Redknapp: Spurs would have booted me out even if we had reached Champions League

Harry Redknapp insists Tottenham would still have shown him the door even if he had managed to steer the north London club into the Champions League.
The 65-year-old, who has vowed to take another job after being sacked by Spurs on Wednesday night, says his future at the club has already been decided.
Tottenham finished fourth but were foiled in the European ambitions by Chelsea's stunning defeat of Bayern Munich in the 2011-12 final.

Kicked out: Harry Redknapp speaking on Thursday morning after his 3.30am sacking by Tottenham

'We finished fourth and were unlucky at the end, but I think the same outcome would have happened,' Redknapp told BBC Radio Five Live.
'Even if we had finished fourth, the chairman would have gone down the same road. But that is football.
'I had four great years at Spurs. All you can do is leave the club in a better state than you found it and I did that, for sure.'
Redknapp is determined to secure a new managerial position, despite the sacking.
'I feel great, I am ready. Football keeps me going, that is what I will miss. But I am not one for sitting at home,' Redknapp explained.
'I'm not coming to the end, I feel fit as a fiddle.'
Where a new role would emerge remains to be seen. The only vacant post in the Premier League right now is at Swansea and it is unlikely Redknapp would be tempted by the role.
Should David Moyes be offered the Tottenham job, Redknapp may emerge as a contender for a unique swap.
However, he may feel it is the right time to take a lucrative post abroad - particularly in the Middle East.
The are a number of rich sides in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar that would be interested in offering Redknapp a job.

Crushed: Tottenham were destroyed by Chelsea at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final

Redknapp explained his sacking was not finance related, instead it was based on the club's desire for a change.
'It was nothing to do with contracts or me asking for anything extra at all,' he said.
'The club just decided they wanted to have a change. They own the club, they can do what they want, so that is OK.'
He added: 'I kept my counsel about that all through. It had no effect, it was just a decision the chairman decided he wanted to make. That is their right to do that.'
On his departure from White Hart Lane, Redknapp said: ‘I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Spurs and am proud of my achievements.

‘I have had a fantastic four years with the club, at times the football has been breathtaking.

Revolving door: Who's next in for White Hart Lane?

‘I am sad to be leaving but wish to thank the players, staff and fans for their terrific support during my time there.’
Redknapp was pleased to leave the fans with some happy memories from his tenure, even if he did not pick up any silverware.
'People who support Tottenham had lots to smile about, they were proud and that was important to me. I will never forget the fans,' insisted the sacked manager.
Chairman Daniel Levy said: ‘This is not a decision the board and I have taken lightly. Harry arrived at the club at a time when his experience and approach was exactly what was needed.
‘This decision in no way detracts from the excellent work Harry has done during his time with the club and I should like to thank him for his achievements and contribution. Harry will always be welcome at the Lane.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2159138/Harry-Redknapp-vows-job.html#ixzz1xlJIdJkk

Sky scores new Premier League deal

Sky to show 116 live games each season from August 2013

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Sky Sports: will be showing the likes of Rooney for a further three seasons

Sky Sports will remain the home of live football after its deal with the Premier League was extended for a further three seasons.

"This is a good result for our customers and for our business. It means that Sky Sports remains the home of Premier League football"

Jeremy Darroch, Sky's Chief Executive Quotes of the week

The new agreement, which will run from the start of the 2013-14 season to the end of the 2015-16 season, will see Sky Sports continue to offer unrivalled coverage of top-flight football.
Sky Sports landed five of the seven available packages, meaning supporters will see 116 live Premier League matches.

As a result, Sky will continue to be the UK's leading Premier League broadcaster with more live matches than ever before.
Sky will pay £760 million per annum for the five packages of live rights for each of the three years of the new Premier League agreement. These start in August 2013 after the remaining year of the existing agreements.

The deal means that Sky Sports will have the very best live Premier League coverage for another four years. Viewers will continue to enjoy Super Sunday and Monday Night Football, with Sky Sports able to offer more of the best matches than any other channel, feature more of the big head-to-head fixtures, and cover every club at least four times a season.
The Premier League deal complements a series of recent rights acquisitions and renewals - including the Football League, UEFA Champions League, Formula One and England's domestic and international cricket - to ensure that Sky Sports remains the home of sport, with the best line-up of sport on UK television.

