WIGAN // Ian Holloway, the jubilant Blackpool manager, will celebrate his side's staggering start to Premier League life by getting introduced to a new family poodle.
While the club's supporters were celebrating an unexpected 4-0 defeat of Wigan, Holloway was preparing to drive back to the family home in Bath, 270km south of Blackpool.
He hopes it is a short-term situation as, having been given assurances about his future by Karl Oyston, the Blackpool chairman, Holloway is preparing to resettle his family on the north-west coast of England.
"I am going to Bath to see my kids and my wife's new dog," he said. "A little poodle called Teddy.
"Hopefully we can come back up on Monday and find a semi-permanent home. I am going to try and move my family up here because I can't stand how far it is and I want to stay here a long time."
As he makes his way down the M6, Holloway will be able to reflect on the shock outcome at the DW Stadium.
A first-half opener from Gary Taylor-Fletcher was followed by two from Marlon Harewood, the new arrival, that secured maximum points by the break.
Alex Baptiste's bizarre cross-cum-shot goal in the second period completed the rout that put them top of the league for three hours.
"I will take a photograph of the table and then retire," said Holloway. A week that began with rumours of Holloway walking out on the club ended with a joyous return to the top flight, which Blackpool departed in 1971.
Harewood's contribution just about summed it up. Released by Aston Villa at the end of last season, the 31-year-old was linked with a series of clubs, but ended up at Blackpool.
"Little Blackpool asked him to come on trial and he wanted to play for us," said Holloway.
"Hopefully the chairman might help us out with a few more because reality tells me we need so many new players it is scary. Marlon has signed a two-year deal and is going to be pivotal for us.
"I need a big, powerful unit up front and when we go to the huge places with tradition, Marlon has been there, seen it and done it. That is vital for my young lads."
Not that it gets any easier for Holloway and his team as a trip to Arsenal is looming next Saturday.
Despite yesterday's result he just hopes "we don't get embarrassed".
That is exactly what happened to Wigan, whose performance was branded "unacceptable" by Roberto Martinez, their manager.
"I don't question myself," he said. "We have to find solutions within the squad but it was quite clear we never had the simple ingredients you require when you go on to the football field."
There is also the Charles N'Zogbia issue to address.
Called into the France squad by Laurent Blanc last week, N'Zogbia is apparently set on a move away from the DW Stadium.
He did not merit a place among Martinez's 18-man squad yesterday, with the Wigan manager claiming he was not in the right mental state to play.
"We have to resolve the situation internally," he said.
"The squad and the team are more important than any other individuals and it is too early to tell what will happen."
After being mauled by the team tipped to finish bottom, Wigan must now prepare for a meeting with the champions as Chelsea are next week's opponents.
* Press Association
MATCH INFO
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Results
Final: Iran beat Spain 6-3.
Play-off 3rd: UAE beat Russia 2-1 (in extra time).
Play-off 5th: Japan beat Egypt 7-2.
Play-off 7th: Italy beat Mexico 3-2.
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
ARSENAL IN 1977
Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
Feb 12 Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
Feb 15 Middlesbrough 3-0 Arsenal
Feb 19 Arsenal 2-3 West Ham
Feb 26 Middlesbrough 4-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)
Mar 01 Everton 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 05 Arsenal 1-4 ipswich
March 08 Arsenal 1-2 West Brom
Mar 12 QPR 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 23 Stoke 1-1 Arsenal
Apr 02 Arsenal 3-0 Leicester
match info
Southampton 0
Arsenal 2 (Nketiah 20', Willock 87')
Red card: Jack Stephens (Southampton)
Man of the match: Rob Holding (Arsenal)
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
More Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions:
