Rhinos Youngsters Given a Chance

Brian McDermott has rewarded three youngsters with a place in the 25 man squad for next season.

Firstly, prop Brad Singleton has been given a chance to prove himself in the first team. He is perhaps the most recognised name, as he made his debut earlier in the year against Salford. Singleton has been provided with an opportunity after he impressed with a string of strong displays with the Under 20's, and at just 18, he could prove to be a future leader of the forward and he could provide some healthy competition within the pack when considering the recent signings of Richard Moore and Darrell Griffin.

The second addition is 19-year-old hooker Liam Hood. He is likely to be second to Paul McShane in his preferred role, but could prove to be vital in the wake of Danny Buderus' return to Newcastle Knights. He has trained with the senior squad all season which should leave him with enough mettle to make a realistic push for first team action.

The final addition of the young trio is the surprising inclusion of loose forward, Stevie Ward. The 17-year-old has already shown ability beyond his years with some strong performances with the Under 20's. He may not play an influential role next term, but could well be a star for many years to come for Leeds as we look towards building an even more successful squad in the future!

Sven 'Leaves by Mutual Consent' - What Now?

Sven Goran Eriksson has left Leicester City by “mutual consent”, after just over a year in charge at the Championship club.

Despite heavy spending over the summer, the former England manager has seen his side’s form slump somewhat, which has left them sitting in 13th place, looking over their shoulders at League One rather than ahead to the Premier League.

The final straw for the club’s Thai owners is likely to have been Saturday’s unexpected 3-0 defeat at the hands of an out of form Millwall side, despite his dismissal, the 63-year-old has undoubtedly made a significant impression in his latest former role.

When the experienced Swede took the reins at Leicester city, Paolo Sousa had left the Foxes languishing in the relegation places – well below expectations. Sven’s appointment was well received and his high profile allowed for equally high profile loan acquisitions such as Yakubu and Diomansy Kamara. This, combined with Sven’s managing credentials, saw Leicester turn a disappointing start to the season, into a season which included a realistic assault on the play-offs, which eventually faltered, resulting in a 10th placed finish. 

Despite this, the experienced manager’s presence continued to be felt as, backed by the financial power of the club’s owners, £20 Million was spent on a number of high profile signings with the likes of Matt Mills coming in at a cost of £5 Million and Paul Konchesky joined up with the championship outfit from Liverpool, for a seven figure fee.

The former Manchester City, Ivory Coast and Lazio manager was sacked as his high profile team has produced numerous below par performances, ultimately costing Sven his job. So, what does the future hold for both parties?

The current favourite for the vacant manager’s position with City is Martin O’neill. The Northern Irishman has been without a job since his ill-fated departure from Aston Villa last August and may want to build on the success he had with Leicester between 1995 and 2000, which included two League Cup triumphs.

Also in the running is, Billy Davies. The Scot lost his job as Nottingham Forest manager on the back of successive play off disappointments and has shown his knowledge of the Championship, most notable in Derby County’s promotion to the premier league in 2007.

Whilst big names such as Mark Hughes, Rafael Benitez and even former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti are the early favourites for the latest managerial vacancy as Leicester will be looking to appoint the successor to Sven. Either way, their next appointment will become Leicester’s fourth manager in as many years. A fact which will only fuel criticism concerning the lack of stability at the east midlands club.

Sven arguably has the more positive outlook for the future. The Swede has been known for his ability to find employment quickly, suggesting he seems highly likely to find another job soon, whether it be internationally or across Europe. A premier league opportunity may also be on the cards as Blackburn fans continue to voice their objection to Steve Kean’s employment, raising the likelihood of the under fire manager being ousted from his current position.