      The City star is also a key player for Gareth Southgate with EnglandCredit: Getty More

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      Tottenham handed another blow in manager hunt as Thomas Frank distances himself from role days after Kovac rejects Spurs

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      THOMAS FRANK says he is flattered to be touted as Antonio Conte’s replacement at Tottenham, but insisted he is happy at Brentford.There have long been rumours about the Dane making the step up to a bigger club following his outstanding work in west London.
      Thomas Frank insisted that he is happy at Brentford amid Spurs linksCredit: Rex
      And the Bees boss has been mentioned among those being considered as the new Spurs boss following Conte’s sacking.
      However, with the Bees in their own push for European places, Frank insists he is in no rush to go anywhere.
      He said: “There have been a lot of rumours about me over the last year.
      “I don’t ever get used to it, but I would say in general it is always flattering that there are rumours out there.
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      “I have said before that I am very, very pleased working for Brentford. Happy here.
      “What happens in the future, you never know. What happens in 10 years? Will I stay here forever? Probably not.
      “Even Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, they ended their eras or their jobs at a certain stage.
      “I don’t know, but I’m very happy right now.”
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      Reports in Germany claim that Wolfsburg boss Niko Kovac has rejected the possibility of becoming the next Tottenham manager.
      Cristian Stellini has been appointed Spurs’ temporary boss until the end of the season, with Ryan Mason as his assistant.
      Julian Nagelsmann and Mauricio Pochettino are among Tottenham’s top targets to succeed Conte.
      The North Londoners’ managing director of football Fabio Paratici was this week hit with a worldwide football ban by Fifa.
      This ban means the Italian may have to step down from his role with the club.
      Fabio Paratici was hit with a worldwide football ban by Fifa this weekCredit: Reuters More

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      Vincent Kompany is shock leading contender for Tottenham job despite Pep saying Man City move is ‘written in the stars’

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      VINCENT KOMPANY has emerged as a leading contender to become Tottenham’s new boss.The Belgian looks to be leading Burnley back to the Premier League at the first attempt but SunSport understands he would be interested in the Spurs job.
      Kompany’s stunning debut season as Burnley boss has seen his managerial stock sky rocketCredit: Rex
      Manchester City icon Kompany’s work in his debut season at Turf Moor, where he plays an exciting brand of football, has impressed Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
      Spurs are putting together a shortlist after Antonio Conte finally left the club on Sunday.
      Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique, Marco Silva and Thomas Frank are all in the running.
      Kompany’s Championship leaders Burnley are 16 points clear of third spot ahead of hosting Sunderland tonight and can confirm automatic promotion by next weekend.
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      Yet he knows he will not be able to spend big to keep the Clarets in the top flight.
      Kompany, who cut his teeth with two years as Anderlecht boss, rebuilt the squad last summer after losing top stars like Nick Pope, Ben Mee, James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil.
      Last May’s relegation saw Burnley owners ALK Capital hit with an early repayment of £65million on a loan taken to help fund their 2020 takeover.
      At 36, Kompany is just a year older than Nagelsmann who was axed by Bayern Munich last week.
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      And City boss Pep Guardiola claims it is “written in the stars” that Kompany will one day be manager at the Etihad.
      The Clarets were beaten 6-0 at City in the FA Cup quarter-finals this month — and Kompany reckons that is just what his players needed.
      He said: “The timing of it was impeccable. 
      “By that, I mean you could have seen the start of international weeks as like a mini-break where you rest with maybe one foot on the beach.
      “But it gives you a shock effect. The result was dramatic but the game was enough to show we’re not passengers here — that’s the standard, that’s the level.”
      Cristian Stellini, who was Conte’s No 2, takes charge as interim Spurs coach for the first time at Everton on Monday.
      He said: “I’m sad, when you change manager in the middle of the season everyone feels responsible. 
      “My relationship with Antonio is the same because we are friends.
      “I feel honoured to be trusted with the team to the end of the season. The players and everyone have to do more.” More

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      Premier League clampdown on rogue owners branded ‘toothless’ with Saudis at Newcastle and Qatar’s Man Utd bid unaffected

