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New Zealand Cricket has scheduled a meeting on Friday to discuss appointing a successor to Andy Moles, who resigned as national coach last October

Cricinfo staff29-Jan-2010New Zealand Cricket are expected shortly to name a coach as successor to Andy Moles, who resigned last October, with the board scheduled to discuss the issue at a meeting on Friday. Those in contention include Darren Lehmann, who confirmed he’d been in talks with NZC, Mark Greatbatch and Jeff Crowe. However, Adam Gilchrist denied developments regarding Lehmann, the coach of IPL franchise Deccan Chargers, during his commentary stint in the fourth ODI between Pakistan and Australia.”It will be discussed at today’s board meeting and I am confident an appointment will be made before the start of the Bangladesh series on Wednesday,” NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan told .New Zealand have not appointed any interim coach since Moles stepped down, increasing captain Daniel Vettori’s responsibilities during the series against Pakistan late last year. Moles was in the job for less than a year, raising questions over whether NZC had erred during their recruitment process when appointing him as John Bracewell’s successor.Vaughan said NZC wanted to be sure the right candidate was picked this time, leading to a lengthy spell without a national coach. “Looking at some examples from international cricket in recent times, some coaching appointments have not gone well, and we had that experience as well with the departure of Andy Moles last year,” he said. “I think there’s been a real need to reflect on that and make sure we get this appointment right.”Lehmann, the former Australian batsman who guided the Deccan Chargers to the IPL title last season, has confirmed he is in talks with NZC for the role.

With 17 games played in the Championship so far this season, West Brom have scored 27 goals along the way. That’s 17 fewer than Fulham, who are currently one place and six points above the Baggies in the league table.

Taking this into account, and with that the January transfer window is quickly approaching, it seems as though Albion could do with adding an extra attacking option to their squad to help bolster their squad strength up front.

What’s the news?

It has recently been reported by the Daily Mail that West Brom are one of the Championship clubs – alongside Swansea City, Bournemouth and Stoke City – who are interested in making a move to sign Derby County winger Tom Lawrence, who the Rams are reportedly willing to jettison on a free transfer in January.

Since joining Derby back in the 2017 summer transfer window from Leicester City, Lawrence – who is currently earning a weekly wage of £27k-per-week according to Salary Sport – has gone on to make 161 appearances for the Rams across all competitions, scoring 28 goals and providing 23 assists along the way.

So far this season, the 27-year-old, who is currently valued at £3.6m by Transfermarkt, has played in all but two of Derby’s league games, scoring two goals and providing three assists in the process and showing just how important he is to Wayne Rooney’s side.

As well as his goals and assists, Lawrence’s performances have earned him an overall season rating of 6.89/10, making him Derby’s third-highest rated player according to WhoScored. That would undoubtedly make the Welshman, who has been described as an “intelligent” player by his former manager Phillip Cocu, a big miss for the Rams if he leaves in January.

Lawrence has vast experience of playing in the Championship and has proved himself to be a useful and versatile attacking figure for Derby by playing as a centre-forward and attacking midfielder at times this season, as well on the left wing. Therefore, this could be a great move for Lai Guochuan to explore as a potential free transfer to help push his club towards promotion by the end of the campaign.

Also, with Derby recently being hit with a further nine-point deduction, leaving them bottom of the table on -3 points, it’s safe to say that they are very much in danger of being relegated by the end of the season. That would make a January exit for Lawrence all the likelier if he wants to have a chance of playing in the Premier League next term instead of League One.

In other news: West Brom confirm exciting development which is sure to leave Baggies fans buzzing

Despite having an average squad age of 26.1 according to Transfermarkt, Southampton’s two senior goalkeepers Alex McCarthy (31) and Fraser Forster (33) are two of the club’s four oldest players in their squad.

With this in mind, it’s not surprising to hear that they have been linked with a transfer move for a young goalkeeper that could become Southampton’s next long-term shot-stopper.

What’s the news?

It has recently been reported by TEAMtalk that Southampton are showing an interest in Ajax goalkeeper Charlie Setford.

The report also claims that the 17-year-old, who apparently grew up as a Saints fan, has a number of other Premier League clubs keeping an eye on him as well.

Must swoop

As a product of Ajax’s youth academy, the teenager, who is currently valued at just £90k according to Transfermarkt, has made a total of 12 appearances for the Dutch club’s youth sides, keeping two clean sheets in the process.

This season has seen Setford make three league appearances for Ajax’s U21 side in which he has managed to make a total of eight saves.

