Portsmouth are hoping to sign Liam Lawrence on an emergency loan from Stoke after a permanent deal between the two clubs collapsed.

Stoke will be without Ryan Shawcross for tomorrow’s home FA Cup third round tie against York with the defender serving a suspension following five bookings.

WITH our chief soccer correspondent Liam Mackey still called away on other duties, Allan Prosser rises from the bench for a second week to arbitrate on the slings and arrows of outrageous opinions from our contributors.

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More than 30,000 people are expected to flock to Kilkenny to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ireland’s main comedy festival over the coming bank holiday weekend.