The battle to save Bolton from bankruptcy has gone into added time last night after the League One club’s administrators missed a 5pm deadline to complete a takeover by the Football Ventures consortium.

Six games into his reign as Ireland U21 manager and Stephen Kenny believes his side are gearing up well to reach a first-ever major tournament.

Stephen Kenny cited a gruelling schedule for Ireland U21s not pushing Brazil harder in yesterday’s Toulon Tournament semi-final.

Stephen Kenny insists his U21 heroes will relish their Toulon Tournament semi-final against Brazil.

Stephen Kenny hailed his Ireland U21 side’s quickfire start in yesterday’s demolition of China.

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy and U-21s manager Stephen Kenny praised 'a brilliant exercise' as the U-21s secured a 2-1 victory in a training match.

It will be the first time since 2002 that Ireland have competed in the tournament.

Off go the contenders tonight in the League of Ireland, with the Premier Division title race considered the most open for a number of years.

Former Scotland striker Charlie Nicholas has labelled the Scottish Football Association an "embarrassment" over its failed pursuit of Michael O’Neill.

Newcastle have launched an investigation after an allegation of bullying was made against Under-23s coach Peter Beardsley.

Jose Mourinho is preparing to make a bid for Chelsea's David Luiz, according to reports.

Bristol City upset Premier League Watford to reach the third round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 victory at Vicarage Road.

A year that featured the glorious high of scoring Ireland’s winner against Italy in Lille ended in frustrating fashion for Robbie Brady as the Dubliner was sent off in Norwich City’s 0-0 Championship draw at Brentford on Saturday.

There were some, you know…

The ins and outs from all the Premier League clubs during the transfer window.

Jermain Defoe’s hat-trick spared Sunderland’s blushes as they defeated Exeter 6-3 in a thrilling Capital One Cup clash last night.

Enner Valencia is a doubt for West Ham’s trip to Arsenal on Saturday due to a cut toe suffered after he stood on a teacup.

Eoin Doyle has targeted an Ireland call-up after English football’s current top scorer finalised his €1 million move to Cardiff City last night.

A Galway man has won €421,587.08 from Paddy Power bookmaker when all 20 selections on his €5 accumulator came in on Stephen’s Day.

Despite a disappointing All-Ireland defeat to Kerry, there is still one Donegal man gunning for glory at national level.

Cork City’s title ambitions have received a massive boost as striker John O’Flynn has returned to the club.

England suffered a bizarre disruption during their World Cup opener against Italy on Saturday night.

The Premier League may still be a few weeks away but for Ireland’s lower league players the season starts here.

Capital One Cup Final: Bradford v Swansea City

Saracens are in discussion with Barnet Council over the possibility of staging their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Ulster at their new Allianz Park home.

Former Ajax, Juventus and Barcelona midfielder Edgar Davids has taken up a coaching role with the Football League’s bottom club, Barnet.

He could potentially be sacked by the time the transfer window closes if comments from the club’s global adviser are to be believed but Blackburn manager Steve Kean is on the lookout for a new striker and is looking for players close to these shores.

Adam Le Fondre came off the bench to fire Reading ever closer to the Barclays Premier League at promotion rivals Southampton last night.

The cold snap continued to wreak further havoc to the British sporting calendar today after the npower Championship clash between Peterborough and West Ham was postponed.

Mark McGhee has been named the new manager of npower League Two strugglers Bristol Rovers, the club have confirmed.

MATCHWINNER Antony Gardner believes Crystal Palace are well placed to reach the Carling Cup final after last night’s 1-0 success at Selhurst Park.

Coventry 1 Bristol City 0

MANCHESTER UNITED avoided further humiliation after their derby drubbing as they breezed through last night’s Carling Cup fourth round clash at Aldershot, winning 3-0.

NORWICH suffered a stunning 4-0 home defeat at the hands of npower League One leaders MK Dons as the three newly-promoted Premier League clubs exited the Carling Cup at the second-round stage last night.

ALEX FERGUSON has declared last week’s Community Shield as the start of a phoney war for Premier League supremacy and warned his young troops the “real stuff” begins at The Hawthorns tomorrow.

Emile Sinclair scored twice as League Two minnows Macclesfield topped the bill on a night of Carling Cup upsets with a 2-0 win over npower Championship Hull at the KC Stadium tonight.

Gareth Bale and William Gallas are out of Tottenham’s match against Wigan tomorrow and are serious doubts for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is facing up to the prospect of taking on one of the most feared attacks in world football with just two fit central defenders.

Injury-plagued Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate limped off during a friendly against Barnet yesterday with a calf problem.

Republic of Ireland Under-21s boss Noel King has drafted six new men into his squad for tomorrow’s friendly in Portugal after being hit by a rash of withdrawals.

EDIN DZEKO may have little in the way of in-depth knowledge of the traditions of the FA Cup, but no doubt he will soon discover just how much Roberto Mancini has to thank him for preventing the Manchester City manager from suffering the embarrassment of one of the biggest FA Cup upsets in the modern era at Meadow Lane.

Notts County 1 Manchester City 1