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      SO there we have it. The Premier League’s response to both the Government and the Newcastle ownership row.
      Newcastle’s Saudi takeover was allowed to go through in 2021Credit: PA
      Club chiefs voted in favour of new rules that will see a Government banned list used to determine who can own clubs.
      Further measures that would have seen the automatic expulsion of Roman Abramovich when he was sanctioned by the Government last year were approved by the 20 club chiefs.
      But the Saudi ownership of Newcastle or Qatari Sheikh Jassim’s potential takeover of Manchester United, are not affected.
      The clampdown was slammed by angry human rights groups who branded it “toothless”.
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      And the new rules, which also include an extension of the criminal ownership “disqualifying” offences to include “violence, corruption, fraud, tax evasion and hate crimes” were slammed by human rights organisations.
      Prem clubs will want the new rules to be seen as proof that the game can regulate itself.
      No room, formally, for fraudsters, conmen, thugs or racists. Blimey. I didn’t know they WERE allowed.
      Nor, it seems, for the leaders of The Taliban, Al Qaeda and Isis, or Vladimir Putin, all still on the UK sanctions list.
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      The fact that the Prem’s rules did NOT previously, explicitly, rule out such a nest of vipers is hardly a reason to bathe in glory.
      And while we now know, officially, that there is no way back for Roman Abramovich and Alisher Usmanov, or their many hangers on and fellow Oligarchs, relying on the Government’s list of the unwanted does not really represent leadership.
      The bloke who put billions into Chelsea is banned. 
      Fair enough. The obscenities we have witnessed in Ukraine make that a reasonable position and Abramovich is close to Putin.
      Presumably we can add North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, any of the Iranian mullahs or the next Pol Pot.
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      Roman Abramovich was kicked out of Chelsea last yearCredit: Getty
      But it’s OK for the Government which chops up dissidents into little pieces in its consulate in Ankara to buy Newcastle, because the UK wants to keep Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and his regime onside.
      That should not be a surprise, either.
      Jeed Basyouni, of Middle East group Reprieve, stormed: “Where was this resolve to keep the world’s worst human rights abusers out of the Premier League when Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund took over Newcastle United?
      “Since that takeover in October 2021, the Saudi regime has executed more than 160 people, including scores of people whose only crime was to demand fundamental freedoms.
      “If that isn’t counted as a disqualifying human rights abuse, then this new rule has no teeth and is just for show.”
      Basyouni pointed to the ongoing court case in the USA between the PGA Tour and Saudi-owned LIV Golf.
      Saudi’s Public Investment Fund and Toon chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan are arguing their status as an “instrument” and Minister of the Gulf state government mean they should not be forced to give evidence.
      He added: “According to court documents, the chairman of the club is ‘a sitting minister of the Saudi government’. It is hard to see how he can continue as chairman under the new rules.”
      Prem chiefs were put under pressure by the Government to green light the £300m Saudi deal in the first place.
      It explains, perhaps, why chief executive Richard Masters was so evasive when he sat before MPs on Tuesday.
      And why the top flight clubs are STILL awaiting a response to their letters to the League over the court claims in the USA which suggest the Public Investment Fund considers itself a branch of the Saudi government after all. 
      Indeed, as long as the Saudis don’t now start dismembering any British journalists, that will probably be fine for everybody. Let’s not worry about other alleged human rights abuses.
      Good news, too, for Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani in his quest to land Manchester United, presuming he finally comes up with a bid to satisfy the demands of the Glazers. 
      That door is wide open – unless the Government suddenly decides it does not want a piece of Qatar’s oil and liquid gas supplies. Nope. Me neither.
      And while there are other elements of the new test that are unquestionably for the better, overdue but necessary, it still feels like the Prem and its clubs have been forced into doing the right thing, rather than acting voluntarily.
      The looming Independent Football Regulator, with its powers to impose rules and regulations that the Prem had not drafted, has clearly been a galvanising element – much as League chiefs will argue this was always going to be their direction of travel.
      By making “violence, corruption, fraud, tax evasion and hate crimes” into “disqualifying events”, promising to stage annual evaluations of owners and publishing the criteria for purchasers as well as an annual list of the banned and damned, we will have some more clarity.
      You do wonder, though, if the new rules may be adopted in haste – and repented of at leisure.
      Any potential club chief who makes a casual racist remark, especially on social media, and is reported to the police, would arguably fail that “hate crime” barrier.
      As would those under HMRC investigation. Remember those raids at West Ham and Newcastle a few years ago that ended up going absolutely nowhere?
      Not much wriggle room now. The new rules state that the League now has the “power” to prevent anyone under investigation for those alleged offences to be banned from buying a club. 
      Ownership, surely, would be a logical next step.

