Chairman George Foulkes and chief executive Phil Anderton follow manager George Burley out of the Tynecastle exit door.

Aston Villa confirm a ‘preliminary approach’ regarding a takeover of the club.- The drama continues at Heart of Midlothian. Chairman George Foulkes and chief executive Phil Anderton follow manager George Burley out of the Tynecastle exit door. The SPL outfit is in disarray after majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov sacks Anderton and Lord Foulkes refuses to accept a non-executive post. Romanov’s son, Roman, is installed as the new chairman. Lord Foulkes tells BBC Radio ‘I brought him [Romanov] in and very much regret that now. Romanov is behaving like a dictator and if he continues there will be a revolution against him’. The chances of Sir Bobby Robson taking over as manager would now seem to be receding.

- Aston Villa confirm a ‘preliminary approach’ regarding a takeover of the club. The bid is thought to be from Michael Neville, a successful local businessman and lifelong Villa supporter. Reports suggest he is working on behalf of Irish brothers Luke and Brian Comer, who own the Comer Homes Group. On the field, Villa lose at Manchester City with old boy Darius Vassell netting twice in their 3-1 win at the City of Manchester Stadium.

- Torquay United, bottom of the Football League, transfer list six players after manager Leroy Rosenior insists he will not quit.

They win a six-goal thriller at Dundee United by a 4-2 margin.

Newcastle United complete their third win of the week with a 3-0 success at West Bromwich Albion.- Celtic go top of the SPL table for the first time this season. They win a six-goal thriller at Dundee United by a 4-2 margin. Goals from John Hartson, Chris Sutton, Stephen Pearson and an Alan Archibald own goal take Gordon Strachan’s team above Heart of Midlothian.

- Newcastle United complete their third win of the week with a 3-0 success at West Bromwich Albion. Following a brace from Michael Owen, Alan Shearer comes off the bench to fire the Toon in to the top half of the table.

Rovers peg back a two-goal lead but the Champions now have a nine-point advantage.

Manchester United suffer their heaviest defeat for 19 months as they go down 1-4 at Middlesbrough.- Chelsea return to winning ways with a 4-2 win against Blackburn Rovers at Stamford Bridge. Rovers peg back a two-goal lead but the Champions now have a nine-point advantage. Wigan Athletic continue their amazing first season in the top flight as they go second with a last-gasp win against Fulham at the JJB Stadium. Manchester United suffer their heaviest defeat for 19 months as they go down 1-4 at Middlesbrough. Honours are even in the North London derby as Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal draw 1-1 at White Hart Lane. At the bottom, Portsmouth come from behind to win 4-1 at Sunderland. The Black Cats replace Everton at the bottom after the Toffees win 1-0 at Birmingham City.

- The top two in the Championship, Sheffield United and Reading, are held at home by Cardiff City and Leeds United respectively but Luton Town can’t take advantage as they lose 0-1 at Coventry City. Watford are up to fourth with a 3-1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Vicarage Road. Brighton & Hove Albion celebrate the news of their future move to Falmer despite a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town at the Withdean.

- A Freddy Eastwood hat-trick at struggling Bristol City takes Southend United back to the top of League One. Lee Trundle also net three as second-placed Swansea City thrash Chesterfield 5-1 at the newly-named Liberty Stadium. Bottom of the table Swindon Town hold third placed Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium to a 1-1 draw.

- A goal on the stroke of half-time from Craig Easton takes Leyton Orient back to the top of League Two as the Os beat Oxford United at the Matchroom Stadium. Wycombe Wanderers come from two down to earn a draw against Peterborough United and retain their unbeaten record. Carlisle United record their biggest win in the Football League since 5 December 1970 with a 6-0 hammering of Stockport County. Torquay United are bottom after a 0-2 loss at Boston United.

- SPL leaders Heart of Midlothian lose their unbeaten record in the Edinburgh derby at Easter Road. Guillaume Beuzelin and Garry O’Conner score two late goals for Hibernian. The pressure increases on manager Alex McLeish as Rangers are held 1-1 at Ibrox by Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The Sussex club’s future would have been in grave doubt if they were to remain at the Withdean Stadium.

