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West Bromwich Albion technical and sporting director Luke Dowling has left The Hawthorns club by mutual consent.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a statement posted on the West Brom website, in which the club confirmed that Dowling is leaving the Championship side with immediate effect after three years of working with the club.

A further statement was released later on Monday afternoon, in which the Baggies chief Executive Xu Ke provided an update on the club’s current search for a new manager, as well as thanking Dowling for his services to the club.

Xu Ke said: “I would like to thank Luke for his work behind the scenes at The Hawthorns during his three years with us. Luke’s departure provides us with an opportunity to reassess how our football operation functions and I will provide a further update on this subject in due course.”

Fans are rightly livid

The news of Dowling’s departure comes at a rather awkward time for West Brom, as, with the club still in the midst of their bid to appoint Sam Allardyce’s successor, the Baggies board now look set to conduct this search without a single member of staff who boasts a background in football.

Indeed, the technical and sporting director’s departure could also have come as a result of Guochuan Lai’s decision to rule out the club’s appointment of the former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, as Dowling was believed to have strongly favoured a move for the 53-year-old.

And, after the news was shared by the club in a post on Twitter, a large portion of the West Brom fanbase appeared outraged by the decision, with one claiming that the board are turning West Brom into a “joke of a club,” while another stated their belief that fans “can’t blame Dowling going if Lai and the board constantly overrule [him] all the time.”

We have to say, the perspective of these fans is easily understandable, as, with the club looking to make an immediate return to the Premier League next season, so much uncertainty regarding the board, the staff and the club’s transfer business does not appear to be the best way to kick start West Brom’s Championship campaign.

Furthermore, with Dowling playing a huge role in Slaven Bilic’s previous appointment at the club, a manager who ultimately secured the Baggies’ last promotion to the Premier League, the technical and sporting director has a history of installing a successful coach in the second tier, leading us to believe that Lai allowing Dowling to walk away could well be the biggest mistake of his West Brom reign to date.

In other news: Xu Ke heading for grave West Brom mistake over £450k-rated beast with a “big future”

Many Southampton fans desperately want Danny Rohl back at the club after it was revealed that he will be leaving his current position at Bayern Munich.

Ralph Hasenhuttl is the manager at St Mary’s and the 32-year-old used to be his assistant. Their working relationship started at RB Leipzig, and Rohl followed the Austrian to Southampton when he made the switch in 2018. However, he departed the Saints to become assistant to Niko Kovac and then Hansi Flick at Bayern – an opportunity he would have been crazy to turn down, not least as he was a member of the latter’s backroom team as they won the Champions League last year.

His departure from the Bundesliga champions has now been confirmed (via Tobi Altschaffl). With Flick set to take over from Joachim Low as Germany boss following the European Championship, there is every chance Rohl could join him, but many Southampton supporters desperately want him to return to the south coast of England instead.

These Saints fans made their thoughts clear on the news concerning Rohl, and they took to social media platform Twitter in their numbers to share their views.

Let’s see what these fans had to say about Rohl

“BRING HIM HOME”

Credit: @JackHStubbs

“Bring this man back home. Ralph is in desperate need of an assistant next season. We need this duo back at St. Mary’s. Southampton need to give everything to get Danny Rohl.”

Credit: @JoshW_SFC

“Arguably have the worst back room staff in the division (2 goalkeepers!!!!!!). Get this guy back”

Credit: @DazHawkins

“This would be huge if we managed to get him back, I wouldn’t mind us having a bit of a shake up across some of the other coaching staff too”

Credit: @25JStep

“Hope so. Many times last season we felt Ralph needed tactical help during games. It would be as big as a new player signing imo.”

Credit: @bfgfox

“Get this man back in Southampton. There’s no doubt that his experience and quality would help us for the upcoming season”

Credit: @TheSaintCentre

In other news, Southampton want to sign this man during the summer.

