Players’ union executive Mick McGuire was today accused of telling lies by denying he had anything to do with Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie’s move to rivals Charlton.

A man strangled and beaten to death in his home was so badly disfigured that his son could only identify him by his moustache, an inquest heard today.

Former Charlton midfielder Matt Holmes was today awarded agreed damages of £250,000 (€371,779) over what a court heard would go down as the “second most expensive tackle in history”.