There are positive financial results from the Premiership with Newcastle United announcing a £4.5million profit and Manchester City a £3.5million profit.- Brighton and Hove Albion are given permission to build a stadium at Falmer, on the outskirts of the city. The Seagulls applied for permission to build the new ground in 2001 and have been waiting since then for a decision. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott ruled on Friday the 23,000-seat arena could be built. Albion have been homeless since being kicked out of the Goldstone Ground in 1997.

- Newcastle United announce a £4.5million profit for the year ending 31 July, although the black & white’s accounts show that it stayed in the black only by selling players that brought in £13.5million. Turnover went down from £90.2million to £87million, which is attributed to a reduction in television revenue.

- Manchester City report a £3.5million operating profit up to 31 May. Although the results are £500,000 down on last year, they take into account former manager Kevin Keegan’s pay-off but not the £21 million received for Shaun Wright-Phillips from Chelsea.

- Prince William prepares for his role as the new Football Association president by visiting Charlton Athletic. The 23 year-old prince trained with the senior players and a group youngsters at the Premiership club’s South London practice ground. An Aston Villa supporter, William is due to take over the FA presidency in May.

The Poppies are currently fifth in the Conference North.

George Best remains seriously ill in an intensive care unit.- Paul Gascoigne launches his managerial career at Kettering Town. The former England midfielder, who becomes player / manager, is part of a consortium that has taken over the club. He will work with former Arsenal midfielder Paul Davis as his coach. The Poppies are currently fifth in the Conference North.

- George Best remains seriously ill in an intensive care unit. The 59-year-old former Manchester United and Northern Ireland forward is unconscious and on a ventilator at the Cromwell Hospital, west London, where he was admitted nearly four weeks ago.

- West Ham United manager Alan Pardew agrees a new five-year deal that will keep him at Upton Park until 2010. The former Reading boss has steered West Ham into ninth place on their Premiership return.

Charlton Athletic win the Third Round tie at Stamford Bridge on penalties.

The two surviving League clubs - Grimsby Town and Barnet - are also knocked out.- Chelsea’s hopes of the Quadruple are dashed as they bow out of the Carling Cup. Charlton Athletic win the Third Round tie at Stamford Bridge 5-4 on penalties at the end of a 1-1 draw after extra time. Only Robert Hutch fails to convert in the shoot-out.

- The two surviving League Two clubs - Grimsby Town and Barnet - are also knocked out. Alan Shearer is battered and bruised at Blundell Park but nets the Newcastle United winner ten minutes from time. Barnet keeper Ross Flitney is sent-off after only two minutes at Old Trafford as Manchester United stroll to a 4-1 win. Birmingham City, Bolton Wanders, Middlesbrough and Championship club Leicester City also advance to the last sixteen.

- In the SPL, champions Rangers fall further behind in the title race after throwing away a two-goal lead at Livingston to draw 2-2. Hearts maintain their three-point lead with a second win under interim boss John McGlynn as Kilmarnock go down to a Edgaras Jankauskas goal at Tynecastle. Celtic beat Motherwell 5-0 with a Stilian Petrov hat-trick.

- Sir Alex Ferguson concedes that Manchester United can no longer compete with Chelsea in the transfer market. The United boss told Century FM: ‘If Chelsea go for a player we are interested in, we are not going to beat them, so there is no point even going for him.’

- Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe wins £250,000 libel damages over a newspaper claim. The Times’ Martin Samuel wrote in August 2004 that Mr Lowe acted ‘shabbily’ by suspending manager Dave Jones who was facing child abuse charges in January 2000.

The Championship club clinch the Third Round tie by a 2-1 margin at Selhurst Park.

