FA Cup third round replays

Thompson loaned to Hartlepool

Tottenham Hotspur reached the Carling Cup final after beating their North London rivals Arsenal for the first time since November 1999. The victory was sealed in some style with a 5-1 romp resulting in a 6-2 win on aggregate. Jermaine Jenas, a Nicklas Bendtner own-goal, Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon put Spurs into an unassailable lead before Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed a consolation for the Gunners. Steed Malbranque completed the rout. They will face either Chelsea or Everton in the Wembley final.

All three FA Cup third round replays went to penalty kicks. Bristol Rovers of League One beat Premier League Fulham 5-3 on penalties after a goalless draw at the Memorial Stadium. Derby County are through to the fourth round 4-2 on spot kicks after a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough while there was a total of five missed penalties at Underhill as Barnet of League Two beat Swindon Town 2-0 in the shoot-out after a 1-1 draw. Barnet now entertain Bristol Rovers in the fourth round while Derby host Preston North End.

Swansea City stretched their lead at the top of League One to eight points with a 2-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra at the Liberty Stadium. Hartlepool United edged out visitors Southend United 4-3 while Bournemouth beat Luton Town by the same scoreline at the Fitness First Stadium. In a rather more understated affair at the KRBS Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham and Oldham Athletic played out a goalless draw.

In League Two, managerless Bury drew 2-2 with Bradford City at Gigg Lane.

The Scottish Cup fourth-round replays between Airdrie United and Kilmarnock at New Broomfield and Brechin City and Hamilton Academicals at Glebe Park have been postponed due to frozen pitches. Both ties have been rescheduled for January 28.

The Scottish Cup fourth round replays that did take place saw Aberdeen beat Falkirk 3-1 at Pittodrie, Motherwell triumph over Heart of Midlothian 1-0 at Fir Park while Partick Thistle saw off visitors Dunfermline Athletic 2-1. Aberdeen now face a fifth round test against either Hamilton Academicals or Brechin City at Pittodrie, Motherwell await the winners of Huntly v Dundee at Fir Park while Partick Thistle travel to Livingston or Cowdenbeath.

The first round of Group C games were played in the Africa Cup of Nations this evening. Holders Egypt beat Cameroon 4-2 courtesy of two goals each from Mohamed Zidan and Hosni Abd Rabou. Samuel Eto’o scored his 12th and 13th Nations Cup goals for the outclassed Cameroon side - leaving him just one behind the record held by Laurent Pokou of the Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, Zambia beat Sudan 3-0.

The amount of money spent by Premier League clubs during this years January transfer window has reached record levels - with more than a week remaining before the window closes. Top-flight clubs have spent £93m on players this year compared to £63m last season and £81m in 2006.

Blackburn Rovers have signed 18-year-old Jonathan Flynn on a three-and-a-half year deal from Irish League side Ballymena United. Rovers paid an undisclosed fee for the young defender.

Fulham have signed 24-year-old midfielder Leon Andreasen from German club Werder Bremen for an undisclosed fee. The Dane has agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract.

Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender Steve Finnan has announced his retirement from international football.

The Football Association have not decided to take any action against Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson over his alleged obscene gesture towards Reading fans during his side’s 0-2 victory at the Madjeski Stadium on Saturday.
Ferguson said: “All I was doing was expressing my relief at winning one of our hardest games of the season.”

Manchester United are to go ahead with plans to hold a minute’s silence to mark the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster despite being asked by Manchester City’s supporters’ club to have a minute’s applause before their Premier League clash at Old Trafford on February 10. It is feared that disrespectful visiting fans could disturb the planned silence. United spokesman Phil Townsend said: “Our view is that the minute’s silence is a more appropriate way of recognising a disaster that killed 23 people. I don’t think we should change those plans because of the fear of a few idiots who might want to spoil it.”

Sunderland have signed 22-year-old right-back Phil Bardsley from Manchester United on a three-and-a-half year contract, in a deal worth up to £2m.

Crystal Palace have signed midfielder Neil Danns from Birmingham City on a three-and-a-half year deal for an initial fee of £600,000. The Eagles have also secured Shaun Derry’s services on a permanent basis after a successful two-month loan deal at the club. Palace agreed to pay an undisclosed fee to Leeds United for Derry, who has signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the club.

