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.

Ireland can secure second place in their European Under-21 Championship qualification group by beating Turkey at home in August after claiming a draw against leaders Italy yesterday at the Showgrounds in Sligo.

English football will pay its respects to Wales manager Gary Speed this weekend following his death at the age of 42.

A new survey revealing the true cost of attending games in England and Scotland has come up with some interesting findings, writes Martyn Ziegler

Paul Buckle has left Torquay to take up the vacant managerial position at Bristol Rovers.

Manchester United and non-league Crawley will meet at Old Trafford in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

RYAN BABEL has apologised for comments he made about referee Howard Webb in the aftermath of Liverpool‘s FA Cup exit to Manchester United.

Manchester United’s reward for beating Liverpool today is an FA Cup fourth-round clash at League One side Southampton.

Today’s Barclays Premier League matches at Wigan and Liverpool have both fallen foul of the weather, the clubs have confirmed.

MANCHESTER UNITED and Liverpool will meet in the third round of this season’s FA Cup after the bitter rivals was pitted against each other in last night’s draw.

THE exodus from Cork City continued last night when striker Faz Kuduzovic was unveiled as a new signing by Dundalk.

THERE was no romance in the FA Cup third round tie between Championship sides Ipswich and Blackpool as the latter were reduced to nine men and had manager Ian Holloway dismissed to the stands as they were beaten 2-1 on home turf.

The cold snap continued to bite in the UK this afternoon as a raft of sporting fixtures fell prey to the sub-zero conditions sweeping the country.

DEAN KIELY insists he has not quit international football with Ireland and has claimed Giovanni Trapattoni broke an understanding that he would not be called up just to sit on the bench.

Leeds United face an away tie against Oldham Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup.

ROY KEANE’S Ipswich survived a major scare in the Carling Cup first round last night.

The fourth round of the FA Cup will feature a Merseyside derby after Liverpool and Everton were the first two balls drawn out of the hat.

Roy Keane's Sunderland have been drawn to play Bolton at home in the third round of the FA Cup today.

A LAST-GASP goal from Craig Mackail-Smith gave Peterborough a 1-0 win over Ryman Premier side AFC Hornchurch in the first round of the FA Cup yesterday.

Leeds have been handed a home clash against fellow Coca-Cola League One outfit Northampton following the draw for the first round of the FA Cup.

CHRIS TODD and Danny Stevens both scored twice as Blue Square Premier side Torquay upset League One Yeovil at Plainmoor.

UEFA’s efforts to stamp out racism have been branded “absolutely pathetic” by the father of England Under-21 full-back Liam Rosenior.

Luton have today unveiled former Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell as their new manager.

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has today allowed three players to leave the Barclays Premiership club on loan deals.

Steve Howard’s 12th goal of the season fired Derby six points clear at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship in a match which ended with both managers and a player being sent off.

Fabled FA Cup giantkillers Hereford booked themselves a third-round date in January by beating Coca-Cola League One side Port Vale 4-0 at Edgar Street today.

Birmingham skipper and central defender Kenny Cunningham is poised to return for the the vital Premiership basement battle at St Andrews.

Birmingham central defender Martin Taylor should be back in action in just over a week’s time after a scan on his damaged leg revealed no serious damage.

Veteran Charlton defender Chris Powell plans to give Birmingham winger Jermaine Pennant a run for his money should the pair go head-to-head again at The Valley this weekend.

WOLVES chief executive Jez Moxey believes his club are on to a winner whoever they face in the FA Cup fourth round.

Leyton Orient’s reward for eliminating Fulham is another top-flight opponent from the capital, Charlton, in the fourth round.

The draw for the Fourth Round of the FA Cup is as follows:

Torquay 0 Birmingham 0

The Premier League have claimed the Christmas fixture pile-up is partly due to the four-week build-up desired by Sven-Goran Eriksson for his England players ahead of the World Cup finals.

Newcastle, Blackburn and Bolton all earned the wrath of travelling fans last night after calling off matches at short notice.

NORTHERN Ireland ended the year in style by holding Portugal 1-1. Warren Feeney grabbed the equaliser from a Keith Gillespie cross to cancel out an own goal from Stephen Craigan.

NON-LEAGUE Burscough could face a trip to Peterborough as reward for knocking League One Gillingham out of the FA Cup.

Unibond League Burscough snatched a dramatic injury-time winner to knock League One Gillingham out of the FA Cup and secure a place in the second round.

Tottenham boss Martin Jol will pair strikers Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane together against Grimsby in tomorrow night’s Carling Cup second-round tie.

Rob Hulse struck his fourth goal in as many games to rescue a precious point for Leeds and deny Coca-Cola Championship play-off rivals Millwall victory at the New Den.

Shamrock Rovers have signed French defender Mikel Wolski on a four-month deal.

COCA-COLA League One leaders Luton left it late again to secure victory.

FA Cup giant-killers Slough have a great chance of progressing further after being handed a second-round tie against fellow non-league opponents Yeading in today’s draw.