Summary

  • Leicester boss Pearson refuses to discuss sacking confusion

  • Nine Premier League manager news conferences

  • Six Nations news conferences

  • England beat West Indies in warm-up match

  • Have your say on the day's sports news via #bbcsportsday

  1. Missives from the mailbagpublished at 14:56 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    At #bbcsportsday Alex Watson writes: "Please could you remove the picture of Harry Kane from the Sportsday website? It hurts me every time I look at it. Thanks #AFC."

  2. Beckham launches new Unicef charitypublished at 14:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    David BeckhamImage source, AFP

    David Beckham has launched a new global project to help children in danger.

    Humanitarian charity Unicef's 7 fund - named after the former England footballer's shirt number - will focus on seven countries where youngsters are at risk.

    Beckham, 39, said: "My fame, my success on the field, opens doors for exactly things like this - the protection of children, the protection of women."

  3. Skuse fine with Ipswich fans booingpublished at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Ipswich Town midfielder Cole Skuse has said he can relate to supporters who choose to boo after a poor result.

    Town have dropped to fifth after one win in their last five league games and there were boos from some fans at Portman Road after their last home game - a 0-0 draw with struggling Wigan.

    "I'm sure when I was a young boy watching Bristol City and they had lost at home or drawn 0-0, I'd have thrown a few hotdogs or a few boos at the time," Skuse told BBC Radio Suffolk.

  4. Poyet hails Defoe influencepublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Sunderland boss Gus Poyet says of recent signing Jermain Defoe: "We are a different team with Jermain. I think it makes the team stronger, you know if you do your job Jermain will score goals. It's important to keep him fit but at the same time it's important to play him as much as possible."

  5. Altrincham unveiling role for Fergusonpublished at 14:32 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Sir Alex Ferguson at Altrincham

    Sir Alex Ferguson was guest of honour at Conference outfit Altrincham today.

    Ferguson opened the Robins' £750,000 Community Sports Hall, which has been partly funded by a grant from the Football Foundation.

    The Hall is already being used by local groups, in addition to pre and post match hospitality. Ferguson was joined at the event by former Manchester City striker Dennis Tueart.

  6. Senna and McLaren together againpublished at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    The Senna name will be back on a McLaren this year after Brazilian Bruno Senna, nephew of three-time F1 champion Ayrton, was announced as a factory McLaren GT sportscar driver on Monday.

    "It is a great honour for me to be joining McLaren; a team my uncle enjoyed such huge success with," the 31-year-old said in a statement.

    Ayrton SennaImage source, Getty Images

    The former F1 driver - who contested 46 races for HRT, Renault, Williams between 2010 and 2012 - will race in selected events with the new McLaren 650S GT3 car.

    Ayrton Senna won his F1 titles with McLaren in 1988, 1990 and 1991. He died in a crash at Imola in 1994 after moving to Williams.

  7. Scottish Cup quarter-final drawpublished at 14:14 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Celtic will travel to Tannadice to face Dundee United in the only all-Premiership tie in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.

    Scottish Championship outfit Raith Rovers, who knocked out Rangers on Sunday, are away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

    Lowland League side Spartans will have an Edinburgh derby against Hibernian if they defeat Berwick Rangers in a replay. Queen of the South host Championship rivals Falkirk.

    The ties will be played over the weekend of 7/8 March, with the final on 30 May.

    Full draw:

    Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Raith Rovers

    Queen of the South v Falkirk

    Hibernian v Berwick Rangers or Spartans

    Dundee United v Celtic

  8. Chameera called in by Sri Lankapublished at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Sri Lanka have called up Dushmantha Chameera as a replacement for the injured Dhammika Prasad at the World Cup.

    Chameera, a 23-year-old fast bowler, has represented Sri Lanka in only one one-day match, taking two wickets against New Zealand last month. Prasad was ruled out last Saturday because of a fractured hand.

    Chameera's inclusion is subject to approval by the International Cricket Council technical committee.

  9. Greatest ODI XI - final vote now openpublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    BBC Radio 5 live

    It's almost here... the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

    And, to mark the competition's opening on the weekend of 14 February, BBC Sport is conducting a vote on the world's greatest one-day international XI. The contenders have been nominated by the Test Match Special team.

    Voting on four categories took place last week, with two votes taking place today. The vote result won't be revealed until the Tuffers & Vaughan show on BBC Radio 5 live tonight and on the BBC Sport website.

    We've already had pace bowlers today, and now the final vote - on spinners - is live. You can vote for one player, with the top one being selected as the team's spin bowler. Terms and conditions are here. Happy voting!

    View the full list of contenders here.

  10. Pearson to face howling press packpublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Dog at typewriterImage source, Getty Images

    At one point on Sunday night it looked like Nigel Pearson might be making the long, lonely walk out of Leicester City.

    It reminded us about the story, external of Pearson, out hiking in Romania, backed up against a tree fending off a pack of wild dogs with a walking stick by poking them in the eyes.

    Not unlike one of his more prickly news conferences, we reckon.

    Perhaps there'll be similar scenes when he deals with the press at 14:30 GMT.

  11. Saints swoop for Haggartypublished at 13:54 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Reigning Super League champions St Helens have made a surprise swoop for Dewsbury prop Matthew Haggarty.

