It has just been announced that 231 Irish jobs are to be axed at retailer Game.

Birmingham are facing a player shortage ahead of tomorrow’s home FA Cup fifth-round replay against Chelsea with eight senior members of the squad cup-tied or injured.

Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa all missed out as Chelsea made four changes for today’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Birmingham.

A Dublin couple who stored over half a million euros worth of cannabis in their home have been given a seven year suspended sentence.

BIRMINGHAM CITY goalkeeper Colin Doyle admits he needs regular football if he is to re-ignite his international career.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has made nine changes to the side beaten 3-1 at Tottenham for the home Carling Cup clash with Notts County.

Birmingham midfielder Lee Boywer has recovered from illness and should be available for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday.

Portsmouth went into the game with a very attack-minded side to face a Birmingham team they beat in the FA Cup on Saturday as manager Avram Grant fielded Frederic Piquionne, Aruna Dindane and Danny Webber from the start.

Birmingham striker Christian Benitez is available for the FA Cup fifth round clash with Derby at Pride Park tomorrow.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish will be forced to change his starting line-up for the first time in 13 Premier League games for the away clash with West Ham tomorrow.

Birmingham’s in-form striker Cameron Jerome will return after injury for the Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

SCOTT DANN returned to his home city to remind both Everton and Liverpool just what they missed out on.

Everton, last season’s beaten finalists, fielded the same side that defeated Manchester City last weekend, for this FA Cup fourth round tie at Goodison Park.

A Chinese national spent half an hour in the Royal Canal on a freezing winter night after being pushed down a steep incline into the water by three teenage thugs who had attempted to rob him.

A paedophile and his Thai bride, who were jailed after refusing to tell a British court where their newborn baby was being kept, were freed today.

Smarty Jones put his connections in seventh heaven as he romped to a fairytale success in the 130th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs last night.

The Child Abuse Commission is seriously flawed, encouraging people who have not been abused to seek compensation and accuse innocent people, it was claimed today.

SATURDAY was an emotional day for Highfield rugby club.

Out-half Wayne Jervis booked Highfield's place in Division Three of the AIL for next season with a magnificent haul of 23 points against Richmond at rain-soaked Clanwilliam.

FA Cup team news