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In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, ex-Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has backed Steven Gerrard to become manager of his former club one day.

This comes after Football Insider reported that Villa chief executive Christian Purslow is keen on bringing the Rangers boss to Villa Park in the future.

Gerrard has had a Scottish Premiership campaign to remember this season, with his side managing to win the title and put an end to Celtic’s dominance in the process.

Bearing that in mind, it is no surprise that a club like Villa seemingly have the Liverpool legend on their radar.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about Villa’s reported interest in Gerrard, Hendrie said:

“I think if he had the choice of coming to a club like Villa, I think he’d certainly have a big look at that. He’s had that experience of going up and actually proving that he can do it.”

The ex-Villa player also went on to add:

“You can never rule it out. Christian Purslow would certainly say, ‘Yeah, I’d love Stevie G to be an Aston Villa manager.’ I think lots of people would possibly like the fact of that.

“I personally think he could come into the Premier League. I don’t want Dean Smith to go obviously, but if that was the upcoming manager, you’d think, ‘I wouldn’t mind having him at the football club.’ “

While Villa may admire Gerrard, it is hard to imagine him leaving Rangers now given he has the chance to manage the Glasgow giants in the Champions League next season.

On top of that, Smith’s job in the Villa Park dugout looks safe for now, as the Villans continue to keep their distance from the relegation zone.

Chasing 223 for victory, Ramprakash and Stewart made it look so easy on reaching 171 for one before Essex got the breakthrough with Stewart, playing his first match of the season, being caught on the mid-wicket boundary

Andy Jalil05-May-2001With a brilliant unbeaten innings, which left him just three short of a second century of the early season, Mark Ramprakash took Surrey to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Essex with three overs to spareAfter his 146 in the first Cricinfo Championship match, Ramprakash, who was given the Gold Award for the player of the match, put up another superb display of strokes today and featured in a magnificent 151-run stand – from 205 balls – for the second wicket with Alec StewartChasing 223 for victory, Ramprakash and Stewart made it look so easy on reaching 171 for one before Essex got the breakthrough with Stewart, playing his first match of the season, being caught on the mid-wicket boundary.Although not quite as fluent as his partner, his 59 runs, from 118 balls, had been entertaining at stages, particularly at the start when he hit three boundaries in five balls from Ashley Cowan.Ramprakash, in excellent form, batted with complete confidence throughout his 117-ball innings, playing freely and using his feet well against the spinners. His knock was a combination of powerful drives and pulls as well as delicate glances and late cuts. His fifty came from only 59 balls, with four boundaries and a six and his running between the wickets seemed to leave the Essex fielding, at times, in disarray.Earlier, England captain Nasser Hussain responded with a second consecutive Benson & Hedges Cup half-century after Essex were asked to make first use of a good batting strip at The OvalHaving hit 58 the previous day against Kent at Chelmsford, he featured in a century stand with Stuart Law whose attractive strokeplay took him to fifty from 68 ballsBoth batsmen settled quickly after the loss of Darren Robinson, run out without scoring in the first over. Later in the innings Essex suffered another run-out with skipper Ronnie Irani going for 21 after a mix-up with Paul Grayson that had both batsmen heading for the same crease.Essex had, however, by then been given an excellent start by Hussain and Law. They were going well on 114 for one when Law hit Ian Salisbury firmly between mid-wicket and mid-on where Alistair Brown held a fine catch.Hussain was the third to fall, for 63 from 104 balls, to a leg-side catch behind the stumps as he tried to glance Adam Hollioake and became the first of the Surrey captain’s four victims. After his dismissal Essex rapidly lost four wickets for 22 runs.

Vincentians appear to be disillusioned with the recent performances ofthe beleaguered West Indies team

