Craig Bellamy had a furious row with Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini back in February - and says he has not spoken a word to the manager since. Craig Bellamy falling out with a manager at a team he plays for? No, surely not? The Welsh striker claims that he is not the only player at Eastlands to be cold-shouldered by the Italian. Bellamy, thirty one, has been nursing a knee injury and has hardly featured in pre-season while players such as the Brazilian, Jo, have been playing regularly. The ten million pound signing from West Ham said: 
'I haven't spoken to the manager since February. There are a number of players, like Carlos Tevez and me, who he doesn't speak to and keeps us away. I'm not sure if it's personal. Maybe it's the way he deals with things and it's his manner. But I've got a fair indication of what they all think, though, as I've had eighty minutes in pre-season. I've even seen players not part of the club over the last three years get more minutes than me.' During City's recent tour of the USA, Bellamy indicated he wanted to stay with City and fight for his place. With his age and a series of knee problems against him, he felt remaining at Eastlands was his best chance of winning silverware. But Bellamy is now eyeing the exit door, according to the Sun, and claims he is not short of offers - with Spurs and Wolfsburg showing an interest. A reunion with Mark Hughes at Fulham or a move to hometown club Cardiff also appeal, although it is doubtful either could get near his current ninety thousand pounds-a-week wages. Bellamy added: 'There's been two clubs in the top seven who have tried to get me. Man City obviously want me to go, but not to one of their rivals. I've turned down Wolfsburg - they are the only club they tried to push me into. City wanted Edin Dzeko so they were pushing for a deal and wanted me to go the other way. But I've had my most offers ever and felt more wanted elsewhere. It's obvious Spurs have tried for me but Man City have declined.' Mancini will name his twenty five-man Premier League squad at the end of this month and Bellamy fears the worst, even though he claims he would like to stay. The Welshman said: 'If I'm not on the list, which is unlikely, then the only games I will get are with the reserves. I'm so committed to where I am and with the new players coming in I'm driving to stay here. But that's unlikely to happen. I've just come back after my best year in football. I got double figures in goals and double figures in assists and that's all as a midfielder. Enough said.' Bellamy hopes his former Wales, Blackburn and City boss Sparky Hughes might be able to raise the funds to take him to Craven Cottage. He added: 'If you look at my form with Mark Hughes I don't just become a good player, I become one of the top players in the Premier League. He gets the best out of me. Cardiff is another possibility. I've always wanted to play for them and my wife and kids live there.' Now, yer Keith Telly Topping was fortunate enough to see Bellas for three years at, probably, his peak when he was playing for Bobby Robson's Newcastle, and I have only this to say at the man. Craig Bellamy, at his best, is an asset to any team ... and a sodding liability to any club. I mean, there does reach a point after a player has been signed and then left one club after another for year-after-year throughout his career that he has to look at himself and say 'you know, I don't think the problem so much is with them, it's me.' Great player, and I mean that. Fast, nippy, scores goals, creates goals. But, rubbish attitude. I always remember years ago, Bruce Rioch his first manager at Norwich saying that Craig was 'a great lad. The only problem is, he wants to run the club!' Argumentative, angry little sod who works his ticket and, generally, gets on people's nerves - at Norwich, at Coventry, at Newcastle, at Celtic, at Blackburn, at Liverpool, at West Ham and, now, at Man City. And, always with the opposition, which is the good part of his game! So, who's next to experience everything Craig has to offer in the way of team morale building and good old fashioned Boy's Own Fun during nights oot on the pop? When he had something thrown at him from out of the crowd during last year's Manchester derby the police were said to have narrowed down a list of suspects to 'everyone who's ever met him.'
Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner's right-hand man has said Martin O'Neill did a great job but left because he thought he was bigger than the club. General Charles C Krulak - no, really - believes O'Neill quit as manager because he was unwilling to accept the financial limits he was expected to work under. 'No one person is bigger than our club. Not me, not Randy, not chief executive Paul Faulkner, not Martin,' the General added, before bellowing 'secure that shit, boy! Yessir, I lurv the Corp!' No, he didn't. But, it would have been pure dead funny if he had. 'What's interesting is that apparently only three of those understand that.' Krulak said there was 'no question' O'Neill had done a good job for Villa in his four years at the club but he felt coverage of the Northern Irishman's exit had been one-sided. 'There is no question he did a good deal for Villa and I've said over and over that he did a fine job,' he commented. 'At the same time, I can promise everyone that he knew and understood the long-range plans for the club and bought into them. Martin was absolutely supported by the owner. All one needs to do is look at the money spent. The reality is the wage-to-revenue issue was not addressed and apparently he was unwilling to help address it. He knew full well about the need to bring wages in line with revenue - the same as every Premiership club.' O'Neill has yet to reveal his reasons for resigning on Monday - only five days before the start of the new Premier League campaign. Meanwhile, Krulak thinks there could be tough times ahead for Villa but is confident they can still make a realistic challenge for the Champions League after three successive top-six finishes. 'Do I think we have some rough times ahead? Probably but nothing that we can't handle,' added the non-executive Villa director. Didn't your boys say the same thing about Iraq? Anyway ... 'I have been in some tough scrapes before and I never got out of them by wishing it away. I just put my head down and continued to grind it out. At the end of the day, is the aim to get into the Champions League? Absolutely. Is this realistic? Absolutely. Do we still have a way to go? Absolutely. We will continue to try to do what is right by the Villa with the very best of intentions. Will we always get it right? Probably not but we will work damn hard to do the right things.'