      Something is better than nothing, for sure. There are rules, now, which were not there before.
      But does anybody, truly, believe that the biggest issues have actually been addressed? Or is it still just about the money?
      Sheikh Jassim’s Man United bid has been unaffected More

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      Marcus Rashford injury update ahead of crunch Man Utd clash after star forced to drop out of England duty

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      MARCUS RASHFORD is winning his battle to be fit for Manchester United’s crunch encounter with Newcastle on Sunday.The in-form Red Devils striker had to pull out of the England squad for their Euros double header against Italy and Ukraine.
      Fans will be hoping to see a fit and firing Marcus Rashford on Sunday afternoonCredit: PA
      He had suffered a knock in the FA Cup win over Fulham.
      But 27-goal Rashford returned to light training at the start of the week and has been gradually upping his work in the gym and on the Carrington pitches to be ready for the trip to St.James’ Park.
      It is a crucial game as Newcastle could leapfrog Erik ten Hag’s currently third placed side on goal difference if they were to win.
      It is tight at the top in the battle for the last two Champions League places behind Arsenal and Manchester City.
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      There are six teams within eight points of each other in that race.
      Rashford’s availability is key with a heavy reliance on him for the goals.
      The next best after his 14 in the league is Bruno Fernandes with five.
      Rashford is enjoying career best figures of 27 goals from 44 appearances this season in all.
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      Of those 19 have come in 24 games since returning from the World Cup in Qatar where he played in five games for England, starting one.
      Eyebrows were raised during the international break when Rashford was pictured enjoying a break in New York after pulling out of the Three Lions squad.
      Manager Gareth Southgate defended the player claiming that once he was not fit enough to join the squad it was his decision how he spent his time.
      The player himself will have been understandably keen not to exacerbate any slight knock having played with problems to his detriment over the last two seasons.
      Meanwhile Scott McTominay is set for only his second Premier League start for Ten Hag since October thanks to his scintillating form for Scotland.
      Midfielder McTominay has become the forgotten man at Old Trafford following the signings of Casemiro and improved form of Fred.
      Christian Eriksen was also ahead of him until his ankle injury at the end of January.
      Scott McTominay is looking to take his electric international form back to club levelCredit: PA
      The 26-year-old started six of the first seven Premier League games this season.
      But he has only been named in the first XI for the league once since the 6-3 away defeat to Manchester City in the derby on October 2nd.
      That appearance came in the 3-2 defeat at Arsenal on January 22nd although he has made a six starts in the cup competitions.
      The combative midfielder has not given up on forcing his way back into the first team.
      He will be facing a club this weekend in Newcastle that are interested in signing him if there is any indication he wants to leave Old Trafford due to a lack of game time.

      He proved his worth during the international break scoring twice for Scotland in their 3-0 win against Cyprus.
      Then he hit both goals in the shock 2-0 win over Spain. More

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      Alan Shearer’s daughter Hollie stuns in red leather trousers as gushing fans label her ‘perfection’

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      HOLLIE SHEARER stunned fans by posing in red leather trousers as her gushing followers labelled her “perfection”.Alan Shearer’s daughter has frequently wowed fans with her knack of taking jaw-dropping snaps.
      Fans enjoyed seeing Holly ‘add a little bit of colour’ to her wardrobeCredit: Instagram
      When not working on her singing career, Hollie has a habit of catching her fans’ attention with wonderful snapsCredit: Instagram hollieshearer
      And her latest picture has followed in that tradition as she showed off a whole new look.
      Hollie dons dark red leather trousers as she shared her latest Instagram pic.
      The singer looks away from the camera while stood against a while background with her hands against the wall.
      Along with her eye-catching leather, she also wears a white top with a red car across the chest area.
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      She captioned the image: “Adding a little bit of colour to the wardrobe.”
      Fans were loving the unique snap.
      One said: “Absolutely beautiful.”
      Another said: “Love the outfit.”
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      Another fan added: “Looking good Hollie.”
      While another comment read: “Perfection babe” with the ‘love eyes’ emoji.
      Hollie also managed to get her fans’ imagination stirring last month when she released her hot Valentine’s Day shoot.
      Hollie has almost 70,000 followers on InstagramCredit: https://www.instagram.com/hollieshearer/
      Holly performed at her father’s foundation ball earlier this monthCredit: Instagram More

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      Controversial Man Utd stadium revamp plans revealed as Glazers consider ‘Wembley-style’ change to Old Trafford

