Surrey are confident that discarded England batsman Kevin Pietersen will sign a new contract at The Oval.

The county will open negotiations with the 33-year-old once a severance package with the England and Wales Cricket Board is agreed. Surrey believe Pietersen is happy at The Oval and that they can offer a competitive deal while still obeying the £2m salary cap.

It is not yet known which formats of the game the deal will include. Pietersen was told by the ECB on Monday that he is no longer part of the national team's plans. Now, he could opt to become a 'freelance' Twenty20 cricketer, playing only the shortest form for Surrey and in other leagues around the world.

BBC Sport's Ollie Williams, external ‏at the Iceberg Skating Palace in Sochi for the start of the figure skating team competition: The late rush has not materialised. The Iceberg is hollow. Maybe half full as the skaters warm up. Maybe.

- You can watch live coverage of the figure skating at the top of this page.

More reaction to our earlier poser about those managers that you wish your club had not sacked and Liverpool feature heavily.

Image source, Getty Images

Franklin C Ejenma: Liverpool have gone far backwards since they sacked Rafael Benitez. They were every team's worst nightmare in the Champions League but now, do Liverpool fans know what Champions League is? I doubt it.

Lee Williamson: Houllier and Benitez in equal measure. Because they were both meticulous and successful, and both said it how it was.

Ben Elliott: Kenny Dalglish. Yes, we were bad in the league but he led us to two cup finals, one of which we won.

Join in the debate on our Facebook page, external or on Twitter, using the hashtag #bbcsportsday.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes claims his squad has been strengthened since Kenwyne Jones left.

Jones joined Cardiff in a swap deal involving Peter Odemwingie last week after a troubled final month at the Britannia Stadium that saw the Trinidad and Tobago international fined two weeks' wages after making himself unavailable for the Premier League game against Liverpool on January 12.

Hughes said: "Kenwyne was frustrated because he wasn't playing. I said at the time I didn't think it was the correct way to go about it. He will say he was justified because he got a move and a longer contract.

"When you enter a (transfer) window, the key is at the end of it you want to be better than you were when you entered it. I think we are in better shape now than we were at the beginning."

Garry Monk, who will take charge of Swansea against Cardiff on Saturday after Michael Laudrup's dismissal, tells a news conference: "I've always thought about managing and coaching since I was a young player.

"I've been taking the academy kids in recent times and it's something I've been gearing myself up for. It's not the way I thought it would happen, but it has happened and I couldn't be prouder to lead the team."

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Sport's Anna Thompson in Sochi: "Aimee Fuller and Jenny Jones are at the Team GB welcome reception just hours after competing in slopestyle.

"Fuller says she was chilled about competing but knows she's got to put a big effort in on Sunday to get through to the final. 'I'm not going to hold back. I need to show everyone what I can do,' she says.

"The athletes have been addressed by HRH Princess Anne and a video message from David Cameron telling the whole country is behind them as they aim for their 'personal milestones'. Now Lord Coe is talking."

Image source, BBC Sport

Inverness win their fight to allow Josh Meekings to play in the League Cup final.

The club succeeded in their wrongful dismissal claim following the defender's sending-off in the 90th minute of their semi-final victory over Hearts.

A Scottish Football Association disciplinary tribunal downgraded his red card for a foul on Scott Robinson, which referee John Beaton deemed violent conduct, to a yellow for "unsporting behaviour - deliberately tripping". Meekings will now be able to face Aberdeen at Celtic Park on 16 March.

Image source, PA

As well as the moguls, which is ongoing at the moment at the Winter Olympics, the men's short program event in the figure skating team competition will begin at 15:30 GMT.

Britain's Matthew Parr, 23, will be in action. Find out more about figure skating with our video about the event.

Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa admits he has been "very irritated" by his own form this season.

Kagawa, 24, scored a stunning hat-trick against Norwich in 2012-13, but is yet to score in 2013-14.

"I still haven't scored any goals this season so I've felt very irritated," Kagawa tells Japan's Sky PerfecTV. "This is the first time in my career that I haven't been able to produce so it's disappointing. I pressure myself to score in every game but some days it feels like I just can't win. I know I have to overcome that."

Norwich defender Joseph Yobo, who has signed on loan from Fenerbahce until the end of the season, tells a news conference: "I had a few options, but when I heard from Norwich City it was easy for me to make the decision.

"I'm ready to play if the gaffer [Chris Hughton] needs me. I'm very experienced so if called upon I will do my best. Manchester City are a great team of course, but it's 11 men versus 11 men. Anything can happen on Saturday."

