New coach puts Roar on notice

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On notice ... Roar coach says he will be "active" in next month's transfer window. Source: Adam Armstrong / News Limited

Mike Mulvey has put his struggling Brisbane Roar squad on notice, saying he will be "active" in next month's transfer window after a 1-0 home loss to Perth Glory.

Having last week inherited a squad put together by master mentor Ange Postecoglou and failed successor Rado Vidosic, the new Roar coach has acknowledged the need for some fresh faces in all positions.

"I've got some phone calls to make overseas," Mulvey said yesterday less than 24 hours after his first game in charge of the Roar ended in a 1-0 home loss to Perth Glory.

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"We know we need some additions to the squad, and at the same time the players need a bit of a boost.

"We're certainly going to be active in the January transfer window.''

And that potentially means buying and selling players.

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Mulvey had a lengthy discussion at yesterday's recovery session with midfielder Erik Paartalu, who has made no secret of his desire to leave the champions.

Another player likely to be headed for the exit door, either next month or at the end of the season, is disgruntled defender Matt Jurman.

The former Sydney FC centre-back has fallen even further down the Roar pecking order, with Mulvey saying he was going to persevere with youngster James Donachie as skipper Matt Smith's central defensive partner.

Jurman will play in today's National Youth League clash between the Roar and the Glory at Goodwin Park.

"I expect him to be disappointed that he's not in the first team,'' Mulvey said of Jurman.

"It's now up to Matt to put pressure on those guys (Smith and Donachie).''

Certain to miss Brisbane's clash against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Wednesday is fullback Jack Hingert, who suffered a serious hip injury just minutes after coming on as a substitute against the Glory.

Mulvey said he was yet to decide whether Ben Halloran would again be left out of the starting side after he surprisingly watched most of the Perth loss from the bench.

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Ronaldo to United; it could happen

Switch hint ... Cristiano Ronaldo is open to a move back to Manchester United. Source: Andres Kudacki / AP

A move back to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo may not be as far-fetched as first thought.

But it would require paying an incredible €1 billion ($1.27 billion) get-out clause on top of a huge transfer fee.

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The 27-year-old told friends and former teammates he wants to "come home", according to The Sun newspaper.

Ronaldo, who will head to Manchester to face United in the next round of the UEFA Champions League early next year with his Real Madrid teammates, reportedly wants to work with Sir Alex Ferguson again.

The United manager earlier this week spoke of how he would love to have the Portuguese international back at the club. The pair are still on good terms despite the forward's departure from the club three years ago.

But even if Real were willing to let their biggest star leave, United would face a huge financial hurdle to seal the deal. His get-out clause at the Bernabeu is reported to be €1 billion and his current contract has two-and-a-half years to run.

Since his move to Spain in 2009, Ronaldo has bagged 170 goals in 169 games and his performances have seen him shortlisted for this year's Ballon d'Or.

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Strikers demolish Sixers in Adelaide

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Smashing ... Tim Ludeman hit three sixes on his way to 71 not out. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Sydney Sixers' title defence is in tatters after a humiliating nine-wicket loss to the Adelaide Strikers in Sunday night's KFC T20 Big Bash League match in Adelaide.

T20 - Adelaide Oval

23 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Strikers 1st Innings

T. Ludeman	71	43	7	3	165.12
M. Johnston	3	1	0	0	300
S. O'Keefe	2.5	0	24	1	8.47

Chasing 136 to win, the Strikers reached 1-136 with 25 balls remaining, opening batsman Tim Ludeman top-scoring with an unbeaten 71 from just 43 balls.

The Sixers won the inaugural BBL crown last summer and also claimed the worldwide Champions League trophy in October.

But Brad Haddin's outfit have now lost three games in a row and languish in seventh spot at the halfway mark of the tournament.

Adelaide's third win in four matches was built on a miserly bowling performance which restricted the Sixers to 6-135 on the batter-friendly Adelaide Oval.

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Adelaide's opening batsmen Ludeman and Michael Klinger (53) then ensured victory with a brutal 125-run partnership in just 15.2 overs.

