ROMA defender Ashley Cole has been linked with a sensational loan move back to England with Crystal Palace.

It is no secret the Eagles are on the lookout for a left-back. Cole was linked with a move to Selhurst Park in the summer, 15 years after he played for the club on loan from Arsenal in the early part of 2000.

It is thought his wages could be a stumbling block and that he would have to take a 50 per cent cut should he decide on moving back to the Premier League.

Cole has been left out of the Roma starting XI for the past month.

A £10 million South Norwood bridge was inched into place over railway tracks as trains continued to run, in a Network Rail first last week

Network Rail started installing the new Tennison Road bridge last Saturday (December 6) and slowly moved it across tracks near Norwood Junction.

However, the ten rail lines the bridge will run over remained operational for the duration of the installation using a combination of technology and engineering expertise and a hydraulic strand jack system.

Network Rail also captured the installation with a timelapse video.

Shane O'Connor, Network Rail's scheme project manager, said: "This is the first time we've worked in this way – in the past the only way would have involved a complete closure of the railway, which would have caused huge disruption.

"It's a great step forward for passengers and it's also a big leap forward for Croydon, as it will soon have a much improved bridge with extended paths and a wider road."

Network Rail and its contractor, GRAHAM Construction, are midway through the project to replace the original 1922 Tennison Road bridge.

Once complete in spring 2015, the 565 tonne bridge will have wider footways and carriageways.

Kathy Bee, Croydon Council's cabinet member for transport and the environment, said: "From local residents and commuters to football fans going to watch Crystal Palace play nearby, people in the borough will find it easier to get around when this new and wider bridge opens next spring because it will take more traffic and need fewer repairs.

"We want to thank local people for bearing with the works to the new bridge, which will make a real difference to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers when it opens."

The bridge works were criticised by South Norwood residents as they overlapped with the replacement of nearby Spring Lane bridge, which saw the temporary closure of two major arteries into the town at the same time.

Watch the timelapse video here:

A FORMER police officer and Croydon borough commander who used an eight foot steel wall to control crowds outside Selhurst Park has been appointed head of safety and security at Crystal Palace Football Club.

Adrian Roberts used the tactic, branded "heavy-handed" by some supporters, before and after Palace's matches with rival teams, including Brighton and Millwall, when the club was in the Championship.

He left the Metropolitan Police in August and has been hired by Palace, now in the Premier League, to oversee the safety of fans, staff and players on match days.

The former Chief Superintendent, who has specialist public order training, was borough commander in Croydon between 2008 and 2011, leaving the post shortly after being seconded from the borough in the immediate lead up to the August riots.

Since then his involvement in Croydon has been in overseeing policing operations at Selhurst Park.

His tactics - including the use of a steel wall - were criticised by a section of fans following a home fixture with Brighton in January 2012.

Mr Roberts, then chief superintendent, later told a supporters' meeting his methods had been a success because no one was hurt, though conceded communication could have been better.

He was also in charge of policing when Charlton supporters ripped up seating and lit flares during a match in February last year, and then caused extensive criminal damage to vehicles and property while being led away along Sangley Road.

Mr Roberts described their behaviour at the time as "mindless destruction".

According to his online CV he took up his new position in October.

It says he has "strategic oversight of safety and security matters for a Premiership Football Club, including stadium, training facilities, offices and personnel, together with the safety of all those involved in match-day including players visitors, staff and supporters".

Crystal Palace has not responded to requests for a comment. 

A MAN has been charged after an attack which left three people with head injuries. 

Shahin Hosein, 26, is accused of three counts of grievous bodily harm following the incident in Borough Hill, Waddon, on Sunday morning. 

Hosein, of Borough Hill, has been detained under section 2 of the Mental Health Act and has been taken to hospital where he remains in a secure unit, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said. 

Officers were called to reports of an incident at a house in Borough Hill at 8.25am and, when they arrived, found three people - two men, aged 60 and 35-years-old, and a 50 year-old woman - had suffered head injuries. 

They were all taken to a south London hospital where the 60-year-old man remains in a stable condition. The other two victims have since been discharged. 

A police helicopter was used to locate the suspect who was subsequently arrested. 

A WOMAN was injured after a crash between two cars in New Addington yesterday (Tuesday).

The collision occurred at approximately 5pm in King Henry's Drive near its junction with Warbank.

Police put cordons in place while the accident was delat with and London Ambulance Service also attended, treating a woman involved for minor injuries.

No arrests were made.

ASHLEY Cole's agent has blasted rumours that his client is set for a loan move to Crystal Palace in January.