Norwich City entertain Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday and Canaries manager Chris Hughton says: "Manchester City can score goals at will but it's a really good challenge for us. We have to put everything together and look forward to it.

"We know that we'll have a fantastic crowd behind us - we have to give them a performance to cheer about. Ryan Bennett is a doubt for Saturday. He felt his thigh - it will be touch and go."

More thoughts on the worst decision to sack managers and the situation at Swansea, who dismissed ex-boss Michael Laudrup earlier this week. #bbcsportsday

Image source, PA

Gregory P:, external Is there a worse sacking than Brian Clough (pictured left, with assistant manager Peter Taylor) leaving Derby County? Only a year or so after leading us to the European Cup semis.

Brian Clough at Derby: June 1967 - October 1973. Games in charge: 321. Wins: 153.

Andrew Priestley:, external Swansea have been poor, but there's no doubting Laudrup's managerial ability. It's yet another short-sighted knee-jerk sacking.

Gav Sanders:, external Can't get my head around the Laudrup sacking. If I were a Swans fan I'd be worried they maybe dragged into a relegation scrap.

England Squash & Racketball announces it will award equal prize money to both men and women at the 2014 National Squash Championship, which takes place at the National Squash Centre in Manchester between 10-16 February.

Jim Lord, operation's director at England Squash & Racketball says: "We are delighted to announce that the prize money for the 2014 National Squash Championships in Manchester will be equal for both men and women.

"We are determined to play our part in raising the profile of the women's tour, and if at all possible contribute to a longer term commercial strategy that will influence increases to women's prize money."

Earlier today are #QSTeaser from @QofS_Official was: Name the eight Winter Olympic host cities that end in a vowel?

The answers to the #QSTeaser are in order… Oslo, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Grenoble, Sapporo, Sarajevo, Albertville, Nagano and Sochi

Image source, AFP

We are back under way in Sochi, so click on the video at the top of the page to see the action from the women's moguls competition.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew says he is sad to see director of football Joe Kinnear leave the club.

Kinnear, 67, resigned earlier this week after he failed to make a single permanent signing during more than seven months in the post.

"I'm just sad to see anybody lose their job, as Joe has. He did a lot of good work here," said Pardew. "But that decision was the board's decision and we have to now work towards getting us and our position in the league more secure. My job is actually the next game and that's what I'm focusing on."

Paul O'Connell and Gordon D'Arcy are back in the Ireland team for Saturday's eagerly anticipated Six Nations clash against Wales in Dublin.

Skipper O'Connell is named in the starting line-up after missing the win over Scotland with a chest infection.

The Munster second row comes in for Dan Tuohy after resuming training with the rest of the Irish squad on Thursday. D'Arcy, who was also ruled out of his side's opening game, replaces Ulster's Luke Marshall at inside centre.

Image source, Getty Images

More thoughts on managers you wish your club had not sacked.

Sam Clark on Facebook: Mick McCarthy at Wolves. We were a joke without him and paid the price with two relegations.

McCarthy at Wolves: June 2006 - February 2012. Games: 270. Won: 104.

Peter Riley on Twitter:, external Alan Irvine at Preston North End. First season got a Championship play-off semi-final. Sacked next Christmas. Three poor managers & relegation followed.

Irvine at Preston: November 2007 - December 2009. Matches in charge 59, won 24.

Keep your suggestions coming in to us on Twitter, using #bbcsportsday, or leave a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

Coming up at 14:00 GMT from Sochi is the qualification for the women's moguls - freestyle skiing which involves a descent down a bumpy slope with athletes also required to perform two jumps on the way down.

And the competition will also have sibling rivalry with the three Dufour-Lapoint sisters all hoping to win Olympic medals for Canada

Maxime, 24, Chloe, 22, and Justine, 19, will all be action with Maxime and Justine making their Games debut

The BBC caught up with the sisters in Montreal just before they headed to Russia. Find out more about moguls by watching our guide to the sport.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Manchester City's loss to Chelsea on Monday proves nobody is "invincible" in the race for the Premier League title.

Wenger believes his side are mentally and physically "prepared" for their own run of tough fixtures, starting with Liverpool on Saturday and including a home game against Manchester United and a Champions League knockout tie against Bayern Munich.

The Gunners boss goes on to say he "wants to convince people we have the quality" and desire to win every game. A clip from Wenger's news conference earlier today is now available to be watched.