An investigation has been launched into allegations that North Korea punished some players and the coach after its team lost all their World Cup matches. FIFA says it is looking into claims made by Radio Free Asia last month that the squad was publicly humiliated and coach Kim Jong-hun sentenced to hard labour. FIFA's president said a letter had been sent to North Korea's footballing body. North Korea lost to Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast at the World Cup. Radio Free Asia reported that North Korea's national team had been summoned to a public meeting in Pyongyang, where players were criticised by officials, including the sports minister, for six hours. The players were then ordered to reprimand their coach, the report said, quoting anonymous sources in North Korea and a Chinese businessman said to be 'knowledgeable' about North Korean affairs. The report also spoke of 'rumours' that the coach was sentenced to 'forced labour at a residential building site in Pyongyang.' There were no reports of the meeting in North Korean state media, nor has neighbouring South Korea been able to confirm the claims. After the team's impressive performance during a 2-1 defeat to Brazil, the North Korean authorities overturned a ban on showing live games. The match against Portugal - the state's first ever live sports broadcast - could not have been worse, with the national side thrashed 7-0 in a match that stunned commentators. Speaking at a news conference in Singapore, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said of the allegations: 'The first step is the federation and we'll see what the answer will be, and then we can elaborate on that.' Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamed Bin Hammam said he had met several World Cup players in North Korea last month, but coach Kim was not present. 'There was an unconfirmed report that these players have gone through torture or something like that, but I can't confirm that,' he said. 'I haven't seen anything with my eyes or heard anything with my ears. Maybe this FIFA investigation can clear the air.'
Newcastle's pursuit of French international midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa looks to be in the balance, given the latest updates from his current employer, Olympique Marseille and from French sources. Hopes had been high on Monday that a deal would be concluded, despite the two clubs still haggling over the level of fee payable for a season-long loan at St James Park. French newspaper L'Equipe wrote: 'Hatem Ben Arfa is undoubtedly very close to discovering the joys of the Premier League. The former Lyon player has in effect been authorised by Marseilles to negotiate with the directors of the Magpies for a loan of one year with an option to buy according to the club cited by Agence France Presse.' The information was later denied by Marseilles chairman Jean-Claude Dassier and coach Didier Deschamps. The two clubs have agreed a loan of one season for €1.2m, together with an option to buy at the end of the season. The amount of the option has not been revealed. However, Monday evening then brought the following comments from Dassier on the official OM website: 'We have a meeting every Monday. It was a professional meeting at the heart of the transfer window. We had to sit down and make sure we all knew where we are and everything went well. We made a certain number of decisions but you have to be discreet during the transfer window. Our desire is to reinforce the squad. Newcastle United are interested (in Hatem Ben Arfa) but for the moment we have not reached an agreement, so we aren't talking about it. We are working with the representatives of Newcastle and with Hatem Ben Arfa.'
The Mirror claims that Ian Holloway is on a collision course with Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston after becoming exasperated with his meddling and cautious financial approach. The club finally confirmed yesterday their play-off heroes have been paid their bonuses for winning promotion to the Premier League last season. But Seasiders boss Holloway, forty seven, is desperately struggling to attract new players to the club due to Bloomfield Road's rigid wage structure. Strikers Rob Hulse, Jon Stead and now even free agent Marlon Harewood have all turned the Tangerines down.
Holloway offered Harewood - who looked such a useless lump whilst on loan at Newcastle last season - a two-year deal including a goal bonus and survival bonus. But Oyston dramatically (though, perhaps, sensibly) rescinded Holloway's offer yesterday and only tabled a twelve-month contract with the option of another year on the same money just if Blackpool survive. Oyston's decision prompted Harewood to walk away from negotiations and left Holloway fuming. It adds to his misery after also missing out on Leicester striker DJ Campbell, who scored eleven goals for the Seasiders while on loan last term. 'The one I wanted to do more than anything else was DJ. I'm sorry I am not in control of that,' Holloway said. But Oyston has at least coughed up the players' bonuses due from last season. Oyston said: 'We didn't get the first chunk of Premier League money in the bank until Thursday and they have received it. I'm delighted about that and I hope they earn another five million this year by keeping us in Premier League.'
