Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony has joked his wife thinks he is having an affair with boss Graham Westley because of how much they talk.

Westley has lifted League One Posh to seventh since taking over in September.

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"My missus thinks I'm having an affair with him, because we speak so much," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"I've never known a manager who wants to speak to me as much as him. We went out last week for dinner. I love his intensity and he loves my intensity."

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Birmingham City have signed strikerJames Vaughanfrom Huddersfield Town in an emergency loan deal until 2 January.

Birmingham-born Vaughan, 27, hit 33 goals in 95 appearances sincejoining on loan from Norwich City, initially on a season's loan, in August 2012.

But he has lost his place at the Championship club this season, having made just four substitute appearances.

"When the possibility of a loan came up, James asked me if we would consider it," said Town head coach David Wagner.

Crawley Town have signed Ipswich Town's Josh Emmanuel on loan. The defender will be with the Reds until 2 January. 

Meanwhile Reds midfielder Conor Henderson has joined National League side Grimsby Town on loan until December 30th.

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Crawley manager Mark Yates told the club website "Josh is highly regarded by Mick McCarthy and we’re delighted he has agreed to let us have him for what is going to be a busy period."

Emmanuel  will be in the squad for Saturday’s trip to Carlisle United.

Sam Burgess's move back to South Sydney Rabbitohs has stalled as it will take the club over the NRL's salary cap.

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The 26-year-old quit rugby union after only a year - having played for England at the World Cup - to return to his former club in rugby league.

The deal was confirmed earlier this month but the Rabbitohs have been told they must release players in order to register Burgess, who helped them win the NRL title in 2014.

The club are yet to comment.

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BBC Sport looks at the journey that the most talented African footballers have taken to the major European leagues and clubs over the past few decades

From the trailblazers of Eusebio, to the legends of Samuel Eto'o, Jay-Jay Okocha and Didier Drogba.

Watch the video here

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Manchester United reportedly had a £75m offer turned down in the summer, might Liverpool have more luck this January?

According to Sport Witness,, external via Bild, Jurgen Klopp is keeping a close eye on Bayern Munich's 26-year-old playmaker Thomas Muller as he negotiates a new contract at the Allianz Arena.

Stoke City

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Stoke manager Mark Hughes has given his backing to Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce as the right man to lift the Black Cats out of the relegation zone.

"Sam can manage at any level in the Premier League; top, middle or bottom. 

"He's got the qualities that teams at the bottom you would think would need - organisation, belief, giving them a game plan. Given what was out there Sam was the best choice for them."

The two teams meet at the Stadium of Light at 15:00 GMT on Saturday.

New Northampton Town owner Kelvin Thomas has also paid the full £166,000 owed to HM Revenue & Customs ahead of a winding-up petition hearing.

He told a news conference that £1m had been set aside for the initial investment.

Exciting times ahead for the Cobblers.

Stoke City

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Stoke manager Mark Hughes says that defender Ryan Shawcross may need to wait for a change in England manager before his international ambitions are realised.

"He's been outstanding. He certainly has the ambitions to get into the England squad but Roy Hodgson has stuck with the players that have got him through the qualification campaign. 

"Ryan may have to wait for a change of circumstance in order to get a chance."

A Question of Sport Teaser

Today's question was: England have won their last three T20 Internationals, but which four players have played in each game? 

The answers: Steve Finn, Alex Hales, Eoin Morgan and Jason Roy.

Well done if you got all those without cheating.

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at the Barbican Centre, York

Number seven seed Barry Hawkins said he was fortunate to still be in the UK Championship after winning a nerve-racking final-frame decider against veteran amateur Andy Hicks in the first round.  

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Hawkins, the 2013 World Championship runner-up, was 3-1 and 5-4 down but came through on the final black against Hicks, the 122nd seed and one-time world number 17.

"He completely outplayed me at the start of the match," Hawkins said. "I am lucky to get through. I would have been devastated to go out."

Northampton's new owner and now executive chairman Kelvin Thomas has been speaking to the assembled media.

"Everyone has worked extremely hard to get this deal done but the hard work starts now," said Thomas.

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"We share manager Chris Wilder's determination and desire to drive this club forward and are looking forward to finding ways to involve the trust and all fans going forward."

The Cobblers are currently third in League Two, two points off top spot.

Kelvin Thomas has completed his takeover of League Two side Northampton Town.

Southampton

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman sympathises with the situation Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini finds himself in. The Chilean's side have lost their last two games.

"Teams like City, they are used to having the pressure of winning games. If you don't win as a big team, there are always critics," said Koeman.

"They have some big injuries in key players at the moment and even for City that is difficult handle for the number of games they play."

Southampton

A big blow for Southampton. Manager Ronald Koeman says striker Jay Rodriguez will be out for seven or eight weeks after undergoing surgery on Tuesday.

Manchester United

Earlier today we asked your opinion on Louis van Gaal's future as Manchester United manager.

And, from your responses on our vote, it seems like the Dutchman is a genuinely divisive figure.

The most popular answer, with 29%, was that the former Barcelona boss should be given until the end of the season and see where United finish.

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25% of respondents said that he has done well enough to see through the remaining 18 months of his contract.

But there was significant support at either end of the spectrum with 19% saying that he should be sacked immediately and 16% saying that his tactics were improving United into genuine title challengers.

A tenth of you thought he should be sacked in a fortnight's time if his side lose to Leicester and then exit the Champions League.

Leicester City

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy is on a remarkable run of scoring in 10 consecutive Premier League games. A goal against Manchester United on Saturday will see him break the record.

“Jamie Vardy is a champion. For me he’s a champion because he thinks more about the team than himself," said manager Claudio Ranieri.

“I hope for Vardy and for the fans that he breaks the record.”  

Leicester City

Surely Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri is kidding us with the following:

“We know that sooner or later we will lose. We just want to show our great character. The spirit of our group is so strong.  

“It's an open season but our goal is 40 points. I’m very curious about how we respond to these big matches.” 

The Foxes are on 28 at the moment so would need 12 points from their remaining 25 games.

Leicester City

Leicester's charismatic boss Claudio Ranieri is facing the media as his side face Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday (17:30 GMT kick-off).

The Foxes are top going into the game, with the Red Devils in second position.

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“I think we're building a very big construction. I believe in the next year Leicester will grow. We are very happy," said the Italian.

“Some people say Leicester can remain at the top, others say it’s just a moment. I'm glad for the fans but we’re just focused.”  

Lincoln City have signed Bristol Rovers striker Nathan Blissett on an emergency loan deal until 4 January, with a view to a permanent move.

The 25-year-old joined Rovers from Kidderminster last season but has made only three substitute appearances for the club this term.

Nathan is the nephew of Watford legend and former England international Luther.