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July 04, 2003

Soccer Newsletter - Jan. 24, 2000

English Premier League

Do politicians have the right to micromanage a professional sport club? And no, we aren't talking about the Liberals in Canada dropping pucks and cash on hockey teams. Over in Sheffield Wednesday land, controversial MP Joe Ashton just can't keep his nose out of the Owls' business. Last week, the former vice president of the Premier League's bottom-feeders led a gang of four Sheffield MPs who said that manager Danny Wilson should be fired. When he didn't get any satisfaction from that fight, Ashton turned his focus on Hillsborough chairman Dave Richards. He now wants Richards to hand in his resignation, as he thinks the chair is spending too much time in London on several top FA committees and his poor Owls are being neglected. Hmmm... I suppose there just aren't enough pressing political issues in England these days. But face it, no matter who you point fingers at, Joe, the team just sucks!

(post game note: The controversy didn't seem to affect the team on Saturday as the Owls won their first away game of the season against Tottenham. )

Leeds takes the lead, but there are troubles at the top...

Isn't it a shame when a squad has a year that puts supporters in mind of those great teams of the late 60's early 70's, but it's the news off the field that gets the headlines. Leeds United's defender Jonathan Woodgate and midfielder Lee Bowyer got themselves in trouble last week for an alleged street attack on an Asian kid. On Sunday, the squad played in the Stadium of Light against the upstart Sunderland team. Woodgate and Bowyer were in the line up and were the prime targets of the crowd's taunting. Leeds took the match in spite of jeers to maintain their lead in the league.
(CTVSportsnet will be rebroadcasting this match on Saturday January 29
check local listings at:
retired link)

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