    The 24-year-old former Whitehaven, Barrow and Oldham forward has signed a three-year contract with Saints but has been loaned back to the Championship club ahead of Friday's opening game against Sheffield Eagles.

    Saints chief executive Mike Rush said: "We're delighted to have agreed terms with Matthew. He is a forward of promise and we look forward to seeing him develop within our system."

  12. Greatest ODI XI - Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)published at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Daniel VettoriImage source, AFP

    Injury has been the only threat to Vettori's presence in the New Zealand one-day side since his debut in 1997. Heading into his fourth World Cup, he continues to demonstrate the intelligence, flight and changes of pace that have seen him become - by some distance - the most successful left-arm spinner to have played limited-overs cricket.

    ODIs: 286; Wickets: 290; Average: 32.30; Economy rate: 4.13

  13. Greatest ODI XI - Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan)published at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Saqlain MushtaqImage source, Getty Images

    The figures make impressive reading. The second most prolific off-spinner to have played ODI cricket, Saqlain was the the quickest to reach 100, 150, 200 and 250 wickets. He took 65 wickets in 1996 and 69 the following year - tallies that have not been bettered - and his average cannot be bettered by any of the other 34 players to take 200 wickets. He is also the man credited with introducing the 'doosra' that went on to become almost a staple part of an offie's armoury.

    ODIs: 169; Wickets: 288; Average: 21.78; Economy rate: 4.29

  14. Greatest ODI XI - Anil Kumble (India)published at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Anil KumbleImage source, Getty Images

    Kumble spent 17 years as an integral member of the India attack, applying the brakes to the run-rate with his unfailingly accurate brand of quickish leg-breaks and top-spinners. In the 18 games he played across four World Cups, only twice did he fail to take a wicket.

    ODIs: 271; Wickets: 337; Average: 30.89; Economy rate: 4.30

  15. Greatest ODI XI - Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)published at 13:42 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Muttiah MuralitharanImage source, Getty Images

    The statistics alone are staggering: the all-time leading ODI wicket-taker, 10 five-wicket hauls, and 68 victims at an average of under 20 in 40 matches across five World Cups. But perhaps the greatest legacy of the man with the most flexible wrist in cricket was helping transform Sri Lanka from also-rans to one of the most feared sides in the one-day arena.

    ODIs: 350; Wickets: 534; Average: 23.08; Economy rate: 3.93

  16. Greatest ODI XI - Shane Warne (Australia)published at 13:41 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Shane WarneImage source, AP

    Other bowlers may have played more matches, taken more wickets and appeared in more than two World Cups, but Warne's impact on the one-day game was profound. His attacking mindset ensured spin was no longer seen as simply a means of drying up the runs, and his respective figures of 4-29 and 4-33 in the semi-final and final of Australia's triumphant 1999 World Cup are those of a man who always rose to the occasion.

    ODIs: 194; Wickets: 293; Average: 25.73; Economy rate: 4.25

  17. Greatest ODI XI votepublished at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Voting has now closed in our search for the fast bowlers for our greatest ODI XI, which will be announced in tonight's Tuffers and Vaughan section of 5 live Sport from 19:00 GMT.

    From 14:00 GMT you can vote for the spin bowlers, will you go Warne or Murali? Or another? Let's remind ourselves of the options.

    Terms and conditions are here.

  18. Hull City news conferencepublished at 13:28 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    On stories linking him with Fulham:

    "I was getting the sack the day before and then Fulham want me. Unfortunately the media today... I can't do anything about it. The unfortunate thing is there's a manager in situ at Fulham and I have respect for Kit Symons.

    "Unfortunately I can't comment as it just fuels it. It's rubbish journalism."

    On whether new signing Dame N'Doye will play tomorrow:

    "He's in our thoughts. We got him here on Saturday. He trained well yesterday, we'll train again today and I've got a decision to make. I've been following him for a long, long time. He's got all the attributes but can he do it in the Premier League? That's the million dollar question."

    Steve Bruce, Steve Clemence, Mike PhelanImage source, Getty Images

    On Mike Phelan's arrival as assistant coach:

    "It wasn't easy bringing in a number two and I wasn't even here - I was in Paris [working on N'Doye deal].

    He's experienced enough to give me a wonderful hand. He's been there, done it and worn the T-shirt. He's been around the block. We've enjoyed the training sessions he's put on. He was the right fit at the right time."

  19. Hull City news conferencepublished at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    On Aston Villa's form:

    "They've had a tough time of late. We hope we can capitalise on that. We've now got a run of games at home that will ultimately define our season. It's now. It's upon us."

    On injuries:

    "Judge us when everyone's fit and available. Over the last three months we've been unable to cope with the loss of several big players."

    On Nikica Jelavic's fitness:

    "We've got to make sure that he's 100% fit and healthy. We've got to manage his knee better than we have over the last four or five weeks. A fit and healthy Jelavic is going to be crucial over the next few weeks."

  20. Hull City news conferencepublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2015

    Steve BruceImage source, Getty Images

    Hull City host goal-shy Aston Villa on Tuesday night looking to bounce back from the disappointment of conceding a last-minute goal in a 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Saturday.

    "Six times we've been up in a game this season and not able to see it through," said manager Steve Bruce. "We were so close.

    "We've been to the Etihad, Liverpool and Arsenal this season and we've not lost, but we're still in the bottom three. That shows you hard this league is."