Summary

  • Gareth Bale's agent dismisses criticism of player

  • Police probing Rangers takeover search Ashley firm's HQ

  • Racing: Trip to Paris (10-1) wins the Chester Cup

  • 19:45 BST: Bayern Munich v Barcelona

  • What are sport's worst returns to an ex-employer? #nightmarereunion

  1. Farewell...published at 18:33 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    And that brings Sportsday to an end for Wednesday. It gets exciting tomorrow as we will have Premier League news conferences including Nigel Pearson (any Ostriches attending?)

    We will also bring you live golf updates from the Players Championship, some brilliant sports-themed votes on election day and reaction from Barcelona v Bayern Munich which you can now start following on our live text.

    Thanks for being with us today. See you at 08:00 BST.

  2. McClaren '100%' committed to Derbypublished at 18:26 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Head coach Steve McClaren has insisted he is "100% committed" to Derby County but refused to confirm if he was offered the chance to manage struggling Premier League side Newcastle United.

    McClaren's Rams missed out on a Championship play-off place after losing 3-0 to Reading on Saturday.

    On the same day the ex-England boss was approached by the Magpies, who are only two points above the relegation zone.

    But McClaren said: "I'm 100 per cent committed to finishing the job here."

  3. GET INVOLVEDpublished at 18:21 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    With Pep due at the Nou Camp, we have been asking you for your nightmare reunions. Tweet us on #nightmarereunion., external

    Damian Colton: Henrik Larsson returning to Celtic Park with Barcelona soon after leaving and scoring against us.

    Simon Richardson: Dean Richards' return to Welford Road as Quins coach after being a hero both as player and manager at Tigers.

  4. Pep's Nou Camp returnpublished at 18:15 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    "Barca is a very important part of my life. Until now it was everything but I am here to win. I am not here for a homage but to see Bayern through to the final." Pep Guardiola.

    Guardiola returns to the Nou Camp - where he managed from July 2008 to June 2012 - as manager of Bayern Munich tonight with a Champions League final place up for grabs. You can follow it all on our live text from 18:30 BST.

    Pep GuardiolaImage source, Getty Images

    *Includes Spanish super Cup wins.

  5. More under the belt for Ale...published at 18:10 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    A good news story from football today sees Alejandro Faurlin complete 90 minutes.

    Alejandro FaurlinImage source, Alejandro Faurlin

    The midfielder, 28, was ruled out with a third cruciate-ligament injury in as many seasons back in August but he played as Rangers' under-21 side lost 5-4 to Norwich City today., external

  6. Lewis Hamilton... oh dearpublished at 18:03 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Lewis Hamilton previews Mercedes' car for the 2016 season.

    Lewis HamiltonImage source, Lewis Hamilton

    Hopefully you detect that is a joke but in all truth, I'm struggling to take anything about this outfit seriously. The headwear is astronomical. Lewis's Instagram page, external has more joys.

  7. Right time to face Bayern?published at 18:00 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Robert LewandowskiImage source, Bayern munich

    Are Barcelona set to meet Bayern Munich at the right time when the sides face off tonight at the semi-final stage of the Champions League?

    The German champions are without long-term absentees Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber, while striker Robert Lewandowski could yet feature wearing a protective mask.

    The Poland front man broke his nose and jaw during a Bayern's German Cup defeat to Borussia Dortmund. Barcelona by contrast will only be without defender Jeremy Mathieu.

    You can follow every kick on our dedicated live Champions League text from 18:30 BST.

  8. Bees confident on Griffin Park staypublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Griffin ParkImage source, Getty Images

    Brentford hope the Premier League will allow them to play their home games at Griffin Park if they are promoted through the Championship play-offs.

    The 12,763-capacity stadium does not currently meet top-flight standards.

    "I'm still convinced we can convince the Premier League," chief executive Mark Devlin told BBC London 94.9.

    "We have got an agreement in principle with another club if we need to groundshare. We are focused on bringing Griffin Park up to scratch."

  9. How to deal with a loose toothpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Bryan Clay and his daughter's toothImage source, Bryan Clay

    Now, turn away if you're a little squeamish when it comes to dental work.

    The 2008 Olympic Champion Bryan Clay has made use of his spare javelins by tying the end of one to his daughter's loose tooth, launching it and consequently pulling out the troublesome tooth.

    It's a novel way to deal with the situation Bryan, we will give you that. The American posted a video of the feat on his Twitter page, external with the heading: "What you use javelins for once you're retired."

  10. Kiwi's as an "entree"published at 17:43 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    New Zealand sound like they have a point to prove ahead of their summer Tests against England.

    Their head coach Mike Hesson admits the Kiwis are considered England's "entree" before this summer's Ashes and says it is up to his players to prove they have the stomach for a more serious billing in the future.

    The tourists, who thrashed England at the World Cu, will play two Tests against Alastair Cook's side, who then play five Tests against Australia.

    "It seems to be the way we've been used in the past, that's just the way it's been," says Hesson. "You have to earn the right for those longer series, you do that over a period of time and that's something we're looking to do."

  11. Derbyshire land Rutherfordpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Hamish RutherfordImage source, Getty Images

    Derbyshire announce Hamish Rutherford will join the county this summer following the conclusion of New Zealand's Test tour of England.

    Rutherford, 26, will link up with the club next month and be available for seven T20 Blast fixtures, three LV County Championship matches and four Royal London One-Day Cup games, starting with the T20 encounter against Worcestershire on 19 June.

    The batsman will act as cover while Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan is at the Caribbean Premier League.

