• Former Collingwood boss is thinking ahead
• Wants MCG to become a truly multifunctional location
• Ground has organized Taylor Swift concerts in 2024

By Shayne Bugden for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 1:15 AM EDT, March 18, 2024 | Updated: 1:15 AM EDT, March 18, 2024

I was skeptical of Eddie Howe before he took over as manager at Newcastle.

I doubted he could succeed outside his comfort zone at Bournemouth.

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I was worried about him taking over the club that has the richest owners in world football, with all the pressure that entails.

Yet Howe proved me wrong last season by leading Toon to the Champions League and reaching the final of the League Cup in his first full season.

I hope Newcastle’s Saudi owners don’t forget how far Howe was ahead of the game at the time.

And I hope they take into account the extraordinary bad luck he has had this season – from a gambling ban for Sandro Tonali, to a serious injury crisis, to the dodgy late penalty away at Paris Saint-Germain that has done much to send them out Europe were sent. .

But today’s FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester City, a draw that spells further misfortune for Howe, is of huge importance for his future at the club.

If he stays on Tyneside next season, it feels like he might be in for a shock at Etihad.

We don’t know how the Saudis will react if Newcastle’s season is effectively ended by defeat.

We can guess that they will be ruthless. And we can’t imagine they’ll think ‘well, bad luck, we’ve got Man City’, because if you want to reach the top you’re going to have to beat City time and time again.

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The Saudis are running Newcastle quite calmly and sensibly.

Maybe they’ll excuse Howe from a season of stalled progress.
But the way FFP restrictions have been tightened, with a number of their players linked with a move in January, shows that Newcastle’s bid to reach the top echelons of English and European football is unlikely to go smoothly .

I also think that the club’s location could be a barrier to attracting foreign talent.

A lot of the foreign guys I played with only really knew about London and Manchester.

The North East is a great part of the world and anyone who knows football can’t help but love St James’ Park.

But many players prefer a move to the capital or to Manchester, where clubs will also pay high wages.

I remember former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley suggesting the club move its training base to London because of this – which didn’t go down well with the fans, who hated him anyway.

But when players make the move to Tyneside, they often love it.

Bruno Guimaraes is a good example. The Brazilian is adored there and he clearly loves the club.

Even during the defeat to Chelsea last Monday you could see his passion. I thought he was the best player on the field.

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That Ashley era now feels like a world away, thanks to the new owners’ money and Howe’s excellent management.

But anyone expecting Newcastle to gain the upper hand quickly is likely to be mistaken.

Newcastle are capable of beating anyone in a one-off match and this season they beat City in the League Cup.

If they can beat Pep Guardiola’s side tonight it would mean a change of mood for Howe and his team, and another day out at Wembley for the supporters in the semi-finals.

For a club that has not won a major trophy for over half a century, progress in the cup is extremely important.

You fear for Howe’s future if they don’t. But then I hope I’m wrong again.

By Maria Chiorando for Mailonline

Published: 11:59 EST, March 7, 2024 | Updated: 12:00 EST, March 7, 2024

He is the baby of the family – the fourth child of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, born when his oldest brother Charles was already 16. 

The age gap between Prince Edward and Charles was there for all to see in the  Royal Family documentary of the 1960s when Charles, 21, was playing his cello and little Edward somehow got in the way. A broken cello string twanged his face. 

On Sunday, the youngest of the King’s siblings will reach his landmark 60th birthday – yet, in a much reduced Royal Family, Edward and his wife Sophie, 59, stand out as relative youngsters in an elderly House of Windsor.

Today, there are just four working royals under the age of 70: the Prince and Princess of Wales and Edward and Sophie, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 

With the King laid low by his cancer treatment, the Princess of Wales out of action as she recovers from her abdominal surgery and even her husband, Prince William unexpectedly missing from last week’s memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece ,Edward and Sophie are more important than ever to what some perceive as a perilously small Royal Family.

Moreover,  Edward – Steady Eddie – and Sophie are among the most dependable members of the Royal Family, working hard up and down Britain on public engagements, and abroad too.

The prominence of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh – they were given the titles by the King a year ago on Edward’s 59th birthday – is a far cry from the dramas of earlier times.

For years, the couple were among the lower profile members of the Royal Family.

Even Edward’s wedding to Sophie Rhys-Jones was a more subdued affair than those of his older brothers, Charles and Andrew, whose marriages to Diana and Fergie were media circuses at St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. 

By the time Edward married Sophie at St George’s Chapel, Windsor in 1999, however, both brothers’ marriages had ended in divorce. A more low-key ceremony was thought appropriate.

In his early adult years, Edward grabbed the headlines with a series of embarrassments. 

First came his departure from the Royal Marines in 1987, dropping out after completing just a third of the commando course and saying he did not want to make the service his long-term career. 

It didn’t help that his father was then Captain General of the Royal Marines.