Haydn Gill16-May-2001Vincentians appear to be disillusioned with the recent performances ofthe beleaguered West Indies team.And a lot of them might stay away from the Arnos Vale Playing Fieldeven though a public holiday has been declared for today’s final matchof the Cable & Wireless One-Day International series between WestIndies and South Africa.The locals seem to be turned off by the lacklustre showing of the WestIndies in what has been a vastly one-sided series since the openingmatch which Carl Hooper’s men won off the final ball.Depressing results have followed, from St John’s to St George’s toBridgetown to Port-of-Spain. West Indies were not even competitive ina string of five successive defeats.The picturesque ground here, sandwiched between the ET Joshua Airportand the Caribbean Sea, can accommodate about 10 000 spectators when itis jam-packed,but by yesterday afternoon, less than half of thatnumber of tickets had been sold.West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) marketing manager for events,promotions and information technology Darren Millien, reported thataround 4 700 tickets were pre-sold.We would have hoped to have been almost sold out, as it was last year,but given the state of the series and the on-field performances, wecan just hope that people will still come out and support the team,Millien said.This is the time when we need support, not for people to jump off thebandwagon. At the end of the day, we hope that we will have a sell-outcrowd.There was very little activity at the ticket office here yesterday andat no stage during the day were there the lengthy queues that had beencommonplace in recent years.Millien is certain that things would have been reversed if the SouthAfricans were not dominating the West Indies in the manner they havedone.If it were the other way around, I can guarantee you that we wouldhave been sold out by now, he said.Last year, the day before the game, we had pre-sold about 95 per centof the ground.Not only Vincentians are disenchanted by the West Indies’ display.A regional airline, which up until two weeks ago, reported that itsearly morning flight yesterday from Barbados into St. Vincent wasfully booked, left the Grantley Adams International Airport with 15empty seats.”We recognise that on-field performance would have an impact, butthere are other variables that would probably have been factored intoto get the kind of results that we did at the gates, Millien said.Even with modest ticket sales for this match, the marketing executivesaid there was no consideration to reduce admission prices.It has not been brought to our attention yet by the local board. If itwere to come to us, we would consider it, but at this juncture I don’tknow if it’s a feasible option, Millien added.What happens on the field is merely for the records, but surely theWest Indies would not want a carbon-copy of their 1999 series in SouthAfrica when they lost the One-Day International series by the hugemargin of 6-1.Despite defeat after defeat, West Indies captain Carl Hooper believeshis side should be sufficiently motivated to give a good account.We’ve still got to try. If we can finish on a winning note, it wouldbe good for us, Hooper said.It’s still a One-Day international. That should be motivation enough.If there are any guys in the team lacking motivation, there are heapsof guys outside that would give an arm and a leg to play.Hooper would also have told his players that the West Indies enjoy aproud record at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. In their 10 previousencounters on the ground, they have lost only once.South Africa will be eager to return home after what for them was alonger tour than normal.But they have unfinished business.We just want to make sure that we focus for the game and that ourminds are not yet on the plane, said captain Shaun Pollock.If we do that, the rest of it should all fall into place.It’s been a long tour, but the guys are looking to end off the tour ona winning note. We’re looking to come out here and put in one morequality performance before we go home.The visitors have a few injury concerns. Pollock has two stitchesbetween his left thumb and index finger, fast bowler Andre Nel iscarrying a hamstring injury he sustained on debut on Saturday andbatsman Boeta Dippenaar is also doubtful.

Newcastle United have suffered a major body blow ahead of their Premier League clash against Manchester City on Friday night.

Steve Bruce’s side will be without star striker Callum Wilson after news emerged that the summer signing had injured his hamstring in the Magpies’ 4-2 victory over Leicester last week.

A statement on the club’s official website read: “Newcastle United can confirm that striker Callum Wilson will miss the remaining two weeks of the season after injuring his hamstring during Friday’s win at Leicester City.

“The striker scored twice in an impressive 4-2 victory at the King Power Stadium, but picked up the injury in the closing stages of the match.”

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of tonight’s game against the newly-crowned champions, Bruce admitted that he felt like he could have perhaps prevented Wilson from getting injured.

He said: “I kick myself, really. In hindsight, I should’ve taken him off before that. It’s his other side. We’d expect it to be two or three weeks.”

The 29-year-old missed seven games earlier on in the season with a hamstring injury, and it’s been the only negative about the forward’s debut campaign on Tyneside.

Since making the move from Bournemouth last summer, Wilson has bagged an impressive 12 goals and provided another five assists in 26 Premier League games, firing the Magpies away from relegation danger. Their next-highest scorers have just five goals each in all competitions, illustrating just how priceless the 29-year-old’s contribution has been.

With the England international out of action for now, Bruce will now have to rely upon the likes of Joelinton and Dwight Gayle as his team’s striking options, and neither have really convinced at all during their time at the club – this season alone has seen them score just four goals in 44 Premier League games combined.

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It’s exactly why the news that not only will Wilson miss tonight’s game against City, but also the remainder of the season, will leave Bruce devastated.

Meanwhile, Steve Bruce must drop this underperforming player tonight…

Somerset Second XI recorded their first Championship victory of the season at the County Ground last week when they beat a strong Surrey team

Richard Walsh05-Jun-2001Somerset Second XI recorded their first Championship victory of the season at the County Ground last week when they beat a strong Surrey team.Somerset batted first and made 234 of which Michael Coles, who plays club cricket for Bridgwater, contributed 60 and Ian Flanagan 49.In reply Surrey scored 338, with Nadeem Shahid making 170. For Somerset fast bowler Joe Tucker took 6 for 107.Batting for a second time Somerset amassed 406, Ian Blackwell making 84, Coles 74, Wes Durston 56 and Matthew Wood 49.Chasing 302 to win Surrey were dismissed for 143 giving Somerset victory by 159 runs. Tucker completed a good game by taking 6 for 46 to give him match figures of 12 for 153.Somerset take 18 points from their victory whilst Surrey take 8.Somerset Seconds start a three day Championship match against Northamptonshire at The County Ground on Wednesday June 6th.

