Premier League side
Newcastle United Manager Rafael Benítez is back with the club and
Owner Mike Ashley agreed to a bonus deal with the players. Benítez was due back on the training pitch on Wednesday "following his enforced lay-off," and players will play against Stoke City on Saturday "knowing exactly what their reward will be should they retain the club's Premier League status." It is understood the squad will share £4M ($5.4M) "if they manage to do that," and the pot will increase by £1M ($1.3M) "for every place they finish higher than 17th." Ashley also offered £20M ($26.8M) should the club win the FA Cup (
London INDEPENDENT, 9/13).
Seven people have been arrested in connection with a missing £10.25M loan to League One side Northampton Town. A statement from Northamptonshire Police said that it was investigating "allegations of theft and fraud, bribery, misconduct in public office and electoral offences." The Northampton Borough Council loan was made in '13 to "redevelop the Sixfields stadium." Nine other people have "also been interviewed under caution," police said (BBC, 9/14).
Australian rules football club North Ballarat "has been booted out" of the Victorian Football League. The VFL announced it stripped the regional club of its license "over governance issues." The club has been "beset by board problems" in the past two years, leading to the departure of "key personnel" including coach Gerard FitzGerald, CEO Mark Patterson and Football Manager Marg Richards (HERALD SUN, 9/14).