After that, he attempted a life in the entertainment industry, joining Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Theatre Company and working on productions such as Phantom of the Opera, Starlight Express and Cats. 

Theatre life brought him a girlfriend: the musical star Ruthie Henshall, whom he dated for three years.

Next came the world of television and his own company,  Ardent Productions.  This produced little of note except a programme about Edward’s great-uncle Edward VIII and his abdication, although that sold well abroad. 

The entertainment business also brought him something approaching notoriety thanks to the Grand Knockout Tournament, known forever afterwards as It’s A Royal Knockout.

Devised by Edward, this involved four teams led by Andrew, Anne, Fergie and Edward himself going head-to-head in a series of silly games televised at Alton Towers.  A well-meant attempt to raise money for charity, it was derided.

There was further embarrassment a few years later, in 2001, when nephew Prince William was studying at St Andrews University. 

A crew working for Prince Edward appeared to break an understanding reached between the media and the University of St Andrews by continuing to film in the town . 

In its defence, Ardent said that it had permission to be there and had not attempted to film Prince William.

The fuss blew over but one year later, in 2002, Ardent was wound up and Edward announced that he would instead focus on supporting his mother, the Queen.

Around the same time came the sting that trapped his wife Sophie and her PR business. She was filmed appearing to trade off her royal connections and referred to her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth as ‘the old dear’.

She gave up her business, joining Edward as a full-time working royals.

Marriage brought domestic happiness with the birth of two children, Louise and James. They were particularly precious after Sophie suffered an ectopic pregnancy – one that takes place outside the womb. 

The family moved to the rambling mansion of Bagshot Park 11 miles south of Windsor and for many years they seemed somewhat in the royal shadows. 

Edward, who began life as third in line to the throne after his brothers, slid down the pecking order as Charles and Andrew married and had children. 

He is now 14th in the line of succession, below not only William and Harry but their children and those of his brother Andrew’s daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie and their offspring.

Living in Bagshot Park meant that the couple were among Elizabeth II’s closest neighbours when she lived at Windsor Castle.

Sophie in particular was said to be a firm favourite of the Queen while their daughter Louise learnt carriage driving from her grandfather Philip.

Louise and her mother would also spend time at Windsor with the late Queen, often enjoying watching old movies together.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth II knew that she could rely on Edward to deputise for her: she sent him to represent her as Supreme Governor of the Church of England at General Synod in 2021. 

The Prince can often be seen attending events at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, such as its Christmas services of carols and lessons.

Just how close the couple were to the late Queen was apparent when they were photographed arriving at Balmoral on the day Queen Elizabeth died. Sophie Wessex looked stricken. 

The couple were part of the family’s key ceremonials to mark the Queen’s demise, with Edward joining his two brothers and sister Anne to keep watch around the catafalque as the queen lay in state in Westminster Hall.

Since Charles acceded to the throne Edward and Sophie have continued a regular round of duties, becoming two of the Royal Family’s most well-travelled working principals, clocking up thousands of miles around the globe. 

Much of the travel for Edward is linked to his work with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, founded by his father in 1956. 

His work as its international trustee and Chairman of Trustees for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation – a position he has held since 2015 – means he is one of the most well-travelled of the royals – only rivalled by his wife. 

Much of her work involves a focus on women’s rights and she has focused often – at the request of the Foreign Office on conflict-related sexual violence, travelling to Baghdad and South Sudan. 

Diplomats have come to rely on the Duchess as a safe pair of hands: someone who does her homework, shows great empathy for the ordinary people she meets who have been caught up in conflicts but can also put on the glamour when needed. 

The couple’s links to the Commonwealth, which have been carved out through their visits to many of its member nations, will be apparent the day after Edward’s 60th birthday when they are due to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. The royal turnout will be much depleted. 

In 2017, there were seven of them, led by Elizabeth II; in 2020 there were nine, although the service was marred by the evident froideur between the Waleses and the Sussexes as Meghan and Harry took part in their last ever public engagement. 

This year there will be no King, and no Princess of Wales either, as she recovers from surgery. But Sophie and Edward are due to be there, never hogging the limelight, always reliable, steeped in a sense of duty that Elizabeth II always insisted upon.

By Adam S. Levy for Dailymail.com

Published: 5:33 PM EST, February 26, 2024 | Updated: 5:37 PM EST, February 26, 2024

By Ali Daher for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 05:01 EST, February 25, 2024 | Updated: 05:03 EST, February 25, 2024

ANTHONY JOSHUA is eyeing a world title shot after back-to-back wins this year, promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed.

AJ will look to further revive his career in his crossover clash with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou next one month.

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Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh wants to pit the winner of the Riyadh rumble against the winner of Tyson Fury's rescheduled uncontested showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.

