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 Dell Curry Hornets Jersey . The biggest collapse in franchise history was a long time ago, and he was too busy trying to make sure it didnt happen again. Charlotte Hornets Jerseys . You can, too, Clay Buchholz, if we ignore the sixth inning of Game 2. Doug Fister and Jake Peavy, youre up next in Game 4 and theres a lot to live up to. https://www.hornetslockerroom.com/Devonte-Graham-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Rooneys latest piece of football genius lost in the furore which now stalks David Moyes, and the man who gave the Manchester United striker his start as a 16-year old at Goodison Park back in 2002. Larry Johnson Jersey . And, just for good measure, lets say the lottery team finishes the game short-handed because two starters come down with the very same injury. Nicolas Batum Hornets Jersey . City has reached new heights under manager Manuel Pellegrini as they transition from big spending/immediate impact to perennial contender. Yaya Toures seeming discontent Tuesday may complicate that, as does the little issue of Financial Fair Play. CLEVELAND -- Josh Tomlin couldnt recall the last time he won in the major leagues. Hes sure to remember his victory Tuesday night. Clevelands right-hander earned his first win since 2012 after he pitched into the seventh in the Indians 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. "This one, thats what I remember," he said after allowing one run and four hits in 6 2-3 innings. Tomlin hadnt won since July 5, 2012, when he defeated Tampa Bay. He had Tommy John surgery the following month and missed most of last year while recovering. Called up from Triple-A Columbus before the game, he admitted to feeling some nerves as he took the mound. "I definitely had some anxiety going before the game, but a good anxiety," Tomlin said. "It was the same anxiety Ive gotten in years past." Tomlin (1-0) struck out four and walked one. The right-hander took a two-hit shutout into the seventh before Chris Colabello homered. Tomlin left after a single and a foul out, and received an ovation from the crowd of 9,621. Tomlin threw 93 pitches. Tomlin learned to take nothing for granted as he went through the yearlong process following surgery. "Theres been a couple of guys around the league who had to have a second one before they got back out there," he said. "Thats always in the back of your mind. To be able to not have any reservations about the elbow was pretty special." Indians manager Terry Francona had some simple advice for Tomlin before the game. "I said, Hey man, enjoy the hell out of this," Francona said. Bryan Shaw pitched the ninth for his first save. Eduardo Escobars two-out double cut the lead to two, but pinch-hitter Josmil Pinto popped out. Samuel Deduno (0-2) allowed four runs in five innings in his first start of the season. Deduno replaced Mike Pelfrey in the Twins rotation. Pelfrey was ineffective in five starts beforre going on the disabled list with a groin injury.dddddddddddd Deduno had shoulder surgery in September and made seven relief appearances to begin this season. The Indians scored twice in the first on an RBI single by Michael Brantley and a fielding error by Colabello at first base. Yan Gomes RBI double and Nick Swishers run-scoring single in the second made it 4-0. Tomlin pitched with a sore right elbow for most of the 2012 season. His last start in the majors came on July 27, when he allowed eight runs in four innings in an 11-0 loss to the Twins. He made one relief appearance with the Indians last year, pitching two scoreless innings in September. Tomlin pitched well in spring training, but was sent to Columbus in the teams final cuts. He was 2-1 in five starts and had pitched 20 consecutive innings when he was recalled. Tomlin was called up after Carlos Carrasco went 0-3 in four starts. "Their guy was real good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Give credit to him." Twins star Joe Mauer missed his second straight game because of lower back spasms. The six-time All-Star said following the game that he wont play Wednesday, but hopes to resume light baseball activities. Indians centre fielder and leadoff hitter Michael Bourn was out of the lineup for the third straight game with a tight left hamstring, but is optimistic hell be able to play again in a couple of days. NOTES: Indians closer John Axford, who allowed game-winning home runs Sunday and Monday, was given the night off after pitching three straight days. Francona still has confidence in the right-hander. "Hes our closer," Francona said. "When you start running from guys as opposed to trying to get them back to where they need to be, that can be unsettling for a team." ... Mauer is a career .342 hitter with nine homers and 60 RBIs against Cleveland. ' ' '