Peterborough Director of Football Barry Fry has exclusively told Football FanCast that Frank Lampard’s history of dealing with younger players would make him an ideal fit for Crystal Palace.

Lampard has been a free agent since his sacking from Chelsea back in January and has been strongly linked to replace his former England manager Roy Hodgson, whose deal at Selhurst Park expires at the end of the season.

Whilst his tenure at Stamford Bridge was underwhelming, he turned both Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham into England internationals, whilst he brought Billy Gilmour through the Chelsea Academy.

Palace have several experienced faces at the club, with many expected to be moved on, but the likes of Tyrick Mitchell, Nathan Ferguson and Eberechi Eze are the future of the club, which could make for a perfect match for Lampard.

Other young names like Patrick Vieira, Eddie Howe and Thierry Henry have also been mentioned as potential Palace managers, although Lampard is in pole position should Hodgson decide to retire.

And Fry told Football FanCast that he has no doubts the 42-year-old would do well at Palace:

“I think wherever he went, Frank, he would be a success – he’s just got that way about him.

“I can understand Steve Parish going for him because he’s a young manager that gets the best out of young players, and he’s had a year of not spending any money in the window and did very well.

“But I don’t think Parish and the American owners will have the money and say to Frank, ‘here’s £200m, improve the team’. He will have to do it by himself and use his judgment and knowledge of younger players, but he would improve Palace and would improve individual players that are young.”

Kieran Maguire has dropped a big claim on Newcastle United’s anti-competition takeover case against the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Ashley launches case

Mike Ashley has launched an anti-competition lawsuit against the top flight with regards to their decision-making process in the failed takeover of the club from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

The chief executive of Sports Direct has since appointed Daniel Jowell as his QC for the case, which is separate from the arbitration case due to take place between the two parties involved.

The Latest: Maguire favours Ashley

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire – who is an expert in the field of football finance – has claimed that Ashley could be the biggest potential winner in the long run as the case is launched, while also claiming that the Premier League being granted an extension to respond to it is a ‘filibuster’:

“The biggest potential winner in this is going to be Mike Ashley rather than Newcastle, in the long-term.

“And he is playing a long-term game. Newcastle fans have had to be patient and this is the kind of prevarication we do associate with our silver-tongued friends in the legal profession.

“We’ve seen it in the form of charges from the EFL against clubs that may or may not have the impact of deferring points deductions, for example. So it is a filibuster, in effect.”

The Verdict: Premier League delaying takeover

The fact that the Premier League have been granted an extension to respond to the case does seem like a delaying tactic in the bigger picture of the potential takeover going through.

They also have an arbitration hearing to face against the St James’ Park club, with the results not guaranteed to go their way.

What is for sure is that the results of both legal battles should paint a much clearer picture over the direction of where the potential takeover is heading, as Newcastle will be hoping that the outcomes are positive from their point of view.

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The uncertainty over whether the potential takeover can be completed is not ideal going into the summer transfer window, as the Magpies do not know what kind of players they will be looking to buy, but the Toon Army will probably not care one bit if it means that the KSA consortium can end Ashley’s tenure.

In other news, find out what big Joe Willock transfer update has been dropped!

International cricket will again move indoors when Pakistan visits Australia for a series of three limited-overs matches in June, it was announced in Melbourne today.