Ludeman posted his half-century from just 31 deliveries which featured six fours and two sixes as the Strikers streeted to 0-92 after 11 overs.

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The in-form wicketkeeper-batsman finished with seven fours and three sixes while Klinger was more circumspect but still reached his half-century from only 49 balls before falling soon after.

Earlier, Sydney's batsmen laboured and never recovered despite the best efforts of Steven Smith (58 from 43 balls) and Moises Henriques (32 from 26 balls).

Skipper Haddin (22 from 30 balls) was the only other batsman to pass five runs.

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Strikers paceman Shaun Tait claimed 2-13 from three overs and left-arm spinner Brad Young, making his BBL debut after retiring from first-class cricket in 2003, took 1-11 from three overs - his wicket coming from his second ball.

Adelaide rose to second on the ladder by thumping the Sixers.

"It was a pretty good night. We bowled well and fielded really well to set it up," Adelaide's man-of-the-match Ludeman said.

"And then me and Maxy (Klinger) got off us to a good start which set the tone.

"We're in a good position at the halfway stage but have got a big game coming up against the Melbourne Stars (on December 27).

Sydney's Smith said posting 135 ``wasn't anywhere near enough".

"We were under a bit of pressure early. A couple of early wickets always hurts in this format.

"We had to rebuild a little bit and couldn't really execute at the end."

But Smith said the Sixers won't concede their title defence has ended.

"It is obviously going to be hard work from here on in. We are going to have to play some good cricket and turn it around," he said.

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Lobe blow for Wigan star

Thick ear ... Wigan Athletic striker Franco Di Santo was sent off the pitch for wearing an earring. Source: AAP

Wigan Athletic striker Franco Di Santo was left red-faced, and red-eared, after being sent off the pitch during the club's match against Arsenal - for wearing an earring.

Wearing jewellery during a match is against FA rules, but referee Jonathan Moss only spotted Di Santo's offending earpiece during an argument with the Argentine over a free-kick in the second half.

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Di Santo was immediately sent to the sidelines to have it removed by the club's physio and Arsenal piled on the pressure as Wigan were temporarily reduced to ten men.

Even after having the earring removed, Di Santo had to wait several minutes for the ball to go out of play before he could rejoin his teammates on the pitch, with the Wigan fans loudly booing their displeasure.

With Wigan in the midst of a relegation scrap, manager Roberto Martinez was reportedly fuming at Di Santo and is rumoured to have had a word with the striker after the match.

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Thompson late-show lifts Victory

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Revenge ... Archie Thompson scores the match-winner. Source: Salpigtidis George / News Limited

Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson scores the winner deep in injury-time to secure a pulsating 2-1 derby triumph over crosstown rivals Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park.

Thompson netted via the crossbar two minutes into injury time to snatch all three points and sink the Heart, who grabbed an equaliser just minutes earlier.

The win lifts the Victory to third place and leaves the Heart third from bottom.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	12	8	3	1	13	27
2	Adelaide	12	8	1	3	5	25
3	Victory	12	6	2	4	-2	20
4	Western Sydney	12	6	1	5	5	19
5	Perth	12	5	2	5	3	17
6	Newcastle	12	5	1	6	-7	16
7	Wellington	12	3	4	5	-1	13
8	Heart	12	3	3	6	-3	12
9	Brisbane	12	3	2	7	-1	11
10	Sydney	12	3	1	8	-12	10

The Victory took the lead with Marco Rojas' 67th-minute goal - a wonderfully-worked move sweeping through Thompson, Gui Finkler and Mark Milligan before the New Zealander finished sweetly.

But the Heart looked to have earned a share of the points when skipper Fred, who missed his side's two best chances of the match earlier, leapt high to meet a superb Michael Marrone cross and finish.

Then the Heart lost possession in the middle of the park in injury time.

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Rojas grabbed the ball and sent a sublime pass to Thompson, whose shot hit the crossbar and crept just inside before Heart defender Aziz Behich thumped it out in vain.

