Gazidis: I'll do Gunners deals

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has promised a busy summer in the transfer market as the club look to end their six-year trophy drought.

Gazidis has told Gunners fans he shares a "profound disappointment" with them.

Gazidis: Plans to make signings

What had once looked to be a quadruple bid imploded when Arsenal lost the Carling Cup final to Birmingham, and they ended the Premier League season in fourth place.

Another season without success saw some fans voice their unhappiness with manager Arsene Wenger, especially over his apparent reluctance to spend big on new signings.

But at a question and answer session with the Arsenal Supporters Trust on Monday night, Gazidis has pledged to start putting things right.

"Coming off the end of the season, I share with you a sense of profound disappointment," he said.

"We had a season that promised a great deal and looked like it could turn into a very special one but in the end a familiar story began to tell itself. I understand the feelings that we all felt.

"It is very clear we had some shortcomings and in this close season we are going to see some turnover of players.

"Some new signings will be coming in and some of our existing squad will be going out. As Arsene has said, it will be a busy close season for the club.

"But also it is important to recognise that it has not been a disaster. We have a young squad and we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. The trick will be identify which parts to keep and which parts to turn over. And we will do that within our financial capabilities."

Those capabilities could be boosted by the club's majority shareholder Stan Kroenke.

The American now owns 66.64% of the club and Gazidis says he "understands" what Arsenal stand for.

He added: "With respect to Stan, we have someone who understands the club.

"He has grown to love Arsenal but he will remain in the background. This is not somebody who steps forward and looks for a public profile."

Kroenke is bidding to take complete control of the club, and some supporters have expressed concerns that he could do so by putting the club into debt.

Gazidis does not think that will happen, though, and said: "The confirmations that Mr Kroenke gave in relation to his offer were, one, that he supports the self-sustainable business model of the club, and secondly that the offer would not be funded by debt against the club or dependent on Arsenal's business.

"Those were two significant commitments and confirmations that he made."

Hiddink asks Chelsea to bring back fired Wilkins

Guus Hiddink wants Roman Abramovich to swallow his pride and let sacked Ray Wilkins RETURN to Chelsea.

Wilkins' shock axing in October sparked the winter slump that culminated in Carlo Ancelotti's forced departure last month.

The former England skipper fell out with Abramovich and chief executive Ron Gourlay in a row over Ancelotti's tactical approach.

It saw Wilkins hauled out of touchline duties during a reserve game to be handed his marching orders and led to a protracted cash wrangle until a compensation deal was agreed.

The decision seemed to spell the final end of Wilkins' near-30 year relationship with the Blues.

But Hiddink, set to be confirmed later this week as Ancelotti's successor, is keen to have a familiar backroom face around him.

Hiddink will ask Abramovich to sanction a formal approach to Wilkins to come back to the club.

The Dutchman knows Wilkins would be an immensely popular figure among the majority of the dressing room and make his task easier.

It is uncertain at this stage whether Wilkins would want to return, just eight months after being shown the door.

But the fact that Hiddink is trying to resurrect the managerial team that helped deliver the FA Cup during his four-month spell at the Chelsea helm suggests he wants to hit the ground running.

Park Ji Sung arrived in Vietnam

After waiting, star Park Ji Sung has also landed at Tan Son Nhat airport (Vietnam) in the eagerness of the fans.

According to the schedule of JYJ, the group was supposed to be present at Tan Son Nhat Airport at approximately 8 pm last night (Vietnam's time). However, some sources 'corridor' for that 'Dream Team' by the players, Park Ji Sung, led to a private jet, and hours may change at any time.

Present at Tan Son Nhat airport a few dozen minutes, including two members of JYJ - Junsu and Jaejoong, Park Ji Sung legendary actress Han Hye Jin and pretty much any other player. Both groups were out in full VIP airport and hotel on the night straight.

Many fans waited from 5 pm to now, just to be watching their star 'in real'. The atmosphere at the airport last night when the team really exciting artists, players step out of the VIP door. Here are the HOT pictures of Park's staff:

Junsu looks very cool with sunglasses

JJ striking orange shirt

Han Hye Jin (white shorts)

Park Ji Sung (blue shirt)

Orchestral stars landings

Scholes admits: It was time. My legs have gone

Sir Alex Ferguson begged Paul Scholes to give him one more season when he told him he was retiring.

But the Manchester United midfielder turned him down – after telling him his legs had gone.

