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In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Tottenham Hotspur legend, Graham Roberts, has revealed that he doesn’t want to see Graham Potter appointed as the club’s next manager.

Potter has been linked with the job at Spurs after impressing since being appointed as Brighton’s manager in 2019, having turned them into one of the most attacking and enjoyable sides to watch in the Premier League.

Steve Hitchen, Spurs’s chief scout, is reportedly set to recommend Potter as a good candidate for Daniel Levy to consider appointing as Jose Mourinho’s replacement at the end of the season.

Speaking on if he would like to see Potter as Spurs’ next manager and what his time at Brighton has proved, Roberts exclusively told FFC:

“No, not for me. I think he’s done okay at Brighton, they beat Liverpool, but then lost to West Brom and Sheffield United, so to me that shows there’s something not right there.”

Levy has put Ryan Mason in temporary charge until the end of the season, as they look to take their time in appointing Mourinho’s successor.

Spurs will now be onto their third manager since November 2019, which was when Mauricio Pochettino was sacked, leading the way for Mourinho to be appointed.

Darren Gough took time out of his busy schedule to launch NatWest’s Cricket Club Ticket Competition at Lord’s today which offers young fans around the country the opportunity to win one of 2,000 tickets to the NatWest Series this summer

Media Release30-Apr-2001Darren Gough took time out of his busy schedule to launch NatWest’s Cricket Club Ticket Competition at Lord’s today which offers young fans around the country the opportunity to win one of 2,000 tickets to the NatWest Series this summer.The competition mailout has been sent to over 1500 junior sections of clubsacross the country.The winning clubs will not only receive 20 tickets to one of the matches intheir area, there is also an opportunity for one lucky club to win the ultimate prize – a training session with Darren Gough, The NatWest Series Ambassador.To win this dream prize which includes a NatWest cricket trailer packed with training kit, the juniors will have to explain in no more than 30 words, why cricket is fun.The 2,000 ticket giveaway is part of the NatWest grassroots cricket campaignto encourage and develop children’s interest in the sport. Over the next twoyears, NatWest will also be giving away 400 all weather turf-free NatWest Flicx pitches and 10,000 practice skills balls to cricket clubs across the country.Abi Searle, Sponsorship Manager, NatWest said; “The development of young Players at club level is fundamental to the success and future of cricket, and we are delighted to give junior players the chance to win tickets to watch international players pitch their world class skills against each other in one of the nail-biting NatWest Series matches to come.”The NatWest Series is the one-day international cricket tournament betweenEngland, and the visiting nations, Australia and Pakistan running from 7th June through to the final at Lord’s on Saturday 23rd June.

An SCB XI travelled to Falmouth on Sunday 27th May for a 38 Counties Competition match against Cornwall

John Fitzgerald29-May-2001An SCB XI travelled to Falmouth on Sunday 27th May for a 38 Counties Competition match against Cornwall. Due to weather conditions the match was reduced to 43 overs a side. Cornwall batted first and reached 178-8, with 50 from Jonathan Kent, 35 from Tim Edwards and 31 from Neil Edwards. There were 3 wickets for Ian Jones and 2 each for Joe Tucker and Richard Pannell.In reply SCB reached 41-1 off 10 overs (Kevin Parsons 25), before the rain returned and the match was abandoned. Each side takes 1 point.

Rangers are reportedly interested in Nimes winger Zinedine Ferhat, and should he arrive at Ibrox this summer, he could be the man to replace Ianis Hagi in Steven Gerrard’s side.

According to French news outlet Foot Mercato (via Daily Record), Rangers and Sassuolo are keen on signing the Algerian, who has impressed in Ligue 1 this season despite Nimes’ likely relegation to the second tier.

The report suggested that both Gerrard and Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson are ‘hell bent’ on signing the 28-year-old, and considering that Nimes are second-bottom in the French top flight, a summer exit looks likely for Ferhat.