Benefit

Sky has been awarded live rights across all platforms - including satellite, cable, IPTV, online and mobile. This means that, in addition to TV, Sky customers will continue to benefit from live Premier League coverage through Sky Go on PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets and games consoles.
Coverage will also be made available on Sky's new internet TV service, NOW TV, which launches later this year.

Premier League broadcast rights announced

Jeremy Darroch, Sky's Chief Executive, said: "This is a good result for our customers and for our business. It means that Sky Sports remains the home of Premier League football and that viewers will continue to enjoy our live and exclusive coverage until at least 2016.

"We have never offered greater depth and breadth of coverage on Sky Sports, with unprecedented live action right across the schedule. At the same time we're pushing ahead with more original British content, extending our leadership as the UK's favourite triple play provider, and launching our new internet TV service, NOW TV, which will give us even more ways to distribute our content."
Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports, added: "The Premier League has never been more popular with our customers so it's excellent news that Sky Sports viewers will continue to enjoy the biggest and best games, including Super Sunday and Monday Night Football.

"Sky Sports viewers have never had so much choice of high-quality action. Alongside the Premier League, we have long term agreements in place to show the best in live sport, including UEFA Champions League football, European, Ryder Cup and US tour golf, Test and one-day cricket and Formula One.

"At the same time, we'll continue to innovate in providing the best coverage possible."
Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "The continuing support of BSkyB for Premier League football is significant beyond the revenues delivered; the longevity and quality of their commitment has done much for the English game as a whole.
"We are very happy to see this relationship maintained for another three seasons."

Sourced:
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/7810901/Sky-scores-new-Premier-League-deal

Roberto Di Matteo signs two-year contract to be Chelsea manager

Chelsea's Champions League-winning caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo has signed a two-year contract to become their new permanent manager.

Roberto Di Matteo turned round a disappointing season for Chelsea last campaign (Picture: PA)

The 42-year-old joined the Blues as a player in 1996 and following his retirement after 175 games for the club, had spells in charge of MK Dons and West Brom before returning to Stamford Bridge as part of Andre Villas-Boas's coaching staff.

When the Portuguese manager was sacked in March, Di Matteo took over for the remaining 11 weeks of the season.

He started with four straight wins and they only lost three games under his charge, with the most important results being victory in the FA Cup final over Liverpool, and the Champions League final over Bayern Munich.

'Roberto's quality was clear for all to see when he galvanised the squad last season and helped the club make history, and the owner and board are very pleased he will be continuing his good work,' said chief executive Ron Gourlay.

'We all believed he was a young coach with much to offer when we first asked him to take charge of team affairs in March and the manner in which he worked with us, the players and all the staff, and the success that followed, made him the clear choice when it came to selecting the person to take us forward in the seasons to come.

'Although he has set the bar very high in the short time he has been in charge, we know that Roberto is the right man to lead Chelsea onto further success.'

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/901987-roberto-di-matteo-signs-two-year-contract-to-be-chelsea-manager#ixzz1xhYWldPc

Arsenal set to sign Olivier Giroud for £12m from Montpellier

Arsenal are close to completing a deal to sign Montpellier striker and France international Olivier Giroud for £12m.

The Gunners are expected to confirm the 25-year-old's arrival this week.

Manager Arsene Wenger intends to play him alongside fellow new signing Lukas Podolski and Dutch striker Robin van Persie in a front three.

DID YOU KNOW?

Giroud was playing in French's Ligue Two as recently as 2010, and only made his international debut last November at the age of 25.

The 6ft 3ins forward, who was an unused substitute in France's 1-1 Euro 2012 draw with England, scored 21 goals in his club's run to the Ligue 1 title.

Giroud is one of only two recognised strikers in the French squad, alongside Karim Benzema. He has six caps for his country and one goal.

Earlier this week, Montpellier manager Rene Girard told French radio station RMC that Wenger was leading a chase of top clubs for the striker.

"Arsenal are very interested and Giroud wants to play in England, if Arsene agrees with the president, he will sign for them," he said.

Despite speculation about the future of Van Persie, who is out of contract next summer, it is understood Arsenal want to sign Giroud to play alongside him, rather than as a replacement.

Sourced:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18425253