If however they help engineer a hung parliament, and take the opportunity to prove themselves the voice of reason in government, able to negotiate pragmatic compromises, they stand to gain even if they do not succeed in changing the electoral system. Brian Lara and six other suspended cricketers have received death threats over their contract dispute with the national board, the West Indies Players Association claimed last night.
While the West Indies had a wonderful day on the field, amassing 347 for 3 by the close of the first day of the first Test against South Africa in Guyana, it was more gloom behind the scenes. I’m drawn where I wanted to be drawn so I’m quite happy.”He was second here last year in the Spring Mile behind Autumn Glory [a Doncaster winner yesterday] and then won a nice race at Pontefract and then he won at York. He’s a decent horse and he’s fit and well.”Terry Mills’s Resplendent One will attempt to turn conventional thinking on its head from stall No 1. John Terry is suffering from a sore back while Ricardo Carvalho has only just recovered from a broken toe.Ferreira is regarded as a vital player by Mourinho and his absencewill also do little to diminish his dislike for international weeks at such a crucial stage of the season.. Chelsea have been dealt a major injury blow as defender Paulo Ferreira has suffered a suspected fracture to his right foot.

The injury to the 26-year-old full-back occurred during Portugal’s World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on Wednesday and is expected to rule him out for the remainder of the season.
Ferreira was substituted just after the hour during the Group Three match in Bratislava and was immediately flown back to London by private jet for an assessment and scans.If Ferreira has broken his foot, he will become the third Chelsea player to have done so this season along with Arjen Robben and Scott Parker. Robben was injured again on international duty at the weekend, damaging his calf, although he may well make a quicker than expected recovery and could be fit for Chelsea’s Champions’ League quarter-final second leg away to Bayern Munich in a week and a half’s time.Ferreira’s injury leaves the Chelsea squad severely stretched, especially as Wayne Bridge will not play again this season due to a double fracture of his ankle while Celestine Babayaro has been sold. It will give the England defender Glen Johnson a chance, but means that Chelsea’s manager Jose Mourinho now has only five fit defenders and no cover at all for the full-back positions. He pleaded guilty to charges of drink driving, driving while disqualified and using a vehicle without insurance.Pennant, an England Under-21 international, had originally been banned from driving for 16months in February last year.. In a statement given upon his release, he said: “It’s a relief to be out, I’m looking forward to putting on my football boots and start training again. I’d like to thank all those who have helped me through this difficult period and I’ll be making further statements in due course.”As well as being tagged, Pennant will be subject to a curfew, but he is expected to be available to Birmingham whenever Bruce thinks he is ready.

The Blues play Tottenham on Saturday and Pennant is unlikely to start that game, but he is likely to be on the bench, with a start pencilled in for the trip to Chelsea next week.Pennant was arrested in January after he was spotted in a car park in Aylesbury driving a Mercedes with a lamp-post dragging beneath it. “Karren Brady [the club's managing director] has done the deal with Arsenal for Jermaine It is now a question of talking personal terms. Hopefully we will reach an agreement and he will be a Birmingham player, not only for the rest of this season but beyond.”Bruce has always maintained that Birmingham would stand by the player. After his release yesterday, he said: “We are delighted that Jermaine is back with us again and I’m pleased that this chapter of his life has been concluded. Myself and everybody at the club will be doing all we can to ensure that Jermaine settles back into normality as soon as possible.”Pennant pleaded guilty to drink driving while disqualified and was jailed on 1 March at Aylesbury Magistrates’ Court.

He will wear an electronic tag as part of his parole conditions, although he is available to play and train straight away.Unlike Gary Croft, the Cardiff defender, who played with his electronic tag for Ipswich in 2000 immediately after his release from prison following driving offences, Pennant may be able to remove his tag for games, as it is sizable and could represent a danger both to Pennant and the other players.Steve Bruce, the Birmingham manager, said he intends to support the 22-year-old, whose contract expires this summer, and the club has agreed a £3m deal with Arsenal and only needs to negotiate a contract with the player. Bruce gave Pennant a training regime to follow while he was in prison, and the player was given an hour a day to follow it.”He’s had some unfortunate issues and I’m sure that our football club is best equipped to help him and he will end up an outstanding footballer and contributor to society,” Gold said. The Birmingham City chairman David Gold is planning to sit down with Jermaine Pennant to discuss a permanent move to St Andrews following the young winger’s release from prison yesterday. The pair put on 241 for the unbroken fourth wicket, a record against South Africa.Hinds was unbeaten on a career-best 188, his fifth Test century, while Chanderpaul was 102 not out, his 12th century.The South Africa fast bowler Andre Nel, with 3 for 50, was the tourists’ only successful bowler. The clubs had admitted breaches of FA Rule E22a for failing to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.”The scenes were sparked when Everton striker Duncan Ferguson was brought on as a substitute by manager David Moyes in the 74th minute.

He’s running well and doing a lot of hard work with the physios with the ball.”After talking with my assistant Paco Ayesteran, who controls the fitness coaching, we no longer believe it’s impossible he’ll play this season.”. He is doing all the warm-ups and he’s kicking the ball again. Benitez, however, believes he could still play a part in Liverpool’s run-in to the domestic championship and Champions’ League.Benitez said: “Ciss?s now training again with the team. The French international has been out since breaking his leg in two places during Liverpool’s game at Blackburn five months ago.Doctors then ruled him out for the rest of the season.