Laudrup sacked after snubbing January loan deals for Chadli, Holtby and Ince



The reasons for Michael Laudrup’s surprise sacking by Swansea are understood to include his negative attitude around transfer-window loan signings.



Laudrup is considering legal action over his dismissal and claims he is still waiting to receive a proper explanation for why he was shown the door after guiding the Swans into the Europa League after their Capital One Cup triumph.



But club insiders have indicated that Laudrup upset his employers with a lack of enthusiasm over three loan deals in the run-up to deadline day.



VIDEO Scroll down for Laudrup's last post-match conference after losing 2-0 to West Ham



Sacked! Michael Laudrup parted ways with Swansea after not following up on several January loan deals

Loan I: Nacer Chadli

Loan II: Thomas Ince

Loan III: Lewis Holtby



They involved bringing Tottenham duo Nacer Chadli and Lewis Holtby to the Liberty Stadium along with Blackpool’s Tom Ince, with Laudrup holding talks with Ince’s father Paul.



In the event, Ince went to Crystal Palace, Holtby to Fulham and Chadli stayed at White Hart Lane. Swansea were left with taking Marvin Emnes on loan from Middlesbrough.



The long-running saga over Manchester United’s new kit deal could run into a fourth year of talks — with frustrated Nike facing strong competition from rivals after failing to agree a renewal to their 13-year contract which expires at the end of next season.



Get shirty! Manchester United will enter a fourth year of talks before securing their next kit deal

United are prepared to spend another six months looking for the best deal if needed with next autumn seen as the final deadline.



The ludicrous Piers Morgan, somehow given a platform on Radio Four’s flagship Today programme to eulogise about England outcast Kevin Pietersen, said how much he loves to see him perform.



So much indeed that when Morgan was at the Melbourne Test, he spent more time — according to eyewitnesses — tweeting on his mobile phone than watching the cricket when Pietersen was batting.

Ludicrous! Despite his recent support, Piers Morgan (left) spent more time tweeting than watching Kevin Pietersen (right) the last time he watched him perform



The independent arbitration that turned down West Ham’s desperate bid for a stay on Andy Carroll’s automatic three-match sending-off ban was heard by QC Nicholas Stewart, a well known Arsenal fan.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was furious about Stewart’s involvement on a disciplinary panel that banned Patrice Evra for four matches in 2009.



The FA say Stewart was appointed — with both sides’ agreement — by specialist tribunal service Sport Resolutions.



Gooner: Carroll's appeal to have his ban overturned at an arbitration panel was judged by and Arsenal fan

Fans await KP answers

The England and Wales Cricket Board finally agreeing central contract severance terms with Kevin Pietersen means a long-awaited statement is now expected from England cricket managing director Paul Downton explaining the reasons for the seismic KP split.

Downton is likely to dispute some of the claims — especially around Matt Prior’s role — put in the public domain by KP’s flagwavers led by Piers Morgan.



This camp now includes PM David Cameron, whose picture with KP now adorns Pietersen’s Twitter account. Although the ECB say the PM’s advisers have being trying to backtrack since Cameron said he sympathised with Morgan’s rantings. And it’s emerged during the revelations in the KP controversy that his dressing-room row in Perth after his second-innings dismissal was with England batting coach Graham Gooch.



Birthday boy I: Adnan Januzaj

Birthday boy II: Cristiano Ronaldo

Birthday boy III: Carlos Tevez



Football celebrity birthdays on February 5 include Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Carlos Tevez and Adnan Januzaj. And there may be another addition to that list as Fulham have high hopes for Patrick Roberts, who scored a hat-trick in an FA Youth Cup defeat of Spurs and signed pro forms on turning 17 last Wednesday.



Sunderland’s Ellis Short was the only foreign owner to attend the Premier League clubs summit this week. Ellis hardly helps PL claims they ‘couldn’t be more transparent’ by telling media after the meeting: ‘I never talk to you guys.’



Kevin Pietersen will follow Owais Shah in becoming a freelance cricketer. Shah made the move last September, but there is mystery surrounding his non-appearance for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash final and his missing the Indian Premier League auction next week.



Shah played for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL last year — the team at the centre of spot-fixing allegations not known to involve Shah.