Image source, Empics

In the past few minutes, Sheffield Wednesday have appointed Katrien Meire as their new chief executive.

Meire stepped down from her role as a director and CEO at Charlton last month, after previously working for Belgian outfit Standard Liege.

She told the Owls' club website:, external “I am so pleased to take up the position. This is a massive challenge at a massive club. The chairman has very exciting plans for the club in the short and long term, and I bought into his vision immediately."

Wednesday - who host Burton today - are still looking for a new first-team boss following head coach Carlos Carvalhal's departure on Christmas Eve.

Alex Haslam: Next Forest manager is Gus Poyet for me, if not Poyet then Aitor Karanka.

Jonny Huntridge: I don't know who'll be next Forest manager but they might as well be named a caretaker manager as they'll only last a few months tops.

Image source, Empics

Among a host of intriguing games in the fourth tier this afternoon, one stands out at the top of the table.

Leaders Luton host third-placed Lincoln City, who have won five of their past six League Two games.

The Hatters, meanwhile, had been in superb form before a surprise 4-0 loss at Port Vale on Saturday... How will they respond today?

Image source, Empics

In League One this afternoon there are matches which affect the battles at both ends of the table, including second-placed Shrewsbury's home game against struggling Oldham - who are four points above the drop zone in 19th.

Meanwhile, leaders Wigan - just two points above Shrewsbury after two consecutive draws - travel to 22nd-placed Northampton.

You can chose to follow a specific game - minute-by-minute - by clicking here.

Image source, Empics

The teams are in and here are some of the headlines:

• Derby's Sam Winnall drops to the bench against Sheffield United, despite Saturday's match-winning double at Ipswich.
• Adama Traore replaces Rudy Gestede for Tony Pulis' Middlesbrough at Preston.
• Samuel Saiz returns to Leeds' starting XI, no Daryl Murphy for managerless Nottingham Forest.
• Gary Hooper remains out for Sheffield Wednesday v Burton.
• Norwich without injured midfielder Harrison Reed for the visit of Millwall.

Full line-ups can be found by selecting the match of your choice here.

Final Score

Follow all of the latest stories and goal action from the Premier League and English Football League on Final Score, which is seconds away from getting started.

You can watch by clicking the play button at the top of the page or by pushing the red button on your television remote.

Jason Mohammad is joined in the studio by ex-England internationals Danny Mills and Sue Smith.

App users may need to click to see social media content.

Image source, Rex Features

While one year begins, another bid its farewell in EFL terms only a couple of days ago.

If you've been swept away in the feast of football this festive season and perhaps didn't manage to catch all the stories from Saturday's action, here's a run-down with Brent Pilnick of what you might have missed.

Image source, Getty Images

There's already been one top-flight match to kick-off 2018 and at the Amex Stadium it's just finished 2-2 between south coast sides Brighton and Bournemouth.

The Cherries twice came from behind in that one, which leaves the sides 12th and 13th in the table as it stands.

There are three more Premier League matches kicking off at 15:00 GMT, including Burnley v Liverpool.

Follow live text and radio coverage here.

The City Ground isn't the only place that'll be doing some hiring in the first week of 2018, as Sheffield Wednesday are still searching for a new manager of their own.

After Carlos Carvalhal was dismissed on Christmas Eve, the Portuguese has had a rather more enjoyable festive season leading his new employers Swansea to a dramatic win in his opening game in charge.

His old seat at Hillsborough still needs filling. Lee Bullen has been in caretaker charge for two games and will continue in that post today as his side host struggling Burton.

It's been one win (coincidentally against Nottingham Forest) and one defeat so far for Bullen. Can he boost his own employment prospects with another victory today?

Image source, Empics

Here are a few of your comments in reaction to Mark Warburton's dismissal...

Rsuppards: And so the merry-go-round continues. McClaren?

The Mighty Beaver: Paul Clement, anyone?

AO18: At this point in time, a perfect opportunity for Danny Cowley to move into the Championship after all the good work at Lincoln City.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA

Nottingham Forest begin 2018 without a manager and with an uncertain future ahead.

Where do the club go next in their search for a managerial successor to Mark Warburton? Will owner Evangelos Marinakis go for a continental name or should the job go to someone closer to home?

Forest fans - share your thoughts with us using #bbcefl on social media.

Robin Chipperfield
BBC Radio Nottingham Sport

Image source, PA

It seems as though a new managerial appointment at the City Ground is not far away.

Aitor Karanka and Garry Monk are high up in the bookmakers odds, while Roy Keane was apparently at the Sunderland game on Saturday, though may have been watching the Irish contingent amongst his former clubs.

Many fans would suspect a continental appointment, given the background of the club's owners, or could the club look down the EFL and plump for a manager impressing at a lower level - the likes of Nathan Jones/Paul Hart, Gary Bowyer, or Danny Cowley? It seems certain that a new man will be in charge for the FA Cup tie against Arsenal.

What is certain is that at some point, Forest are going to have to identify, back and stick with a manager if they want to return to the Premier League, where they've not been for nearly 20 years.

It wasn't to be a memorable end to 2017 for Nottingham Forest fans and, in particular, their manager Mark Warburton.

The former Brentford and Rangers boss was sacked on New Year's Eve just nine months after he took charge of the former European champions.

His assistant David Weir and director of football Frank McParland have also left the club. Academy manager Gary Brazil takes charge of the side at Leeds United this afternoon.

Forest avoided relegation from the Championship on goal difference last season and, after a promising start to this campaign, slumped to 14th in the table after a 1-0 home defeat by Sunderland on Saturday.

That's all on its way then, but first let's bring you up to speed with events across the EFL since the last set of fixtures only two days ago...

• Accrington Stanley v Morecambe
• Barnet v Swindon Town
• Colchester United v Cambridge United
• Coventry City v Chesterfield
• Crewe Alexandra v Grimsby Town
• Forest Green Rovers v Wycombe Wanderers
• Luton Town v Lincoln City
• Mansfield Town v Carlisle United
• Newport County v Exeter City
• Notts County v Port Vale
• Stevenage v Cheltenham Town
• Yeovil Town v Crawley Town

• AFC Wimbledon v Southend United
• Bristol Rovers v Portsmouth
• Charlton Athletic v Gillingham
• Fleetwood Town v Bradford City
• Northampton Town v Wigan Athletic
• Oxford United v Milton Keynes Dons
• Peterborough United v Doncaster Rovers
• Plymouth Argyle v Walsall
• Rochdale v Blackpool
• Rotherham United v Blackburn Rovers
• Scunthorpe United v Bury
• Shrewsbury Town v Oldham Athletic

Nine matches today in the Championship and here's what's to come...

• Bolton v Hull
• Derby v Sheffield United
• Leeds v Nottingham Forest
• Norwich City v Millwall
• Preston v Middlesbrough
• QPR v Cardiff
• Sheffield Wednesday v Burton
• Sunderland v Barnsley
• Aston Villa v Bristol City (17:30 GMT)

So, as promised, action from all three EFL divisions on its way for you from 15:00 GMT - plus a teatime treat to polish off the first day of 2018.

The full fixture list coming up....

"All is quiet, on New Year's Day!" as Bono once sang on the famous U2 ditty of yesteryear.

I imagine he was probably casting his eye across some landscape devoid of festive season football when he penned those lyrics as this afternoon promises to be anything but quiet.

After all the action and drama of three rounds of games in a week, we've got a whole load more on the way for you to kick 2018 off in style.

Put those healthy-eating resolutions on hold for an afternoon, put the kettle on, tuck into sweet and savoury leftovers and follow all the EFL action across three divisions with us right here.