Hockey Ireland chief executive Jerome Pels says the lack of a viable international stadium and the organisation’s financial history – rather than performance levels – scuppered Ireland’s hopes of being part of the Pro League.

QPR 0 Southampton 1: Chris Ramsey speaks to his good friend Tim Sherwood regularly but even he was unable to clarify whether the former Tottenham manager will be taking over at QPR, whose season went from bad to worse when top scorer Charlie Austin limped away from Loftus Road with an ankle injury after their fifth successive defeat.

Manchester City 6 Tottenham 0