Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright has defended his decision to play in the Indian Premier League.
The 27-year-old only made one appearance for the Pune Warriors, missing Sussex's first five County Championship fixtures.
He told BBC Sussex: "In an ideal world I wouldn't be missing county cricket but that's just the way it is.
"It's an opportunity that few cricketers would turn away and I hope I get another chance to do it."
He added: "It was a decision to make and Sussex understand it."
Wright's participation in the tournament was curtailed by a virus, but he believes he has benefited from his time in Asia.
"It's an experience I really enjoyed," he continued.
"You're playing with some of the best players from around the world and get different ideas of how they do things in their countries.
"You also get an idea of playing somewhere like the sub-continent, where we're notoriously not amazing at playing.
"The fever hit me pretty hard. Hopefully without my illness, another time I might get a chance to play some more games."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Sussex NHS staff warned of job cuts to save £13.6m (From The Argus) - The Argus.co.uk
Sussex NHS staff warned of job cuts to save £13.6m
2:50pm Tuesday 29th May 2012 in News
Thousands of NHS workers have been warned job cuts are among the drastic measures that may be needed if a trust does not get its spending under control.
In a message to staff, the finance director of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said tackling money issues was a matter of urgency.
The trust, which runs mental health and substance abuse services across Sussex, needs to save £13.6m this year as part of tough government savings.
However, in April the trust spent £450,000 more than it had budgeted for.
Finance director Sally Flint said: “We have resisted, up until this point, to take a slash-and-burn approach to making savings.
“We are not suggesting that we are adopting this approach.
“However, we must act as a matter of urgency to prevent further deterioration in our current financial position.
“If we continue on this projection we will find ourselves in serious difficulties.
“We will have no other option than to take drastic measures by reducing our staffing numbers in order to protect frontline services.”
Bosses have already decided to significantly cut down on using|temporary bank staff, is reviewing all vacancies and imposing tighter controls on all non-pay expenditure.
Ms Flint said: “We still have some way to go and we must get back on track.
“If we follow the road map set by these plans we will be in a position to protect jobs.”
A trust spokesman said: “We have made no secret of the need to achieve tough cost savings this year in order to protect frontline services.
“We are confident that we can achieve our target with the help of staff across the trust.
“At this early stage, it is important that we get back on track and the message from Sally Flint reminds all staff of this.”
The latest developments have alarmed the trust’s 4,500 workers, who are now facing increased uncertainty over their future.
Unison regional rep Caroline Fife said: “Trusts like the Sussex Partnership are being put in an impossible situation because they are basically being asked to do more work for less money.
“Our members are not only concerned about their own future in terms of job losses but they are also concerned about the impact such cuts will have on patient care.”
Source: www.theargus.co.uk
Sussex father quizzed over Google privacy row - The Argus.co.uk
Sussex father quizzed over Google privacy row
12:20pm Tuesday 29th May 2012 in News By Rebecca Evans
A Sussex father-of-three has been quizzed by US investigators as part of a Google privacy row.
Former Lancing College pupil Marius Milner was named by the New York Times as an anonymous Google employee who wrote the computer code that allowed personal data to be intercepted by the internet giant’s Street View cars.
Mr Milner, whose father lives in Shoreham, hit headlines across the world because of fresh controversy about software that allowed emails and other WiFi data to be intercepted by Google’s Street View cars.
He used his rights under the fifth amendment of the US Constitution to refuse to answer FCC questions during its investigations.
The Street View project was an ambitious plan to photograph the world’s streets but the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) found that code to collect unencrypted data sent from homes by computers, including emails, was also installed.
The Street View vehicles have recently been spotted again on Sussex streets, leading to speculation that the internet giant is updating its photographs of the county.
Now the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it could take further action against the company once it has studied a report by its American counterpart, the Federal Communications Commission.
Google admitted two years ago some data had been taken but said it was a “mistake”.
From his home in Shoreham Mr Milner’s father Gerald, 85, described his “bright” son, who now lives in the US with his wife, Liz Meldrum.
He said: “At school he came top in everything. He was always interested in technology and was quite a serious child.”
An ICO spokeswoman said yesterday: “Google Inc provided us with a formal undertaking about their future conduct in November 2010, following their failure in relation to the collection of WiFi data by their Street View cars.
“This included a provision for the ICO to audit their privacy practices. The results of the audit were published in August 2011, and there will be a formal follow-up process within the next couple of months to ensure our recommendations have been put in place. All personal data unlawfully collected by Google has been destroyed. We are currently studying the FCC’s report and will consider what further action, if any, needs to be taken.”
A Google spokesman said: "We have always been clear that the leaders of this project did not want or intend to use this payload data.
"Indeed Google never used it in any of our products or services. Both the Department of Justice and the FCC have looked into this closely--including reviewing the internal correspondence--and both found no violation of law.”
Comments(14)
Archie Bun says...
12:44pm Tue 29 May 12
Jo Wadsworth says...
12:47pm Tue 29 May 12
PikeyMik says...
1:33pm Tue 29 May 12
Goldenwight says...
1:46pm Tue 29 May 12
Surely not! says...
1:47pm Tue 29 May 12
Roundbill says...
1:50pm Tue 29 May 12
Jo Wadsworth says...
2:07pm Tue 29 May 12
Goldenwight wrote:FBI - yes, point taken, and changed. However, the son did grow up here, and go to a local college, so lots of people still living here will know him.