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With more than 26,000 watching on, it was a first half of desperate defence - four shots blocked, cleared off the line or deflected to safety in a spirited opening 45 minutes.

Fred had the Heart's two best chances, squandering a first-half opportunity on 32 minutes when he shot dreadfully from Behich's superb run to the byline and cross.

But he went within a coat of paint of a spectacular goal six minutes after halftime, controlling then thumping a wonderful long-range volley just wide of the top corner.

Heart coach John Aloisi lamented his side's lack of cutting edge having had the better chances in the match, but felt his team at least deserved a draw, if not all three points.

"We were the team that was trying to go for the win, and we lost the ball in a bad area and they caught us on the counter,'' Aloisi said.

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"We felt we could go on and win the game. They showed really good character and spirit.

"They (the players) are distraught. But we've got a game in a few days against Wellington and we've got to pick ourselves up and get on with it.''

The Heart will go into the match without central defenders Simon Colosimo and Patrick Gerhardt, who both picked up yellow cards to exceed their limit and earn automatic one-match bans.

Victory assistant coach Kevin Muscat - deputising post-match for coach Ange Postecoglou, who left immediately after the game because of a family bereavement - felt his side had done enough to deserve the points.

"I thought we showed great belief and we controlled the game for long periods,'' Muscat said.

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Super Cooper gets Renegades home

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Late heroics ... Tom Cooper whacks two big sixes to help get the Renegades home. Source:News Limited

Expensive late overs from Brisbane Heat's import pacemen Kemar Roach and Thisara Perera allowed the unbeaten Melbourne Renegades to surge to another Big Bash League win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Set a modest victory target of 134, the Renegades were struggling badly at 3-88 from 16 overs, needing 46 from their final four overs.

T20 - Etihad Stadium

22 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Renegades 1st Innings

B. Rohrer	27	25	1	1	108
W. Sheridan	11	5	2	0	220
K. Roach	3.1	0	29	1	9.16

They notched their fourth win from as many games with five balls to spare and six wickets in hand, after some big hitting from South Australia's Tom Cooper (29 from 15 balls) and NSW's Ben Rohrer (30 not out off 25) steered them home.

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The home side were struggling to find boundaries until Cooper swung the game by helping them take 14 off the 17th over, bowled by Perera.

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He opened the next over, bowled by Roach, with a huge swipe for six over square leg.

While Cooper was out lbw next ball, Rohrer took up the slack, smashing another six later in the over as Roach gave up 18 runs for the over.

Rohrer and new batsman Will Sheridan took 13 more runs off the next Perera over before Rohrer smacked Roach for four to win the game off the first ball of the last, making it 49 runs off the last 19 balls of the match.

Rohrer said the Renegades always felt they could launch a late charge with wickets in hand, but it was getting tight.

"Once it gets over 12 (runs an over), it gets pretty tough, so it was getting to the point where we knew we had to go and Tommy hit some big bombs and the rest is history," Rohrer said.

Earlier, Heat all-rounder Ben Cutting, who missed all of the first BBL season through injury, staged a fine rescue effort with bat and ball to put his side in the game.

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Coming in with his side 6-80 in the 13th over - after losing three wickets in five balls - he belted an unbeaten 33 from 24 balls to help them to a semi-respectable score.

Cutting then took 2-12 from four overs with the ball to put the Renegades on the back foot, before West Indian Roach and Sri Lankan Perera let the game slip.

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Nervy Jets hold out Sydney

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Ankle tap ... Ruben Zadkovich is tripped up by Ali Abbas Source:AAP

Newcastle picked up their first win for six weeks and extended Sydney FC's horror run to one win in eight matches with a nervy 2-1 win at Hunter Stadium.

Early goals from Craig Goodwin and Emile Heskey proved decisive, even though Yairo Yau gave the visitors a glimmer of hope after 32 minutes.

It was a far from dominant display from the home team who had not scored since knocking three past Melbourne Heart goalkeeper Clint Bolton on November 24.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and were rewarded with Goodwin's free kick and Heskey's tap in.

