Bridge burnt, but Mr Terryble will survive

OPINION: Time is the great healer – which is why fans will cheer Tiger Woods when he starts playing again, and why, soon, they'll stop booing another newly exposed love rat, England and Chelsea captain John Terry.

Fact is, fans are not interested in the morality of their heroes, only their success on the park. We are no different here: there have always been comparable examples in rugby in New Zealand, though our blokes tend to smash things or people rather than relationships.

So as England debates whether or not Terry should be stripped of his captaincy for regularly stripping his best mate's missus, Vanessa Parroncel, England manager Fabio Capello already has the answer. He will, say the tabloids, leave the decision to Terry. My bet is Terry will offer to quit and be told to stay on, or just keep his head down and keep the job.

Terry is one of millions of married men who have affairs; his heir apparent Wayne Rooney was cheating on his girlfriend by visiting knocking shops a few years ago. What makes Terry's transgression worse is that his girlfriend's husband was his mate, and team-mate, fellow England defender Wayne Bridge. So Terry's public humilitation is a little greater and everyone sees the awful scenario – Terry keeps playing because he's the best centreback England have, and Bridge can quietly drop out because he's not as good as Ashley Cole. Give it time though, Terry will be the hero and Parroncel the fall girl.

They are almost certain to go down – but will they be out too? Proud Portsmouth are closest to becoming the first major club to be destroyed as a result of becoming a plaything for rich men. Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai is exercising his right to seize control after the club missed payments to him.

German Under-21 midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng was exposed as a vandal this week and fined 50,000 for going on a wrecking rampage with former Hertha Berlin team-mate Patrick Ebert last March. Now we know why Harry Redknapp sold him to Portsmouth.

Sibylle Sibierski, the 18-year-old daughter of Antoine Sibierski, who played in the premier league from 2003 to 2008, hanged herself in an Altrincham apartment after being arrested as a result of a weekend row with her boyfriend.

Manchester City botched a move for Real Madrid's Fernando Gago, say the Spaniards, by turning up 40 minutes before the deadline without having reached any agreement with the player.

Aston Villa's Wilfred Bouma completed 90 minutes in a reserve match against Chelsea this week and there are high hopes his third attempt at a comeback from a prolonged injury will be a success.

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta will wear a protective mask after busting his nose last week...Fulham striker Andy Johnson was to go under the knife in the US yesterday to have a knee problem sorted....Peterborough have sacked manager Mark Cooper, one win in 12 games, after just six weeks and given Jim Gannon the job.

Former Chelsea big-buy Asier Del Horno (2005-2008) has joined struggling Real Valladolid while Ruud van Nistelrooy chose a permanent move to Hamburg after looking for bites from top clubs during the off season.

On the move:

Asmir Begovic Portsmouth-Stoke, Adam Johnson Middlesbrough-Manc C, Benedict McCarthy Blackburn-West Ham, Chris Buchtmann Liverpool-Fulham, Geremi Newcastle-Ankaragucu, Keith Treacy Blackburn-Preston, Lee Miller Aberdeen-Middlesbrough, Paul Slane Motherwell-Celtic, Scott McDonald Celtic-Middlesbrough, Victor Moses Palace-Wigan, Stephen Husband Hearts-Blackpool, Aruajo Ilan to West Ham, Damien Johnson Birmingham-Plymouth, Gautier Mahoto Portsmouth-Bastia, Ricardo Rocha to Portsmouth. Loan: Alan Hutton Spurs-Sunderland, Benjani Mwaruwari Man C-Sunderland, Daniel Cousin Hull-Larissa, Daryl Murphy, David Healy Sunderland-Ipswich, David Nugent Portsmouth-Burnley, Diomansy Kamara Fulham-Celtic, Edson Braafheid Bayern Munich-Celtic, Graham Carey Celtic-St Mirren, Hossam Mido Middlesbrough-West Ham, Jack Cork Chelsea-Burnley, Jack Wilshere Arsenal-Bolton, Javan Vidal Man C-Derby, Jonathan Lund Burnley-Rotherham, Kyle Naughton Spurs-Middlesbrough, Nicky Shorey Villa-Fulham, Nyron Nosworthy Sunderland-Sheff U, Michael Tonge Stoke-Derby, Marcus Bent Birmingham-QPR, Mark Connolly Bolton-St Johnstone, Peter Halmosi Hull-Szombathelyi Halafas, Robbie Keane Spurs-Celtic, Sam Hewson Man U-Bury, Stefano Chuka Roma-Fulham, Steven Lennon Rangers-Lincoln, Toni Kallio Fulham-Sheff U, Marcelo Moreno Shakhtar D-Wigan, Wayne Brown Fulham-Bristol R.

Weekend fixtures:

England, Liverpool v Everton, Bolton v Fulham, Burnley v West Ham, Hull v Man City, Man Utd v Portsmouth, Stoke v Blackburn, Sunderland v Wigan, Spurs v Villa. Sunday Birmingham v Wolves, Chelsea v Arsenal. Scotland Motherwell v Hamilton.

- © Fairfax NZ News