It was reported late on Tuesday night that the former England star could seek first team action at Selhurst Park after falling out of favour at Roma.

However, his representatives at Stellar Group has rubbished the speculation.

David Manasseh, the Group's managing director, has told the Evening Standard: "Ashley is loving life in Italy and in Rome. He has never been happier.

"Whoever has given this information out is a disgrace because all it does is give fans of a football club false hope.

"Ashley is concentrating on trying to win trophies in Italy and, in particular, Serie A this season. Nothing else."

UKIP's Croydon North organiser Winston McKenzie has compared Nigel Farage to Jesus.

Mr McKenzie, in an interview with Youtube channel ChatPolitics, also said the Ukip leader had "become a real champ".

In a wide-ranging 25 minute interview, the Ukip Commonwealth spokesman also divulged what he thinks the party's weakest link is and stood up to sing the Hank Williams classic Take These Chains from my Heart.

At one point, he compared Mr Farage – who was captured on Channel 4 on Monday getting squiffy with the posh couple from Gogglebox – to the son of God.

Mr McKenzie said: "Mr Farage has a team. Jesus was one man, we're his army. Farage is one man, we're his army."

He also calls the interviewer Owen even though his name is Oscar but blames it on the "punches" from his boxing career.

Watch the interview in full below:

CROYDON sprinter James Dasaolu has confirmed that he will compete at the Sainsbury's Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham in February.

The 27-year-old, who set a world leading 60m time of 6.47s in the heats of the 2014 Indoor Grand Prix - the third fastest time ever by a Brit -  says he is excited about returning to Brimingham, where he is set to compete in a field that includes world indoor 60m champion Richard Kilty.

The Grand Prix will take place on February 21, 2015.

THE council is petitioning the Government to place serial perpetrators of domestic abuse on a register.

It comes as part of the council's desire to become a White Ribbon Borough but also to campaign for change on a national level.

It hopes to attract 100,000 signatories to its Change.org petition which it hopes to present to the Home Office.

Councillor Mark Watson, cabinet member for safety and justice, said the home office was set to announce changes to make domestic abuse its own criminal offence.

Cllr Watson admitted his passion for tackling domestic abuse stemmed from an abusive relationship he was in around 20 years ago.

He said: "I was in an abusive relationship in my history and I do know how people get trapped in those relationships, people do stay in those and they don't realise who they were with.

"My abusive relationship is going back 20 years but there was violence and police were called on occasions. It is an issue that affects more people than you think."

Under a register, serial domestic abusers would be traceable in the same way as sex offenders already are and Cllr Watson said this is something the police are very supportive of.

"There are those who move from borough to borough or area to area and the police, although forces do share information, it is difficult to track them."

Croydon's Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy for the next four years received cross-party backing at Monday's cabinet meeting, with council leader Tony Newman calling it an "extraordinary piece of work".

The council will put £4 million into the strategy over four years and will continue it's hard-hitting campaign tackling the subject after Christmas.

A stark poster with a female victim of domestic abuse and the tagline 'this was my boxing day' is to be rolled out across the borough after Christmas.

Cllr Watson said it was important the council tries to exert its influence on national issues where it can.

"Obviously we have been ambitious from the start and we'll clean up the borough and do all the things we should locally but we should also be able to champion causes and it is about taking a real leadership on these issues."

To sign the council's petition visit: www.change.org/p/the-right-honourable-theresa-may-mp-home-secretary-create-a-national-register-of-domestic-abuse-offenders

THE manager of a nursery judged to be failing following an inspection said she plans to take legal action against Ofsted.

Little Treasures Nursery School, in Thornton Heath, was graded "inadequate" - the worst possible score - after an inspection in November.

The judgement, published this week, levelled a number of criticisms at the nursery but, speaking to the Advertiser this week, furious manager Ruby Nelson said she planned to sue the inspectors for defamation.

Ofsted claimed children at Little Treasures, in Livingstone Road, were not given daily access to the outdoors, but Ms Nelson said it was raining on the day of the inspection.

Ms Nelson also rejected claims the nursery, which was previously rated "good" in 2010, failed to meet children-to-staff ratios, that "unclean" blankets were handed out and that parents did not know who their child's key worker was.

"The report is so bad we're going to be taking legal action," she said. "Ofsted has fabricated the information they have published.

"If they had come and had given a true report of what they had seen then I would put my hands up and say 'that's fine'. But it's all lies.

"Everyone will look at the report and they'll believe it. Our reputation is on the line."

Ofsted's report, which followed an inspection on November 25, said the nursery does not "consistently" meet staff ratios, "particularly for the youngest children".

