Lee Clark has today been sacked as manager of Huddersfield Town.
Lee Clark in his playing days at Fulham
The Terriers from Huddersfield are currently lying in 4th place in League 1, only 4 points away from automatic promotion. It is being reported that Clark was apparently relieved of his duties in a 2 minute phone call from club chairman Dean Hoyle.
The Galpharm Stadium based club have released the following statement concerning their decision,
"This was a very difficult decision; one not taken lightly or in response to one result. Concerns have been raised over recent weeks. Lee and his coaching staff have put their all into the job over the past three seasons and he has made a huge contribution to the Club."
"However with 16 matches to go we still have an opportunity to achieve promotion and we have made this change with this in mind."
It can only be described as a crazy decision, delivered in an abhorrent way. What on earth is the football world coming to?
It was an inevitable parting of the ways? Surely a club doesn’t end a dismal run of results by losing at home 5-1 to their biggest rivals, plunging them into the relegation mire of the Premier League and not oust their under pressure manager?
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Molineux
And so it was – after a tenure of 5½ years, being the 7th longest serving manager in English football, Mick McCarthy lost his job at Wolverhampton Wanderers, to be replaced by..... who?
Mick McCarthy
Wolves have already stated that they are looking for an experienced manager to take the helm and try to guide the club away from the lower reaches of the league to stave off relegation and to build for the future, but who are the possible candidates they will be looking at?
Steve Bruce
Initially installed as the favourite for the post, Bruce would bring a wealth of Premier League experience with him after previous spells in charge at Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City. The former Manchester United and England centre-back is currently out of work after being dismissed from Sunderland in November 2011.
Steve Bruce
It would be questionable as to whether the Molineux faithful would warm to the idea of Bruce taking over. Like McCarthy, being a former manager at the Stadium of Light, would Wolves want to gain a reputation for employing Sunderland cast-offs?
Neil Warnock
Former lower league winger Warnock left his post at Queen’s Park Rangers in January, after leading the club to promotion the previous season. He has had a distinguished managerial career at numerous clubs both at league and non-league level and at age 63 would possibly be the steadying influence the club would be looking for.
Neil Warnock
A fully qualified referee, Warnock is renowned for his controversial outbursts, ironically often aimed at the match officials - this may not suit the powers that be at the West Midlands giant.
He does hold a reputation for leading clubs to promotion however, as opposed to success in the Premier League. Useful maybe if the club were to slip out of the top flight, but surely not for short-term survival hopes.
Alan Curbishley
The former Charlton Athletic and West Ham manager has been away from the game for over 3 years and has been linked with many high-profile managerial positions during that time.
After leaving West Ham he spent time taking the club to court, winning his claim for constructive dismissal and it is thought that he is now ready to take on another top job.
Alan Curbishley
A Londoner through and through, Curbishley spent some of his playing career at both Aston Villa and Birmingham City, so moving to the West Midlands would not pose any re-location or geographical problems for him.
He has stated that he would be very interested in the position, whilst Wolves Chairman Steve Morgan is thought to be keen on an imminent move for the 54-year-old. It's no surprise that Curbishley is the bookmakers new favourite to take the position.
Other names in the frame
Other possible candidates for the Molineux hotseat would have to include John Barnes, Paul Ince, Rafa Benitez, Sven Goran Eriksson, Billy Davies, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Ian Holloway.
So who will it be? The club wishes to make a quick appointment before their next Premier League fixture on 25th February away at Newcastle.
With the sad news of Whitney Houston's passing that broke over the last weekend, it got me thinking as to other female artists who have prematurely left the world, leaving a lasting legacy.
The following 5 are a purely personal choice of some of my all-time favourite lady singers, all of which are sadly no-longer with us.
Tammy Wynette (May 1942 - April 1998)
Justified and Ancient - The KLF featuring Tammy Wynette
Virginia Wynette Pugh became one of country music's best known artists and was termed the First Lady of Country Music. With such worldwide hits as "Stand By Your Man" and "D.I.V.O.R.C.E", she became a major singing star throughout the globe.
In 1991 she returned to the public eye, guesting on British electronica group the KLF's "Justified and Ancient", which zoomed to No.1 in 18 countries and reached No.11 on the US Billboard chart, giving her a whole new, wider fan base.
Over the years she had many medical problems, spending much time in hospital, She underwent at least 25 major operations and suffered from an acute addiction to pain-killers.
She died in her sleep aged 55 from a blood clot in her lung.
Mama Cass Elliott (September 1941 - July 1974)
Dream a Little Dream of Me - Mama Cass Elliott
Born Ellen Naomi Cohen, she is best remembered as a singer with "The Mamas and the Papas" in the 60's and early 70's.
