Any hope that the Birmingham Brummies speedway team would return in 2015 appears to have been extinguished, reports BBC WM's Richard Wilford.

Former owner Tony Mole had been trying to raise the necessary investment for the Brummies to ride in the Elite or Premier League next season. However he has now announced he has been unable to raise sufficient funds, ending his interest in restoring racing to Perry Barr.

The Brummies withdrew from the 2014 Elite League season midway through, only one year after being runners-up in the play-offs.

Dave Houghton is to leave his role as Somerset batting coach after the county's new director of cricket Matthew Maynard decided to take responsibility for the role himself.

Maynard has made his name as a batting coach, having once fulfilled the role with England.

He now intends to make the job part of his brief at Taunton and has let former Zimbabwe captain Houghton go.

Maynard said: "Dave Houghton has a wealth of knowledge and experience which he has freely shared with the players here at Somerset."

First-team coach Micky Bell expects Weston-super-Mare's FA Cup pairing with League One side Doncaster Rovers to bring a "buzz" to the whole town.

The Seagulls, who beat Witham Town in the last round, are currently in the Conference South relegation zone.

Bell told BBC Points West: "I am pleased with it. Obviously I would've loved to have had Bristol City at home, but a League One team is superb.

"I am really happy and hopefully we'll get a full house for the game."

The Gibraltar Football Association has confirmed that the Estadio do Algarve in Faro, Portugal, will remain as the venue for the nation's home Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Gibraltar are currently bottom of Group D and there had been rumours their home matches could be played in London, but the GFA has confirmed the team will continue using the Faro venue, with both the Republic of Ireland (4 September) and Scotland (11 October) set to play them there in 2015.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says midfielder Samir Nasri is in the squad for Wednesday night's League Cup tie against Newcastle.

Nasri has been out for a month after undergoing groin surgery.

However, Frank Lampard is a doubt for Sunday's Manchester derby but could return to face CSKA Moscow in the Champions League next Wednesday.

Powell has admitted that he had lost horses and owners over the case.

"It's a massive relief. Hopefully I get on with training horses now," he said.

"It's been something that's been hanging over me for a year. I understand the BHA have a job to do, and I respect them for that. I knew in my own heart and mind that we'd done nothing wrong.

"I've lost owners and horses over it. It takes its toll. It's hard to get them back, but we'll just have to try to see if we can attract new owners."

Trainer Brendan Powell and former jockey Graham Bradley have been cleared at a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary hearing of breaching the sport's rules.

They faced charges that Bradley - who has never been granted a trainer's licence - was training horses under Powell's name.

The Authority says it will not comment until the independent panel publishes its conclusions.

Powell and Bradley faced the possibility of bans from racing if found guilty.

CSKA Moscow's penalty for their fans' racists chants in last month's Champions League defeat at Roma has been reduced by Uefa's appeal commission.

The Russian champions were originally ordered to play three Champions League home matches behind closed doors and fined 200,000 euros (£158,000) but that has now been reduced to two games - the first was last week against Manchester City - and 100,000 euros (£79,000).

However, they are still banned from selling tickets to their fans for their two remaining away matches.

The England head coach Stuart Lancaster says centre Luther Burrell is almost certain to miss the Test against New Zealand in 10 days time after he injured his hand playing for Northampton in the European Cup last weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

Although Burrell will not need surgery, Lancaster says he is more optimistic than before about the severity of the injury, but he is unlikely to feature against the All Blacks.

"I think it will be tight for New Zealand if we're being honest given the fact that he's not been in camp this week at all," said the coach. "We can possibly get him into camp next week but he wouldn't have done any of the work, and it would be a big step to bring him in."

England selectors have named two provisional 14-man squads with the squads covering separate First Class and one-day legs of the South Africa tour which will include two four-day matches and five 50-over matches against South Africa 'A'.

Seven Yorkshire players are included - batsmen Jonny Bairstow and Gary Ballance as well as opening pair Adam Lyth and Alex Lees and bowlers Jack Brooks, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid

The squad will be coached by Sussex's Mark Robinson, following on from his stint in charge of the Lions in Sri Lanka at the start of this year and the finalised Lions touring party and captain will be confirmed after the England World Cup squad announcement in December.

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Iain Dunton:, external No equality in athletics. Different height hurdles, barriers and different weight projectiles. No parity there.

Jamie Platts, external: I don't think tennis Grand Slams should be equal pay. Men play 5 sets, women 3. Getting paid the same to do less work...

Let us know your thoughts on whether men and women should be paid the same in sport.

Former Warwickshire skipper Ian Westwood is to be awarded a benefit year with the Bears in 2015.

The 32-year-old Birmingham-born opener has just completed 12 seasons with the county, having signed his first professional contract ahead of the 2004 season.

"Ian was brought into the club at an early age and knows as well as anybody how much it means to be a Bear," said Dougie Brown, Warwickshire's director of cricket.

Jonathan Trott has been named in the England Lions squad to tour South Africa in January and February.

The 33-year-old batsman's international career has been on hold since quitting the Ashes tour last winter because of a stress-related illness.

The 2007 world 400m silver medallist Nicola Sanders is to retire from athletics due to injuries.

Image source, Getty Images

"I haven't really competed over the last couple of years and even before that I was struggling with various injuries that stopped me performing at the level I could," the 32-year-old told Athletics Weekly., external

"With all that going in your head you can't really face going through all the training not being able to compete anymore."

Sanders finished second to fellow Briton Christine Ohuruogu in Osaka.

Hereford United have been charged by the Football Association with misconduct under the 'Owners and Directors' Test for clubs.

It is alleged that the former Football League side, who were expelled from the Conference in June for non-payment of debts, has breached a regulation in not submitting a duly completed and signed declaration in respect of Alan McCarthy, the club's majority shareholder.

McCarthy has been charged with misconduct, it being alleged that he has acted as an officer of Hereford United without written confirmation from The FA that he may do so.

Both the club, who now play in the Southern League, and McCarthy have until next week (3 November) to respond to the charges.

Bournemouth defender Baily Cargill has signed a new deal with the Championship club which will keep him at the Goldsands Stadium until 2017.

Cargill, 19, came through the club's academy and has made three appearances this term - all in the League Cup - with his debut coming against Exeter.

He also spent much of last season on loan at Welling and Exeter.

"We like improving young players and promoting them to the first team," said assistant manager Jason Tindall., external

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw believes his side can still win the Premier League despite being 10 points behind leaders Chelsea and in eighth spot in the table.

Ahead of Sunday's trip to champions Manchester City, he said in the Metro:, external "Of course we are still in the title race.

"It's a long season and we are at the start of it. You don't know what will happen during the middle of the season. There will be tough games but we know we are good enough to win them"

Matt Molloy, external: Saw Arsenal destroy Norwich in 06 at Carrow Road. Thierry was imperious.

Tom Leekey:, external England V Portugal in Euro 2000 was all going so well then Luis Figo turned up for the 2nd half, Special.

With the list of Fifa's Ballon d'or nominations released this morning, we want to know who is the best player you have ever seen live?

Shrewsbury Town boss Micky Mellon will be ready for a handshake from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho whether it comes before, after or even during Tuesday's League Cup tie at the Greenhous Meadow.

Mourinho has caused the odd upset by shaking hands before the end of a game.

But Mellon said: "He can come and shake my hand as many times as he likes."