League Championship side Leeds United Owner MASSIMO CELLINO was in "advanced negotiations" on Monday to appoint UWE RÖSLER as the club’s fourth new head coach in less than 12 months. A deal with Rösler "could even be finalised" as early as Tuesday if the former Brentford and Wigan Athletic manager is "willing to work under Cellino." NEIL REDFEARN, who has been in charge of the team since November, is "resigned to becoming the latest managerial casualty at Elland Road, having been undermined publicly by the owner in recent weeks" (LONDON TIMES, 5/19). ... JESSICA ENNIS-HILL will "continue her comeback by taking part in her first heptathlon since winning gold at London 2012 in Gotzis at the end of the month." She will be "bidding to secure the 6,200 points she needs to be eligible to defend her Olympic heptathlon title at Rio 2016" (PA, 5/19). ... One of the rarest torches in Olympic history has sold for £420,000 ($651,400) at auction to Saracens Rugby Club Owner NIGEL WRAY. The 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games torch is one of only 15 made for the event -- compared to the 8,000 made for London 2012. Wray secured the torch at a Sotheby's sale in New Bond Street, London -- meaning “he now owns an Olympic torch from every game since Berlin in 1936” (ITV, 5/19). … JUSTIN GATLIN said he has been "kicked out" of the Beijing World Challenge by meeting organizers. Gatlin “was due to race in China on Wednesday.” Gatlin “was unsure about his fitness following a flight to Beijing but appeared ready to compete.” Gatlin: "They didn't have any respect for me so they said 'you better leave'” (BBC, 5/19). … The agent of Liverpool forward RAHEEM STERLING said on Tuesday that media reports his client will ask to leave the club have been “blown somewhat out of proportion.” The sports pages of Britain’s newspapers “were dominated by the story that Sterling, 20, will inform Liverpool’s hierarchy of his desire to leave during a meeting with club officials on Friday” (AFP, 5/19). ... Former Australia opening batsman JUSTIN LANGER ruled himself out of the
running for the vacant England coaching job by "signing a new contract
with Western Australia." He had been touted as a "possible replacement" for
the sacked PETER MOORES. Langer was "also linked to a coaching role with India" (CRICBUZZ, 5/18).
