Four young children died in a house fire in a British village last night, police said today.

Celtic have completed the signing of striker Dion Dublin.

Legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg has ’lost a great friend’ in the Red Devils’ 1963 FA Cup-winning captain Noel Cantwell, who has died in Peterborough aged 73.

Former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland captain Noel Cantwell has died aged 73.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell insists the club have not given up hope of retaining the services of striker Craig Bellamy next season.

Coventry will play their football at the Ricoh Arena from next season after the Japanese IT giants signed a £10m (€14.7m) sponsorship deal.

Police are to investigate allegations that Wolves striker Kenny Miller made obscene gestures and used abusive language towards Coventry fans.

Coventry 2 Nottingham Forest 0

Wigan climbed to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship with a gutsy 2-1 victory over relegation-haunted Coventry at Highfield Road.

Coventry today appointed Micky Adams as their new manager.

Stand-in Coventry boss Adrian Heath did his chances of landing the job on a permanent basis no harm as his side lifted some of the gloom around Highfield Road with an FA Cup third-round victory over Crewe.

Peter Reid has parted company with Coventry by mutual consent.

READING gained ground on the Coca-Cola Championship pacesetters yesterday as they took advantage of defeats for the top three teams.

Coca-Cola Championship bottom side Rotherham are still without a win this season after blowing a two-goal lead for the second time this week.

MARK HUGHES found out how tough club management can be as his Blackburn side were dumped out of the Carling Cup by Bournemouth last night.

Robbie Keane brought his shooting boots as Tottenham crushed Oldham 6-0 at Boundary Park.

Birmingham have agreed to sell striker Stern John to Coventry for £200,000 (€293,446).

Nottingham Forest booked their place in the second round of the Carling Cup on the night the club’s English top-flight record of 42 matches unbeaten was broken by Arsenal.

Eoin English

Gardaí in Cavan are investigating the death of a man who drowned today in a lake.

Ireland's Barry Quinn is among the casualties as new Coventry manager Peter Reid wielded the axe at Highfield Road by releasing nine players.

Notts County boss Gary Mills has confessed to feeling a mixture of shock and dismay following the surprise axing of Coventry counterpart and former colleague Eric Black.

First Division Coventry have parted company with manager Eric Black.

Norwich marched on at the top of the Nationwide First Division with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Coventry at Highfield Road.

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock is hoping the FA Cup can provide his team with more sweet memories to erase the bitterness of their ailing promotion push.

Scarborough manager Russell Slade will keep his players’ minds off a possible FA Cup fourth-round glamour tie with Chelsea – with Stafford Rangers up next for his side in the FA Trophy.

Sunderland midfielder Colin Healy was today due to undergo surgery to repair his broken leg.

COVENTRY CITY boss Gary McAllister insisted Youssef Safri’s leg-breaking tackle on Sunderland’s Irish midfielder Colin Healy was “absolutely accidental”.

Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy criticised Youssef Safri for the tackle that landed Colin Healy in hospital with a serious injury.

A serious injury to Irish international Colin Healy overshadowed a gripping game between Sunderland and Coventry at Highfield Road.

Coventry 1 Sunderland 1

Coventry have pulled out of the deal to sign Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli, blaming stalling tactics by the Italian for the collapse of negotiations.

Fabrizio Ravanelli has opened talks with Coventry and is expected to undergo a medical at Highfield Road.

IRELAND manager Brian Kerr last night welcomed the return of midfielder Stephen McPhail to regular first-team action with Nottingham Forest after three seasons in the background with Leeds United.

Everton’s Lee Carsley and Blackburn’s Steven Reid have been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad for the vital Group 10 Euro 2004 qualifier against Russia at Lansdowne Road on September 6.

Nottingham Forest have signed Leeds and Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen McPhail on a three-month loan deal.

THE FAI are involved in a tug-of-war with German authorities over the availability of Borussia Dortmund player Patrick Kohlman for Monday’s U-21 friendly international between Ireland and Germany in Turners Cross.

An unfaithful wife and her pensioner lover were jailed today for their part in an “evil plot” to kill her husband.

Coventry have confirmed they are on the brink of clinching a loan deal for Blackburn striker Matt Jansen.

Coventry striker Julian Joachim has suffered yet another injury setback – just hours before he was due to return in the reserves.

Gary McAllister's Coventry are still in negotiations with Fulham as they try to lure John Collins to Highfield Road on a month's loan.

Coventry player-boss Gary McAllister has been named Nationwide First Division Manager of the Month for December.

Dean Holdsworth has signed for Coventry City on a free transfer from Bolton Wanderers until the end of the season.

FIRST DIVISION leaders Portsmouth suffered a rare blip yesterday as Crystal Palace left Fratton Park with a point from a 1-1 draw.