Leeds United midfielder Alan Thompson has moved to Hartlepool United on a month’s loan to gain match fitness.

Nathan Davies

Africa Cup of Nations

Leeds to sue Football League

An 88th minute strike by Peter Crouch salvaged a 2-2 draw for Liverpool against Aston Villa at Anfield. Yossi Benayoun had given the home side the lead on 18 minutes but Villa equalised through Marlon Harewood after 69 minutes and three minutes later Fabio Aurelio put through his own net. Liverpool staged a late onslaught and just when it seemed as if the visitors might hold on, up popped Crouch. However, the draw leaves Rafa Benitez’s men 14 points behind Manchester United and Arsenal in fifth place - and two behind Merseyside rivals Everton, who are fourth.

In League Two, Chesterfield beat visitors Hereford United 4-0.

In today’s Africa Cup of Nations matches, a first-half hat-trick from Soufiane Alloudi helped Morocco beat Namibia 1-5 in their Group A match while in Group B Ivory Coast beat Nigeria with Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou scoring the only goal of the game after 66 minutes. Mali beat Benin 1-0 in the other Group B game.

FIFA and UEFA will pay an estimated £130m in compensation over the next six years to clubs with players on international duty in a bid to put an end to long running club v country rows. UEFA calculate that Euro 2008 will be worth more than £32m to clubs from the 53 national associations in Europe. As a result, the G14 group of Europe’s 18 most powerful clubs plans to drop legal disputes with FIFA and UEFA.

The Scottish Football Association have announced that Scotland will face Croatia in a friendly at Hampden Park on March 26.

The Football Association of Wales have announced a friendly Under-21 international between Wales and England at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground on May 15.

Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman have both penned new long-term deals keeping them at Everton until 2012.

Birmingham City have signed 20-year-old Argentine Mauro Zarate on loan from Qatar club Al-Saad with a view to a permanent move.

West Ham United’s Calum Davenport is in hospital after fracturing a bone in his neck during his first match on loan at Watford. The 25-year-old was hurt after team-mate Darius Henderson landed on him during the 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic at Vicarage Road. The injury spells an immediate end to Davenport’s loan spell and he will return to the Hammers.

Leeds United are to sue The Football League over their 15-points deduction, despite a signed agreement stating they would not take legal action against them. Speaking in the Yorkshire Evening Post, chairman Ken Bates said:

“We’re suing the Football League for our 15 points because we believe, as we always have, that there was no justification for the penalty. The agreement we had saying we wouldn’t take legal action was signed under duress. We were a couple of days from the start of the season and we wouldn’t have been able to fulfil our fixtures without regaining our share in the Football League. In that situation, we either signed the document or we let ourselves be booted out of the League. But EU law says Person A cannot prevent Person B from going to court if it’s to right a wrongful decision. We did ask the FA for independent arbitration but we’ve been waiting five months for them to do anything, and the whole thing is a shambles. We want an open and independent review of this decision, and the only way of ensuring that is by going to the High Court.”

Nathan Davies

Hosts make winning start

Hicks has no plans to sell

The Africa Cup of Nations got underway in Ghana today with the host nation beating Guinea 2-1 in their Group A match. Asamoah Gyan gave Ghana a second-half lead from the penalty spot but Oumar Kalabane drew Guinea level on 64 minutes before a 30-yard effort from Portsmouth’s Sulley Muntari in the last minute sealed victory for the hosts.

Everton are up to fourth place in the Premier League after securing a 1-2 victory over Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium. The visitors raced into a half-time lead after efforts from Andy Johnson and Joleon Lescott. The Latics pulled a goal back on 53 minutes when Phil Jagielka put through his own net but it was not enough for Steve Bruce’s men.

Manchester City remain unbeaten at the City of Manchester Stadium after a 1-1 draw with West Ham United. Carlton Cole gave the visitors an eighth minute lead before Darius Vassell restored parity eight minutes later.

A first-half double from Adam Stansfield helped Exeter City to a 2-0 victory over visitors Oxford United in this Blue Square Premier contest.

Rangers beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Caledonian Stadium to restore their four point lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League. Substitute Jean-Claude Darcheville netted the only goal of the game in the last minute.

