Category Sports News

Rangers have compiled a new shortlist containing more than two candidates after Steven Gerrard ruled himself out of the running for the vacant head coach’s role.

Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl reportedly held talks with the Rangers hierarchy last week, before Gerrard’s withdrawal.

However, Graham Potter, who recently left West Ham United, former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O’Neil and ex-Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick – who had all been linked with the job – are not among the candidates.

Any announcement of a replacement for the sacked Russell Martin is unlikely to come in the next 48 hours.

Gerrard turned down the chance to return, with the timing of the move believed to be behind his decision.

The former Liverpool and England captain held talks with the Scottish Premiership club last week following Russell Martin’s dismissal as head coach.

Those discussions were thought to have gone well but the 45-year-old opted against a second stint in Glasgow.

It leaves the fledgling Rangers hierarchy searching for a head coach to succeed Martin, who lasted just 17 matches after being appointed in June.

They sit eighth in the Scottish top flight, having won just once in their opening seven league matches, with their next game the visit of Dundee United next Saturday.

Martin was appointed on a three-year deal following a takeover of Rangers by a US-based consortium in the summer – led by now-chairman Andrew Cavanagh.

It took Rangers until late September to win in the league and they were humiliated 9-1 on aggregate by Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs.

Scarlets have signed number eight Fletcher Anderson from New Zealand province Crusaders.

The 22-year-old will join Dwayne Peel’s squad in November having won the Super Rugby Pacific title.

He has also three awards for his efforts with Tasman Makos in New Zealand’s top domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship (NPC).

“He’s a powerful, abrasive carrier with a strong work-rate in defence,” said Peel.

Fletcher said: “I have heard very good things from other players in the squad about the direction the team is heading and I’m really excited to get to Llanelli and meet everyone.

England defender Millie Bright has announced her retirement from international football.

The 32-year-old, who was part of England’s European Championship-winning team in 2022, made her senior debut in September 2016 and went on to win 88 caps.

“I’ve been weighing this up for a long time,” Chelsea captain Bright said on Monday’s ‘Rest is Football: Daly Brightness’ podcast.

“It’s one of those decisions no-one can make for you. It’s a feeling and I’m at peace with it.”

Bright missed out as England defended their Euros title in Switzerland in July after ruling herself out of the tournament because she would be unable to “give 100% mentally or physically”.

Over the summer she had successful knee surgery and started counselling sessions, while she said the decision to withdraw from Sarina Wiegman’s squad was “by far the best decision I have ever made”.

“Having the summer to reflect, fix my knee and get my head straight really put things into perspective. As you get older your priorities change. I’ve been craving family time, time with friends and time for myself,” Bright said.

Bright started every game as England won their first major women’s trophy at Euro 2022, and captained Wiegman’s side to the World Cup final a year later, which they lost to Spain.

“I’m incredibly proud and honoured to have played for England for so long. Every single cap has been special and the memories I’ve made – especially with this one sat opposite me – have been some of the best of my life,” Bright said on the podcast, which she co-hosts with her friend and former England team-mate Rachel Daly.

“But yeah, it’s time. It’s the right time for me to call it a day with England.”

On Tuesday, Sarina Wiegman will name her first England squad since the Lionesses retained their title at Euro 2025 – but several key players could be missing.

England face Brazil at Etihad Stadium in a friendly on Saturday, 25 October (17:30 BST), before hosting Australia at Pride Park on Tuesday, 28 October (19:00 GMT).

However, it has been a difficult start to the season for some Lionesses who have been recovering from lengthy injuries.

It’s been a busy few months for the Lionesses since their Euro 2025 success as the Women’s Super League season restarted in September, before the Women’s Champions League main phase began.

US-based players Jess Carter, Esme Morgan and Anna Moorhouse all started league matches for Gotham FC, Washington Spirit and Orlando Pride respectively just a week after the final.

Five Lionesses made the top 10 at the Ballon d’Or awards last month, including striker Alessia Russo, who finished third in the rankings.

