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Whilst we are in the midst of the most enthralling title race in the BPL era, towards the foot of the table things of an ominous nature appear to be taking shape. If reports of apparent bullying at Villa Park and training ground punch-ups at Swansea were not bad enough for a pair of clubs whose recent form has dragged them into the end of season relegation dog fight, then what to make of the alleged leaking of Cardiffs starting XI ahead of their crucial encounter with fellow strugglers, Crystal Palace on April 5th. Almost a week would pass before we got the first indications of what Cardiff are now alleging. By this point the club had fired a member of staff and suspended another over the leaking of Solskjaers team to their relegation rival. Yesterday the BBC revealed Cardiff, in the form of a five page letter through their lawyers, had filed a formal complaint to the BPL. Within the letter it is alleged they have proof Palace knew the Cardiff team the day before the match. The central character in this saga appears to be Crystal Palaces sporting director Iain Moody, who was head of player recruitment at Cardiff until he was fired without explanation back in November. Cardiff further allege in their letter Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis was aware Moody, through his contacts at the Welsh club, was attempting to obtain the Cardiff team. To his credit, in an interview with a UK tabloid, Moody dismissed the allegations and referred to them as, ‘extraordinarily untrue. Now add this into the mix. Dougie Freedman, who played for Palace in the mid-1990s and went on to manage the club during the 2011/12 season, is alleged by Cardiff to have mistakenly received a text message from Moody on April 4th. The text explicitly detailed Cardiffs starting XI and is also reported to name the source of the leak as Cardiff midfield player, Aron Gunnarsson. Freedman, who had met Cardiff boss Solskjaer when they took their coaching licenses, remained in touch with the ex-Manchester United player and called him after receiving the text. Solskjaer is reported to have not registered any formal complaint but had words with Pulis when they exchanged their team sheets an hour before April 5ths kick off between the two clubs. For its part the BPL, through a spokesperson, said it will stage an investigation. Cardiff is demanding the 3-0 result is nulled. In todays pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrows match against West Ham, Tony Pulis said he was willing to meet the league over the matter. In some circles Pulis is being mentioned as a candidate for the manager of the year following the incredible turn around at Selhurst Park. When the ex-Stoke boss took over in late November the club were firmly rooted at the bottom of the table, remarkably they now sit in mid-table respectability with the 11thspot. No matter what the outcome of the investigation, the fact this is part of the public debate casts significant embarrassment for a league and comes at such a pivotal time of the season. There is no precedent. Comparisons though are been drawn to 2007s relegation battle - when West Ham and Sheffield United were embroiled in legal action following West Hams last day relegation escape, which consigned this seasons FA Cup semi-finalists to the Championship. Carlos Tevez, who was on loan to West Ham, scored the winner at Old Trafford that day in a match they had to win. However, as the Argentine strikers rights at that time were owned by a 3rd party this was in serious contravention of BPL rules. West Ham was found guilty and fined £5m by the league. Sheffield United took the matter to court and eventually received £18m in compensation from the London club. For the three clubs who will suffer relegation this season to ease their drop into the Championship they will receive so termed ‘parachute payments amounting to approximately $100m over a four-year period. Even so, and as ever increasing amounts of money pours into English footballs top tier, it becomes inevitable clubs threatened by relegation will use any means necessary to secure their place in the most lucrative domestic league in all of world football. Over to you Mr. Scudamore. CITY WORLD BEATERSJust as reports surface UEFA will shortly put the 2012 BPL Champions on the Financial Fair Play naughty step it was revealed in the week by the splendid Sporting Intelligence website no team on planet sport pays more in compensation to their players. Sporting Intelligences annual Global Sports Salaries Survey is carried out in association with ESPN The Magazine. Manchester City players earn on average over $10m a season. Ominously for MLS the New York Yankees came in second place. NYCFC joins the league next season. MANU NYSEStaying with the Manchester, New York, and money theme, shares in Manchester United climbed over 10% Wednesday. The shares, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange, had been trending down since David Moyes took over last July. The dramatic move to the upside is thought to be related to the clubs next apparel deal that is expected to net the club well over $1 billion over a 10-year period. With first option to renew, Nike remain the favourites to secure the deal but reports