So far this season, the versatile attacker has contributed an impressive six goals and 10 assists in 32 Ligue 1 appearances, which has helped him average a fine 7.25 rating from WhoScored. This comfortably ranks him as Nimes’ best performer so far in 2020/21, so it is easy to see why Rangers might be keen on adding him to their squad ahead of next term.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-rangers-news-transfer-rumours-and-more-copy-copy” title=“Latest Rangers news, transfer rumours and more from Ibrox!”]

If he were to make the move to Ibrox, then he could potentially arrive as a replacement for Hagi, who has been heavily linked with a move away in recent weeks, with the likes of Lazio and Sevilla among his suitors.

It could prove difficult to keep the Romania international should either of those clubs meet his asking price, despite the success he has enjoyed during his brief time at Ibrox.

Both Ferhat and Hagi are predominantly deployed on the right wing, although the Algerian looks to be a lot more versatile than the 22-year-old Rangers man, as he has featured in a number of positions in attack and midfield throughout his career, even filling in at right-back on numerous occasions.

[freshpress-quiz id=“593776″]

With such versatility and an impressive goal contributions tally, he seems to be the sort of player who Gerrard would love to have in his squad ahead of next season. Whilst his arrival could prove to be a catalyst in Hagi’s departure, his statistics this season suggest that he would be an excellent addition at Ibrox, so Wilson should definitely be looking to bring him in.

In other news… Gerrard could sign Rangers’ next Ryan Kent with swoop for “hugely impressive” beast

Aston Villa have been credited with an interest in Vitoria Guimaraes defender Abdul Mumin, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Mumin profiled

Mumin appears to be catching the eye for his displays this term, where has lined out as a centre-back.

The 22-year-old, standing at 1.88m (6 ft 2), joined Vitoria last August in a free transfer from FC Nordsjaelland and has made 26 appearances this season.

The Ghanaian, who is yet to be capped at senior level for his country, can also play as a right-back.

The Latest: Villa not the only side keen

According to The Sun, Newcastle and Tottenham are also keen on Mumin, while Scottish giants Celtic have also held a previous interest. The report added that anyone wishing to secure his services would need to pay around £15m.

Should a move to Villa Park go through, the report claimed that Mumin could replace Neil Taylor, who is out of contract this summer. The Welshman, who is on £32,000 per week, is thought to be attracting interest from Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City.

The Verdict: A new centre-back required?

In our opinion, exploring the idea of signing a new centre-back this summer could be a smart move. Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa have been virtual ever-presents under Dean Smith this year, with the likes of Kortney Hause and Bjorn Engels barely (if even) getting a look-in.

Reports have suggested recently that Engels will be moved on in the summer, and should that come to fruition, bringing in a fourth centre-back may prove crucial for the 2021/22 season in terms of squad depth.

Mumin may well be that man, but it seems as if the club will need to beat numerous teams in the race for his signature.

In other news: Villa suffer transfer blow despite having target through the door, find out more here. 

Zimbabwe vice-captain and all-rounder Guy Whittall is happy to be back in batting form after the selectors kept faith in him despite a disappointing performance in the last three overseas tours of India, New Zealand and Australia