Among those joining Russo in the top 10 for the main prize was Chloe Kelly (fifth), Leah Williamson (seventh), Lucy Bronze (ninth) and Hannah Hampton (10th).

Wiegman was named women’s coach of the year, while Hampton collected the Yashin Trophy for best female goalkeeper.

Striker Michelle Agyemang, who scored vital goals in the Euro 2025 quarter-final and semi-final victories, was nominated for the Kopa Trophy to celebrate the best young player, but that went to Spain winger Vicky Lopez.

And on Monday afternoon, Chelsea captain Millie Bright, 32, retired from international football – having previously withdrawn from Euro 2025 selection.

Bright won 88 caps during her nine-year England career and captained the team to the World Cup final in 2023.

As well as Bright, Wiegman will be without captain Williamson because of a knee injury, while Chelsea forward Lauren James is out with an ankle issue. Neither Williamson nor James have played this season.

Both of their injuries were sustained at Euro 2025 – alongside Lucy Bronze’s fractured tibia – but she was a late substitute in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday so could receive a call-up.

There was a boost for Chelsea defender Niamh Charles, who recovered from an ankle injury to start Sunday’s victory and will be hoping to make the squad.

However, Manchester City forward Lauren Hemp has not played since their win over Tottenham on 19 September because of an ankle injury.

The biggest decision for Wiegman is how she will replace Williamson and Bright in defence.

Their absences in defence could be a chance for Wiegman to hand Arsenal teenager Katie Reid a first senior call-up.

The 19-year-old has been excellent so far in her breakout season, keeping fellow England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy out of the side in the process.

Wiegman could also give Manchester United captain Maya le Tissier an opportunity at centre-back in these friendlies, despite preferring her at full-back for England.

Elsewhere, she has decisions to make on the attacking front with Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones continuing her impressive form with four goals in six games.

Could she be given a run ahead of Arsenal’s Russo, who has two goals and two assists in the WSL this season?

There is also an opportunity to start teenage sensation Agyemang, who burst on to the scene at Euro 2025 with crucial goals off the bench.

“She’s currently leading the line for us and there’s an expectation to score goals as the leading number nine. It’s stuff she’s learning to deal with – these new pressures,” said Brighton manager Dario Vidosic, who is working with Agyemang during her loan spell from Arsenal.

“On top of that, she has the national team. It’s a lot for a young player to take on but we’re just trying to get her to focus on her football, her development and most importantly to enjoy it as a young player.

“There is obviously natural pressures to play well but it should always be with enjoyment. It shouldn’t be a burden [to play for your country] and definitely not for a 19-year-old.”

It would be the perfect period to experiment and build experiences for youngsters, with England’s last four matches of 2025 being friendlies.

Italian club Como say “sacrifice is essential” to ensure the “survival” of Serie A amid the financial dominance of the Premier League as they press ahead with plans to play AC Milan in Perth, Australia.

This month Uefa “reluctantly” approved next February’s fixture between the sides taking place outside Italy because there is no legal framework to stop it.

Spanish La Liga clubs Villarreal and Barcelona are also set to face each other in Miami in December having received permission from European football’s governing body.

A lengthy statement from Como made the case for the fixture being moved to Australia and noted Serie A’s domestic broadcast deal was worth £780m a year.

They said the £12bn the Premier League will receive for the cycle between 2025 and 2029 for domestic and overseas rights means the league will “dominate the global stage”.

Como said the “imbalance” gave English football “enormous financial advantage” and the decision to stage the match overseas is “not a matter of greed”.

“We understand that this journey may demand sacrifices in convenience, comfort, and routine,” said Como.

“Yet sometimes sacrifice is essential, not for individual benefit but for the greater good, for growth, and above all for the survival of the league itself.

“Most clubs in Italy are not profitable. It is about ensuring survival, and building a future where Serie A remains competitive, respected, and globally admired.”

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin previously said it was a “regrettable” decision to allow two European league matches to be played abroad and maintained it “will not set a precedent”.

The Football Supporters Europe (FSE) federation was critical of the plans when discussed at a Uefa meeting last month.