However, the rematch clause in the pair's contract means a showdown with mandatory IBF heavyweight title challenger Filip Hrgovic will be next for AJ if he has to beat Ngannou.

But Matchroom boxing chief Hearn believes the Watford warrior will ultimately face the winner of Fury vs Usyk on the other side of the ring.

He told iFL TV: “The timing worked perfectly for AJ to stop Ngannou and for Fury to win.

“We appreciate that there is a fight and a rematch, but you know how things are going to go.

“Come on, you know how His Excellency moves.

“When the biggest fight in the history of the sport is in front of you to make sure that I will definitely find a way to keep everyone happy and fight that battle, but it's not relevant right now.

“We need that fight and now that fight is happening two months after our fight.

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“So it sounds more likely if AJ prevails [he] will fight Filip Hrgovic for a world title, and that's fine.

'And then we will fight the winner of Fury vs Usyk.

“AJ's like, 'Sign me up for anything, I'm going to beat everyone.'

WBC heavyweight king Fury this week dispelled retirement rumors by revealing plans to at least fight FOUR MORE TIMES after his dance with Usyk.

The Gypsy King insists he won't end his career without the domestic row with Joshua, a statement that came as music to Hearn's ears.

The 44-year-old said: “I'd love to hear this. Boxing would be a worse or weaker place without Tyson Fury, keep him in the sport.

“Here's what I told you, he's got the bit between his teeth. Well, I like seeing Tyson Fury like this.

“Good luck to him, he says two Usyk fights, but I believe there will be one. I love it, it's music to my ears.

“Guess what, Hrgovic is going to knock out Ngannou and beat Hrgovic if that's what he has to do.

“Then he will beat Tyson Fury.”

Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang and his wife Andraia Allsop stole the spotlight Friday at the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year gala in Los Angeles.

The 32-year-old musician looked like a rock star in his black jacket and matching ripped denim as he hit the red carpet at the official GRAMMY Week event held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The bassist put his arm around Andraia – whom he married in October 2023 – inconspicuously in a pair of purple-tinted aviator glasses.

Andraia, meanwhile, stunned in a black cold-shoulder dress with a high slit down her thigh as Wolfgang gave her a hug.

The outing marks the first sighting of Wolfgang since Van Halen's singer David Lee Roth launched a profanity-filled tirade against him on his podcast “The Roth Show” on YouTube.

In a clip from his show posted to his Instagram page, the 69-year-old singer is heard launching into a tirade of abuse against Wolfgang, calling him “this damn boy” as well as a “schlemiel.” (fool in Yiddish) repeatedly.

Wolfgang played bass in Van Halen from 2007 to 2015 after replacing original bassist Michael Anthony. The 32-year-old singer is currently releasing music with his band Mammoth WVH.

The clip begins with a parody interview in which David interviews Jesus Christ and implies that his bandmate's son benefits from nepotism.

He also claims that Wolfgang spent time complaining about not paying attention to him while they were on tour together.

The singer said: 'This damn boy! He's been complaining the whole tour like I'm not paying enough attention to him on stage.

'I'm giving him the best, everything I've got, in front of 20-30,000 people at a clip, and he's complaining to everyone around me – the business manager, the security guy, the clothes lady – 'Dave isn't paying enough attention to me .”'

He then started saying that he invited “two ladies” to one of the band's shows in New York, but they were “stiff for tickets” and were allegedly thrown out by Wolfgang.

“What this damn boy doesn't know is that these two ladies work for the accounting firm that represents him, not me.

“But as usual, he, like his uncle and his uncle's brother, paid them for tickets.

'He's teaching me a lesson. What this damn kid doesn't know? They contribute the paychecks of all 82 people on the road crew.”

David went on to say that a similar incident had occurred during their concert in Los Angeles, which was also notably his last performance with Eddie.

“We're at the Hollywood Bowl, I'm about to launch 'Ice Cream Man,' and this damn kid. He commands two muscular monkeys and locates the only lady who is my guest. She's backstage at the Hollywood Bowl.

“They find her, make her take the shameless walk past all the other guests, into the parking lot and throw her out of the building.”

“Wolfie Van Halen is going to teach me a lesson by throwing away something he thinks is my girlfriend. But guess what? Not only is this another accountant, and not only does she have the paychecks for 82 of us on the road, but she also has cash bonuses for everyone there.”

He noted that the woman was the same “lady” who had been thrown out in New York.

But fans of the legendary band have criticized David's comments, calling them “bad taste” and also calling him “sour grapes.”

One user wrote: 'I'm a big fan of VH and Dave, but this is in poor taste, dude! “The Kid” didn't throw you under the bus and I'm sure it would be very easy to do… Stay classy Dave.

While another user wrote: 'If it wasn't for Wolfgang, DLR wouldn't have had the last few tours with VH and if it wasn't for EVH we wouldn't even know who DLR is.'

