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 Josh Oliver Jaguars Jersey . Thornton emerged as one of the leagues best defensive ends against the run in 2013. The former undrafted free agent from Division II Southern Arkansas led Philadelphias linemen with 78 tackles and had one sack. Gardner Minshew II Womens Jersey . -- Jerry Rice Jr. http://www.officialjacksonvillejaguarspro.com/Josh-allen-jaguars-jersey/ . -- Wide receiver Sidney Rice should be fully recovered from a torn knee ligament by the time the Seattle Seahawks start defence of their Super Bowl title, general manager John Schneider said Wednesday. Yannick Ngakoue Youth Jersey . The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who lose three straight finals in Monte Carlo to Rafael Nadal from 2006-08, has not played in the tournament since 2011, when he lost to Jurgen Melzer in the quarterfinals. Chris Conley Womens Jersey . Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Fiorentina levelled on aggregate in the 14th minute when Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez headed back a long ball from David Pizarro and Pasqual smashed home an angled volley.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Canadian John Axford is out as the Cleveland Indians closer. Indians manager Terry Francona announced the move before Saturday nights game against Tampa Bay. He met with the Simcoe, Ont. native prior to batting practice. Axford is 1-3 with nine saves and a 4.91 ERA in 17 games in his first season with the Indians. He has really struggled in the last week, and was pulled in the ninth inning of Clevelands 6-3 win on Friday night. "We told him, for now, were going to kind of get you out of that role and try to get you in some situations where we can get him on a roll again," Francona said. "I told him numerous times, because I mean it, the goal is to get him back as our closer, and I think he understands that. I dont want him to do it in like two days because I dont want some Band-Aid. I want him when he gets it, to take it and stay there," he said. A group of four relievers that includes Cody Allen, Scott Atchison, Marc Rzepczynski and Bryan Shaw could all get opportunities to fill the role. "The one thing I assured them is that when we get to the ninth, whoevers pitching, were not going to have four guys warming up bbecause we think youre good," Francona said.dddddddddddd Axford was signed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract as a free agent in December after pitching for Milwaukee and St. Louis last season. The one-time Brewers closer had 105 saves from 2010-12, and converted 49 straight save chances during a stretch. The Brewers traded an ineffective Axford to St. Louis in late August. Axford became a reliable reliever for the Cardinals down the stretch and pitched for them in the World Series. The Indians hoped the 31-year-old righty would do well replacing former All-Star closer Chris Perez, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But Axfords rough patch started last Sunday, when he gave up a three-run homer to Dayan Viciedo in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The next day, Eduardo Escobar homered in the 10th off Axford and lifted Minnesota to a 1-0 win. Axfords latest tough outing came Friday night. He entered in the ninth with a 6-2 lead, but gave up David DeJesus RBI double with two outs and then walked Ben Zobrist to load the bases. Allen replaced Axford and got a fly ball from James Loney on a 3-2 pitch for his first save. ' ' '