The youngster has also been on the bench for nine of Ajax’s Eredivisie games, showing how close he is to the first team at such a young age.

On the international stage, 6 foot 3 Setford has played in four friendlies for England’s U18 side after pledging his allegiance to England over the Netherlands where he was born.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-southampton-news” title=”Check out the latest Southampton news!”]

Based on the above, it appears the teenager possesses plenty of potential. Thus, this could be a dream deal for Gao Jisheng to complete at a low price on a player that could grow and develop to have a big future at St. Mary’s as Hasenhuttl’s perfect long-term replacement for either McCarthy or Forster.

With The Athletic reporting back in August that McCarthy has put pen to paper on a new deal at the south coast club, it seems as though Setford may have to wait a few years if he does join Southampton before he can become their first-choice goalkeeper.

But with Forster’s current contract at the club set to expire in the summer, his potential exit could give Setford a place in Hasenhuttl’s squad to start competing for the number one spot. That would be an ideal solution for all parties.

In other news: Big blow: Southampton dealt worrying injury setback that will surely have Ralph gutted – opinion

The MCC has signed a three-year deal with Abu Dhabi Cricket Club which could see the club play high-profile matches in the emirate

Cricinfo staff05-Nov-2009The MCC has signed a three-year deal with Abu Dhabi Cricket Club which could see the club play high-profile matches in the emirate.Announcing the deal, MCC chief executive Keith Bradshaw said playing first-class matches outside England, possibly using them to trial using a pink ball, was just one option being considered.”We’re determined to organise some three or four-day cricket under lights using a pink ball and this is a good opportunity,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “It’s one of many options, and at an embryonic stage, but we think it would be good for the development of the game. Ideally we would like to hold a [trial] at Lord’s but we have certain restrictions using the lights, so there is the possibility of scheduling the match overseas.”An ECB spokesman said the board was unaware of any such plans.”[The deal] is a first for MCC in the Middle East region and gives us a tremendous opportunity to help develop cricketers throughout the region and closer to home,” Bradshaw said. “Aspiring professionals from the MCC Universities and MCC Young Cricketers will specifically benefit from this joint venture as it will give them vital experience of playing and training abroad, helping them to make the transition to the first-class game.”The agreement will mean the Zayed ground will be renamed the Zayed MCC Cricket Academy.

Newcastle United are among the clubs who are ‘crazy’ about Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic, according to Inter Live.

The lowdown

The midfielder is approaching the end of his Inter contract, which runs until June 2022. As it stands, there’s a possibility that he leaves on a free transfer.

He featured in all four of Croatia’s matches at Euro 2020 and has started every Serie A game for Inter so far this season (via WhoScored). The 28-year-old is averaging 5.3 accurate long balls (the highest among Inter’s squad), 1.7 tackles and one dribble per 90 minutes in the Italian top flight.

Former Nerazzurri manager Luciano Spaletti has marvelled at Brozovic in the past, telling reporters that the midfielder ‘has a compass in his feet’.

The latest

As per Inter Live, the Serie A champions are trying to tie down Brozovic to a new contract and ward off any interest in him. They are willing to offer him a salary of €5m per year (roughly £82,000 per week) to persuade him.

In the meantime, the sharks are circling. Newcastle are in the frame along with two Champions League clubs in Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, along with Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur.

The verdict

First and foremost, it must be exciting for Newcastle fans to be in the same conversation as those established European outfits, as it indicates the ambition of the new owners.

However, it’s also some pretty mighty competition. Manchester United may have identified Brozovic as a potential solution to their midfield problems, while Conte has the potentially crucial advantage of having worked him previously.

If Newcastle could pull it off, it would be some coup for the Saudi-led consortium to beat such prominent clubs to an established international (who helped his nation to a World Cup final) and a Champions League-calibre midfielder.

In other news, PIF are ‘optimistic’ about this potential Newcastle signing 

WICB president has requested Bharrat Jagdeo, the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) chairman and Guyana president, for a meeting to rectify the “misinformation” regarding the failed mediation talks

