Frank Clark was vice-chairman of the League Managers Association. The LMA has been saying for years that managers shouldn't be [...] Read the original post on eighteensixtyfive

The inaugural UK Football Academy (UKFA) symposium at Emirates Stadium on February 8th has been renamed The Gary Speed Football Congress by UKFA founder, Raymond Verheijen as a tribute to the manager alongside whom he worked last year to elevate the Wales football team to new heights.

As a player and a manager, Gary Speed was a model professional who embraced a forward-thinking approach and modern methods.

This is the second part of my analysis of BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage of the interview with PGMO chief Mike Riley. The BBC's Mark Chapman also talked to Tony Hibbert who is a match delegate and an ex-Wolves player, the delegates are affiliated to the LMA and PFA. Tony Hibbert felt we have the 'best officials in the world' and that all our referees were 'there on merit'.

By Alan Duffy

Former Liverpool and Everton defender Gary Ablett passed away last night after a 16-month battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The 46-year-old was one of a select band of players to enjoy extended stays with both Liverpool clubs after starting off with the red half of the city as an apprentice in 1982.

Already this season there have been two sackings, two resignations and two departures by mutual consent in the Football League alone, including two ex-England managers; Steve McClaren and most recently Sven Goran-Eriksson.

Following numerous reports of the costs of sacking a manager in the press recently you would have thought club owners would think twice about sending their current choice on their way.

Liverpool owner John W Henry has dismissed reports that foreign owners are keen to scrap Premier League relegation as "complete nonsense".
League Managers' Association (LMA) chief executive Richard Bevan claimed earlier this week that the English top-flight's American and Asian power holders have discussed the possibility of ending relegation to the Championship, claiming that "particularly American owners without doubt" are keen on the concept.

By Chris Wright

Are these two guilty of fowl play?

As you've no doubt heard, according to the head of the League Managers Association, a few of the Premier League's foreign owners have been agitating for the concept of relegation from the top flight to be scrapped in favour of an uber-conservative system that keeps all 20 clubs (though which 20 that would be is anybody's guess) and their respective bank accounts safe and sound snug as a bug in a proverbial rug.

By CALEB SONNELAND

Despite the fact that there's still a full month until the January transfer window opens, the possibility of LA Galaxy star David Beckham linking up with Paris St. Germain has the team talking.

Players Kevin Gameiro, Sylvain Armand and Christophe Jallet all voiced their support for the seasoned veteran signing on, and with the financial clout of PSG might be enough to land Beckham at the club.

I remember so very well where I was when Steve McClaren was stood stony-faced beneath an umbrella in the pouring rain as England surrendered their opportunity to feature at Euro 2008. I was in a pub in Holloway in North London, and the patrons of the establishment had come together under a cloud of false hope.

The LMA has just issued a statement confirming that the dispute between Martin O'Neill and Aston Villa has been amicably resolved during the course of the tribunal.

Martin O'Neill said:

Martin O'Neill
It has taken a long time to deal with this matter but I am pleased that all issues have now been amicably finalised.

The LMA has just issued a statement confirming that the dispute between Martin O'Neill and Aston Villa has been amicably resolved during the course of the tribunal.

Martin O'Neill said:

Martin O'Neill
It has taken a long time to deal with this matter but I am pleased that all issues have now been amicably finalised.

Sir Alex Ferguson was named 2011 LMA manager of the year after guiding Manchester United to their 19th League title, their 12th under Fergie, the Scot was also given a special merit award having broken the 2,000 game barrier in charge at Old Trafford.

Another Scot, Paul Lambert picked up the Championship accolade after guiding Norwich to second place
behind Q.

West Brom, usually a shining example of stability and sensible management at board level, have plunged their season into chaos by sacking their manager Roberto Di Matteo. True, the club have been on a shocking run of 13 defeats in 18 games but as Di Matteo pointed out via the LMA on Sunday, they haven't [.

West Brom, usually a shining example of stability and sensible management at board level, have plunged their season into chaos by sacking their manager Roberto Di Matteo. True, the club have been on a shocking run of 13 defeats in 18 games but as Di Matteo pointed out via the LMA on Sunday, they haven't [.

West Brom, usually a shining example of stability and sensible management at board level, have plunged their season into chaos by sacking their manager Roberto Di Matteo.
True, the club have been on a shocking run of 13 defeats in 18 games but as Di Matteo pointed out via the LMA on Sunday, they haven't been in the bottom three since the opening week of the season.

The League Managers Association (LMA) and Yahoo! have announced the launch of an online media partnership that will see video and print content from some of the biggest names in football management published across Yahoo!'s UK media platforms and social media channels.