The home team seized the initiative on the opening day of the UCB Bowl match at the picturesque Burt Oval in Constantia

Peter le Grange26-Oct-2002The home team seized the initiative on the opening day of the UCB Bowl match at the picturesque Burt Oval in Constantia.After winning the toss, Western Province struggled at first but some splendid batting from Derrin Bassage and skipper Jonno McLean left the hosts in a comfortable position at stumps.Under overcast skies, Andrew Pringle in particular worked up some disconcerting pace. Rashaad Magiet was flummoxed playing back in the 5th over, and Andrew Puttick should have been caught off the next ball. Puttick and Bassage weathered the immediate crisis, but were far from home and dry when Puttick was bowled by first change seamer Ryan Shutte. However, Bassage and McLean turned the innings around with a magnificent 170-run partnership, made almost at even time. Their task was made easier with the pitch flattening out as the cloud cover disappeared.Bassage reached his century shortly before tea, but the left hander was dismissed immediately afterwards looking for the big shot. McLean went to tea on 99, but showed no nerves as he went to his hundred soon after the break. WP lost some cheap wickets as the compulsory declaration after 100 overs loomed closer, but must have been more than happy to pass 300. They earned 4.18 bonus points for batting to Border’s two for bowling.Left ten overs to bat, the visitors lost Bevan Bennett when he misjudged a Rory Kleinveldt deliver which came back just enough to win the lbw decision. Fellow opener Michael Smith and nightwatchman Siyabulela Nelani saw them through to the close with no further alarms, Border ending the day still 304 behind.

UCB Bowl, 2002/03Western Province B vs Border BRJE Burt Oval, Cape Town25, 26, 27 October 2002 (3-day match)Result:Points: Western Province B 4.18, Border B 2 (to date)Toss: Western Province BUmpires: KC Adams & HC LindenbergClose of Play:Day 1: Western Province B 325/6 decl; Border B 21/1 (Smith 15, Nelani 5, 10 overs)Day 2:Western Province B    1st innings                               R   M   B  4 6R Magiet                                 b Pringle              7  22  22  1 0DJ Bassage                               b Love               100 267 204  8 0AG Puttick                               b Shutte              13  62  38  2 0*JJ McLean            not out                                 138 292 238 14 2JP Duminy             run out (Smith/Nelani)                   11  56  35  2 0R Bailey              c Nelani           b Love                 2   8  10  0 0+W Euley              st Nelani          b Love                26  59  49  2 1W Hantam              not out                                   3   5   5  0 0Extras                (b 7, lb 13, w 5)                        25Total                 (6 wkts dec, 100 overs, 378 mins)       325DNB: RK Kleinveldt, M de Stadler, R Masinda.FoW: 1-11 (Magiet, 4.5 ov), 2-48 (Puttick, 19.2 ov),3-218 (Bassage, 68.6 ov), 4-253 (Duminy, 80.6 ov),5-257 (Bailey, 82.5 ov), 6-318 (Euley, 98.5 ov).Bowling                      O      M      R      WPringle                     17      3     60      1 (4w)Sekonyane                   15      3     45      0 (1w)Shutte                      15      4     31      1Kreusch                     11      6     21      0Hinkel                       8      0     38      0Love                        33      3    100      3Matika                       1      0     10      0Border B              1st innings                               R   M   B  4 6BL Bennett            lbw                b Kleinveldt           0  15  15  0 0M Smith               not out                                  15  38  23  1 0+SM Nelani            not out                                   5  22  22  0 0Extras                (lb 1)                                    1Total                 (1 wicket, 10 overs, 38 min)             21To bat: M Matika, WR Hinkel, *JP Kreusch, A Sodumo, GT Love, R Shutte,AAW Pringle, B Sekonyane.FoW: 1-6 (Bennett, 4.1 ov).Bowling                      O      M      R      WKleinveldt                   5      2      4      1Hantam                       3      1     12      0de Stadler                   2      0      4      0Notes:3rd Umpire: R Mackintosh12th men: L Ntonela (WP B) & M Maketa (Border B)Bonus Points: WP B 4.18 batting, 0 bowling; Border B 0.00 batting, 2 bowling.