Was it the father (who lives locally), or the son (who doesn't) who was questioned by the FBI?
And why is it that the term FBI appears only in the headline, and not in the story? Were they actually involved at all? FCC is not FBI, nor is ICO. And is this story relating to the incident two years ago, or is this a fresh case?
1/10 for journalistic ability here, Argus.
Roundbill says...
4:32pm Tue 29 May 12
diriky says...
4:44pm Tue 29 May 12
Roundbill says...
5:04pm Tue 29 May 12
Jo Wadsworth says...
5:14pm Tue 29 May 12
AmboGuy says...
6:41pm Tue 29 May 12
caeos says...
8:28pm Tue 29 May 12
Fred Pender says...
9:38pm Tue 29 May 12
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Source: www.theargus.co.uk
Wembley woes add to Blades’ cash concerns - yorkshirepost
SHEFFIELD United chairman Kevin McCabe says the club’s purse strings will be tightened after £15m losses were compounded by their failure to win promotion.
The Blades are counting the cost of defeat to Huddersfield Town in the League One play-off final and manager Danny Wilson is now under orders to reduce the wage bill.
Prize assets Stephen Quinn, Harry Maguire and Matt Lowton are wanted by Championship clubs and goalkeeper Steve Simonson – who missed the crucial penalty in a shoot-out at Wembley – is facing the axe.
McCabe says the Blades will need to rely on younger players next season but is still tipping Wilson to inspire another promotion push.
He has also urged supporters to ‘stick with the club’ despite the disappointment of a second consecutive season in League One.
“We have suffered a setback but we are looking to the future and planning for success,” he said.
“The last two seasons have cost us about £15m. High wage bill, less revenue – and even less revenue next season. It has cost us an awful lot of money, but that’s sport.
“With the new financial fair play rules, we are going to have to work with a lower budget next season. Unless we get the wage bill down next season, we’ll face financial penalties.”
Quinn, Maguire and Lowton are not officially up for sale but McCabe admits that Blades may face a fight to keep their services.
“I’d love to keep hold of them and there is certainly no ‘for sale’ signs on their heads,” he said.
“They have all had great seasons – and we don’t want to lose them – but, obviously, we have a problem if someone comes in and offers them a package we can’t match.”
Swansea City and Aston Villa are expected to lead the chase for Maguire, Quinn is wanted by Blackpool and Charlton Athletic, while Ipswich Town and Cardiff City have been linked with Lowton.
“I expect there will be quite a few changes,” McCabe said. “Logic says we have got some good Academy youngsters who have had a year in the development squad. There are people who I know the staff feel are ready to make the step up and they’ll be given the opportunity together with others who I’m sure will be coming in.”
Goalkeeper George Long heads a queue of teenage talent that also includes Terry Kennedy, Elliott Whitehouse, Joe Ironside, Aaron Barry and Callum McFadzean.
“The aim next season is simple,” stressed McCabe. “Promotion and automatically. The key is to get a stronger squad and, if we get 90 points (again) next season, it will be automatic.”
McCabe issued a rallying call to the Blades supporters who have now endured the agony of six play-off campaigns without success. The Blades also failed to score in a play-off final for the fourth time.
“Our supporters have been fantastic this season and that’s been very much noted and appreciated by all,” he said.
“We hope they stick with us because they are a crucial part of what we are trying to achieve.
“That’s five play-offs we have lost – six if you add the one in the 80s – but that’s not to say we are not going to win the next one. They are one-off games and we have not had the best of luck. We never seem to get the break but next time we will.
“We have fallen at the final hurdle and that hurts. It hurts a lot,” he said.
“It’s the agony and the ecstasy of being involved in football. There is a thin line that determines success and failure. This season we have had great success but, ultimately, it has ended in failure. Circumstances have gone against us.”
Blades goalkeeper Simonsen, meanwhile, is sweating over his future as manager Wilson ponders the best way to trim the wage bill.
Simonsen, 33, described his penalty miss at Wembley as the lowest point in his career and would love the chance to make amends next season.
However, with teenager Long and former Blackpool goalkeeper Mark Howard both on the books, Simonsen – who will be out of contract this summer – could yet be a casualty of the cuts.
“I would love to stay at Sheffield United,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my time here so much and, after the way things ended on Saturday, I personally feel as though I need to be back there again to make things right for the football club.”
Simonsen has yet to watch a replay of the moment when his spot-kick sailed over the bar and gave Huddersfield an 8-7 victory on penalties.
“It’s been horrendous. It’s the lowest part of my career,” he added. “Up until that point everything had gone brilliantly. You never expect to be in the situaion I was in. And it will probably never happen again.
“Although I know everything doesn’t come down on my shoulders, deep down, you just feel like it’s all your fault and my kick ended our chances of promotion. I still have a sick feeling in my gut that, ultimately, my penalty kick ended it all.
“On the face of it, I was happy with the job I am paid to do. It was probably one of my most assured displays for Sheffield United at the perfect time, but no one could have predicted what was around the corner,” he added.
“I’ve replayed it a million times in my head but I can’t bear to watch it. Hopefully, in a few weeks time, I might be able to.
“I’m gutted for myself, the club, the fans, all my team-mates, and my family.
“I have got to live with that, but I am big enough and ugly enough to come back from it.”
ian.appleyard@ypn.co.uk
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Source: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
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