Clermont coach Vern Cotter has claimed his club were Jonny Sexton’s preferred choice in France, but were priced out of a deal by the financial might of Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing Métro.

UNDER normal circumstances Paul Casey would not be paying close attention to what is happening at the Czech Open.

Retief Goosen was left wishing he had changed putters a week ago after he rolled in eight birdies to take the first-round lead at the BMW International Open in Munich today.

FIA president Max Mosley has warned the members of the Formula One Teams’ Association there is no compromise over Friday’s D-day.

The Formula One Teams’ Association is ready to go public and lift the lid on their grievances against the FIA as the battle of wills and words between the two organisations intensifies.

The FIA will today announce what could be a stunning line-up for the Formula One season next year as the budget-cap row rumbles on despite 11th-hour talks.

Chelsea insist they have not made a bid for Real Madrid-bound Valencia striker David Villa.

Three Moons has been ruled out of the Investec Oaks at Epsom on Friday after suffering a setback.

Motherwell are in line for a place in the Europa League qualifying rounds after UEFA confirmed Scotland had earned a sixth European place via the Fair Play League.

West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans is set to sign a new contract with the midlands club – less than a year after making the switch from Livingston.

Gordon Strachan has told Scott Brown he can fulfil his potential at Celtic after his star midfielder was named PFA Scotland’s Player of the Year.

Blackburn’s Matt Derbyshire hopes to seal a permanent switch to Greek double winners Olympiacos.

The Scottish Football Association will meet with Rangers and Falkirk at Hampden on Tuesday, May 5 for initial discussions about their Homecoming Scottish Cup final ticket allocations.

Falkirk will be looking for at least 20,000 tickets from the Scottish Football Association for next month’s Homecoming Scottish Cup final against Rangers at Hampden.

Manchester City striker Robinho will not face police charges following allegations of a serious sexual assault made in January.

Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor have nobody to blame but themselves for their lifetime ban from Scotland and their two-week suspension from Rangers, according to David Edgar, spokesman for the Rangers Supporters Trust.

After only one win in his first 309 European Tour events, Dane Soren Kjeldsen made it two in his last nine in Seville today.

Liverpool are not about to sack manager Rafael Benitez on the brink of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

The Andrei Arshavin saga finally looks to be at an end after today’s Premier League board meeting passed without discussion of the transfer.

Juventus have quashed speculation they are interested in signing West Ham forward Carlton Cole.

THE Royal Bank of Scotland have extended their title sponsorship of the Six Nations Championship for a further four years, stating the agreement meets their “very specific business objectives”.

Former Premier League referee Graham Poll has backed Rafael Benitez’s claim that Alex Ferguson receives lenient treatment from the Football Association.

Aiden McGeady is hoping to draw a line under his bust-up with Celtic boss Gordon Strachan after deciding not to appeal against the punishment imposed on him.

The Scottish Football Association have confirmed they will ask the Scottish Premier League to consider moving fixtures at the start of next season in a bid to help the national team prepare for their World Cup qualifier in Norway.

Aiden McGeady could take take his dispute with Celtic all the way to a hearing with the Scottish Football Association next year.

David Haye will challenge Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight title next summer and has confirmed the fight is "100% certain" to take place in London.

A new Formula One is on the brink of being unearthed following a landmark meeting today in Monte Carlo.

Police today arrested one of 16 suspects who allegedly shouted racist and homophobic chants at a football match.

The Scottish Football Association today confirmed holding “tentative” talks with Wales and Northern Ireland over co-hosting the 2016 European Championships.

Shunsuke Nakamura is set to swap Celtic for a return to Japan next summer after the Scottish champions confirmed he would not be leaving in January.

Derry City chairman Pat McDaid has revealed that he rejected Celtic’s request to take their highly-rated midfielder Niall McGinn on a week’s trial at Parkhead.

A leading shoulder specialist has warned it may take five months for Theo Walcott to fully recover from his shoulder injury.

Players’ chiefs have served notice that they will fight plans for the Premier League’s top stars to be tested for drug use in their own homes.

Liverpool legend John Barnes believes his former club have their best chance in years of overcoming Chelsea in a league game at Stamford Bridge when the two unbeaten Premier League pacesetters clash this weekend.

Jacques Rogge has confirmed he will run for another term as president of the International Olympic Committee.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is hoping to have Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso fit for the vital Barclays Premier League summit meeting with Chelsea on Sunday.

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks remains insistent he has no intention of selling the club despite their plans to build a new stadium being thwarted.

The identity of Europe's next Ryder Cup captain will not be known until January 2009 at the earliest.

Amir Khan will bank on the experience of top American trainer Freddie Roach to get his career back on track after his stunning 54 second knockout defeat to Breidis Prescott in Manchester earlier this month.

Scotland manager George Burley gave his approval to the 4 Associations Tournament which will involve his team, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in spring 2011.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley’s so-far fruitless search for a buyer for the club means he may have to appoint a new manager and try to quell fan unrest before he is in a position to sell.

Max Mosley has offered Lewis Hamilton his personal backing in this year’s Formula One world title race.

ROY KEANE last night heaped praise on Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni adding that he was unqualified to question the legendary Italian.

Gianfranco Zola has agreed a three-year deal with West Ham to become the club’s next manager.