Expensive transfer market failures cost Hughes

It was inevitable the Manchester City manager would stand or fall on the basis of his recruitment drive at Eastlands

Football in brief: Newcastle to set crowd record

St James’ Park is likely to break the Coca-Cola Championship attendance record during the Middlesbrough clash

Hughton is a leader at last

Former Ireland international Chris Hughton is leading the football revolution on Tyneside

Alex McLeish the City slicker provides the perfect blueprint

If Craig Levein gets the Scotland job, it is a stepping stone to the Premier League down south

Championship round-up: Church pays for sins

Reading striker has eventful day at Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday lose again and Peterborough climb off the foot of the table

Redknapp to be charged over tax

Tottenham vow to stand behind manager after it is revealed that he faces proceedings from HMRC next month

Premier League - live

Man United lost 3-0 to Fulham while Aston Villa beat Stoke 1-0. Now follow our commentary on Arsenal v Hull City with our Match Tracker

Wales rugby star admits he is gay

Gareth Thomas, the former British Lions captain, is "anxious about people's reactions" after announcing that he is homosexual

Redknapp to punish players after party

Tottenham manager angry after players went behind his back for festive jaunt in Ireland when he said party would not happen

Bruce determined to transform 'typical Sunderland'

Sunderland manager wants his team to become more streetwise after seeing an excellent start to the season unravel alarmingly.

SFA eyes cut-price compensation for Levein

Release clause in the Dundee United manager's contract means Scotland would only have to pay out about £200,000

My perfect weekend: Whitaker clearing final hurdles

London International Horse Show guarantees a greast show to dispel a year of controversy for equestrianism and dominant family at its core

Grant hails Fortuné for hard work and goals

Celtic coach praises striker for graft on training pitch so now he finds the net more often and has silenced his critics

Ancelotti has chance to banish ghost of Mourinho

The Chelsea manager has been given the opportunity to prove a point to his illustrious predecessor and rival

Hughes on brink as City owners lose patience

Manager losing battle to keep job, with City’s hierarchy working to line up a replacement should results over festive period not improve

Liverpool to face Unirea in Europa League

Rafael Benitez will take embattled squad to Romania in round of 32 and admits qualification for Champions League is “more important”

McCarthy: my accusers are lacking integrity

Wolves manager strongly defends selection of weakened team against Manchester United after being criticised by Arsène Wenger

Keane: I should have played rugby

Ipswich Town manager reveals passion for the oval ball game

Stoke open to offers for Beattie

Barclays Premier League club looking to sell forward in January in aftermath of alleged head-butt incident with Tony Pulis, the manager

Football in brief: O’Neill slates fixtures

Aston Villa manager joins Arsène Wenger in saying that schedule of matches offers unfair advantage to some teams

Zola: my lowest point was under Ancelotti

West Ham manager said that time spent under present Chelsea manager at Parma in the Nineties was depressing

Lame duck Hughes suffers from over-expectation

Patrick Barclay says the Manchester City manager is being burdened in his present position by his overachievement at Blackburn Rovers

Wenger remains cautious about Porto threat

Arsenal manager gives lukewarm response to drawing Portuguese champions despite avoiding big guns in Champions League draw

Rash decision on Hughes unlikely by City owners

Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon al-Mubarak would get rid of their manager only if they had lined up a top-class replacement

Beckham delight at United return

Old Trafford legend will be focus of attention when he goes back with AC Milan for Champions League first knockout-round tie