Speaking for the first time since retiring at the end of last season, Scholes revealed Fergie was hatching a plan where he could play up to 20 games next season for United.

Scholes however, says he ignored his pleas because he knew his body could no longer cope with the physical demands of playing.

“It wasn’t hard, I know how my body felt,” he said. “The manager felt I could do 15 or 20 games next season, but I just felt the time was right.

“I don’t think anybody wants to play a bit-part, but I’d realised that’s just part and parcel of it, given the stage of my career and the way I was physically. You’re at a top club with the best players and you just have to realise your legs can’t do what you want them to do.

“If you’re going to be part of this club, you have to be available from the beginning and to be able to last 90 minutes.

“But when I was starting games I didn’t feel great. I didn’t mind playing the odd game or coming on at the end of games - that was probably the right way to use me. The best I felt was when I was playing the last 15 or 20 minutes and really that’s not right.

“I was still doing little bits on the pitch, not a lot and I wanted to contribute more. Every player wants to be scoring goals, making goals, but as I got older that wasn’t really my job.

“I always felt I’d know when the time was right to call it a day and this year I felt it was.”

Scholes, 36, is staying at United as a coach and the former England midfielder says he has no regrets about quitting.

He now wants to pass on some of the experience gleaned from his 19 seasons with United and 66 caps for England to the club’s new crop of youngsters.

“It’s something I’m still getting used to, but I knew it was the right time,” he said. “You can’t go on for ever. It’s all done now and I’m looking towards the future.

“I feel coaching isn’t just about the football side of things. How you conduct yourself off the pitch is just as important and if I can help somebody in that way, I will do.”

Scholes is confident Fergie will replace him - just as he has replaced every other great who has left United in the past 20 years.

“That’s up to the manager and he will have his ideas about how the team goes forward,” he said. “There have been a lot of players who have left this club, like Roy Keane, Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson and people have wondered how do you replace them. Somehow this club has managed to do that.”

United fans will be able to pay tribute to Scholes when he has his testimonial against Eric Cantona’s New York Cosmos at Old Trafford on August 5, although, typically, he isn’t looking forward to being the centre of attention.

“I’m hoping Eric will take a bit of that away from me and I’ll be glad when it’s all over,” he said.

Barcelona are simply the best

Written by Jimmy Greaves

Two weeks later, with the stardust having settled and the rush of excitement having subsided, I can say it with a clear mind. Barcelona’s performance against Manchester United at Wembley last month was the single greatest footballing display I have witnessed in more than half a century of playing and watching the game. I know us former pros are supposed to tell you that things were better in our day – but no old cynic could have been unmoved by the shimmering brilliance of that Champions League final display. In fact, it was almost a shame that United did score their own, wonderfully-executed goal through Wayne Rooney, otherwise we really might have been talking about perfection from Barca.

As a young pro with Chelsea, I watched Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 at Hampden Park in what I’d always regarded as the best game of football I’d ever seen. Until last weekend. That Real side, including greats like Alfredo di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Gento, were winning their fifth successive European Cup, while Eintracht, of whom we’d heard little, played their full part in an epic match. I am privileged to say I played in two genuinely great teams – England’s 1966 team and the Tottenham side of the early 1960s, which won the Double just before I arrived and then became the first British side to win a European trophy.

I also played against the great Benfica side of Eusebio and twice against Brazil at their finest. First, in the 1962 World Cup quarter-final in Chile, in the year when the great Garrincha – the Lionel Messi of his day – won the World Cup almost single-handed. Seriously talented players such as Didi and Vava would do nothing more than get the ball and give it to Garrincha, he really was that good. Then two years later, when Pele inspired them to a 5-1 victory over England in the Maracana. That day I made the huge mistake of scoring, thus making the Brazilians angry!

I also ‘enjoyed’ many encounters with the Manchester United side of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, then witnessed the wonderful Ajax and Netherlands teams of the 1970s.So you understand where I’m coming from – I’ve seen a fair bit of damned good football down the years. And yet Barcelona were better than any of those great sides. Their passing and movement was from another planet. It is phenomenal to think that Messi should produce one of THE great individual displays, in the middle of one of THE great team performances. You could not even say that United had got their tactics wrong or made any glaring individual errors. They were simply outclassed.

Adam set to sign for Liverpool by Friday

Liverpool’s pursuit of Charlie Adam should finally pay dividends this week.

Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish looks set to land his man at last, having chased the classy midfielder virtually from the day he returned to the club in January.

And the Merseyside club could make it a double deal, with Dalglish also inching closer to bringing England winger Stewart Downing to the club.

The Aston Villa star is still waiting for his club to appoint a new manager, but he is desperately keen to join Liverpool, and is hopeful a transfer can be agreed as soon as possible.

Adam could make the switch even sooner.

The Scot was distraught when what appeared a dream move to Anfield was dashed as Blackpool refused to do business, even at an inflated price of £10million.

But Dalglish’s interest has never wavered, and discreet talks have continued this week, with the midfielder returning from holiday in Dubai to hasten proceedings.

Blackpool have played hardball in negotiations, with chairman Karl Oyston insisting he is under no pressure to sell, despite the player entering the last year of his contract.

But eventually, they are expected to agree a fee, with Liverpool now confident the Scot will finally join by the end of the week, in a deal that could eventually reach £9million.

He would become the second big-money capture after the £20million arrival of Jordan Henderson a week ago…and it won’t be the last.

Downing has been in limbo, with Villa struggling desperately in their search for a new manager, but now it seems an appointment is imminent - and that will provide the impetus for an agreement to be thrashed out.

Liverpool had expressed an interested in Ashley Young, but with the England man set to join Manchester United, they will instead concentrate on prising Downing out of Villa Park, with an offer in the region of £10million.

Again, Dalglish is confident now of getting his man, and it seems only a matter of time before the former Middlesbrough favourite is on his way to Merseyside.

Liverpool also have Birmingham’s Scouse defender Scott Dann on their radar – despite rival interest from Arsenal - and Ipswich wonder-boy Connor Wickham also is a serious target after they bid around £9million.

Birmingham tell Villa: It's £5m to buy Eck

Birmingham have told Aston Villa to cough up £5million for manager Alex McLeish – or they will stick him on gardening leave.

City reacted furiously after Big Eck quit on Sunday in an email to St Andrew's chief Peter Pannu.

Villa broke their silence by telling Blues they want to talk to McLeish about becoming their new boss and believe they have a right to do so as he resigned.

But Birmingham insist he is still contracted to them and are mulling over injunctions and an appeal to the Premier League.

They have complained of a “conspiracy” involving their bitter local rivals and McLeish, who still had more than two years left on his contract.

They will block any move by the former Rangers and ­Scotland manager unless they receive the £5m compensation to which they insist they are entitled according to the terms of his contract.

"I don't want McLeish back," said Pannu. "If he is going to go, I want the money.

"I just got an email from Aston Villa. As expected, their legal department said, 'Now that Alex McLeish is a free agent, having resigned, we are free to speak to him.'

"He thinks he can walk away because the £5.4m compensation is too much for Villa and he cannot let this opportunity pass.

"I will be getting an injunction preventing Villa from hiring him. Either Villa pick up his tab or I will be reporting it now to the Premier League."

Birmingham are braced for a volley of counter-claims from McLeish, who thinks he has a case for constructive dismissal over interference in transfers.

A legal row looks set to rumble on - unless Villa stump up the cash quickly.

But Villa owner Randy Lerner’s decision to go for McLeish may be ­influenced by the furious ­reaction from some of the claret-and-blue faithful over his potential appointment - there is a protest planned for tonight at Villa Park.

The last manager to swap clubs in the Second City was Ron Saunders in 1982, when he quit Villa and then took over as City boss.

But former Villa gaffer Graham Taylor believes the situation involving McLeish is potentially more explosive than that one.

“It would be a brave move by Alex going to Villa," said Taylor. "The difference is, Ron had a break - when he left Villa he didn’t go straight to Birmingham.

“I think Villa had got to the quarter-finals of the European Cup by then but Ron had a fall-out with the owners.

“Under Tony Barton, Villa went on to win the European Cup, so there wasn’t that animosity.

“Now, many Villa fans would not want a Birmingham man as their manager and many Birmingham supporters might see him as a traitor.”

***

McLEISH TO VILLA - THE FANS' VIEW

Villa and Birmingham supporters flocked online to give their opinion on the possibility of McLeish taking over at Villa Park...

VILLA FANS

BEN GLASS: “Villa legend for sending them down again. We don’t want boring football like that though. Look what happened to them.”

VILLAN: “Things might be bad at the moment but this would be a new low. Taking a manager from that lot? Even if he was any good I wouldn’t want him, at any price, but I am not too worried because it’s not going to happen.”