"As a result," the lead inspector added, "staff do not provide children with a wide range of challenging activities that reflect their interests and needs."

Ms Nelson said she keeps a staff register which shows the ratio of children to staff on the day was 2:1, within the guidelines.

Ofsted described the key person system as "ineffective" because parents did not know who they are, but Ms Nelson said only two parents were interviewed and one knew the answer.

The report added that the nursery was breaching a number of safeguarding and welfare requirements which had a "significant impact on children's wellbeing".

They included older children had only been allowed outside for a "very short period of time" and the younger group and babies were kept inside entirely.

Ms Nelson said: "It was a rainy day. You can't put the kids out in the rain.

"When it stopped raining we put the older ones out. They [the inspectors] went to their lunch break and in that time the little ones came out. When they came back they said they didn't see the kids go out but, by that time - it was raining again."

Little Treasures was also accused of failing to give some children blankets during nap time and, where they did so, "unclean" bedding was used which "compromised children's health".

Ms Nelson said the nursery asked parents to clean the blankets themselves.

"If the child has soiled the blanket then we send it home," she explained.

Ms Nelson has appealed Ofsted's findings and is taking legal advice about what further action she could take.

"I feel so strongly about this because Ofsted has come to do a report and told lies," she said.

"If you are going to do an inspection, tell the truth."

Ofsted has yet to comment. 

Great show of courage two members of public detained a male for phone snatch in Croydon One of my team was on patrol and arrested him !!!

— Sgt Ali MacPherson (@MPSBroadGreen) December 17, 2014

Male that snatched phone still in custody today Phone's and Cannabis seized from his address will update with result !!

— Sgt Ali MacPherson (@MPSBroadGreen) December 17, 2014

CRYSTAL Palace striker Marouane Chamakh is out of Saturday's trip to Manchester City.

The 30-year-old tweaked his hamstring against Stoke City last weekend and looks set for a short spell on the sidelines.

Chamakh damaged his hamstring three months ago, which ruled him out for approximately four weeks.

Palace are assessing the injury carefully and the games against Southampton on Boxing Day and two days later at Queens Park Rangers look too soon for a return.

Fraizer Campbell or Dwight Gayle will fight it out for a starting place at the Etihad Stadium.

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

A PRIMARY school under investigation by the Department for Education has still to receive this summer's exam results despite league tables being published by the government.

Heavers Farm, in South Norwood, had its SATs scores withheld by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) earlier this year following alleged discrepancies in what the school has said is a small number of papers.

The Advertiser understands the inquiry has been delayed due the high number of investigations the STA is undertaking following this year's exams.

Head teacher Susan Papas, who had hoped for a resolution before the end of November, is 1in charge at Selsdon Primary, where results are also been scrutinised following accusations that a teacher helped pupils during the exam process. Its results, however, have been published this week.

Mrs Papas said: "We fully expect to get the results back for both schools and are extremely frustrated that the process has taken so long.

"The STA does not publish guidelines on how long they take to respond so we have no way of knowing when this situation is likely to be resolved."

This week's league tables provide few surprises because the unvalidated results - some of which were subject to appeal - were published in Gavin Barwell MP's manifesto in September.

The finalised results show that, as reported by the Advertiser at the time, eleven schools fell below the government's minimum expectation of at least 65 per cent of pupils achieving level 4 in English and maths.

The table reveals the borough maintained its 2013 standard, with 74 per cent of pupils meeting the benchmark.

Ryelands Primary School, in South Norwood, posted the lowest results in the borough, with 40 per cent. The school has since become part of the Oasis Community Learning group and is making progress, head Diana Morgan said in November.

Croydon's top performing primary was New Valley, where every pupil met the required level, but Fairchildes, Beaumont, Harris Academy Kenley and a number of other schools did impressively.

Oasis Community Learning said its Byron academy, in Coulsdon, has achieved results in the top one per cent in the country based on pupil progress, joint top in Croydon and 78th out of 22,000 primary schools nationwide. 

