Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

WHAT is it about the Germans and their business sense? They seem to be faring better than most in the Euro crisis and now one of England's top football writers suggests that the German model is the one to adopt when it comes to running football clubs.

James Lawton, of The Independent, who is also Sports Writer of the Year, was last week speculating on how the Premier League could move away from the situation where unless your club is owned by a wealthy benefactor you've got no chance of winning anything.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

AT last, a football referee exercising common sense!

When the Doncaster Rovers striker Billy Sharp scored in the 14^th minute of their Championship home game against Middlesbrough last week he 'celebrated' by revealing a message on a T-shirt underneath his Rovers shirt.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

YEARS ago the only stars in football were the players, now the managers are often in the limelight as much as the young men they coach.

Sometimes they are spot on in their comments, sometimes you think “shouldn't have said that matey”.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

“ME mam says I can come out to play.”

No, this isn't the throw-away line from a young kid as he skips to the park with his mates but the likely conversation between Mason Bennett and Championship football club Derby County.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

LIKE many people I thoroughly enjoyed watching Spain again demonstrate the art of possession football in their European Championship win over Scotland.

But Neil Warnock, the outspoken manager of Premier League side QPR, isn't a fan of what he describes as 'tippy-tappy football.'

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

THE race to find the next superstar is so intense that clubs will go to almost any length to snap up potential.

Take Premier League side Everton, they have just committed a reported TWO MILLION POUNDS to sign a 15 year old lad from League strugglers Bradford City.