FSE said at the time that European football “belongs in our stadiums, cities and communities” and that “one domestic match abroad is one too many”.

Como, who are planning to invite 50 fans to join them on the journey to Australia, said the overseas fixture was necessary to help regenerate interest in Italy’s top flight.

“We want to restore Serie A to the glory it enjoyed in the 1990s, when Italian football was the most watched, most respected, and most loved league in the world,” added Como.

Rory McIlroy breaks new ground by playing in India this week as he returns to action for the first time since the Ryder Cup.

While the Northern Irishman widens his golfing horizons, the DP World Tour enters the final phase of this year’s Race to Dubai. McIlroy is in pole position to secure the season-long title for the fourth season running and seventh time overall.

There are only three more events following the India Championship; the following week’s Genesis Championship in South Korea – which concludes the ‘Back Nine’ phase of the schedule – and then the final two tournaments in the Middle East.

These big money ‘play-off’ events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are reserved for the top 70 and then top 50 in the standings.

Comfortably outside the top 70, at first glance it would appear both need high finishes from their trip to the Delhi Golf Club to keep alive their seasons. But, in fact, they are already assured of their places in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

This is due to a little publicised but pragmatic loophole whereby members of Europe’s Ryder Cup team are also considered eligible for next month’s closing tournaments.

Fleetwood, who won the PGA Tour’s play-offs with his stirring victory at August’s Tour Championship in Atlanta, lies 94th in the European tour’s season-long table. Lowry, who sank the putt that retained the Ryder Cup, is 155th.

Other European team-mates who can potentially benefit are Ludvig Aberg (72nd) and Sepp Straka (147th).

This might question the integrity of a play-off system, which by definition is supposed to bring cut-throat competitive jeopardy, but this scenario also illustrates realities faced by the Wentworth-based DP World Tour.

They are reliant on big backers such as DP World, who are also the title sponsors of this week’s event in India. They need the biggest stars at their biggest events to justify the investment, which runs to millions of dollars.

Fleetwood has enjoyed one of his most successful seasons, capped by his first win on American soil at East Lake just under two months ago.

He is one of European golf’s superstars and, frankly, it would be unthinkable to stage the 2025 season finale without him.

Common sense trumps competitive integrity, even though the world number five – a Dubai resident – has reserved his best performances for events that do not count on his home tour.

Fleetwood has so far played only four DP World Tour events and failed to finish in the top 20 at any of them; the Dubai Desert Classic, Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The majors also count on the Race to Dubai and his share of 16th at the Open was his only top 20 in the big four tournaments. But on the American-based circuit he enjoyed seven top-five finishes.

Fleetwood was also Europe’s top points scorer at Bethpage last month. It would be absurd for him not to be taking his place alongside the tour’s leading stars at the end of the season.

While in the past the PGA and European tours were deadly rivals they are now inextricably linked thanks to the strategic alliance that underpins DP World Tour prize funds.

While Marco Penge, last week’s winner of the Open De Espana, has moved into McIlroy’s wing mirrors as his closest rival at the top of the Race to Dubai, much of the interest for the rest of the season will have an American bias.

The narrative will be driven by the scramble for 10 places on the PGA Tour for those who do not already have playing rights in the US. Penge, with three DPWT wins, is assured of what is widely regarded as ‘promotion’ to the US circuit.

The Clitheroe-based pro, who also guaranteed invites to the Masters and Open with his Spanish success, is not in the India field but will mount a final push to try to overhaul McIlroy at the top of the standings.

And Dan Brown, the man Penge beat in the Madrid play-off, is one of four other Britons in the thick of the battle for a 2026 PGA card.

Yorkshireman John Parry and the Bath duo of Jordan Smith and Laurie Canter also currently occupy spots that would yield a golden ticket for next year.

Some observers see this scenario as evidence that the DP World Tour is now nothing more than a feeder for big brother on the other side of the pond.

But the DP World Tour argue it is a vital mechanism that underpins their schedule, a necessary and enticing element that maximises playing opportunities for its members.