Larry Moyo02-Jun-2001Zimbabwe vice-captain and all-rounder Guy Whittall is happy to be back in batting form after the selectors kept faith in him despite a disappointing performance in the last three overseas tours of India, New Zealand and Australia.”I wasn’t quite going on to make big scores," he says. “I was getting twenties and thirties and not making any big scores and I was putting a lot of guys under a lot of pressure. This was obviously not good for the team.”In the two-match Test series in India, Whittall averaged 31 with a best score of 84 in the first innings of the second Test. The other scores were 0, 29 and 11. In the one-off Boxing Day Test in New Zealand, Whittall averaged just 7.50.”Although I had not made any big scores of 50 in quite a few games, I still believed that I would play against Bangladesh because I believed that the selectors and management would have confidence in me at Test level. But I would not have been totally surprised if I wasn’t selected. I thought that Gavin Rennie who had batted well in New Zealand would be preferred ahead of me.”Rennie averaged 65 in the New Zealand Test after making Zimbabwe’s highest individual score of 93.”The selectors however had faith in me, obviously because of my past record at home, and I managed to come through for the team and for the team, which was the turning point for the season for myself. Against India I might still be in the opening position and this is going to be more of a test for me against a better side.”They have Harbhajan Singh in the attack and he has proven himself. They also have Srinath who I think is one of the best bowlers in the world. He gets a lot of lift and bounce so he, I should think, will be spearheading the Indian attack. They also have got a couple of youngsters who have a bit of pace and are fighting for position.”I will, once again, not be bowling because of injury. It will be another six more weeks and we’ll review the situation after that.”India have a very strong batting line up with Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. They also have Laxman who we actually saw in a warm-up match the last time we were in India around 1996 and we thought he was a real classy act. He is now among the best inthe world.”But obviously when you are playing at home and you have the home support, you sort of know more about yourself and about the actual game on your own turf.”We beat India here the last time but unfortunately I was not involved because of injury. Hopefully this time we can get a good combination of our batsmen and bowlers so that everyone can bowl and bat according to the team plan.”India have failed to produce the same sort of standard of cricket that they have away from home but they have got a new coach now in John Wright from New Zealand. I think on the actual fitness side and on fielding skills and duels, India will now be able to compete with any side in the world.”They are a lot tighter and a lot better in the field. They are actually throwing themselves around on the field. They never used to do that a couple of years back. They are here after a fantastic win over Australia, which I am sure they are very proud of and the rest of the world was quite happy to see.”But that should not make us afraid of them as they chase their first overseas Test series win since 1986. When you play sport you can’t have this fear of being the first to go down. Your main aim is to suit your own game and do what you think is the best for the team.”In the last two years we have come a long way. I believe we have got some good batsmen playing at the moment and we are in good form. We just need to learn to take 20 wickets in a game.”

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that he would be surprised not to see Liverpool enter the race for Tottenham forward Harry Kane.

Kane has reportedly told Tottenham that he wants to leave the club in the summer and has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City and Manchester United.

According to Sky Sports, the Champions League and Europa League finalists, as well as Chelsea, have already been in contact with Kane’s representatives over a potential transfer.

And Hendrie believes Liverpool are another outfit who could soon enter the fray to sign the England captain this summer.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about Kane’s future, the Sky Sports pundit said:

“I don’t think it’s down to money for Harry Kane. I think it’s now down to winning trophies at that age and that’s why I feel if he’s available, I’d be very surprised if Manchester City and Manchester United, Liverpool aren’t having a tug of war over Harry Kane.

“When you’re so prolific in that area, I just don’t see how he wouldn’t fit the bill for any of the top three, top four football clubs.”

After the season they have had, easily surrendering their title to Manchester City, Liverpool could probably do with a signing like Kane.

With a £150m price tag floating about, though, it will obviously not be easy to get him out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Going into the third and final National Bank Series Test, England fast-medium bowler Andy Caddick could hardly have dreamt that his four wickets to reach 200 Test wickets would come so quickly