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks claims he has no plans to sell his 50% stake in the club despite rumours of an impending offer to buy out Hicks and co-owner George Gillett by Dubai International Capital (DIC).

Nathan Davies

Premier League round-up

Dubin to retire

The Premier League’s top three all won away from home. Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were on the scoresheet at the Madjeski Stadium where Manchester United beat Reading 0-2 while Arsenal beat Fulham 0-3 at Craven Cottage thanks to a first-half brace from Emmanuel Adebayor and a 81st minute effort from Tomas Rosicky. Third Place Chelsea beat Birmingham City 0-1 at St Andrews with Claudio Pizarro scoring the only goal of the game on 79 minutes.

Benjani Mwaruwari scored a hat-trick as Portsmouth came from behind to beat Derby County 3-1, ending the home side’s six-game goalless streak at Fratton Park.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough held Blackburn Rovers to a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park, Robbie Keane scored his 100th goal for Tottenham Hotspur to seal a 2-0 victory over Sunderland at White Hart Lane and Kevin Keegan’s first game back in charge at Newcastle United ended in a goalless draw with visitors Bolton Wanderers.

West Bromwich Albion remain top of the Championship after recovering from 1-3 down to draw 3-3 with Cardiff City at The Hawthorns. Watford climb back to second despite being held to a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road by Charlton Athletic while Stoke City are fourth after a 3-1 home victory over Preston North End. Bristol City slip a place to third after losing 2-0 against form team Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Sheffield Wednesday came out on top in the Steel City derby as they beat Sheffield United 2-0 at Hillsborough.

Swansea City are now five points clear at the top of League One after beating struggling Port Vale 2-0 at the Liberty Stadium and benefiting from Nottingham Forest losing 2-1 at Swindon Town and Leeds United’s 0-1 home reverse at the hands of Doncaster Rovers. Carlisle United take second place after beating Crewe Alexandra at Brunton Park. Joe Garner notched the only goal of the game.

It was top against bottom in League Two as struggling Wrexham entertained high-flying Milton Keynes Dons at the Racecourse. Neil Roberts scored after 71 minutes to give Brian Little’s side a shock victory over the league leaders. Rotherham United are second despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Wycombe Wanderers while Darlington are third after edging out Mansfield Town 0-1 at Field Mill. The games between Barnet and Peterborough United, Bury and Stockport County, Rochdale and Bradford City, Accrington Stanley and Brentford as well as Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City were all postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

Charlton Athletic have signed Burnley striker Andy Gray on an emergency loan to ensure the frontman can be named in the Charlton squad to face Watford this evening. The two clubs have agreed a fee of £1.5m and Gray will complete a permanent move to the Addicks next week.

Ipswich Town have signed 28-year-old midfielder Alan Quinn on loan from Sheffield United with a view to a permanent move.

Norwich City’s 38-year-old striker Dion Dublin has confirmed he will retire at the end of this season.

Nathan Davies

Keegan makes first signing

Hendry resigns

Kevin Keegan has been officially unveiled as the new manager of Newcastle United. The 56-year-old told an attentive press conference that he would be approaching Alan Shearer to offer him a role at St James’ Park. Keegan said:

“I want to bring the very best to Newcastle. If there is a role that Alan wants, and is right - that’s the key - then I would love to have him back here. I will definitely be speaking to him.”

The former England boss went on to claim that he was the ideal candidate to succeed Sam Allardyce:

“I know the club. I know it inside out and back to front. I know what the fans want. I don’t have to come up and learn all of those things. That’s not easy. I’m not saying it’s impossible. This is a very special club. I think I’m the best-qualified person to come here and do the job. That’s why I think I can do something. Every time the job came up there was a little bit of envy. That’s how I felt every time the job came up. I left because of circumstances last time. This club doesn’t scare me. The job ahead doesn’t scare me.”

Kevin Keegan has completed the first capture of his second spell as Newcastle United boss with the signing of 17-year-old defender Tamas Kadar on a four-and-half year contract from Hungarian outfit Zalaegerszegi. The Magpies are thought to have paid about £900,000 for Kadar.