Cricinfo staff07-Sep-2009West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Julian Hunte has sought a meeting with Bharrat Jagdeo, the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) chairman and Guyana president, to set right the “misinformation” over the failed mediation talks between the board and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA).In a letter to the Guyana president, Hunte said the WICB had been wrongly blamed for the collapse in talks and that immediate measures were needed to correct the perception.”It is my sincere hope that you will agree that an early meeting between us may assist in correcting the erroneous impressions that have been conveyed in order to forestall any further adverse effect on the reputation of West Indies cricket,” Hunte wrote in his letter. “At the same time, I trust that you will appreciate the urgent need for us to set about some damage control measures with regard to the misinformation that is already in the public domain.”Jagdeo criticised the WICB last week over the failed mediation talks headed by former Commonwealth secretary-general Shridath Ramphal. Jagdeo, who brokered the mediation deal in Guyana in July, felt that when the WIPA agreed during their July 21 meeting to make all their players available for selection, the move would allow “normalcy” to return.Instead, Jagdeo alleged the board prejudiced the efforts to broker peace from the start by not disclosing they had already selected a Champions Trophy squad without the top-flight players. Ramphal also said one “party” had introduced a document late in the mediation process which had led to the stalling of talks.But Hunte hit back at the comments, claiming that Jagdeo had agreed during the July 21 meeting that while the striking players had made themselves available, “actual team selection was a matter for the selection committee”. Hunte, in fact, slammed WIPA president, Dinanath Ramnarine for having not taken the mediation process seriously, after absenting himself “to proceed on vacation with his family in Tobago.”Hunte also said Ramphal’s public comments and his final report to Jagdeo were factually incorrect. “I am advised that the articulation of the WICB’s position by Ramphal in his press statements and in his final report to you are factually incorrect and that there was never any adoption by the WICB during the mediation proceedings of an unwillingness to negotiate on the proposed Mediation Agreement which it submitted on the night of August 31, 2009,” Hunte wrote.The impasse, which developed ahead of the previous home series, against Bangladesh, led to the region’s leading players making themselves unavailable over pay and contractual disputes. The matter is now expected to head to the Caribbean Court of Justice for arbitration.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are now reportedly eyeing up a move to bring Ismaila Sarr to Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Interest remains

The St. James’ Park faithful were reportedly interested in signing Sarr when he was playing in the EFL Championship with Watford, and it seems as if that interest has resurfaced now that he is back in the Premier League.

Of course, he may be more difficult to sign now that he is in the top flight, but the new owners will no doubt be confident that they will have any amount of money it takes to sign him – the Tyneside chiefs have a net worth estimated at £320billion.

The Latest: Sarr eyed

As per The Daily Mail, PIF are now eyeing up Sarr as their first transfer target following the completed takeover in the North East.

However, the Hornets are unlikely to sell their prized asset in the January transfer window, because they know how key he is for them to stay up.

Watford believe that Sarr has a similar potential to that of Jack Grealish, who left Aston Villa to join Manchester City last summer in a big money move worth £100m.

The Verdict: Sign

Described as ‘frightening’ with ‘phenomenal’ acceleration by his teammate Ben Foster (The Daily Mail), Sarr’s arrival would mean the Tyneside outfit boast a big threat on both flanks with Allan Saint-Maximin on the left-hand side.

Comparing his stats to the likes of Miguel Almiron, Ryan Fraser and Joelinton in the Premier League so far this season, Sarr already has four goals, and averages more shots, dribbles and crosses per game (WhoScored) – he would definitely be an upgrade on the current company around Callum Wilson and Saint-Maximin.

If they can persuade the Hornets to let him join in January, he could well be key for the Magpies to stay up in their own relegation battle.

In other news, find out who NUFC have been alerted to the possibility of signing in January here!

Many Wolves fans have been left slamming the display of Joao Moutinho in their game away at Leeds United in the Premier League this afternoon.

The central midfield player got off to a bad start straight away, getting himself a yellow card within the first few minutes of the match, before Hwang Hee-Chan spared his blushes by grabbing an early goal for the visitors at Elland Road.

The Molineux faithful were particularly critical of Moutinho’s deliveries from set pieces, and his woeful pass accuracy of just 62 per cent is poor for a player of such tremendous technical ability.

Nonetheless, the Portugal international is an experienced player, and so he will now be looking to improve on this performance in the Midlands club’s next fixture, should Bruno Lage decide to throw him in the starting eleven again.

Wolves fans on Moutinho

These WWFC supporters were left slamming his performance on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that he was ‘woeful’:

“How the hell is Moutinho still on set pieces? Ridiculous”

Credit: @Jim96925627

“Moutinho is having a HOWLER”

Credit: @__Grav

“Donk and Moutinho cannot cope”

Credit: @mitchdavis_1

“Defending well winning the ball well, it’s the passing for me, we are constantly giving it away, Donk has been woeful as well as Joao. Leeds have so much space behind their full backs since the goal we have stopped looking to get the ball in behind”

Credit: @mark_spruce

“Moutinho booked inside first 5, told ya he’s too slow”

Credit: @Si999888999

“Why he has started with Moutinho and Dendoncker I will never know?”