'I haven't spoken to the manager since February. There are a number of players, like Carlos Tevez and me, who he doesn't speak to and keeps us away. I'm not sure if it's personal. Maybe it's the way he deals with things and it's his manner. But I've got a fair indication of what they all think, though, as I've had eighty minutes in pre-season. I've even seen players not part of the club over the last three years get more minutes than me.' During City's recent tour of the USA, Bellamy indicated he wanted to stay with City and fight for his place. With his age and a series of knee problems against him, he felt remaining at Eastlands was his best chance of winning silverware. But Bellamy is now eyeing the exit door, according to the Sun, and claims he is not short of offers - with Spurs and Wolfsburg showing an interest. A reunion with Mark Hughes at Fulham or a move to hometown club Cardiff also appeal, although it is doubtful either could get near his current ninety thousand pounds-a-week wages. Bellamy added: 'There's been two clubs in the top seven who have tried to get me. Man City obviously want me to go, but not to one of their rivals. I've turned down Wolfsburg - they are the only club they tried to push me into. City wanted Edin Dzeko so they were pushing for a deal and wanted me to go the other way. But I've had my most offers ever and felt more wanted elsewhere. It's obvious Spurs have tried for me but Man City have declined.' Mancini will name his twenty five-man Premier League squad at the end of this month and Bellamy fears the worst, even though he claims he would like to stay. The Welshman said: 'If I'm not on the list, which is unlikely, then the only games I will get are with the reserves. I'm so committed to where I am and with the new players coming in I'm driving to stay here. But that's unlikely to happen. I've just come back after my best year in football. I got double figures in goals and double figures in assists and that's all as a midfielder. Enough said.' Bellamy hopes his former Wales, Blackburn and City boss Sparky Hughes might be able to raise the funds to take him to Craven Cottage. He added: 'If you look at my form with Mark Hughes I don't just become a good player, I become one of the top players in the Premier League. He gets the best out of me. Cardiff is another possibility. I've always wanted to play for them and my wife and kids live there.' Now, yer Keith Telly Topping was fortunate enough to see Bellas for three years at, probably, his peak when he was playing for Bobby Robson's Newcastle, and I have only this to say at the man. Craig Bellamy, at his best, is an asset to any team ... and a sodding liability to any club. I mean, there does reach a point after a player has been signed and then left one club after another for year-after-year throughout his career that he has to look at himself and say 'you know, I don't think the problem so much is with them, it's me.' Great player, and I mean that. Fast, nippy, scores goals, creates goals. But, rubbish attitude. I always remember years ago, Bruce Rioch his first manager at Norwich saying that Craig was 'a great lad. The only problem is, he wants to run the club!' Argumentative, angry little sod who works his ticket and, generally, gets on people's nerves - at Norwich, at Coventry, at Newcastle, at Celtic, at Blackburn, at Liverpool, at West Ham and, now, at Man City. And, always with the opposition, which is the good part of his game! So, who's next to experience everything Craig has to offer in the way of team morale building and good old fashioned Boy's Own Fun during nights oot on the pop? When he had something thrown at him from out of the crowd during last year's Manchester derby the police were said to have narrowed down a list of suspects to 'everyone who's ever met him.'Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner's right-hand man has said Martin O'Neill did a great job but left because he thought he was bigger than the club. General Charles C Krulak - no, really - believes O'Neill quit as manager because he was unwilling to accept the financial limits he was expected to work under. 'No one person is bigger than our club. Not me, not Randy, not chief executive Paul Faulkner, not Martin,' the General added, before bellowing 'secure that shit, boy! Yessir, I lurv the Corp!' No, he didn't. But, it would have been pure dead funny if he had. 'What's interesting is that apparently only three of those understand that.' Krulak said there was 'no question' O'Neill had done a good job for Villa in his four years at the club but he felt coverage of the Northern Irishman's exit had been one-sided. 'There is no question he did a good deal for Villa and I've said over and over that he did a fine job,' he commented. 'At the same time, I can promise everyone that he knew and understood the long-range plans for the club and bought into them. Martin was absolutely supported by the owner. All one needs to do is look at the money spent. The reality is the wage-to-revenue issue was not addressed and apparently he was unwilling to help address it. He knew full well about the need to bring wages in line with revenue - the same as every Premiership club.' O'Neill has yet to reveal his reasons for resigning on Monday - only five days before the start of the new Premier League campaign. Meanwhile, Krulak thinks there could be tough times ahead for Villa but is confident they can still make a realistic challenge for the Champions League after three successive top-six finishes. 'Do I think we have some rough times ahead? Probably but nothing that we can't handle,' added the non-executive Villa director. Didn't your boys say the same thing about Iraq? Anyway ... 'I have been in some tough scrapes before and I never got out of them by wishing it away. I just put my head down and continued to grind it out. At the end of the day, is the aim to get into the Champions League? Absolutely. Is this realistic? Absolutely. Do we still have a way to go? Absolutely. We will continue to try to do what is right by the Villa with the very best of intentions. Will we always get it right? Probably not but we will work damn hard to do the right things.'