Croydon's primary school league table 2014 (% of pupils achieving level 4 in English and maths)

Wattenden Primary School* - 100%

Fairchildes Primary School - 98%

Beaumont Primary School - 96%

Harris Primary Academy Kenley - 94%

Coulsdon CofE Primary School - 93%

Gresham Primary School - 93%

St Aidan's Catholic Primary School - 93%

St John's CofE Primary School - 93%

St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary School - 93%

Kenley Primary School - 92%

Orchard Way Primary School - 90%

West Thornton Primary School - 89%

Christ Church CofE Primary School - 87%

Courtwood Primary School - 87%

Ridgeway Primary School - 87%

Rockmount Primary School - 87%

St James the Great RC Primary and Nursery School - 87%

Chipstead Valley Primary School - 86%

The Hayes Primary School - 86%

Howard Primary School - 86%

St Peter's Primary School - 86%

St Chad's Catholic Primary School - 85%

Selsdon Primary and Nursery School - 85%

Atwood Primary School - 84%

Elmwood Junior School - 84%

Whitehorse Manor Junior School - 84%

Woodcote Primary School - 84%

Woodside Primary School - 84%

David Livingstone Academy - 83%

Gonville Academy - 83%

Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School - 83%

Oasis Academy Shirley Park - 83%

Parish Church CofE Junior School - 83%

St Cyprian's Greek Orthodox Primary Academy - 83%

Harris Primary Academy Benson - 82%

Kensington Avenue Primary School - 82%

Keston Primary School - 82%

Margaret Roper Catholic Primary School - 82%

Downsview Primary and Nursery School - 81%

Forestdale Primary School - 81%

Kingsley Primary School - 81%

Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School - 81%

Aerodrome Primary Academy - 80%

Oasis Academy Byron - 80%

Smitham Primary School - 80%

Forest Academy - 79%

Purley Oaks Primary School - 79%

Greenvale Primary School - 78%

Park Hill Junior School - 78%

Cypress Primary School - 76%

Beulah Junior School - 75%

Ecclesbourne Primary School - 73%

Applegarth Academy - 70%

Gilbert Scott Primary School - 70%

Norbury Manor Primary School - 70%

Monks Orchard School - 69%

Rowdown Primary School -66%

St Joseph's RC Junior School - 65%

Wolsey Junior School - 65%

ARK Oval Primary Academy - 64%

St Mark's CofE Primary School - 61%

South Norwood Primary School - 59%

All Saints CofE Primary School - 58%

Winterbourne Junior Boys' School - 56%

Davidson Primary School - 53%

Broadmead Primary School - 52%

St Mary's RC Junior School - 52%

Castle Hill Primary School - 50%

Winterbourne Junior Girls' School - 49%

Ryelands Primary School - 40%

*Renamed New Valley Primary School

DWIGHT Gayle will not be leaving Crystal Palace in January.

The striker has been linked with moves to the likes of Leicester City, Queens Park Rangers and Burnley in the last few days.

However, boss Neil Warnock has told the Advertiser he's seen the speculation and he will not be letting Gayle leave - or anyone else for that matter next month.

Gayle signed for the Eagles for an undisclosed fee 18 months ago and has been in and out of the starting XI since.

The former Peterborough United man could find himself starting at Manchester City this weekend, with Marouane Chamakh ruled out through injury.

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

CRYSTAL Palace boss Neil Warnock would take Roma left-back Ashley Cole on loan - if the Italian giants allow the move.

Speculation on Wednesday morning linked the 33-year-old former England defender with the Eagles.

Cole's agent David Manessah was quoted on Wednesday lunchtime that his client would not be moving to Selhurst Park, but when asked about the rumours, Warnock revealed his admiration for the ex-Chelsea and Arsenal ace.

And he would definitely be keen on bringing Cole back to SE25 following his loan spell as a 19-year-old back in the early part of 2000.

"I'd definitely have him," Warnock exclusively told the Advertiser.

"Absolutely, I'd have him tomorrow if I could. I don't think it will happen but I would have him, I think he's super."

For more from Warnock on his transfer targets, do not miss Friday's Croydon Advertiser.

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

FORMER Charlton Athletic footballer and Purley resident Richard Rufus may be stopped from running a company after he was made bankrupt last year with up to £8 million worth of debts.

Rufus, 39, of The South Border, was made bankrupt in October 2013 after a £6 million failed investment scheme in high risk stocks and property cost his church £5 million.

Rufus came out of insolvency on October 22 this year but the official receiver has lodged an application for a bankruptcy restrictions order against him, which could prevent him from running a company.

A brief hearing at the Rolls Building of the High Court in London today (December 17) was told Rufus' solicitors had asked for time to prepare their evidence in response to the application.

The former England under-21 international became a financial consultant after his injury-plagued Addicks career came to an end in 2004.

A born-again Christian, he was ordered to pay back £6.9 million to his church the Kingsway International Christian Centre and found £1.7 million.

However, his bankruptcy prevented any more money being recovered, with investors in the high risk scheme losing more than £3 million.

An Insolvency Service spokesman said Rufus may have debts of up to £16 million and owes the money to two church organisations and individual creditors.

Born in Lewisham, the 6ft 1in defender rose through Charlton's academy and was tipped to play for England.