After the group's break-up, she embarked upon a solo career. Here she completed a further 5 albums, extensively toured the world and appeared in numerous TV variety and chat shows.
After completing a 2-week set of sell-out dates at the London Palladium, she died from a heart attack at a flat she had been borrowing which belonged to singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson. Eerily, four years later, the legendary drummer from the Who, Keith Moon died in the very same flat, at the same young age of 32.
Minnie Riperton (November 1947 - July 1979)
Loving You - Minnie Riperton
A native of Chicago's south side, Minnie Riperton is best remembered for her amazing five -and-a-half octave vocal range and her mega hit "Loving You".
Early in 1976 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. At the time, even though she was given only 6 months to live, she continued to tour and record. After surviving another 3 - 1/2 years, she passed away at age 31 on July 12, 1979.
Kirsty MacColl (October 1959 - December 2000)
Days - Kirsty MacColl
I must admit to Kirsty being my all-time favourite female vocalist and I have outlined her story in a previous article which contains 4 further samples of her work. Please click on the following link to read, watch and listen:
Back in 2000, when on holiday at an island off the Mexican coast, Kirsty was hit by a motor cruiser whilst she was trying to save her son from the path of the same vessel. She was killed instantly.
Kirsty was a prolific songwriter as well as a singer. She had the uncanny knack of making you feel happy and sad in the same verse, whilst at the same time making you want to scream and shout in the next chorus.
Her vocal style was unique and her delivery sublime.
Karen Carpenter (March 1950 - February 1983)
Superstar - The Carpenters
No list such as this would be complete without the inclusion of the amazingly talented Karen Carpenter.
One half of the mega-successful brother-sister duo "The Carpenters" who were known for their romantic ballads, they became the No.1 selling American music act of the 1970's.
She is best remembered for her velvety, clear, rich voice , but she always considered herself to be primarily a drummer who sang. To this end her drumming was greatly admired by contemporaries Hal Blaine, Cubby O'Brien and Buddy Rich.
For years she suffered from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa and, due to the excessive damage it had caused her body, she died from a heart attack whilst staying at her parents home in California, less than a month before her 33rd birthday.
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Others of whom I could have quite easily added to this list include the following:
Aaliyah, Billie Holliday, Celia Cruz, Dusty Springfield, Dinah Shore, Dinah Washington, Etta Baker, Eva Cassidy, Laura Brannigan, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Patsy Cline, Phillis Hyman, Janis Joplin and Sandy Denny.
Your Shout:
Who were your favourites? Who have I forgotten? I'm sure I must have made a few glaring omissions.
The sad news has been announced that US singer and actress Whitney Houston has died at the grossly premature age of 48.
Daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, cousin of Dionne Warwick and the god-daughter of Aretha Franklin, she emanated from a rich vein of soul/gospel music. With such unforgettable hits as "I Will Always Love You" and "Saving All My Love For You", she was one of the most celebrated female vocalists of all time.
I Wanna Dance With Somebody Video
She still holds the record for the most consecutive No.1 singles in the US with 7 chart toppers between 1985 and 1988.
Her final movie entitled "Sparkle", loosely based on the story of the Supremes, will be released in August, it has been confirmed by Sony Pictures. Being her return to the silver screen after an absence of 15 years, the final recordings from the film will be released as a movie soundtrack sometime over the summer.
Whitney in NYC's Central Park - September 2009
With her later career tainted by substance and alcohol abuse, along with her tempestuous marriage to Bobby Brown, she leaves one daughter Bobbi Kristina.
She was found at the Beverly Hilton Hotel where she was staying as a guest in readiness for this weeks Grammy Awards. It is being reported that she was found by a member of her entourage, slumped and face down in the bath. A post-mortem will be performed in the next day or so to determine cause of death.
The Grammy awards ceremony will still go ahead it has been announced, with a substantial Whitney tribute being headed by Jennifer Hudson.
I cannot personally admit to being her greatest fan, but it cannot be denied what a powerful, soulful voice she possessed. She was also a stunningly attractive woman.
Whitney from 1991
My heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends and the millions of fans she leaves throughout this planet.
So now its official – Fabio Carp- pillow, aka the Italian Galleon, has thrown his toys out of the pram and is supposedly heading off back in his Gucci shoes to the land of copious bowls of pasta and gallon upon gallon of Asti Spumante. Arrivederci Fab!
No great loss in my opinion. I, like pretty well every other red blooded Englishman, have never really understood why we go down the road of foreign soccer coaches for our national side. It’s OK for a club to take on a top foreign coach as they need success for financial gain, but international football is different. It’s a matter of national pride and however much anyone tries to convince me otherwise, no foreign coach will ever have the required passion – it’s just a job to them.
