Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson was today launching his search for a new manager after Gordon Strachan tore up his contract with the struggling club. Gibson revealed his telephone was ringing off the hook once it emerged that Strachan’s stay at the Riverside Stadium was coming to an end last night. The 53-year-old Scot, who succeeded [...]

FYR Macedonia 0 Russia 1 Russia moved top of Euro 2012 qualifying Group B with the narrowest of victories over a hardworking FYR Macedonia at Stadium Skopje. Alexander Kerzhakov put the visitors ahead after just eight minutes and that proved to be the only goal of a game they had been expected to win with [...]

German Martin Kaymer made it an incredible three wins in a row with a three-stroke victory in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews today. Kaymer, winner of the US PGA title in August and the KLM Open in Holland last month, shot a superb closing 66 in cold and windy conditions to leave England’s [...]

ASCOT: 2.30 Pabusar; 3.05 Huntdown; 3.40 Vulcanite YORK: 2.15 Caldercruix; 3.20 Barefoot Lady FAIRYHOUSE: 2.40 Gala Dancer; 5.30 Joe Smooth.

Northern Ireland 0 Italy 0 Former world champions Italy are the latest team to realise you cannot take Northern Ireland lightly. Following a 1-0 victory against Slovenia last month, Nigel Worthington’s side picked up a point at Windsor Park in this Euro 2012 qualifier. Northern Ireland boss Worthington could not hide his delight at the [...]

Selected tips from courses in the UK and Ireland. Tramore: 2.20 SPILL THE BEANS, 3.20 MODEL COUNTY LASS Newbury: 3.20 UNEX EL GRECO, 3.55 ZAHOO Exeter: 2.25 DUNRAVIN STORM Wolverhampton: 7.10 MON VISAGE Worcester: 2.35 OWEN GLENDOWER,3.45 SEA CLIFF

Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun could face “several months” on the sidelines due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, according to the Israeli football federation. The 30-year-old had been included in Israel’s squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Croatia and Greece despite not having featured for his club since their Carling Cup defeat to Newcastle [...]

Shay Given will rekindle memories of one of the proudest moments of his international career when he runs out against Russia on Friday evening. The 34-year-old Republic of Ireland goalkeeper made his debut for his country in a friendly against the Russians at Lansdowne Road in March 1996, and the fact that his side lost [...]

Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has apologized to the club’s fans after the 2-1 defeat to Blackpool at Anfield yesterday. Ian Holloway’s Barclays Premier League newcomers dominated the first half and were more than worth their two-goal half-time lead earned by Charlie Adam and Luke Varney. Sotirios Kyrgiakos’s header pulled one back early in the second [...]

Hibernian this morning announced manager John Hughes has left the club by mutual consent. The Edinburgh club have not won since the opening day of the season and the 2-0 weekend defeat to St Johnstone proved the final straw. Chairman Rod Petrie said: “John has been a hard-working and dedicated manager of Hibernian. As a [...]