But Sydney eventually found their rhythm and pulled a goal back through the speedy Yau.

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Sydney pressed in the second half but couldn't find the decisive touch in front of goal.

When the two sides met in their much-hyped round-two encounter, the Jets produced a thrilling 3-2 win in an entertaining clash in which both marquee men Heskey and Sydney star Alessandro Del Piero scored.

But while Heskey was a force this time, Del Piero barely featured.

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There were seven fouls in the first 10 minutes in what was a heated clash.

Fabio conceded a foul for charging James Virgili just outside the penalty area and would come to regret it moments later when Goodwin scored from the ensuing free-kick.

Goodwin curled the ball into the net from an acute angle about four metres out to put the hosts up after 13 minutes and score the Jets' first goal since round eight.

The goal seemed to spark the Jets into life with Virgili making a defence-busting run down the right and forcing a save from Sydney gloveman Vedran Janjetovic.

Virgili worked his way into the box again, this time setting up Heskey who put the Jets two up with his sixth goal of the season, sending the 17,402 Newcastle faithful into raptures.

To keep the game alive, Sydney struck back minutes later with Panamanian international Yau forcing a save from goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.

But Birighitti, in his first match back from a five-week injury lay-off, couldn't contain the ball with Yau slotting the rebound into the back of the net.

Brilliante had Sky Blues' goalkeeper Janjetovic at full stretch just before half-time with a powerful long-range strike that just shaved the post.

Sydney returned from the break looking to equalise with Rhyan Grant threatening with a strike.

The Jets replied moments later when Ryan Griffiths was able to get on the end of a Goodwin cross with Janjetovic diving to save the header.

Del Piero played a superb ball to Yau in the dying minutes but the striker sent his shot just over the crossbar.

A furious Frank Farina warned his Sydney players to either shape up or ship out.

"When you have to rely on a 38-year-old player (Del Piero) who's just come back from a hamstring injury it's a bit of a worry,'' Farina said.

"We got what we deserved today and we didn't deserve to win.''

Despite an ill Brett Emerton getting subbed off after 30 minutes and missing injured pair Pascal Bosschaart and Jason Culina, Farina was making no excuses saying the side should have the depth to cope.

"There will be a lot of nervous players after that,'' he said.

"They won't like me when I get angry.

"I'm a fighter and I'll go down swinging in terms of the fight to make it off the bottom and I expect the players that will be with me will have that same attitude.

"If they don't, they won't play.''

Gary van Egmond by contrast was full of praise for the Jets, saying it was just the result they needed to get their season back on track.

"Tonight I thought we had two full-backs who had real intent getting past people, we had midfielders who really wanted to work, we had wide players who wanted to take people on, and strikers who wanted to win their duels and score,'' van Egmond said.

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Boof questions Samuels's action

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Under fire ... Darren Lehmann has questioned Marlon Samuels's bowling action. Source:News Limited

Melbourne Renegades' Big Bash League-topping form has hit controversy, with Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann questioning the bowling action of star West Indian import Marlon Samuels.

Samuels produced a tight spell as the Renegades won their fourth straight game against the Heat at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

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But Lehmann queried how an offspin bowler who jogs in off a couple of steps can legally produce faster balls of about 120km/h.

"I've spoken to the umpires about it," Lehmann said.

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"I just want something done.

"He couldn't bowl in the IPL (Indian Premier League) last year, yet he can bowl in the BBL.

"We've got to seriously look at what we're doing. Are we here to play cricket properly or what?

"If he's deemed legal, I'm totally understanding of that.

"But from my point of view from 20 years' cricket, I've got a problem with 120km/h off no steps."

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Samuels was suspended from bowling in the IPL earlier this year after being reported for a suspect action.

Lehmann doubted the West Indian would be suspended from bowling in the BBL but wanted Samuels' action to at least be reviewed.

"I'm sure they'll go through the process but it doesn't help us now, does it?" he said.

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"And it doesn't help any of the teams that have played the Renegades so far.

"So that's certainly a query I've got and they've got to have a look at it."

