Shortly after the name Fellaini and the number 31 were ironed on to the back of one of footballs most iconic club shirts late Monday night, a record breaking transfer window slammed shut - then in less time than it takes to sign a cheque for €100m, much of world football immediately turned its attention to crucial world cup qualifiers. Discount Nike Shoes For Sale . Sadly not here though, But when the nation awoke Tuesday morning little did we know then what a most eventful post Labour Day week in soccer lay in store for this most glorious land we are all privileged to call home. Rather ominously it began with yet more revelations the global match fixing industry had uprooted itself from its Malaysian base for a profitable summer visit to southern Ontario. World renowned match fixing super sleuth Declan Hill, who himself hails from that very same Canadian province, would have taken no pleasure in uttering the words he did on the radio Tuesday afternoon. Like all successful criminals, the global money printing syndicates had identified a marshmallow soft target. For all the good it has done for football development in the region, the CSL has reportedly become a favoured destination for these criminal tourists. What makes this all the more remarkable is that this is happening, almost encouraged to occur, right under the noses of one of the globes most recognized law enforcement agencies. Hill wasnt finished, He signed off his blog posting with the promise of yet more revelations to come. In the interim, its well past time for the RCMP to get off its high horses and intervene whilst getting the full cooperation of all the relevant Canadian soccer authorities. Meanwhile in a Toronto suburb, Toronto FCs Kevin Payne went to bed Tuesday night in the knowledge his brief time in the city of Canadas original MLS franchise had come to an all too familiar, highly embarrassing end. The well-oiled revolving Princess Gate door has become Canadian soccers version of Buckingham Palaces annual changing of the guard. Part of MLSs original fabric, Payne spent way too much of his time explaining himself. Banging on about the difficulties and challenges, than actually finding the required solutions. Let alone set about signing the required winning talent Toronto FCs fantastic fan base surely deserve. If the sophomore Impact have been able to sign the likes of Alessandro Nesta, Marco Di Vaio and Matteo Ferrari as Payne wiled away his final DC days. Then under his TFC watch, sign players of the Hernan Bernarello and Adran Lopez calibre and pedigree - why cant an individual Don Garber describes as one of MLSs most legendry executives do the same? Bluntly put and as I stated when Payne was appointed as TFC Governor General last November, the leagues global reach has moved well on and firmly away from its original structures. Ones that Payne so effortlessly exploited early on in his almost two decade spell at DC United. Far easier to scout and sign the best the US soccer college system produces than it is to swim with the sharks and pariahs of world football, hey Kevin? The print hadnt even dried on the Toronto FC official statement announcing KPs demise, when the world famous bait-and-switch PR card was played by MLSE. The conversation immediately reverting to the possibility of a TFC and Argos time share. On hearing this, my mind immediately shifted to a previous life, and another senior soccer executive who goes by the KP moniker. Stand up Kevin Pipe. CSA Chief Operation Officer who in an act of sheer desperation back in 2005 offered the Toronto Argonauts everything but the actual goal nets which were required to build a soccer stadium, as ways to ensure Toronto became the capital city of FIFA Under-20 World Cup Canada 2007. We all know now of course how that turned out. I wont easily forget that now legendry November 2005 afternoon at Toronto City Hall as I listened in on-line to a rather heated debate as approvals were given for the construction of the so called national soccer stadium on city owned land at Exhibition Place. A gift horse MLSE welcomed with open arms. Meanwhile outside of Toronto, many of the most influential stakeholders of Canadian soccer were left furious with the outcome as $20 million or so of federally donated tax dollars were fully placed in the bank account marked; Stadium Construction. Pipe rightfully lost his job, Toronto got its soccer stadium where a few months on from completion a very certain future son-in-law of Diego Maradona, Sergio Kun Agüero scored one of the goals in the Under-20 final as Argentina reigned supreme down by the lake Ontario water in summer 07. This week we got a very rude reminder, part of Pipes tainted legacy has ensured it will be MLSE and not the CSA who decides if a ground share is a viable option at what is supposed to be the national soccer stadium. The mere fact it is the Argos who toyed and ultimately let down our national body back in the mid 2000s makes the possibility for a TFC and Argos marriage for me all that more difficult to fathom. Mercifully the emotional roller coaster work week for Canadian soccer ended on a highly memorable, vastly more enjoyable note. The most famous Geordie in womens world football committing himself to the WNT cause all the way to 2020 as a very visionary CSA saw off any advances for Herdman - for a soon to be celebrating 150th birthday celebrating English FA. All this coming against a backdrop of the MNT Floro era getting under way this week in Valencia, Spain. Put that in your Pipe and smoke it. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at: Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel Nike Shoes China Wholesale .com) - The Vancouver Canucks recovered from a fluke goal early last time out to knock off one of the top teams in the league. Cheap Discount Nike Shoes . The win gives Canada its fifth title at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge. "Weve got to keep pushing," said Westlake, who led Canada with five goals in the tournament. "The second you let off the pedal, everyone catches up. http://www.cheapnikeshoes.net/ . - Because they didnt go into Beast Mode, the Seattle Seahawks found themselves in Spin Mode. DETROIT -- A picture of Jim Leylands face stared out from the video board at an empty Comerica Park, next to that familiar Olde English "D" and a message that said simply: "Thank You Jim." After eight seasons managing the Tigers, including three division titles and two American League pennants, Leyland stepped down Monday. His voice cracking at times, his hands wiping away tears at others, he announced his departure two days after Detroit was eliminated by Boston in the AL championship series. "Its been a thrill," the 68-year-old Leyland said during a news conference at the ballpark. "I came here to change talent to team, and I think with the help of this entire organization, I think weve done that. Weve won quite a bit. Im very grateful to have been a small part of that." Leyland made his managerial debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986, and from Barry Bonds to Miguel Cabrera, hes managed some of the sports biggest stars and been involved in some of baseballs most memorable games over the past quarter-century. In 1992, his Pirates lost Game 7 of the NLCS when Atlanta rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning. Five years later, Leyland won his only World Series title as manager when his Florida Marlins beat Cleveland in an 11-inning thriller in Game 7. Hes experienced some of the highest highs the game has to offer, but also endured difficult rebuilding periods in both Pittsburgh and Florida. After one season with the Colorado Rockies, Leyland didnt manage at all from 2000-05 before Detroit hired him. Leyland led the Tigers to the World Series immediately after taking over in 2006, losing to St. Louis in five games. The Tigers went to the World Series again in 2012 but were swept by San Francisco. Leyland worked under one-year contracts the last couple of years, saying he was content to wait until after the season to address his status. He was reflective late this season, mentioning to reporters that he had already managed the Tigers longer than he had expected they would keep him, but he also said in September that he still loved the atmosphere, the competition and his team. In fact, hed actually told general manager Dave Dombrowski in early September that he didnt want to return as manager. He expects to remain with the organization in some capacity after going 700-597 as Tigers manager. "Im not totally retiring today, Im just not going to be in the dugout anymore," Leyland said. "I hope and pray that you give the next manager the same respect and the same chance that you gave me." Leyland says his health is fine, but its time to stop managing. He said he started weighing his decision around June. "I started thinking this was getting a little rough. I thought that the fuel was getting a little low," Leyland said. "I knew that Id get through it because I knew wed be playing for something." The Tigers figure to contend again next year, which may lead Dombrowski to look for a proven commodity who can come in and manage. Kirk Gibson, who led Detroit to the 1984 World Series title as a player, is now managing in Arizona, but Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall tried to quash any speculation that Gibson would return to the Tigers. Cheap Nike Shoes China Free Shipping. . "We would not grant permission (to the Tigers to talk to Gibson) if asked because we want him here, and he told me this morning he has no interest in leaving," Hall said. Detroits players found out about Leylands departure after Saturday nights game in Boston, where the Red Sox won Game 6 to take the series. "Youve got your head down, you lost and the seasons over, and then Jim dropped that bomb on us," outfielder Torii Hunter said. "I just had a feeling that it could have been his last year. All year, he was kind of emotional, and I just felt it." Leyland said there was no announcement Saturday because he wanted the focus to be on the victorious Red Sox. However, he was honest about how much this defeat hurt. "With all due respect to the Boston Red Sox -- who earned it, they won it, they deserve to be where they are -- I truly believe the Detroit Tigers should be playing here tomorrow," Leyland said. "This is one thats going to stick with me, this is one that really hurts, because I really felt like we let it get away." When Leyland arrived at the Tigers spring training camp this year, it marked 50 seasons since he first showed up there as an 18-year-old prospect. His playing career never amounted to much, but his accomplishments as a manager over more than two decades have been impressive. He is 1,769-1,728 overall during stints with the Tigers, Pirates, Marlins and Rockies. "I had sent him a text yesterday morning, just to congratulate he and the organization," Boston manager John Farrell said. "Not only on a great team and a great year, and express the respect we have for him and certainly personally have for him throughout his career. To see the announcement today, and listen to him and know that early September this was clearly in his mind, that surprised me." When Leyland took over the Tigers, they had gone 12 years without a winning season. During his tenure, they finished under .500 only once. Detroit has become one of baseballs glamour teams of late, with stars like Cabrera, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer helping the team win games and draw fans. Cabrera won the Triple Crown and MVP award last year. Verlander won the MVP and Cy Young Award the previous season. "Its been as much fun for me to manage Ramon Santiago as it has Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander," Leyland said. "Now in saying that, it was also an honour to manage the Triple Crown winner, an MVP, a Cy Young winner." The Tigers should be able to keep their core of players mostly together for next season, but now theyll need to find a new manager to replace Leyland, who always earned high marks for his ability to keep his veterans focused. "He really cares deeply about his players," utility man Don Kelly said. "When you go out there, the way he treats you, you want to run through a wall for him, go out there and get a win. Thats the way he treated me. He treated everybody like that." ' ' '