John Polack03-Apr-2002International cricket will again move indoors when Pakistan visits Australia for a series of three limited-overs matches in June, it was announced in Melbourne today.In accepting an invitation to play two matches against the host nation at Colonial Stadium, Pakistan will become the third country to compete in one-day international games in an enclosed arena.Pakistan’s abbreviated tour, which will be conducted in the depths of Australia’s winter, will also feature a third one-day international – played outdoors – at the ‘Gabba ground in Brisbane.”One of the difficulties in scheduling the summer season is trying to provide cricket followers with enough opportunities to see the Australian team play live,” said Australian Cricket Board Chief Executive Officer, James Sutherland, in unveiling a series that will become known as Super Challenge II.”This series allows us to give more people the chance to see their team play and ensures that the team is able to continue its build-up for the 2003 World Cup.”Colonial Stadium is a proven venue for international cricket, and the dry climate of Queensland in June will allow us to showcase the game at the ‘Gabba,” he said.The only one-day internationals previously played indoors were also staged in Melbourne, when Australia hosted South Africa in a series of three matches at Colonial Stadium in August 2000.That series was acclaimed as an outstanding success by players, administrators and spectators. Close to 100,000 fans flocked to the three games, and officials from both countries expressed optimism that they would act as a forerunner in paving the way for more international cricket to be played outside of its traditional base in the summer months.Australia was poised to further explore the concept last year when India accepted an invitation to compete in another stand-alone series in September. But an increasingly congested international schedule ultimately forced the cancellation of those matches and ensures that Pakistan’s arrival in Australia will now provide the country with its first taste of winter cricket in two years.In being slotted into the international calendar between the three-cornered Sharjah Cup competition in April and the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in September, the series will also provide further important match practice for Pakistan in the lead-up to the 2003 World Cup.”We have the Sharjah Cup against tough opposition in Sri Lanka and New Zealand this month, which should see us ideally placed for the three matches against Australia in June,” said Pakistan Cricket Board Director, Brigadier Munawar Ahmed Rana.”Taking on Australia is not only important to our preparation for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, but it is also a great challenge, as Australia has defeated our team in some important fixtures in recent times.”The Melbourne fixtures in this year’s series will be contested at Colonial on Wednesday 12 June and Saturday 15 June, while the Brisbane match will be staged at the ‘Gabba on Wednesday 19 June.Both grounds are extensively used in hosting Australian Rules Football matches during the winter months, meaning that intensive preparation of pitches will be undertaken in the days immediately leading up to each of the three games.A specially-tailored ‘drop-in’ pitch will be created off-site for the two games at Colonial, while groundstaff at the ‘Gabba will use the advantage of a slightly longer break between football commitments to prepare a strip in the centre of their existing block of wickets.

According to a report by Italian news outlet Corriere Fiorentino, via Sport Witness, Tottenham Hotspur are ‘in the lead’ to appoint SS Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing Inzaghi

Previous reports from Italy have touted Spurs with a strong interest in Inzaghi’s appointment, with newspaper Il Tempo (via Sport Witness) most recently claiming that he is ‘listening’ to offers from a host of clubs amid the speculation surrounding his future in Rome.

This includes both Tottenham and Leicester City, who busted busted many a bet365 bonus by missing out on Champions League qualification this season, as the Premier League clubs allegedly interested and links to the Lilywhites can be traced back as far as the beginning of this month.

Closer to the home, a report by the Daily Star indicated that Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy ‘could turn’ to Inzaghi as an option to replace Jose Mourinho – coming two years after an alleged ‘desperate attempt’ to hire the 45-year-old before the arrival of the special one.

The Latest: Spurs now in pole position…

Bringing the latest claim, another regional Italian news outlet.

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Indeed, Corriere Fiorentino (via Sport Witness) believe that Spurs are now ‘in the lead’ to appoint Inzaghi with ‘various very important clubs’ also in the chase.

Levy leading the race for his signature is apparently repeated twice in this printed report as Corriere Fiorentino appear adamant that Tottenham are now favourites.

The Verdict: Fantastic candidate…

Even though you could argue he isn’t the ‘attack-minded’ manager Spurs have been most touted to hire, he certainly has his credentials with a number of players heaping praise on Inzaghi.

Lazio midfielder Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, in an interview with beIN SPORTS recently (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), lauded the Italian as an ‘excellent coach’ and ‘best’ manager he has ever worked under.

Meanwhile, striker Ciro Immobile even compared the former international to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp – explaining how the pair are ‘very similar’ due to their ‘motivational skills’ (Er Faina on Instagram Live via Football Italia).

As well as this, Inzaghi’s numbers are solid, having acquired 191 career wins over his managerial career to date with 628 points on the board and an impressive average of 1.86 points per match (Transfermarkt).

It’s clear Spurs could do far worse as Levy aims to commence a brand new era in north London.

In other news: ‘I hear from a reliable source’…Journalist drops major Harry Kane claim, find out more here.

Dilhara Fernando, Sri Lanka’s quickest pace bowler, has been withdrawn from Sri Lanka’s squad for Sharjah after suffering from fresh back pains in his lower back

CricInfo29-Mar-2002Dilhara Fernando, Sri Lanka’s quickest pace bowler, has been withdrawn from Sri Lanka’s squad for Sharjah after suffering from fresh back pains in his lower back.Fernando had just recovered from a stress fracture in his back after six months out of the game when he complained of soreness in his second game back for the Sinhalese Sports Club.The national selectors are hopeful that he will recover sufficiently over the next four weeks to tour England, where his extra pace will prove a valuable weapon on the seamer friendly surfaces expected.Eric Upashantha, who has played 12 ODIs, comes into the squad as his replacement.Sri Lanka depart for Sharjah on Thursday for the biannual traingular that also includes Pakistan and New Zealand.