The outcry is now for the immediate appointment of Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp to the “poisoned chalice” of the England job. But even though he has intimated, over the years, that he would be amenable to such a suggestion, would he really want to leave White Hart Lane at a time when they are flying high in the Premier League? He has admitted this morning as to have not even given thought about the England job so far – believe that if you will.
Is Harry the man?
Another mooted suggestion is WBA’s Roy Hodgson whose contract is up at the Hawthorns come the end of the season. Even though he has international management experience, this appointment would probably not go down so well with the rank and file England fan as he has never really succeeded when managing in this country.
Meanwhile the FA is going to take it’s time in appointing a successor to Mr Capello. Under-21 chief Stuart Pearce has been give the reigns for the upcoming match against the Netherlands – after that, it’s anyone’s guess what will happen. Indeed, the FA are not even ruling out the appointment of another foreign coach.
In Temporary Charge - Stuart Pearce
All that is certain is that there will be no shortage of column inches on the subject in both the press and online (and more than likely in this blog) over the coming weeks.
You may think I have lost the plot or am waiting the impending arrival of those charming men in white coats, but really - I am serious in this suggestion.
Andy Carroll signed for Liverpool from Newcastle, on the last day of the transfer window (January 2011) for a ridiculous fee of £35m. In a move, probably designed to pacify the Reds fans who were upset with the sale of Fernando Torres to Chelsea for (an even more ridiculous) £50m, the striker immediately became Liverpool's most expensive ever signing.
Liverpool's record signing - Andy Carroll
He was injured at the time and did not make his debut for his new club until March 2011, scoring his first 2 goals a month later against Manchester City.
So why am I suggesting that Carroll could lead the line at Euro 2012? I am of the opinion that England are always a better side when then have a big strapping centre-forward, prepared to run through a brick wall if necessary to go towards goal. Someone who is not frightened to get stuck in and give good old Johnny Foreigner the fright of his life. I am convinced that Carroll is the man to do this.
Carroll in his Newcastle days
The only problem is that current England coach, Fabio Carp-pillow would most likely not want to go down this route, but with his getting involved in criticising the axing of John Terry as England captain, maybe sense will prevail and England will sack the Italian and then appoint an Englishman who will play the English way (I can dream can't I?).
I watched Carroll play for Liverpool against Tottenham last night and was suitably impressed with his movement both on and off the ball and with his aerial ability.
Carroll has been compared to both legendary Tyneside striker Alan Shearer and Chelsea's Didier Drogba and has been lauded as one of the top 3 headers of a ball Kevin Keegan has ever seen in football. High praise indeed, but who in their right mind would argue with Super Kev?.
Kevin Keegan
Keep an eye on Andy Carroll - mark my words, his time is a-coming.
One more suggestion, if Capello gets the bullet (please FA please!), how about begging K.K. as a short term appointment, to return as England Manager and lead us into to the Euro's in Poland and the Ukraine?
There certainly would be no shortage of passion (as there is with the Italian Galleon).
This weekend saw the opening of another Superleague season - this time sponsored by haulage giants Stobart.
One of the opening fixtures was an encounter between Salford City Reds and Castleford Tigers. Nothing there to get particularly excited about you may think, but it marked the end of a 14 year wait for the Reds to move away from their old home at the Willows. Sadly after 110 years the old stadium had become tired and somewhat weathered and it was obvious that the club was badly in need of a move away to pastures new.
The Willows
After a tumultuous season with 4 different coaches in charge at varying times, the Reds have moved to their new stadium overlooking Barton Bridge with high hopes that this will spark an upturn in their fortunes.
At a cost of £26m, the hugely impressive City of Salford Stadium holds a capacity of 12,000 and will be run jointly by Salford City Council and Peel Holdings. The stadium boasts top class facilities which are also available for use by the public, including a full size floodlit artificial pitch with three 7–a-side pitches, a recreational grass pitch and community changing rooms
The Salford City Stadium
Meanwhile the Reds will commence their season with Phil Veivers taking over the mantle of coach from Matt Parish who left for personal reasons. Ably assisted by former Great Britain international Sean Long, who has implemented a new playing style, hopes are high that this is the start of an era of success for Salford.
Salford City Stadium Main Concourse (Artists impression)
However the Rugby League Gods were not particularly kind to the "Reds" on the evening of their opening Superleague fixture for 2012, as atrocious snowy conditions and the visiting Castleford Tigers spoiled the gala opening night winning by 24-10.
Click here for a full report on the match (courtesy of the Yorkshire Evening Post).
One last thought, Salford's next Superleague match will take place this Friday evening, away at St Helen's. This will be "Saints" first league fixture at their new Langtree Park Stadium.
When last (if ever) did a club play their opening two season league fixtures in brand new built stadia?