An investigation has been launched into allegations that North Korea punished some players and the coach after its team lost all their World Cup matches. FIFA says it is looking into claims made by Radio Free Asia last month that the squad was publicly humiliated and coach Kim Jong-hun sentenced to hard labour. FIFA's president said a letter had been sent to North Korea's footballing body. North Korea lost to Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast at the World Cup. Radio Free Asia reported that North Korea's national team had been summoned to a public meeting in Pyongyang, where players were criticised by officials, including the sports minister, for six hours. The players were then ordered to reprimand their coach, the report said, quoting anonymous sources in North Korea and a Chinese businessman said to be 'knowledgeable' about North Korean affairs. The report also spoke of 'rumours' that the coach was sentenced to 'forced labour at a residential building site in Pyongyang.' There were no reports of the meeting in North Korean state media, nor has neighbouring South Korea been able to confirm the claims. After the team's impressive performance during a 2-1 defeat to Brazil, the North Korean authorities overturned a ban on showing live games. The match against Portugal - the state's first ever live sports broadcast - could not have been worse, with the national side thrashed 7-0 in a match that stunned commentators. Speaking at a news conference in Singapore, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said of the allegations: 'The first step is the federation and we'll see what the answer will be, and then we can elaborate on that.' Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamed Bin Hammam said he had met several World Cup players in North Korea last month, but coach Kim was not present. 'There was an unconfirmed report that these players have gone through torture or something like that, but I can't confirm that,' he said. 'I haven't seen anything with my eyes or heard anything with my ears. Maybe this FIFA investigation can clear the air.'
Newcastle's pursuit of French international midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa looks to be in the balance, given the latest updates from his current employer, Olympique Marseille and from French sources. Hopes had been high on Monday that a deal would be concluded, despite the two clubs still haggling over the level of fee payable for a season-long loan at St James Park. French newspaper L'Equipe wrote: 'Hatem Ben Arfa is undoubtedly very close to discovering the joys of the Premier League. The former Lyon player has in effect been authorised by Marseilles to negotiate with the directors of the Magpies for a loan of one year with an option to buy according to the club cited by Agence France Presse.' The information was later denied by Marseilles chairman Jean-Claude Dassier and coach Didier Deschamps. The two clubs have agreed a loan of one season for €1.2m, together with an option to buy at the end of the season. The amount of the option has not been revealed. However, Monday evening then brought the following comments from Dassier on the official OM website: 'We have a meeting every Monday. It was a professional meeting at the heart of the transfer window. We had to sit down and make sure we all knew where we are and everything went well. We made a certain number of decisions but you have to be discreet during the transfer window. Our desire is to reinforce the squad. Newcastle United are interested (in Hatem Ben Arfa) but for the moment we have not reached an agreement, so we aren't talking about it. We are working with the representatives of Newcastle and with Hatem Ben Arfa.'
The Mirror claims that Ian Holloway is on a collision course with Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston after becoming exasperated with his meddling and cautious financial approach. The club finally confirmed yesterday their play-off heroes have been paid their bonuses for winning promotion to the Premier League last season. But Seasiders boss Holloway, forty seven, is desperately struggling to attract new players to the club due to Bloomfield Road's rigid wage structure. Strikers Rob Hulse, Jon Stead and now even free agent Marlon Harewood have all turned the Tangerines down.
Holloway offered Harewood - who looked such a useless lump whilst on loan at Newcastle last season - a two-year deal including a goal bonus and survival bonus. But Oyston dramatically (though, perhaps, sensibly) rescinded Holloway's offer yesterday and only tabled a twelve-month contract with the option of another year on the same money just if Blackpool survive. Oyston's decision prompted Harewood to walk away from negotiations and left Holloway fuming. It adds to his misery after also missing out on Leicester striker DJ Campbell, who scored eleven goals for the Seasiders while on loan last term. 'The one I wanted to do more than anything else was DJ. I'm sorry I am not in control of that,' Holloway said. But Oyston has at least coughed up the players' bonuses due from last season. Oyston said: 'We didn't get the first chunk of Premier League money in the bank until Thursday and they have received it. I'm delighted about that and I hope they earn another five million this year by keeping us in Premier League.' 