JAMES BEBBINGTON: “Are you serious?! If he comes, then Villa best refund my season ticket for next season! And I will stop going to away games, too!”

LUKE BAILEY: “I do not want a manager who has consistently been in a relegation dogfight, ­especially for Birmingham City.”

DAN HALL: “Not welcome!”

BLAKE DEVONPORT: “McLeish is the opposite to [Roberto] Martinez, who does things right. I don’t want McLeish to pull on us what he did to Blues. Its a NO.”

BIRMINGHAM FANS

JAMIE HARPER: “Alex McLeish should have gone the day we went down. Boring football, negative tactics. Aston Villa are welcome to him. I know of four friends that are now planning on renewing season tickets and celebrated his departure last night.”

KEVIN PATERSON: “Same excuses each week, very poor signings, very poor tactics. He was scared to try the youth and had no adventure. His ideas were gutless.”

WILL GOULDEN: “Ginger Judas.”

AXS SALES: “Why should we feel betrayed? This is modern-day football.”

TONY SMITH: “It’s not just relegation, its two relegations in three-and-a-half years.”

JAMES CLARK: “We seem to forget that he got us into the Europa League. If he thinks he can find a better club than City, all I can say is good luck to him.”

Platini hails Football League

Michel Platini has praised the Football League's 72 clubs for signing up to follow UEFA's financial fair play system.

UEFA president Platini believes the implementation of the new measures will see clubs operate within sensible restrictions.

Championship clubs will only be allowed to spend what they earn from the 2012-13 season, while sides in League One and Two will not be permitted to spend more than 55% of their turnover on player wages.

Platini: Delighted with decision

Clubs who breach the rules are likely to be handed a transfer ban as a first sanction with possible points deductions for major offenders.

Platini said: "We are very happy to see that Football League clubs, under the umbrella of the FA, are again taking the initiative on good governance issues by introducing Financial Fair Play.

"We are delighted that enlightened football bodies across the continent are trying to restore financial sanity to football on a national level, just as we are trying to do on a European level."

In total, debts at Football League clubs amount to £700million and a report by analysts Deloitte found that more than one third of clubs pay out more in wages than they receive in revenue.

McClaren appointed Forest boss

Former England coach Steve McClaren has been named as the new boss of Nottingham Forest in succession to Billy Davies on a three-year contract.

McClaren, recently linked with the vacancy at Aston Villa, returns to club management in England - having previously been with Middlesbrough - after time in Holland and Germany with FC Twente and Wolfsburg.

McClaren, 50, was sacked as England manager by the Football Association following his team's failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

Forest believe he can lead them back into the Premier League.

They were relegated in 1999 and have been unable to claw their way back, with their spell in the Football League including three seasons in League One from 2005 to 2008.

Forest chief executive Mark Arthur pointed to McClaren's track record in club management as the reason for his appointment.

Arthur said on Forest's official website: "The club moved quickly to secure his services as it is rare for a manager and coach of his undoubted calibre to be available.

"Steve has a proven track record of coaching and managing at club level, having played a key role in helping Manchester United secure the Champions League trophy [in 1999], three Premier League titles and an FA Cup; guided Middlesbrough to the League Cup and also to the final of the UEFA Cup and led FC Twente to their first ever Dutch title.

"We are delighted to have him on board at the City Ground."

Vaughan snubs new Blackpool deal

David Vaughan has put a number of teams on alert by confirming he is leaving Blackpool after turning down their final contract offer.

The 28-year-old Wales international's contract is due to expire this month and he has now confirmed that he will not be staying with the club.

Vaughan: Leaving Blackpool

The central midfielder has been linked with the likes of Sunderland and West Brom, as well as Scottish champions Rangers.

"It was a very good offer and it was a tough decision, but I just want to stay in the Premier League and test myself at the highest level," he told the club's website.

"It was unfortunate that we couldn't quite stay up last season and that was a big disappointment.

"My three years at Blackpool have been great and I'd really like to thank the fans and the staff. The last couple of years have been brilliant and I leave with nothing but good memories.

"If it wasn't for Blackpool I may never have played in the Premier League, so I have a lot to thank the club and the manager for. He has changed things around and I'll always look back on my time with fond memories.

"It's a tough decision to move because my family are settled in the area, but hopefully things will work out well wherever we end up."