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are exploring an Old Trafford revamp, according to reports.The Red Devils have been placed up for sale, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim among the interested parties.
      Manchester United are exploring an Old Trafford revelopmentCredit: Reuters
      Should the Glazer family remain at the helm, however, they could launch an ambitious, and long-overdue, stadium redevelopment.
      According to the Manchester Evening News, United chiefs would rather upgrade Old Trafford than build an entirely new stadium.
      They suggest that the redevelopment could take up to ten years – compared to the six years that building a new ground would take.
      Old Trafford upgrades could see a year spent on each stand and a reduced capacity in the meantime.
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      Third tiers could be built onto the Stretford and Scoreboard Ends.
      While the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand could be demolished and rebuilt altogether.
      In new triple-decker stands, a Wembley-style corporate middle-tier could be adopted.
      These would be specifically for hospitality ticket holders.
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      Wembley Stadium’s middle tier houses corporate hospitalityCredit: Reuters
      United have not expanded Old Trafford at all since the Glazers’ arrival nearly 18 years ago.
      The Stretford and Scoreboard Ends previously possessed a single tier each – prior to both having second tiers added in 2000.
      United have consulted stadium gurus Populous, responsible for Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, regarding potential Old Trafford upgrades or even a move.
      They are determined to retain their home stadium’s “soul” – and want to avoid a new build like the Emirates – much criticised over the years for its atmosphere.
      In addition to the stadium itself, a focus would have to be placed on new car parks, a station, and roadways leading to the ground.
      Redevelopment plans could see a third tier added to the Stretford EndCredit: AFP More

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      Dennis Bergkamp pulled Arsenal kitman’s pants down in front of stunned crowd – and he had NOTHING underneath

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      ARSENAL legend Ray Parlour revealed a prank fellow Invincible Dennis Bergkamp pulled on the kitman back in their playing days.Parlour has experienced many unforgettable moments with the Gunners both and off the pitch throughout his 12-year stint in North London.
      Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp pulled off a wild prank in his playing daysCredit: Getty
      Ray Parlour looked back at when Bergkamp pantsed a kitmanCredit: Reuters
      The former England international has been vocal about the wild scenes he has witnessed backstage at a time that included plenty of humour as then manager Arsene Wenger “loved a little bit of fun”.
      One of those crazy incidents involved Bergkamp pulling a fast one on kitman Vic Akers.
      That was when two salespeople visited Arsenal’s facilities to offer free perfumes to the team and Akers went to get some freebies.
      The Dutch legend then sneaked from behind and pulled his shorts down thinking he is wearing underwear.
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      But the poor kitman had nothing underneath and that led to an awkward situation as well as plenty of laughter from Parlour who was present.
      Akers was caught completely off guard and had no idea how to react in front of the stunned visitors.
      But it all ended well as the former Arsenal man took the joke well and they all had a good laugh.
      Parlour told SunSport: “There was always a little bit of fun because Arsene Wenger loved a bit of fun by the way.
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      “As much as he liked working hard and making sure every player knew what they were doing on a match day. He loved a little bit of fun and at times we used to hang out a bit after training. We’d just be having a bit of a fun really.
      “There’s another one where it was quite funny, when Vic Akers, our kitman, came up and there was a couple of ladies up there giving away like perfume and all that sort of stuff for your wives and girlfriends and they can try it and see if they like it.
      “And Vic always loved a freebie. So he came up and he stood on the side and Dennis Bergkamp walked behind him and pulled his shorts down. He had nothing underneath.
      “And he didn’t know whether to pull his shorts up and he was sort of leaning on his feet as well.
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      Parlour was left laughing after the awkward incidentCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      “And I remember standing there all laughing and laughing. Poor ladies were like, ‘Oh!’ They didn’t know what to do the ladies either.
      “And that was Dennis Bergkamp again, he was a little bit of a windup merchant. And he loved it. He even recently texted me and said about that.
      “Do you know what, things like that are really good for your dressing room – really good for team spirit. And I remember sitting there for an hour laughing, I just couldn’t stop laughing about it.
      “Vic, he took it really well, don’t worry about that, but just the way it happened is like slow motion and he didn’t know what to do whether to pull his shorts up.

      “He didn’t know where to go. So that was quite a funny moment from Dennis again.”
      Ray Parlour was speaking to The Sun on behalf of Fairplay. Fairplay is a peer to peer, free to use betting app which is revolutionising the way people wager, collect and distribute funds. More