Stoke reach Championship summit

FA hold serious reservations

Celtic announce profits

Stoke City are the new leaders of the Championship this evening after beating Scunthorpe United 3-2 at the Britannia Stadium. Martin Paterson and Jack Hobbs gave the visitors a commanding half-time lead but two goals from Liam Lawrence either side of a Richard Cresswell effort completed a remarkable second-half comeback.

The Football Association has serious reservations over the Premier League’s proposal to play additional games abroad and is particularly concerned that such a project could damage its 2018 World Cup bid. A statement released by the FA said:

“The Football Association has listened carefully to the comments made by FIFA president Sepp Blatter regarding the Premier League’s proposal for an international round of fixtures. This proposal has generated a high level of debate both domestically and with the international football family. While the Football Association has given full consideration to views expressed by all parties, we must make our own position on this subject clear. We can confirm that the Football Association did speak to FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke about this matter yesterday. We explained that while we had received a verbal summary on the subject, at this time we are not in possession of any detailed proposals from the Premier League to pass on to FIFA. It was also made clear to FIFA that the Football Association has some serious reservations about the proposal. We have the responsibility to the whole of English football and we have to consider any wider consequences and implications that this proposal may create.”

Investment firm Red and White Holdings - co-owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov - has increased its stake in Arsenal to 24%.

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing has agreed a new five-year contract with the club.

Celtic have announced pre-tax profits of £10.07m for the six months to 31 December 2007. The club also slashed its net debt from £15.02m to £6.81m. Chief executive Peter Lawwell said:

“They’re exceptional figures for a Scottish club, everyone is delighted. It’s slightly down on last year but there are reasons for that - some outwith our control - but we have again turned in a very good set of results.”

Nathan Davies