One user also noted the Van Halen family's contribution to music, saying, “The reality is that Wolfie is a third-generation professional musician. Performed all instruments on the album as well as all vocals. Earned his stripes supporting an entire concert tour while most of the kids were playing Xbox and trying to pass French class. The Van Halens have always let the music do the talking…'

Another user commented on Wolfgang's success: 'Last I heard he's the one touring stadiums and headlining his own tours. He is the one who is also responsible for giving you a second wind. Get over yourself. You are sour grapes, and you will never be as important as his father. Clown.'

The band was founded in the late 1960s and early 1970s by brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen, with David joining in 1973.

David left and returned to the band several times over the years and had constant problems with Wolfgang's father, Eddie.

In a 2021 Billboard interview, Wolfgang had addressed people's accusations of criticism and nepotism against him.

“With the name or just the parents I have, people assume I'm an unmotivated person who's just comfortable doing nothing and building on what's come before with what my name implies. And I'm anything but that.'

Eddie passed away in October 2020. He had been battling throat cancer for more than a decade.

Dancing On Ice viewers labeled Eddie the Eagle as their winner after he impressed them with his skating skills during Sunday's episode of the show.

The English ski jumper and Olympian, 60, made a grand entrance for his performance as he soared above the ink of a giant model of an eagle.

Sportsman Eddie, real name Michael Edwards, and his professional skating partner Vicky Ogden danced to Jon Bon Jovi's classic hit Livin' on a Prayer.

Before his routine, Eddie descended from the rafters of the huge eagle hanging from metal wires.

The moment impressed viewers, with many taking to social media to express their joy at what they had seen.

One person wrote on Twitter: 'When it landed on that Eagle all I could think was: here we go, here's the joke candidate. Should have known better. Dude is a bit of a surprise.”

While someone else said: 'Eddie the Eagle surprised me so much, I didn't expect him to be this good.'

'Eddie The Eagle is my new favorite! What an achievement,” said another.

While someone else insisted: 'Eddie the Eagle must win, well and truly.'

“Ricky Norwood deserved a better score from Oti, he looks like he's improved so much since day 1. In other news, Eddie The Eagle MUST win, what a legend,” wrote another show fan.

And someone else wrote: 'Eddie the eagle was just fantastic. Well done, Eddie!'

Another audience member at home commented: 'Unexpected excellence of the evening – Eddie the Eagle was brilliant!'

While someone else praised: 'Eddie “The Eagle” surprised me, I did NOT expect it to be this good.'

Someone else simply wrote: 'Wow! The Eagle has landed!'

While someone else said: 'Pleasantly surprised by Eddie. Okay, Mister Eagle, fly over that ice!'

Eddie had a rocky start to his Dancing On Ice journey after his original partner Tippy Packard had to withdraw due to injury.

Reflecting on the challenge in his opening VT, he said, “Hopefully from now on we can spend a lot more time on the ice and wow everyone with that first dance.”

Eddie – who burst onto the scene at the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary – added of his chances: “I've always been an underdog. When I went to Calgary, I was a real underdog.”

Eddie was brought in as a last-minute replacement after Gogglebox star Stephen Lustig-Webb broke his ankle in the first week of rehearsals and had to withdraw from the competition.

Ricky Hatton was voted off Dancing On Ice later in the show.

The former boxer was 'gutted' to be the first celebrity to be axed from the 2024 series after he and partner Robin Johnstone – who made his first appearance last week – faced bottom-placed skater Lou Sanders and her partner Brendyn Hatfield from this week were in the dreaded skate-off.

After the vote in which he failed to impress the judges, Ricky said: “I'm sad to go home, I've tried to be a winner all my life and in everything I've done – it It's been a while since I watched the second round.

'I think I will continue skating. I may have gone out on the first round, but I had a great time and met some great friends.

'I would like to thank Robin and the coaches for their hard work and even though I go home in the first round, I go home happy.'

All four judges chose to save Lou and Brendyn.

Ashley Banjo said: “Both of you have leveled up not once, but probably two levels from your original skate, so you should both be proud, especially you Ricky. But based on the content and the skating, I will save Lou and Brendan.”

Oti Mabuse added: “My vote goes to the strongest skate, the one with the most content.”

Christopher Dean said, “Ricky, a lot more substance and feeling, but it's about the skating, so tonight I'm saving Lou and Brendyn.”

This week's head judge, Jayne Torvill, confirmed that she would also have chosen to send Ricky and Robin home.

She said: 'I would have saved Lou and Brendyn because it was a much better performance.'

While the couples were split into two groups of six in the first two weeks of the show, all eleven remaining couples will take to the ice next Sunday for Movie Week.

Dancing On Ice continues on Sunday January 28 at 6.20pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

By Bethan Edwards for Mailonline

Published: 8:55 PM EST, January 9, 2024 | Updated: 07:42 EST, January 10, 2024