A brace from Steven Gillespie was enough to secure a 0-2 victory for Cheltenham Town at Hartlepool United in this League One clash. The result lifts the Robins out of the relegation zone.

Nigel Worthington has become the highest paid manager in Northern Ireland’s history after signing a two-year deal with the Irish Football Association to lead the country through the duration of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Birmingham City have signed James McFadden from Everton in a deal believed to be worth £4.75m with another £1m based on add-ons.

Fulham have signed 26-year-old defender Brede Hangeland from FC Copenhagen on a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Full-back Lucien Aubey has joined Portsmouth on loan until the end if the season from French side Lens. Meanwhile, Djimi Traore has left Pompey to join Rennes on loan. Both deals include options to make the moves permanent at the season’s end.

Wigan Athletic have completed the signing of 21-year-old Ecuador international Antonio Valencia from Villarreal on a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance. Wigan have also recruited Swedish defender Erik Edman on a two-and-a-half year deal from French club Rennes for a fee in the region of £500,000.

Plymouth Argyle have signed striker Steven MacLean from Cardiff City for £500,000 - breaking the Pilgrims’ transfer record. MacLean has signed a three-and-a-half year deal.

Ugo Ehiogu has joined Sheffield United from Rangers on a free transfer. The former Middlesbrough defender has signed an 18-month deal.

Ryan Shawcross has joined Stoke City on a permanent basis after the Potter struck a £1m deal with Manchester United. The 20-year-old defender has been on loan with the Championship club since August and has now signed a three-and-a-half year deal at the Britannia Stadium.

Watford have signed West Ham United defender Calum Davenport on a month’s loan, with a view to a permanent deal.

Colin Hendry has resigned as manager of Clyde with immediate effect due to family reasons.

Nathan Davies

FA fine Chelsea

UEFA to trial extra assistants

Kevin Keegan has spoken for the first time about returning as manager of Newcastle United and seemed positive about his chances of success if he is given a little time and patience.

“I know what they [the Newcastle fans] want and I know what they don’t want as well. As long as they are realistic and patient I think we can try again to help them have dreams and possibly win something. I think this is right. I have certainly inherited a strong, talented group of players - which is something I didn’t have when I came last time [1992]. When I came last time we were wondering whether we could fill the stadium. That is not a problem. They will be trying to get a stadium big enough if we can put some football on and get some success here. The job in hand is a big job, it is a great club.”

The Football Association have fined Chelsea £40,000 after they accepted a charge of failing to control their players during the Premier League clash with Derby County at Pride Park on November 24. Chelsea captain John Terry led players who confronted referee Andre Marriner after Michael Essien was sent off for pushing Kenny Miller in the face. Essien served a three-match suspension for the offence.

Martin Laursen has agreed a new two-and-a-half-year deal with Aston Villa. The 30-year-old is set to sign the contract on Friday.

Birmingham City have agreed an undisclosed fee with Everton for Scotland striker James McFadden. The Blues have also sealed a £1.5m deal for defender David Murphy from Hibernian on a three-and-a-half year deal after he passed a routine medical.

Bolton Wanderers have signed Portsmouth midfielder Matt Taylor on a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Fulham have agreed a £5m fee with Watford for striker Marlon King. The deal will also see Fulham’s Dutch striker Collins John move to Vicarage Road on loan with a view to a permanent transfer.

Portsmouth have signed midfielder Lassana Diarra from Arsenal on a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Wigan Athletic have signed Deportivo Olimpia defender Maynor Figueroa on loan until the end of the season, subject to international clearance following a three-week trial with the Latics.

Coventry City have had their transfer embargo lifted. The Sky Blues had been unable to sign players since October after the collapse of a proposed takeover by Manhattan Sports Capital Partners Ltd left the club in financial difficulties. The club are now in calmer financial waters after a takeover by SISU Capital.

UEFA are to use youth tournaments to trial the use of two extra assistant referees in the penalty area at both free-kicks and corners. The experiment will include using the assistants both behind the goal-line and inside the penalty box as extra eyes and ears for the referee and is an alternative to goal-line technology.

Nathan Davies

FA Cup round-up

Hearts submit plans

There were four FA Cup third round replays tonight but the spotlight was shining firmly on Westleigh Park where Havant & Waterlooville of the Blue Square South beat League One leaders Swansea City 4-2 to set up a dream fourth round tie against Liverpool at Anfield.