A young Arsenal team win by 3-0 in front of nearly 50,000 at Sunderland.- Liverpool are knocked out of the Carling Cup by Crystal Palace. The Championship club clinch the Third Round tie by a 2-1 margin at Selhurst Park. Despite their tremendous performances in Europe, the Champions’ League winner’s domestic form continues to cause concern.
- A young Arsenal team win by 3-0 in front of nearly 50,000 at Sunderland. Following the farcical penalty scenes at the weekend, Robin Van Persie converts a spot-kick in confident style.
- Junichi Inamoto nets a 30-yard winner against his old club as West Bromwich Albion win 3-2 at Fulham after extra time.
- Doncaster Rovers go through to the Fourth Round for the first time in 30 years with a 2-0 win against League One rivals Gillingham at the Earth Stadium.

It follows, his former Ipswich Town player, George Burley’s shock departure.

Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed denies reports that he is about to sell the club.- Following George Burley’s shock departure, Sir Bobby Robson is strongly linked with the managerial vacancy at Heart of Midlothian. The ex-England boss was reported to be the number one choice at Tynecastle before his former Ipswich Town right-back took over at the SPL leaders in the summer. Burley is now being tipped to become the new manager of the Republic of Ireland.

- Fulham chairman and owner Mohamed Al Fayed denies reports that he is interested in selling the club. Businessman John Wallis, a known Fulham supporter, confirms his company - Casino Fortune - were only looking into sponsoring Fulham, not buying them. Mr Al Fayed is said to have invested £130million at Craven Cottage.

- Ralph Bone, the assistant referee who gave a controversial goal against Middlesbrough yesterday, has apologised to Boro boss Steve McClaren. The Kent official flagged for a goal after Mark Schwarzer had saved a Chris Riggott deflection on the goal-line. He describes his decision as ‘an over-reaction’.

The champions are held 1-1 at bottom-of-the-table Everton.

There are more calls for goalline technology after West Ham United ‘score’ a dubious goal.- In their tenth game, Chelsea drop their first points of the season. The champions are held 1-1 at bottom-of-the-table Everton after James Beattie gives the Toffees the lead with a penalty. Frank Lampard equalises before Didier Drogba is denied a winner by a controversial offside flag.

- There are more calls for goalline technology after West Ham United ‘score’ a dubious goal. The Hammers beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at Upton Park but TV replays strongly suggest that their second goal - an own goal by Chris Riggott - did not cross the line.

- Newcastle United win a thrilling Tyne-Wear derby with a 3-2 defeat of Sunderland at St James’ Park while Bolton Wanderers beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium.

- Coventry City’s struggles continue in the Championship as the Sky Blue lose 1-2 at manager Mickey Adams’ old club, Leicester City.

Awarded a penalty, Robert Pires stepped up and tried to pass to Thierry Henry but embarrassingly failed.

Heart of Midlothian fans are stunned by the shock departure of manager George Burley.- Arsenal survive one of the most amazing incidents in Premiership history to beat Manchester City 1-0. Awarded a penalty, Robert Pires stepped up and tried to pass to Thierry Henry but embarrassingly failed. Tottenham Hotspur hold Manchester United 1-1 at Old Trafford while Wigan Athletic also continue their good start with a 2-0 win at Aston Villa. Fulham remember the late Johnny Haynes at Craven Cottage in fine style with a 2-0 win against Liverpool.

- Heart of Midlothian fans are stunned by the shock departure of manager George Burley. The former Ipswich Town boss leaves the SPL leaders on the morning of the game with Dunfermline Athletic. After the 2-0 win, chairman George Foulkes states Burley’s exit is by mutual consent due to ‘irreconcilable differences’.

- Reading reduce Sheffield United’s lead at the top of the Championship with a Dave Kitson penalty winner at Stoke City. Six different Cardiff City players scored in the 6-1 hammering of Crewe Alexandra. Norwich City go down to three first half goals at Queens Park Rangers.

- Southend United go back to the top of League One with a 1-0 against Barnsley. Huddersfield Town go down to the odd goal in seven at Chesterfield. Yeovil Town beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 at Huish Park.

- With Grimsby Town beaten 1-0 at home by Leyton Orient, still unbeaten Wycombe Wanderers go top of League Two with a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Lincoln City.