"Is the battle of the managers as exciting as the battle of the players on the pitch?" Graeme Souness glared the lad down, shaking his head.

A security company said to have accidentally left a dummy bomb at Old Trafford that triggered an evacuation is facing calls for a full inquiry.

Louis van Gaal admits Manchester United’s disappointing Premier League campaign could reach a crescendo in this weekend’s derby against City - not that the Dutchman is feeling any pressure.

Cork GAA chiefs had to deny allegations a proposed county junior hurling championship was being “railroaded through” at last night’s county board meeting at Nemo Rangers.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he remains unfazed by his inability to register a single victory over Jose Mourinho in 13 attempts.

Arsene Wenger has dismissed comments made by Philip Harris that Arsenal could buy virtually any player in the world.

Sunderland 0 Leicester 0: Leicester players are backing both Nigel Pearsons for manager of the year awards after the Foxes completed perhaps the greatest of all escapes. That’s one for the man we see in public, and another for the real Pearson.

Southampton 1 Ipswich Town 1

Manchester City ended 2014 by announcing that Frank Lampard will stay with them until the end of the season.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has calmed worries about his fitness.

Manager John Caulfield describes this evening’s trip to Athlone as Cork City’s "biggest game of the season" and, no doubt, he’ll have much the same to say about the side’s seven remaining league games after tonight.

Ballymartle 5-12 Blackrock 2-17

Bandon 0-15 Inniscarra 1-11 After extra-time

Six-time Olympic champion cyclist Chris Hoy has again been on the sharp end of abuse from disgruntled football fans after Chelsea supporters took to social media to vent their fury at referee Chris Foy.

Norwich City 1 Cardiff City 1

Alan Pardew has been charged with improper conduct over his clash with Hull midfielder David Meyler, the FA has announced.

Gus Poyet will today become the new manager of troubled Sunderland.

Jim Bolger will take his time with Dawn Approach before formulating a plan for the beaten Investec Derby favourite.

Newcastle have said they are “embarrassed and appalled” by the violent scenes that erupted after the derby defeat by Sunderland as police warned that more needs to be done to tackle disorder in English football.

Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez this afternoon played down reports of a bust-up with his players – insisting it was business as usual ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at Middlesbrough.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp lambasted his players tonight after an embarrassing FA Cup defeat to third-tier MK Dons that further highlights their need for reinforcements.

Everton manager David Moyes hit out at the officials after his side conceded a controversial penalty in a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Manchester City.

Theo Walcott hopes he can establish himself back in the Arsenal starting line-up after helping to secure a Champions League point at Schalke last night.

Mark Clattenburg was stood down from refereeing for a week today after the Football Association launched an investigation into allegations he used “inappropriate language” towards Chelsea stars John Obi Mikel and Juan Mata.

Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote will miss out on tomorrow night’s Europa League play-off second leg clash with Atromitos as he continues his fight for fitness.

Leeds have completed the signing of Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Kenny from QPR for an undisclosed fee.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart thought he had scored an unbelievable winner for Manchester City when his injury-time header was pushed wide of the post as Sporting Lisbon held on to dump City out of the Europa League on away goals last night.

The Premier League will investigate whether it is feasible to bring in goal-line technology for next season ahead of a July decision by football’s law-makers.

Sunderland winger James McClean has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad for the friendly clash with the Czech Republic later this month.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini appears ready to welcome Carlos Tevez back into the fold and aid his side’s Barclays Premier League title bid.

Stoke have lost their appeal to the Football Association against defender Robert Huth’s red card received during Saturday’s home clash with Sunderland and the player must now serve a three game ban.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill has launched a stout defence of midfielder David Meyler after he was accused of play-acting to get Robert Huth sent off.

Newcastle 2 Blackburn 1

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has laughed off the latest controversy surrounding fiery striker Mario Balotelli.

STRUGGLING?

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas was tonight fined £12,000 and warned as to his future conduct by the Football Association over his attack on referee Chris Foy after the west London derby defeat away to QPR.

FOOTBALL’s Premier League claimed a partial victory yesterday despite losing a European court case against a pub landlady who used a foreign decoder to screen live matches at 3pm on Saturdays.

TO apply some context to this headline result in Fermoy on Saturday, one should underline that this is only the second Cork SFC game Nemo Rangers have lost over the past five years.

The riots in London this week have forced the postponement of Tottenham’s Barclays Premier League opener at home to Everton, Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has confirmed.

MANCHESTER UNITED remain hopeful of signing Samir Nasri although Arsenal say they have not received a formal bid for the French midfielder.

Carlos Tevez insists he is putting his family first by confirming his intention to leave Manchester City.

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard believes new signing Jordan Henderson has the ability to succeed him as the team’s driving force.

CARLO ANCELOTTI last night learnt just how ruthless Roman Abramovich could be after being sacked barely an hour after Chelsea’s final game of the season.