Messages

Mick McGoldrick is still in Oz as far as I know. I think he left around november time and is not due back until November this year. He'll not be an option for derry this year at least.

from www.bbc.co.uk

Property prices will nose-dive in NI if the Irish Republic's new toxic assets agency dumps developments on the market, Stormont ministers have warned.

Finance ministers from both sides of the border are to hold emergency talks over fears the north could be swamped with repossessed homes and offices.

The issue was raised at a North-South Ministerial Council meeting in Dublin.

An agency has been set up in Dublin to recoup debt run up by banks on property bought in NI and in the Republic.

The National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) will attempt to recover nationalised bank losses for the Irish government through the selling-off of developments that collapsed during the property crash.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said there were concerns about the number of Northern Ireland properties which will be taken over by NAMA.

'Implications'

"Obviously some of these assets are located in the Republic, in Northern Ireland and other jurisdictions as well," Mr Cowen said.

"It's important that we fully agreed in our discussions that both finance ministers would meet to consider the implications over the period ahead.

"It's obviously a matter of co-ordinating policy decisions."

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said Finance Minster Sammy Wilson would meet with his counterpart in the Republic, Brian Lenihan, in an attempt to stave off any threat to Northern Ireland's house prices.

"There are assets which are being held by NAMA which impact upon Northern Ireland, those disposals need to be handled in a way that don't swamp the property market and impact adversely on property prices in Northern Ireland," he said.

It is estimated that Irish banks hold anything between 60bn and 90bn euros of so-called toxic assets, the money loaned to property developers and others which might never be repaid.

Around 30bn euros worth are thought to be outside the Republic and as many as 15bn to 20bn euros worth of bad property-related debts are thought to be in Northern Ireland.



What do you make of this? Am looking to buy but trying to time it right so prices are as low or as close to low as possible. But if this is true then surely there is still a bit to go.

Was at the gig myself. Thought it was an excellant show but I'm a big Oasis fan anyway. It was defenitley a better gig than the Belfat shows in October just becasue of a lot less scum bags around the place. There were alot of prodigy fans there and you could tell them a mile off in there florecent gear. Kasabian were also excellant and am going to see them in Belfast tomorrow night.

Name the player who has won the World cup, the European Cup, the champions league, the world club cup, the premier league, the fa cup and the league cup.

Laurent Blanc?

Taken from www.bbc.co.uk/sport

Amir Khan will get his first chance at a world title on 27 June when he fights WBA light-welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik in Britain.

The 22-year-old from Bolton defeated Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in their lightweight contest in Manchester last month.

But he will move up a division to take on Germany-based Ukrainian Kotelnik at an as-yet undecided venue.

"To fight for the world title in only my 22nd fight is fantastic," said Khan.

"This is the best news that I could have received. Frank (Warren, promoter) has done a great job getting the world title fight for me in Britain and now I have to go out and win it.

"I've seen Kotelnik a few times and I've always been impressed by him but once my trainer Freddie Roach works out the game plan to beat him it's my job to execute it on the night, as I did effectively against Barrera."

Following his knockout defeat by Breidis Prescott last September, Khan's hopes of a world title fight seemed a distant hope.

However, the performance against Barrera, which saw him win courtesy of a fifth-round technical stoppage, has put him back on track.

Most of his campaigning until now has been in the lightweight division where he won the Commonwealth, WBO and WBA intercontinental titles but he beat Rachid Drilzane for the IBF intercontinental light-welterweight title in December 2006 in London.

Kotelnik, who won Olympic lightweight silver at the 2000 Games in Sydney, four years before Khan did the same in Athens, has fought in Britain three times previously.

His first fight, in 2005, saw him beaten by Junior Witter in a European light-welterweight title fight.

In 2007 he held then WBA World Champion Souleymane M'Baye to a draw and last year he beat Gavin Rees to win the WBA crown.

Promoter Warren said: "This is the moment that Amir has been waiting for and I'm delighted to deliver him the opportunity.

"Amir put in a sensational performance against a three-time world champion and future Hall of Famer in Barrera in only his 21st fight and now he has to produce the same form against Kotelnik, who is a good hard fighter."


Interesting that he goes up to light-welterweight for a world title fight as he is ranked in the top 10 for the various light-weight belts. Being only a casual fan of boxing I was wondering is he moving up because this guy would seem to be easier to beat than any of the light-weight champions or do you think the oppertunity presented itself and he had to take it. If he wins it could set up a big pay day with Hatton.

Headin down myself. Was going to take the car down. Is there car parking or is that a completely stupid idea?

They started taking money out of my wages last year. It was only £18 per month. The payments have gone down after I got my pay cut last month (God dam credit crunch). It doesn't really seem worth taking out now!

£246 does seem alot to be paying back either that or my wages are for F*@k all, even before they were cut.

We leave on the 7th Rois. Livigno must be a pretty popular place as I've heard from a few people who have been.

Soll was the last place I was in. They guy who I was with and had been skiing before said the slopes in Soll would have been tricky for a beginner so I'm hoping Livigno is a little easier as I'd still consider myself a novice. I'll maybe see about the lesson when I get there and if anyone else in our group is for taking one.

Booked a week in Livigno at the start of March. It worked out at £477 for a self catering apartment, pass and equipmet. Got the insurance seperately through www.complete-ski.com. This will be my second time going. The first time a mate who has been a couple of times  taught us the basics rather than going for the ski school. Was a bit hairy for the first couple of days but finally picked it up. Would it be worth getting a couple of intermediate lessons or should I just tear on.

We fly into Brecia. Not looking forward to the 4hr coach trip though. Has anyone ever been before? Is the coach trip as bad as it sounds? Whats the self catering apartments like.

I think they have already done the double in 2001 TAM.

Anyone at the gig on Saturday night. I thought they were excellent. Being sort of a late comer to the Kings of leon wasn't to sure of all the early stuff but it was the best concert I've been to in a long time.

Anyone else notice Matthew (lead guitarist I think) light up a fag. Thought that was quite funny.

To who?  Ballinderry?

Any chance of the actual result?