Credit: @cpj93070

In other news, find out what transfer claim has Wanderers excited here!

Tillakaratne Dilshan has said he enjoyed the role of opener after cracking a 72-ball 92 on the first day in Galle

Sa'adi Thawfeeq in Galle18-Aug-2009Tillakaratne Dilshan has said he enjoyed the role of opener after hitting a blistering 92 off 72 balls, the fastest Test fifty scored by a Sri Lankan, on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Galle.Opening the batting in a Test for the first time Dilshan helped Sri Lanka recover from 16 for 2 to an imposing 293 for 3 by stumps. Dilshan reached his half-century off 30 balls, one ball quicker than Arjuna Ranatunga who had done so against India at Kanpur in 1986-87.”I was under a little bit of pressure after two early wickets went, but I knew if I played positively I could reverse the trend and put the pressure back on the opposition. I did that by playing my own game,” Dilshan said. “It’s much easier batting as opener as there is no pressure on me. It’s not easy to bat at No. 6 and 7 because I am the last recognised batsman and I cannot play my shots but I have to play according to the situation. But opening I can go for my shots from the beginning. It’s a new ball and the field is also up and runs come quickly.”I didn’t know until I came to the dressing room that I had broken a Sri Lankan batting record for the fastest Test fifty,” he said. “I am proud to take the record off Arjuna Ranatunga and get my name in the record books. But I am really disappointed I couldn’t get to my ninth Test hundred.”In past two years I am batting well and I have been in good form. I want to carry on the form,” he said. “The change came after I was promoted to open the batting in one-dayers. My career has changed for the better.”New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin, who gave his team a great start with two early wickets, admitted that it was difficult to bowl to a batsman in an aggressive frame of mind like Dilshan in the morning.”It is not often you run in and bowl to a guy like that in Tests and find that he is driving you through the covers and hitting you over the top,” Martin said. “It was a tough experience. You can be hero to zero but today he was the hero. Dilshan’s innings put us under pressure early and it took a while for us to recover.”When Mahela came in he could just relax and get his innings together and the run rate was pretty good,” Martin said. “Mahela plays with very soft hands and he waits for anything on length to hit through the covers. He just played a very nice innings and put the pressure back on us. I think he outplayed us today and that was a good hundred.”The discipline of the Sri Lankan batsmen showed pretty true on a reasonable deck. If we could get a couple of early wickets when the ball swings then you’ve done well. Then it’s a matter of discipline the way they played today.”Martin said the decision to bowl first was because it was humid enough for the ball to swing and that New Zealand had banked on their experienced bowlers to trouble Sri Lanka early.”Even though the ball was swinging a little it didn’t quite do the job for us. It’s a toss that some captain’s wouldn’t mind losing,” Martin said. “It’s a very difficult decision. Whatever you choose to do you have to do well. Today it was a reflection we didn’t do quite well enough.”

Ishant Sharma, the Kolkata Knight Riders fast bowler, has returned to India after a ‘taxing’ IPL

Cricinfo staff22-May-2009Ishant Sharma, the Kolkata Knight Riders fast bowler, has returned to India after a ‘taxing’ IPL. Kolkata had a woeful campaign, finishing bottom after suffering a ten-game winless streak, and were plagued with rumours of dressing-room disharmony.”The last one month has been very hard. Ever since I started playing cricket, this has been the toughest phase of my life,” he told the . “I have never been part of such a long losing streak, and being in a dressing room where there were so many controversies was very taxing.”Kolkata looked like they would snap their losing streak on several occasions, such as the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore and against Deccan Chargers four days later, but lost narrowly in both games before ending their campaign with two wins. “The loss against Deccan Chargers and the sequence of events that led to it really hurt us,” he said. “We might not have won that game, but that was a sort of turning point for the team. We realised how desperate we all were and that helped us come together and win the last two matches.”Ishant was Kolkata’s best bowler in the tournament, bagging 11 wickets and conceding only 6.90 runs an over, but said there was room for improvement. “In T20, you need to have a good yorker and different kinds of slower balls,” he said. “Also, I am looking to become an impact bowler because nothing else puts the opposing team back like losing early wickets.”He called the coming World Twenty20 the ‘biggest challenge’ of his career. “I have never been part of any World Cup, and I am really looking forward to it,” he said. “Conditions in England will be helpful for bowlers and I want to make it memorable for myself.”