Renegades coach Simon Helmot defended Samuels' action when asked if he was confident it was legitimate.

"Absolutely," Helmot said, adding he was disappointed with Lehmann's comments.

"That's up to umpires to decide on legitimacy of actions," he said.

"It's disappointing to have some comment made like that and we'll take it up with Cricket Australia tomorrow."

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India's former Olympics chief faces fraud

A JUDGE on Friday ordered prosecutors to charge India's former Olympics chief and five other sports officials with fraud relating to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Suresh Kalmadi, who headed the Games organising committee, his deputy Lalit Bhanot and four others were accused of favouring a particular company while awarding contracts for installing a timing system for the Games.

Judge Talwant Singh ordered the prosecution to frame charges of "cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and for other offences under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act" by January 10, the Press Trust of India reported.

Also facing charges are the organising committee's director-general V.K. Verma, procurement director Surjit Lal, sports director A.S.V. Prasad and treasurer M. Jayachandran.

Two Indian companies and the firm Swiss Timing, which was awarded a contract to supply equipment, are also accused in the case, the Press Trust of India said.

Police alleged in 2010 that Swiss Timing had supplied equipment "at exorbitant rates of one 1.07 billion rupees ($18 million)... thereby causing huge loss to the government".

It was unclear whether the judge has also ordered the prosecution of the companies.

The firms and the six Indian officials accused, who are all currently on bail, have denied wrongdoing.

The judge said they would be formally charged on January 10.

Kalmadi, a serving member of parliament, headed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which was suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on December 4 for unethical practices during controversial IOA elections.

Kalmadi did not run in the IOA elections earlier this month, but Bhanot was elected unopposed as secretary-general, even though the IOC had declared the entire election process illegal.

Suspension from the IOC means India will not receive funding from the body and its officials are banned from attending Olympic meetings and events.

India's athletes would also be barred from competing in the Olympics under the national flag, although the IOC could allow some to participate under the Olympic flag.

The Commonwealth Games were meant to showcase India's status as an emerging global power, but sporting headlines were stolen by shoddy construction and budget overruns, with the cost of hosting the event tripling to at least $6.0 billion.

India's anti-corruption watchdog, the Central Vigilance Commission, received complaints alleging that up to $1.8 billion of Games money was misused.

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Glory hold off wasteful Roar

Matchwinner ... Stephen McGarry seals it for Perth. Source: Dan Peled / AAP

Midfielder Steven McGarry's wonder-strike gave Perth Glory a 1-0 victory and heaped more misery on struggling A-League champions Brisbane Roar on Friday night.

McGarry's 35-yard stunner just before halftime was enough to secure the Glory their first back-to-back wins of the season and leave new Roar coach Mike Mulvey ruing what might have been after the hosts squandered numerous opportunities.

In front of 11,352 fans, the Roar spent most of the second half attacking the Glory's penalty area but the home team failed to convert with star striker Besart Berisha particularly guilty of fluffing chances he'd normally bury.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	11	8	2	1	13	26
2	Adelaide	12	8	1	3	5	25
3	Western Sydney	12	6	1	5	5	19
4	Perth	12	5	2	5	3	17
5	Victory	11	5	2	4	-3	17
6	Newcastle	11	4	1	6	-8	13
7	Wellington	11	3	3	5	-1	12
8	Heart	11	3	3	5	-2	12
9	Brisbane	12	3	2	7	-1	11
10	Sydney	11	3	1	7	-11	10

Brazilian Henrique hit the crossbar while midfielder Erik Paartalu and youngster Ben Halloran also came close but the Glory somehow held firm to deny the Roar an equalising goal in a lopsided second-half.

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McGarry's classy strike, which came after he was given space from a clever flick-on from Smeltz, lifts the Glory to fourth place with 17 points, ahead of Melbourne Victory on goal difference.

The Roar, who replaced head coach Rado Vidosic with Mulvey during the week, remain ninth with just three wins from 12 matches.

The Roar also suffered a late blow with substitute Jack Hingert limping off in the dying minutes of the match.

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