Elsewhere, Hereford United beat Tranmere Rovers at Edgar Street with Simon Johnson scoring the only goal of the game, Newcastle United beat Stoke City 4-1 at St James’ Park despite Emre receiving a first-half red card as the home fans celebrated the return of Kevin Keegan as manager (see below) and Elano was on target 18 minutes from time as Manchester City beat visitors West Ham United 1-0.

In League Two, David Perkins scored a hat-trick as Rochdale beat Chesterfield 3-4 in an exciting encounter at Recreation Park.

In the Scottish Cup fourth round, Barry Robson scored the only goal of the game as visitors Dundee United beat Clyde to set up a fifth round trip to St Mirren.

Rangers are four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League after a 1-2 victory over Gretna at Fir Park.

Newcastle United have announced that Kevin Keegan will make a dramatic return to St James’ Park as the club’s new manager. Keegan originally managed the Magpies rom 1992 to 1997.

New England manager Fabio Capello is the subject of a tax investigation in Italy.

Labour peer Lord Triesman has been confirmed as the first independent chairman of the Football Association. The 64-year-old will stand down from his government role as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Intellectual Property and Quality.

Southampton and Motherwell have given permission to the Scottish Football Association to speak to George Burley and Mark McGhee about the vacant Scotland job.

Chris Coleman has resigned as manager of Spanish Second Division side Real Sociedad. Coleman’s assistant Steve Kean has also quit.

Chelsea have sealed a deal to sign Lokomotiv Moscow defender Branislav Ivanovic on a three-year-deal for an undisclosed fee, after the 23-year-old passed a medical and finalised personal terms. The Stamford Bridge club are believed to have paid in the region of £9m for Ivanovic.

Bolton Wanderers have completed the signing of Iceland international Gretar Steinsson from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar for £3.5m. The 26-year-old right-back has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal.

The administrators in charge of Luton Town have sacked manager Kevin Blackwell with immediate effect and appointed Mick Harford as his successor for the rest of the season. Warren Neill will assist Harford.

Heart of Midlothian have submitted plans to Edinburgh City Council for a new 10,000-seat main stand, including a hotel and flats at Tynecastle. The project will cost more than £50m and it is hoped that work will begin in the summer and be completed by 2010.

Nathan Davies

Newcastle United have announced that Kevin Keegan will make a dramatic return to St James’ Park as the club’s new manager. Keegan originally managed the Magpies from 1992 to 1997 and has now signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at St James’ Park. The former England boss said: “It’s nice to be home. I’m delighted to be back home.”

Nathan Davies

FA Cup round-up

Malpas takes charge at Swindon

In a busy night of FA Cup third round replays, managerless Bury caused the biggest shock of the night by beating Championship side Norwich City 2-1 at Gigg Lane to set up a fourth round tie at Southampton. Ben Futcher gave the home side an 18th minute lead and Andy Bishop doubled the advantage on the hour mark. Dion Dublin pulled one back for the Canaries with five minutes left but it wasn’t to be. Earlier in the day, Bury appointed Chris Brass as their caretaker manager following the sacking of Chris Casper and Keith Alexander yesterday.

Steven Gerrard grabbed a hat-trick as Liverpool beat Luton Town 5-0 at Anfield, Robbie Keane scored the only goal of the game as Tottenham Hotspur won at Reading and Millwall beat Walsall 2-1 at the New Den.

West Bromwich Albion beat Charlton Athletic 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns.

The FA Cup third-round replays between Barnet and Swindon Town at Underhill, Bristol Rovers and Fulham at the Memorial Stadium and Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County at Hillsborough have been postponed due to waterlogged pitches. All three games will now take place on January 22.

In League Two, Peterborough United hammered Accrington Stanley 8-2 at London Road while Darlington won 0-3 at Morecambe.

Livingston beat visitors Cowdenbeath 2-0 in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup while St Johnstone used home advantage to help them ease past Raith Rovers 3-1.

Billy Davies has withdrawn from the race to become the next Scotland manager. The Scottish Football Association have asked Celtic, Motherwell and Southampton for permission to speak to Tommy Burns, Mark McGhee and George Burley respectively. Graeme Souness is also on the short-list.

