BBC WM Sport

Staying in the West Midlands and Gary Rowett and his back room team have signed improved contracts at Championship side Birmingham. We understand they are one-year rolling deals.   

BBC WM Sport

England batsman Ian Bell has been named the new skipper of @WarwickshireCCC, external as Varun Chopra chooses to step down.   

Image source, PA

Former Aston Villa boss Brian Little, 62, has been appointed as Jersey manager until the end of the season.  

Image source, Getty Images

If you were building a bionic manager, which attributes would you take from which boss?

Jo: Steve McClaren's language skills.

More from South Africa skipper AB de Villiers ahead of Friday's final Test with England and he says he will "put his hat into the ring" to take on the Test captaincy for longer.

The Sun are reporting, external that Celtic's Norwegian midfielder Stefan Johansen is a £5m target for Premier League bottom club Aston Villa.

Image source, SNS

South Africa skipper AB De Villiers, whose team trail 2-0 in the Test series with England, speaking on the eve of the final match at Centurion. 

That's all for Mauricio Pochettino, but we will be hearing from his opposite number for Saturday's derby at Selhurst, Palace boss Alan Pardew, later.

If you were building a bionic manager, which attributes would you take from which boss?

Josh Jones: Definitely Claudio Ranieri's charm.  

Sammie: Jurgen Klopp's laughter, Brendan Rodgers' character, LVG's philosophy, Arsene's stinginess and Pep's mentality.

Mick Marchant: Ian Holloway's sage pearls of wisdom. 

Image source, Getty Images

Bowling action news from the ICC and Zimbabwe’s 25-year-old left-arm paceman Brian Vitori has been reported for suspect deliveries during a Twenty20 international against Bangladesh this week.

Meanwhile, the action of Netherlands’ fast bowler Ahsan Malik, which was reported last year, has now been deemed legal and he can now resume bowling in international cricket.

Emma Saunders
BBC Radio London Sport reporter

Mauricio Pochettino says Selhurst Park, venue for Saturday's London derby, is "difficult to go to" regardless of Crystal Palace's bad recent run, which has left them without a win in their last five league games.

"Every game is different. We need to be ready to fight and not care about their last results," the Spurs boss says.  

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Talk of Liverpool's move for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira is gathering momentum.

The Guardian have more details, claiming that Reds chief executive Ian Ayre has flown to Florida - where Shakhtar are training - to try and tie up the deal., external

Emma Saunders
BBC Radio London Sport reporter

Spurs have been linked with several strikers to provide back-up for Harry Kane but Mauricio Pochettino says of the January transfer window: "If we find the right player we will sign but if not we're really happy with the squad we have."

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent in Melbourne

Image source, Getty Images

Red eyes all round as Lleyton Hewitt bows out as a Wimbledon and US Open champion, and after 80 weeks as the world number one.    

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

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Great Britain Fed Cup captain and tennis coach Judy Murray on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra: “He’s so enormously respected by the tennis world and all the sports fans in Australia. 

"His Davis Cup record is second to none. You don’t find competitors like that easily. 

"He spoke incredibly well and despite them trying to get him to cry, he held it together so well even when his children came on to court.”

Emma Saunders
BBC Radio London Sport reporter

Despite the club not winning the top division in English football since 1961, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino insists the Premier League will not be prioritised over cup competitions this season.

"No. We need to prioritise every competition we're in. It's for this reason we have 25 players competing for places."  

Andy Murray is one of a number of professionals to pay tribute to Lleyton Hewitt in a video that is played out on the Rod Laver Arena.

"You are an idol of mine - you have always been unbelievably nice and kind to me growing up on tour. Enjoy your retirement," he says.

Hewitt's three children join him on court as he bids a final goodbye to the Rod Laver Arena, saving his final words of thanks for his wife Bec in the stands.

Paul Gibbons: Come on who wasn't secretly hoping Hewitt would go all the way to the final, wonderful player.

Josh Byford: Was lucky enough to witness two vintage Hewitt performances at Wimbledon in 2011 v Nishikori & 2013 v Wawrinka, epic competitor.

"I came out and gave everything I could as always - I can be proud that all throughout my career I have given 100%. It is not hard in front of great spectators like these on the Rod Laver Arena, I am lucky to have done this for 20 years," says Lleyton Hewitt.

"I don't think it will sink in until later this week. I have had a fantastic last month on tour - playing in nearly every major city in this country. It means so much for me.

"Playing for Australia has always been the greatest honour for me and it is great to finish it all here."

Emma Saunders
BBC Radio London Sport reporter

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino says he is not concerned about a long run in the FA Cup and the Europa League having an impact on the club's title chances. 

Wednesday's 2-0 FA Cup replay win at Leicester was more proof he has the squad to cope, said the Tottenham chief, whose team are currently fourth in the Premier League.