Glasgow Rangers have confirmed they have sold all of their season tickets for the sixth successive season.

The Lowdown: Next season remains uncertain

This past term was a magnificent one for the Gers as they won the Premiership for the first time in 10 years without losing a single game in the competition (thefishy.co.uk).

However, their fans were unable to enjoy it at the stadium due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it remains unclear as to whether grounds will return to full capacity next term.

The Latest: Gers sell out

Even despite the uncertainty, though, the Gers have confirmed they have sold out their ticket allocation for this coming term – that amounts to 45,000 tickets (rangers.co.uk).

Michael Beale, one of the Gers coaches, said the news was “incredible”.

The Verdict: Huge support

This is another example of exactly how ferociously loyal the Rangers fanbase is. Yes, they won the league last season and are therefore in a good place, but to pay hundreds of pounds without knowing whether they will even be able to attend is astounding.

And throughout the last six years, there has not been too much success to enjoy, either – the Rangers supporters are present come rain or shine.

From a financial point of view, this will come as a huge boost to the Gers. The cheapest season ticket at Ibrox costs £372 (statista.com), meaning the club will receive a minimum £16.4m – it is likely to be a fair bit more. As the Gers prepare for a potential Champions League run next term, this windfall could come in very handy.

In other news, Rangers are set for a 40% discount as they chase this 21-year-old.

An update has emerged regarding Sunderland’s interest in Rotherham midfielder Matt Crooks.

What’s the talk?

According to the East Anglian Daily Times, the Black Cats are set to challenge Ipswich for the signing of Crooks, who is heading into the final 12 months of his contract with the Yorkshire club, and the Suffolk club are said to have identified him as a key target.

The report claims that Lee Johnson is also keen on the 27-year-old, whilst Championship duo Peterborough and Derby are looking at him as well.

Fans would love him

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman must act swiftly to get a deal done for Crooks following this update.

With Ipswich in pole position for his signature, the Wearsiders are currently lagging behind in the race for his services and need to get a move on or they will face missing out on the player. However, if the Black Cats make their approach now and work with urgency to strike a deal with Rotherham, then they could swoop in for him ahead of Ipswich.

Crooks could be an excellent addition to Johnson’s side after his impressive displays for Rotherham in the Championship last season. Back in November 2020, Millers boss Paul Warne called the midfielder “influential”, although he admitted that speculation over his future was potentially affecting some of his performances.

He told The Star: “I don’t know how many of my players are absolutely 100 per cent but I think Crooksy sticks out because he was so influential over the last couple of years.

“If (Mohamed) Salah doesn’t play well for Liverpool everyone notices. With Crooksy, he is getting more like the player we want him to be.

“Has the transfer rumour and anything else that has gone on in his life affected him? Maybe. But that is just an excuse. It might not have.”

The £1,900-per-week beast produced an impressive tally of six goals and three assists for Rotherham in the Championship despite their relegation last term. He was able to chip in with a respectable amount of goals whilst his team struggled at the wrong end of the table, which suggests that he is good enough to compete in the second tier and that he could thrive for Sunderland in League One.

This is why Black Cats fans would surely be all over this deal as the club could be signing a proven player who can come in and have an instant impact on the team with his goals from midfield. Instead of taking a gamble on a player from a lower league or overseas club, the Wearsiders would be gaining someone who has already shown his class at a higher standard of football in this country.

AND in other news, Speakman could strike gold for Sunderland as 6ft 1 beast agrees to join The Black Cats…

Test wicket-keeper Rashid Latif was examined by Pakistan Cricket Board’s panel of doctors Tuesday

Sports Correspondent20-Nov-2002Test wicket-keeper Rashid Latif was examined by Pakistan Cricket Board’s panel of doctors Tuesday.Tauseef Razzaq and Meesaq Rizvi, PCB’s medical experts, checked Rashid who flew back Sunday midway Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe because of neck injury. Rashid was advised to appear for another medical check up Friday.However, the panel diagnosed nothing serious about his neck injury and gave him a verbal clearance after Rashid was sent to a local hospital here for an MRI test.Rashid, in the meantime, will do some physical exercises as well as continue physiotherapy in Karachi.

