THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 SPORTS Michael to leave McLaren Chelsea chief executive quits Ferguson speaks on Moyes LONDON: McLaren sporting director Sam Michael is leaving the Formula One team LONDON: Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said yesterday LONDON: Alex Ferguson has broken his silence on David Moyes’ short, traumatic reign at at the end of the current season to return home to Australia after 21 years in the he was leaving Stamford Bridge after a decade in which Manchester United, saying the former Everton manager underestimated the size of the job sport. A team spokesman said yesterday that the 43-year-old had tendered his res- Chelsea were crowned kings of Europe but also suffered plen- while denying he retired leaving the club in decline. ignation in March. McLaren denied media reports in Italy that chief operating offi- ty of off-field dramas too. In an updated version of his book, “My Autobiography”, Ferguson also says it was “non- cer Jonathan Neale and technical director Tim Goss were also leaving. Michael Gourlay said in a statement he was off to “pursue new busi- sense” to suggest he hand-picked Moyes for the job alone and that a due process was joined McLaren from Williams, where he was technical director, before the start of ness challenges” after five years in his current role. involved in his appointment. Ferguson has not previously spoken at length about Moyes’ the 2012 season and was responsible for the development and management of the Chelsea said in a statement: “Ron’s efforts have helped the 10 months as his successor but does so in a new chapter updating the book that was pub- team’s trackside operations. The spokesman said the highly-regarded Australian club to achieve its position as one of the leading football clubs lished last year after his retirement from Old Trafford after 26 years as manager. would be on the pit wall as usual at next week’s US Grand Prix in He has also denied suggestions that he left Moyes with an ageing squad in the world.” and an “antiquated” club saying that 11 of the squad that won the title Austin, Texas, and also be at the final two races in Brazil and Abu Chelsea won the Champions League for the first time in Dhabi. 2012, but they were also widely criticised for their handling of in 2013 in his last season were aged 25 or under. The separation was understood to be amicable with Michael, the John Terry affair when the FA found their skipper guilty of He says that Moyes just found the step up from Everton to United who had long planned to return home with his wife and two racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, then of Queens Park too big a task to handle. “He hadn’t realised just how big United is as teenage children, on good terms with McLaren’s overall head Ron Rangers, in October 2011. a club,” says Ferguson who watched on in person at Old Trafford as Dennis. Former champions McLaren have had a difficult season and They also endured an uneasy second half of the 2012-13 results went against United throughout last season which ended with have not won a grand prix for nearly two years, with Jenson Button’s season when Rafa Benitez took charge of the club, an them finishing seventh, their lowest league position in the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix win their last success. appointment hugely unpopular with the majority of their Premier League era. In 2013 they failed to finish on the podium for the first fans, although he did bring them silverware by winning the “Each defeat was a hammer blow to him,” says Ferguson. “I time since 1980. Martin Whitmarsh was ousted as princi- Europa League. Gourlay leaves the club with the team at the could see that in his demeanour. In January we bought Juan pal in January when Dennis regained control and top of the Premier League and a day after they beat Maribor Mata and that gave everyone a lift but I could see the walls Frenchman Eric Boullier, the former Lotus principal, was 6-0 in the Champions League, their record victory in the com- squeezing in, leaving David with less and less room to appointed racing director. —Reuters petition. — Reuters breathe. —Reuters Cheika to coach Australia SYDNEY: Michael Cheika was confirmed team official. “It would be remiss of me as the new coach of Australia yesterday not to acknowledge Ewen as well,” Cheika and immediately charge with leading the added. Wallabies to a third World Cup triumph in “In the mid 80s we played together for England next year. Randwick and he’s done a lot for Four days after Ewen McKenzie dra- Australian rugby.” The affair caused two matically quit the job to plunge Australian weeks of turmoil at the ARU and Beale still rugby deeper into crisis after the Kurtley looks likely to have his contract torn up if Beale texting scandal, the 47-year-old was he is found guilty of the charges at a Code handed a three-year contract as the third of Conduct tribunal on Friday. Wallabies coach in the last 15 months. Cheika brought Beale back to New Cheika was the clear favorite for the South Wales last season, where he job after leading the New South Wales excelled at inside centre for the Waratahs, Waratahs to the Super Rugby title last sea- in particular as a foil for prolific fullback son, completing a unique coaching dou- Israel Folau. ble after he guided Irish province Leinster “I won’t be answering any questions to a Heineken Cup triumph in 2009. about that because there’s no way I want The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) to prejudice what’s going to happen with have agreed to allow him to see out the Kurtley on Friday,” he said. final year of his contract at the Waratahs, The ARU was keen to appoint a coach where he will oversee their Super Rugby before the squad departs on Friday for title defence in 2015. their tour of Europe, which features a “Michael was the standout candidate match against the Barbarians and tests and I’m delighted he is excited about this against Wales, France, Ireland and opportunity,” Australian Rugby Union England. (ARU) chief Bill Pulver told a news confer- With Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper ence. “We believe that Michael is the man among a significant core of Waratahs to lead Australia to victory in next year’s players named in the 33-man Australia World Cup.” Cheika, who never played for squad for the tour on Wednesday, Cheika the Wallabies despite being a stalwart at will be confident he can reproduce the the famous Randwick club, said he was thrilling style of running rugby that lit up humbled to be handed the job of coach- Super Rugby this year. ing his country. “I never imagined I’d be in That Cheika is still the subject of a sus- this situation,” he said. “It’s touching for pended six-month ban for abusing a TV me and it inspires to do the best that I can camera-man on the sidelines of a Super and to be top class, because that’s what Rugby match in South Africa in March is a that position deserves. “I’m going to have reminder that he can be a volatile as well to work hard and learn quickly but I’m as effective coach. Cheika admitted that BOSTON: Bruins center Gregory Campbell celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks in the third period of an NHL hockey game. The Bruins certainly up for that challenge.” he had clashed with ARU officials when won 5-3. — AP The ARU was keen to appoint a coach “battling” for the interests of the Waratahs before the squad departed on Friday for over the last couple of years. their tour of Europe, which features a “I won’t make any excuses for fighting match against the Barbarians and tests for my team, but now we’re on the same Bruins see off Sharks against Wales, France, Ireland and team, it’s important that we are united to England. do the best job for the Australian rugby supporters,” he said. “We want them to be BOSTON: Seth Griffith, Gregory Campbell and Rangers rallied from a two-goal deficit in the being replaced by Chad Johnson at the start of OFFENSIVE MESSAGES extremely proud of their team, win, lose David Krejci scored in the third period, leading third period. The Rangers, who trailed 3-1, also the third period. McKenzie quit a few hours before the or draw. “That’s something’s that’s very the Boston Bruins to a 5-3 victory over the San got goals from Chris Kreider, Chris Mueller and Wallabies lost 29-28 to New Zealand in important to me, that any team I’m Jose Sharks on Tuesday night. Rick Nash, who netted his NHL-best eighth goal. PANTHERS 4, AVALANCHE 3 Brisbane on Saturday in the midst of a cri- involved in is respected and their sup- Brad Marchand and Torey Krug each had a On the winner, Mueller and Kreider criss- Brad Boyes scored a power-play goal 2:23 sis caused by utility back Beale allegedly porters are proud of their performance power-play goal for Boston, which has at least crossed in the Devils zone before Kreider fed into overtime, sending Florida to the road win. sending offensive text messages to a every time they play.” — Reuters four goals in each of their last three games after Klein for his first of the season.