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Promotion-chasing League One side Walsall have turned down an approach from Championship club Rotherham United to speak to Saddlers boss Dean Smith about their managerial vacancy.

Smith, 44, had been lined up to come in as successor to Steve Evans following his departure last week.

But BBC WM understands that Walsall have rejected the Millers' approach.

The Saddlers, second in League One, currently stand just five places below Rotherham in the league pyramid.

Full story here.

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Want a story to make you feel all warm and fluffy inside? We can't do it, we're not soft you know. But this is rather a nice tale...

Braintree Town players shook the hands of all 30 fans that made the 290-mile round trip from Essex to Cheltenham after Tuesday's National League match.

Braintree drew 1-1 with Cheltenham despite taking an 90th-minute lead.

"It's quite a regular occurrence for them to go over and clap fans," said Iron fan Gordon Humphris, who was reporting on the game for local media.

"But given the nature of the game and distance they walked along the line and shook everyone's hand."

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Indeed. We'll leave that one there I think.

Yeovil Town manager Paul Sturrock has revealed he did not see his side's penalty shootout win over Coventry in the Football League Trophy on Tuesday.

Instead, Sturrock retreated to his office and watched television.

"I never look at penalties, I never have," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

Listen to the interview by clicking on the audio icon below.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland is set to select from a fully-fit squad for Saturday's World Cup Pool A decider against Australia at Twickenham. 

Gatland has lost almost a sixth of his original 31-man World Cup group to tournament-ending injuries, with Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb, Scott Williams, Hallam Amos and Cory Allen being ruled out of the tournament.

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But, things appear to be looking up as full-back Liam Williams (concussion) and prop Paul James (calf muscle) could be involved when Gatland names his match-day 23 on Thursday.

"We've had a longer turnaround for this Australia game, which has benefited the lads a lot," said Wales' consultant head of physical performance Paul Stridgeon.  

"We are all fully fit. We have got a couple of bumps and bruises, but generally we are good to go."

Former France international goalkeeper Dominique Dropsy has died from leukaemia at the age of 63.

Capped 17 times for his country between 1978 and 1981, Dropsy also won two French league titles and cups with Bordeaux and another title at Strasbourg.

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It's not often you get a club manager keen for one of his players to get some playing time at international level but Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal is keen for Phil Jones to figure for England as the defender builds up his match fitness after injury.

"I think it’s always an honour to play for your country," Van Gaal told the club's television channel.

"And, in our build-up of his condition in the games, he needs match rhythm, so I shall be very pleased when he plays for England because that helps him to get minutes for Manchester United. That’s important."  

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has reportedly said it is "outrageous" he is being "condemned without there being any evidence for wrongdoing".

It comes on the day that he was called "a hypocrite and a liar" by Chung Mong-joon, who plans to sue the Swiss for embezzlement and wants to succeed him at world football's governing body.

Image source, Reuters

Blatter is facing an investigation on suspicion of criminal mismanagement.

"It's not an indictment," The 79-year-old Swiss told German magazine Bunte. , external

Blatter, who will step down on 26 February, added: "This is just an investigation. I will fight until February - for myself, for Fifa. I am convinced that evil will come to light and good will prevail."

League One side Oldham have turned ex-Birmingham and Blackburn midfielder David Dunn's spell as interim manager into a permanent role.

Oldham chairman Simon Corney said: “Everyone at the club has been very impressed with the way David has gone about his business since taking over the reins on an interim basis.

“His dedication, hard work and exacting standards have already had a positive effect on the club and the way he has approached the role has made it impossible for us not to give him his chance. 

“We believe his ambition, skills and positive influence will be pivotal to the club's progression." 

A few more snaps from England's training session...

Image source, Rex Features

Oldham have appointed David Dunn as their new manager.

The former Blackburn and Birmingham midfielder took over at the League One club on an interim basis in September following the sacking of Darren Kelly.

Dunn, capped once by England, joined Oldham as a player in the summer.

England have been training at St George's Park today ahead of their latest Euro 2016 qualifier, but their skipper was missing.

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Falkirk manager Peter Houston has been given a Scottish Football Association notice of complaint for comments made on Falkirk TV after Saturday's defeat by Rangers.

Houston criticised referee John McKendrick's decision to award a free-kick from which Rangers went 2-1 up.

"The Falkirk team were let down by the officials," Houston said.

Full story here.

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Former Inter Milan boss Walter Mazzarri has rejected an offer to take over at Sunderland, reports the Daily Express., external

The paper says that Mazzarri - who has been learning English for the last few weeks in anticipation of landing a job in this country - is "unimpressed by Sunderland and their status in the Premier League".

Trautmann was a legendary keeper, who famously played with a broken neck in the 1956 FA Cup final, helping City beat Birmingham 3-1.

Trautmann, who died aged 89 two years ago, joined the Luftwaffe during the Second World War but was captured by the British towards the end of the conflict.

He refused an offer of repatriation and following his release from a prisoner-of-war camp in 1948, settled in Lancashire - going on to become a footballing legend.