When Régis Le Bris first took charge of Sunderland last summer the Frenchman was such an unknown quantity that it took a good couple of weeks before fellow guests in his hotel began realising who he was. Ten months later the lowest of low‑key managerial appointments is one game away...
England expect most players will choose country over IPL for West Indies ODIs
League playoffs clash with international assignment Buttler, Bethell, Jacks could have allegiances tested England expect most of the five Indian Premier League players picked for their one-day international series against West Indies to report for international duty rather than complete the rescheduled tournament. The IPL’s league phase will now conclude...
Matt Ritchie: ‘My dream is coming to an end. You have to reinvent yourself’
The former Newcastle stalwart on his admiration for Eddie Howe, a brutal pre-season with Paolo Di Canio and a fairytale finish to his career captaining Portsmouth It is not the first time Matt Ritchie has heard the line suggesting he should have been driving Newcastle’s open-top bus when the squad...
Former footballers claim ‘financial grooming’ took them to ‘hell and back’
HMRC pursued former players over failed investments Danny Murphy and Brian Deane among those involved Politicians, campaigners and former footballers have protested at the “financial grooming” of Premier League stars who claim they were persuaded to put their money into failed investment schemes that led to them being accused of...
Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi placed in induced coma after surgery
Player’s condition is not thought to be life-threatening Forward underwent abdominal surgery on Monday Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed in an induced coma to aid his recovery from urgent abdominal surgery. The Nigeria international underwent the procedure on Monday night, having suffered a serious injury during Sunday’s...
NBA playoffs: Knicks put champs Celtics on brink of elimination as Tatum collapses
New York 3-1 up in best-of-seven series after comeback Boston star scores 42 but limps off after worrying injury Jalen Brunson had 39 points and 12 assists, and the New York Knicks moved a win away from their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years and pushed the defending...
Poppadoms, protests and promotions: the first 20 years of ‘unique’ FC United
Born in a curry house amid fury with the Glazer regime at Old Trafford, FC United’s own story is not without turmoil On the Saturday in late March this year that FC United of Manchester and The 1958, a Manchester United supporters group, held a joint-action against 20 years of...
Farewell Matheus Cunha? ‘He has a fire inside … every top player has that edge’
Brazilian striker looks to be heading out of Wolves, and with 15 goals so far this season he won’t be short of offers “He makes magic happen every day,” the former Wolves assistant head coach Ian Burchnall says of Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian is one of the few remaining mavericks...
Dropping Alexander-Arnold following boos may be most palatable option for Slot | Andy Hunter
Stormy Anfield reaction to news of full-back’s exit on a free gives Liverpool coach a choice to make as trophy lift nears A large portion of Liverpool’s match‑going support delivered a damning verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s career choice on Sunday and, in one short sentence, Virgil van Dijk explained perfectly why...
O’Hare lands last blow on Bristol City as Sheffield United barrel into playoff final
For a side with such a horrendous record in the EFL playoffs, the way Sheffield United coasted through their semi-final’s two legs into the Championship’s showpiece game at Wembley did little to suggest they are a team with a hoodoo hanging over their heads. In many ways, history is stacked...