  12. 'The apple is ripe'published at 17:34 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    The future of reported Chelsea target Paulo Dybala will be decided in the next two weeks, according to Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini.

    Dybala is Palermo's leading scorer with 13 Serie A goals and is understood to have attracted the attention of Jose Mourinho.

    Paulo DybalaImage source, Getty Images

    Palermo are keen to cash in on the 21-year-old after the Argentinian forward turned down a three-year contract extension in January.

    "At least three teams are really interested in him," Zamparini told Italian newspaper Giornale di Sicilia. "The apple is ripe and we are ready to pick it."

  13. No rush for Joshuapublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Olympic champion Anthony Joshua is not in a rush to satisfy public clamour by engaging in an overly risky fight.

    Heavyweight Joshua, 25, has 11 wins by knockout ahead of meeting Rafael Zumbano Love on Saturday and American Kevin Johnson on 30 May.

    "I will do things my way, I have from the start and I will continue to do that," says Joshua. "Everyone wants to fight me and I want to fight everyone, but I can't fight them all at once, this is not WWE wrestling, this is boxing - we'll do it at the right time and one at a time.

    "Rounds aren't essential to me - Deontay Wilder proved that you don't need to go rounds to do it when it matters. Everyone trains hard, so it's all mental and depends who you are facing."

    Wilder became WBC heavyweight champion in January.

  14. From toys to noisepublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Now earlier you may have seen us bring you an image of Lewis Hamilton in Central Park wearing a garish red hat (sorry Lewis).

    It was more Whacky Horror Show than James Bond but David Beckham has brought us back to a state of cool with this latest Instagram image., external

    David BeckhamImage source, David Beckham

    In a move which would have incurred the wrath of his former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson Beckham is on a motorbike under a beautiful Los Angeles sky. "Early morning ride," he posts.

    Meanwhile, boxer Paul Smith Jr, who fights Andre Ward on 20 June, posts:, external "No chance whatsoever of a post-gym snooze with young Phil Collins here."

    A child playing drumsImage source, PAul smith

    It seems the pair have had very different mornings.

  15. Crook & Keogh shine against Lancashirepublished at 17:21 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Northants 385 & 391-5, Lancashire 436

    Steven Crook and Rob Keogh hit final-day centuries as Northants batted out a draw with Lancashire at Wantage Road.

    All-rounder Crook struck a six and 12 fours in an unbeaten 102 after Keogh had departed for exactly 100 earlier in the day.

    Josh Cobb finished on 46 not out as he and Crook shared an unbroken stand of 156, a sixth wicket record for the county against Lancashire.

  16. Forbes rich list - resultspublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    David De GeaImage source, Getty Images

    The Premier League makes up five of the top 10 clubs in football's rich list.

    The Forbes study sees Real Madrid and Barcelona in as the richest two clubs in the game, with Manchester United third, Bayern Munich fourth and Manchester City fifth, worth an estimated £905m.

    Chelsea (£898m), Arsenal (£859m) and Liverpool (£644m) are sixth-eighth on the list respectively.

    Tottenham, Newcastle and West Ham complete the Premier League's representation in the top 20, following the recent £5.136billion domestic television deal.

  17. Elstone hits ton in Cardiff drawpublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Derbyshire 205 & 209-2, Glamorgan 103-4 dec

    BBC Radio Wales Sport's Nick Webb at Cardiff: "Glamorgan and Derbyshire had to settle for a draw in a rain-ruined match despite the weather relenting to allow play after lunch on the final day.

    "The Welsh county sped through their overs to avoid a points deduction after their controversial declaration the previous night, as Derbyshire reached 209-2 declared.

    "Scott Elstone made a maiden first-class hundred for the visitors, while captain Wayne Madsen reached his first half-century of the season."

  18. Man Utd world's third-richest clubpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Real MadridImage source, Getty Images

    It makes the world go round and Real Madrid seemingly have lots of it.

    The Spanish club have retained their place as football's richest club for a third-straight year according to Forbes.

    Los Blancos are valued at £2.13bn, a 5% drop on last season, with rivals Barcelona close behind on £2.07bn and Manchester United third, worth an estimated £2.03bn.

    Stay tuned for more detail on which seven other English teams are in the top 20.

  19. Headlines at 5published at 17:01 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    A quick round-up of what's been making the headlines today:

    Football: Burnley's Michael Duff has had his red card against West Ham rescinded, meaning the defender is free to play in the crucial relegation game at Hull on Saturday.

    Cycling: Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins intends to put cycling's iconic hour track record "out of reach" when he rides in London on 7 June.

    gettyImage source, Getty Images

    Football: Gareth Bale's agent has dismissed criticism of the winger's display in Real Madrid's Champions League defeat to Juventus on Tuesday, labelling the comments of pundits like Roy Keane irr elevant.

    Formula 1: Susie Wolff admits she feels "very far away" from becoming the first woman to race in Formula 1 for 40 years.

    Horse Racing: The official distance of the Grand National has been reduced by a furlong after new measurements of racecourses.

  20. Hines back with Scotlandpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 6 May 2015

    Former Scotland lock Nathan Hines has returned to the international fold to join Vern Cotter's coaching staff.

    gettyImage source, Getty Images

    The 38-year-old Sale player is ending his playing career to begin work as a "resource coach" - using his lineout expertise to help the national team while also helping develop the younger forwards in the squad.

    Hines, who won 77 caps, rejoins the Scotland set-up as scrum coach Massimo Cuttitta departs.