Lynn McConnell30-Mar-2002Going into the third and final National Bank Series Test, England fast-medium bowler Andy Caddick could hardly have dreamt that his four wickets to reach 200 Test wickets would come so quickly.But he went to lunch having just trapped New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan leg before wicket to secure his fourth and to become the ninth English bowler to take 200 Test wickets.He is in esteemed company. The list reads: Ian Botham (383), Bob Willis (325), Fred Trueman (307), Derek Underwood (297), Brian Statham (252), Alec Bedser (236), Darren Gough (228) and John Snow (202).Caddick thought he may have picked up one or two on the first morning.When he came back for the last over before lunch he felt it was because England captain Nasser Hussain felt he needed a change of variation. It worked and also got his 200th out of the way so he could get on with the business England were here for.Caddick said it had been a highlight in his career but not the most satisfying moment. There were games he had played in that had been more satisfying.He said there had been times when he felt he could have been playing, which would have allowed him to achieve the goal earlier, none moreso than when he was not selected for the last Ashes tour.Despite having been told by the selectors that all he had to do to be selected was keep taking wickets obviously the 105 he took during the English summer had not been enough to convince them.Injuries and different selectors did come along and all players went through bad patches but he had been fit for the last five years and felt there was more left to chase other milestones along the way.”The body is getting tired and weary but I will keep going as long as I enjoy it,” he said.Having Hussain as his captain was an advantage as he was a captain who backed his bowlers, and who understood what they were trying to do.”There are a few dos and don’ts as far as bowling is concerned but I have a good relationship with Nasser and with Duncan [Fletcher] as well,” he said.Caddick said the absence of Gough had placed him in a position he enjoyed of having to shoulder more responsibility.Achieving the feat against New Zealand had not made the occasion any more special as he treats every opponent in every Test as just another Test.The pitch was one where players didn’t hang around in going for their shots, he said, and they had to play their shots as there was no guarantee how long they would last if they pottered around.Chris Harris had shown that in his innings “for the second time today,” he said, a reference to a let-off Harris was given after being caught off his gloves from Matthew Hoggard’s bowling by short leg fieldsman Mark Ramprakash.But Harris and Adam Parore had established a good partnership and there was a lot of work to be done by England tomorrow, Caddick said.

Former Rangers star Michael Ball believes that Steven Gerrard could sanction Alfredo Morelos’ departure this summer as he looks to bolster his transfer war chest this summer.

Morelos has enjoyed another productive season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, in 44 outings.

He has confirmed that he could depart this summer, giving an interview in March admitting that he could move to a bigger club if a bid is tabled.

Ball accepts that selling players such as Morelos can be hard for supporters to stomach at times but he believes that Rangers could well cash in as Gerrard looks to improve a squad that did not suffer a single defeat in the league this season.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, Ball said: “It’s a difficult one, you don’t like seeing your good players or your key players leave a football club, no matter what level, but unfortunately when they start getting in the limelight and doing the business worldwide, clubs do want to come in for these players.

“It’s down to Rangers to accept the figure that they demand and if a club want to come in and stump up that fee, I think Steven will be happy for him to move on and wish him well. But then give Steven the treasure chest to go and bring in the new players to keep the club moving forward for the next couple of years.”

Morelos has been a real success story for Rangers since his arrival from HJK Helsinki and has scored 94 goals in 182 games in total for the club.

He is valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt and his contract runs until 2023, meaning that there will have to be an acceptable bid for Rangers to cash in this summer.

A number of the Somerset players chosen for the opening match of the season against Sussex tomorrow were at the County Ground early this morning, having a final net session before making the journey to Hove later in the day

Richard Walsh23-Apr-2002A number of the Somerset players chosen for the opening match of the season against Sussex tomorrow were at the County Ground early this morning, having a final net session before making the journey to Hove later in the day.As he looked out across the ground, Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson updated the situation regarding the two contracted England players, Andrew Caddick and Marcus Trescothick.Regarding Andrew Caddick the chief told me: "Andrew had a rib and side injury when he returned from the New Zealand tour, but has recently seen an ECB specialist who has given him the all clear."We are hoping that he will practice this week with a view to him playing for the county in the last two Benson and Hedges matches, against Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, and also against Yorkshire in the county championship."Regarding the England opener, the chief executive told me: "A decision has been made by skipper Jamie Cox that when he plays for the county Marcus Trescothick will be captain."This we feel is sensible for two reasons. Firstly, because it takes the strain of captaincy off Jamie Cox when Marcus plays, so that Jamie can concentrate on his own game, and secondly because it will give Marcus captaincy experience at first-class level which will underpin his chances of becoming the England captain in the future."