indicate Manchester United are also in discussions with Adidas and PUMA. ANNUAL BPL GONGSEarlier today the Professional Footballers Association [PFA] released the nominations for this seasons Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards. Unsurprisingly, Liverpool dominates the six man shortlist for the main award. Led by captain Steven Gerrard, who won the award in 2006, Suarez and Sturridge also feature. A name that also appears on the shortlist and would have been on no ones thoughts before the season kicked off, is Southamptons Adam Lallana. The 24-year old Sturridge, who has scored 20 league goals this season, is also named in the Young Players category. Winners will be announced at the PFAs banquet April 27th. Cardiff Vs Stoke City - Live on the TSN2 Saturday 9:50am et/6:50am pt You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter Robby Anderson Jersey .com) - There may be a debate in Philadelphia about who should be the starting quarterback of the Eagles. Curtis Martin Womens Jersey . "I only want to go through this one more time," Crosby said Friday. The 24-year-old captain hasnt played since the symptoms resurfaced following a loss to Boston on Dec. 5. Doctors allowed him to return to full practice on Tuesday and while Crosby is pleased with the way his body is responding he refuses to put on his return. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Wesley-Walker-Jersey/ . Lexie Lou earned a commanding 4 1/2-length win Sunday in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks. Joe Namath Jets Jersey .ca! There is plenty of blame to be shared as a result of the most recent NHL player (Pittsburghs Brooks Orpik) to be evacuated from the ice on a stretcher following an ugly incident Saturday night in Boston. Trevon Wesco Youth Jersey . Lawrie was hit on the hand by Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto in the second inning of Sundays 4-3 loss to the Reds.EDMONTON - The Ottawa Redblacks will take a passel of ex-Eskimos and a collective chip on their shoulder when they go for their first CFL franchise win Friday. The Redblacks are taking on the Edmonton Eskimos in their second regular season game Friday night. Catch the game live on TSN as the back end of a doubleheader starting at 10pm et/7pm pt. "Im not going to give you the politically correct answer," Ottawa linebacker T.J. Hill told reporters Thursday after the 0-1 Redblacks arrived at Commonwealth Stadium. "No disrespect to the Blue Bombers … but we definitely feel like we let that one slip away. "Weve got to finish, and theres no excuses." The Redblacks jumped out to a 21-7 lead in their opener in Winnipeg last week, but multiple penalties and big mistakes on special teams allowed the Blue Bombers to stage a 36-28 comeback win. Hill is one of eight former Edmonton Eskimos on the Ottawa roster for Fridays game. Hill was a veteran and a longtime locker-room leader for the Eskimos, but was let go in the off-season as the team remodelled its defence under new head coach Chris Jones. Hill said he doesnt feel any added incentive to win on his former home turf against his old mates. "Im always fired up to just have the opportunity to play," he said. Not so for fellow Redblack and former Eskimos receiver Marcus Henry, who was picked up by Ottawa after failing a training camp medical in Edmonton. Henry was asked if he was OK with how things ended for him in Edmonton. "At first no, I wasnt OK with it. It was (a) surprise to me, too," he said. "But coming through the locker-room after I got released, the guys picking me up and stuff, I got over it pretty quick. But itt still stings a bit, he added.dddddddddddd "Whenever you get released by a team and you go back and play them, theres always a chip on your shoulder," he said. The ex-Eskimos are also in the Ottawa coaching ranks, including head coach Rick Campbell, a former longtime assistant with Edmonton. He said they need to reduce the penalties and protect the football from an Edmonton defence that has already intercepted seven balls en route to a 2-0 record. "We need to take care of the football," said Campbell. Against Winnipeg, the Redblacks were flagged 16 times for 120 yards and gave up big plays on special teams. A 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Winnipegs Demond Washington left the Blue Bombers just two points down with more than 10 minutes to play. On the Eskimos side, quarterback Mike Reilly said they need to execute better in the red zone. So far the Eskimos have scored three TDs in seven trips inside the 20-yard line. Reilly said its not a question of plays or play calling, but execution. "You have to have better focus when youre down in the red zone," he said. "Things happen so much faster in the red zone. Theres very small room for error when youre down there and so you have to be very precise in your plays. "The opportunities are there. We just have to take advantage of them." As for familiarity, Edmonton safety Chris Rwabukamba said it will be nice to see old teammates return — up to a point. "Its fun playing against guys that you know, but when you step on that field, the No. 1 thing you want to do is win," said Rwabukamba. Notes: Eskimos linebacker JC Sherritt is out with an undisclosed injury. Hell be replaced by Dexter MCoil. ' ' '