G14 - the group of Europe’s most powerful clubs - is to be replaced by the European Club Association, which will have more than 100 members, including one from each of Europe’s 53 national associations. The decision to disband G14 came after FIFA and UEFA agreed to take club’s opinions on board in relation to key matters. UEFA and FIFA say they will compensate clubs for players taking part in European Championships and World Cups.

Chelsea have agreed terms with Lokomotiv Moscow to sign defender Branislav Ivanovic in a £9m deal. A work permit application has been successful and the 23-year-old will now undergo a medical and discuss personal terms.

Everton have completed the signing of 17-year-old Dan Gosling from Plymouth Argyle.

Sunderland have signed 19-year-old centre-back Jean-Yves Mvoto from Paris St-Germain for an undisclosed fee. The Frenchman has penned a three-and-a-half year contract with the Black Cats.

It has emerged that Hull City goalkeeper Matt Duke had an operation to remove a testicular tumour on January 5. The 30-year-old is recuperating at home and is awaiting test results this week.

Scunthorpe United have signed Barnsley midfielder Grant McCann on a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Stoke City have captured Preston North End winger Danny Pugh for £500,000 on a three-and-a-half year deal after a successful loan spell.

Luton Town administrator Brendan Guilfoyle has revealed that the club have received a financial loan from the Nick Owen-fronted consortium - Luton Town Football Club 2020 Ltd - that wants to buy the Hatters. Subsequently the 2020 consortium have been granted exclusive rights to purchase the club up until the end of February.

Maurice Malpas is the new manager of Swindon Town. The club’s new chairman Andrew Fitton has also revealed the new board of directors following his successful takeover of the Wiltshire club. Speaking at a press conference, Fitton said:

“The board will be made up of myself, Jeremy Wray, Russell Backhouse and Nick Watkins who has taken on the role of chief executive. We like to operate our businesses with a small board at the start, but that may change as time goes on.”

Nathan Davies

Hicks admits Klinsmann talks

Calderwood signs new deal

England’s qualifying fixtures for the 2010 World Cup have been released and Fabio Capello will start his reign in earnest in Andorra on September 6 2008 followed by a tricky trip to face Croatia four days later. October 2008 brings the visit of Kazakhstan to Wembley before an away match in Belarus. After a winter break, England entertain Ukraine on April 1 2009 followed by a close season double header in Kazakhstan on June 6 and back at Wembley against Andorra four days later. On September 9, Croatia visit London before England complete their qualifying campaign in October with a match in Ukraine on the 10th and a battle with Belarus on home soil on the 14th.

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks says he held talks with Jurgen Klinsmann in November about taking over as manager in case Rafael Benitez left the club.

Watford midfielder Al Bangura has been awarded a work permit and subsequently won his appeal to stay in Britain. The 19-year-old was initially refused leave to stay and was to be deported to his native Sierra Leone in December.

Stoke City have signed defender Leon Cort from Crystal Palace for £1.5m and broken their transfer record in the process. The 28-year-old, who has been on loan at the Britannia Stadium since November, has signed a three-and-a-half year deal. The Potters will also pay an additional £200,000 if the club are promoted to the Premier League.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have completed the signing of David Edwards from Luton Town. The 21-year-old has moved for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £675,000, and has agreed a deal at Molineux until 2010.

Jermaine Beckford scored the only goal of the game as Leeds United beat Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road. Dennis Wise’s men are now third in the League One table.

Bury have sacked manager Chris Casper and director of football Keith Alexander with immediate effect. A statement on the club’s website read:

”The boards of directors at Bury FC have today terminated the contracts of Chris Casper and Keith Alexander with immediate effect. This decision has come at a difficult time for the club but it was felt that the decision had to be taken earlier, rather than later. Unfortunately the management team of Chris Casper and Keith Alexander has lost the confidence of a large majority of the fans, and the directors have taken this decision for the benefit of Bury FC. The board of directors would like to thank Chris Casper and Keith Alexander for their efforts in taking the club forward.”

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood has signed a new three-year contract with the club. Assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl and coach Sandy Clark have also pledged their futures for the same period.

Nathan Davies