However, his career was dogged by knee injuries and he retired in 2004 but was voted in 2005 as Charlton's greatest ever defender.

The case was adjourned until March 4, 2015 for a further directions hearing.

A NEW supermarket tacked onto the side of the 50 pence building has been branded 'unsafe' and its appearance compared to a 'carbuncle'.

Sainsbury's opened a newly built 'local' store attached to the bottom of the iconic No.1 Croydon last month.

But it has attracted criticism for its look and its dangerous location where the most obvious access point from East Croydon station is to cross the tram tracks.

Wainwright, which manages No.1 Croydon, applied in 2012 for planning permission to construct a "retail pavilion on the redundant courtyard".

There were ten consultees, including six councillors for Fairfield and Addiscombe wards, made aware of the process but the application received no comments or objections from them or residents.

Sean Fitzsimons, one of the Addiscombe councillors consulted, now believes it was a mistake to let the retail unit be built. Both he and Fairfield's Conservative councillor Vidhi Mohan admitted the application had passed them by but that it should have looked at more thoroughly.

Cllr Fitzsimons said: "It is in the wrong place and it is ugly. The NLA tower was a standalone iconic building that over the years has become a landmark.

"But this is a carbuncle on the building."

Cllr Fitzsimons also expressed serious concerns about the safety record on the roads around East Croydon, especially after the death of cyclist Roger de Klerk within yards of the entrance to the new Sainsbury's.

The council confirmed this week there are major works planned to the roads around East Croydon, the details of which are to be announced in the New Year.

The Advertiser also understands council officers are concerned the new development could also hinder future expansion of the tram network because of a lack of space to widen the road.

Cllr Fitzsimons said: "A poor man was killed there only this year. That roundabout is confusing and dangerous and we want massive improvements there. You've got taxis, and various bus lanes, there is a massive traffic conflict there."

Cllr Mohan, who was part of the ruling Conservative party when the retail unit received planning permission, said: "I agree the look of that particular Sainsbury's is not great, I wish they had thought about the look a bit more.

"Our understanding was there were no planning grounds to stop it and they wanted to open one there.

"There does seems to be a lot of Sainsbury's but I suppose on the positive side it is an indication of the confidence in the town centre."

A spokesman for Wainwright said there was "a need" for a retail unit on the site and they were happy Sainsbury's filled it. He had no comment to make on its appearance.

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "Sainsbury's carefully considers suitable locations for all new stores. As part of that process we require planning approval for changes to the shop front.

"The London Borough of Croydon required us to adopt a concrete design which they felt was in keeping with the industrial, urban design of the wider building.

"Sainsbury's takes the safety of our customers very seriously and worked with the local authority throughout the planning process to address access issues."

A FORMER Croydon schoolgirl could be about to go into business with Lord Sugar after reaching the final of The Apprentice.

Bianca Miller, who used to attend Beulah Infants School, made it through the gruelling interview stage on Wednesday night's semi-final, impressing the Amstrad founder's notoriously hard to please interviewers with her passion and business plan.

If she wins the final, to be screened on Sunday night on BBC1, Bianca hopes to create a new range of ladies hosiery, with the help of Lord Sugar's £250,000 investment on the table for the show's victor.

Bianca was overcome with emotion during an interview with former Apprentice winner Ricky Martin, but soon regained her composure and was complimented on her business proposal by Lord Sugar and his right-hand man Nick Hewer.

The 25-year-old will go up against Aussie Mark Wright, 24, in the final.

At the moment Bianca runs The B Group, a 'personal branding' service which has an office at Cygnet House, in Sydenham Road, Croydon.

PALACE enter the busy Christmas and New Year a point above the relegation zone and head to Manchester City on Saturday.

The hosts are 3/10 to keep all three points with the draw 19/4 and Palace 11/1 at BetVictor.

Palace have only lost three of their eight games on their travels in the PL so far this season. I don't expect to see many goals and the 13/10 for there to be two or fewer goals in the game must be the recommendation.

Yannick Bolasie was a constant threat against Stoke and, if the Eagles are to cause a shock at the Etihad, he must have another big game. The winger is 20/1 to score the opening goal and 6/1 to find the back of the net at anytime.

In Sergio Aguero's absence, Yaya Toure is likely to be City's biggest attacking threat and is 5/1 to score first and 11/8 to score at anytime. Frank Lampard grabbed the only goal of the game at the King Power last weekend and is 33/1 to repeat the feat at the Etihad; Bolasie to score the only goal of the game is 225/1 and to score at anytime and the game to finish in a draw is 25/1.

For all your sporting odds check out BetVictor.com.