Canterbury wicket-keeper Ben Yock earned himself a place in New Zealand cricket history today when becoming the first member of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association to break ranks and agree to play for Canterbury

Lynn McConnell08-Nov-2002Canterbury wicket-keeper Ben Yock earned himself a place in New Zealand cricket history today when becoming the first member of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association to break ranks and agree to play for Canterbury.Yock will be part of the Canterbury team that will play a one-day and two-day pre-season game against Otago at Rangiora starting on Sunday.The Players’ Association has had its 128 members out on strike since October 1 while it was negotiating with New Zealand Cricket over their work agreements.NZC withdrew from the process last week when unable to budge the Players’ Association from their position.With claims of stand-over tactics from Players’ Association members over non-Players’ Association members considering coming from all around the country, Yock’s defection has to be yet another bodyblow for what has been a troubled campaign by the Players’ Association.Otago have not yet named their team but say they will have a side for the match.Included in the Otago team will be overseas player, and former Pakistan international, Mohammad Wasim.Canterbury’s team has several promising young players included.Matches at Dudley Park, will both start at 10am.The Canterbury teams are:Sunday (one-day):Paul Rugg (captain), Bernhard Ballin, Andy McDowell, Ben Yock, Neil Broom, Peter Borren, Chris Sowden, Jeremy Kench, Todd Elliotte, Brendon Donkers, Brandon Hiini, David Hay, Leighton Burtt.Monday and Tuesday (two-day):Paul Rugg (captain), Bernhard Ballin, Andy McDowell, Danny Barclay, Neil Broom, Andrew Buckingham, Chris Sowden, Todd Elliotte, Peter Borren, Brendon Donkers, Brandon Hiini, Adam Chambers, Leighton Burtt.

Premier League crowds are set to return to full capacity in August as the relaxation of lockdown continues, as reported by the Daily Mirror.

Final confirmation is set to be ratified next week, with social distancing mooted to be scrapped, enabling larger numbers of fans to attend top-flight fixtures. Excitedly for fans up and down the country, the measures are looking likely to be introduced before the opening day Premier League clash between Brentford and Arsenal on Friday 13 August [Daily Mirror].

This news will come as music to the ears of Aston Villa fans, who have been unable to witness their team playing live in the last 16 months, other than the 10,000 spectators present for their final day victory over Chelsea in 2020/21 [BBC]. If capacity crowds can return in time for the new season, it means that more than 42,000 people could be at Villa Park for the visit of Newcastle on 21 August.

As you can imagine, loads of the club’s supporters took to Twitter to rejoice over these recent developments.

Aston Villa fans react:

Replying to popular Aston Villa fan outlet @villareport, here is how some supporters summarised their opinions upon hearing the news. with one saying that the first full-capacity match back at Villa Park will be “unbelievable”:

“to say I can’t wait is an understatement”

Credit: @DanAV___”Full VP for the first home game of the season and away days are back. Tears in my eyes”Credit: @1874dan”Get me back to VP”Credit: @AVFCBERRY”That first home game at Villa Park is going to be unbelievable”Credit: @GW_94″Ah man it’s gonna hit different”Credit: @luke_benham”August 21st is going to be some day”Credit: @tom_avfc1In other news, many Aston Villa fans react to a reported update on this transfer target.

England Blind successfully chased down a mammoth target of 320 – largely due to Nathan Foy’s unbeaten 152 – after India Blind turned in a consistent batting performance in their match at the SPIC-YMCA ground at Chennai

Staff Reporter05-Dec-2002England Blind successfully chased down a mammoth target of 320 – largely due to Nathan Foy’s unbeaten 152 – after India Blind turned in a consistent batting performance in their match at the SPIC-YMCA ground at Chennai.After Indian skipper Ramkaran Sharma and Rajendra Verma put on 52 runs for the first wicket, it was virtually Sushil Gaur all the way for India. Making an unbeaten 110 off 107 balls with five fours, Gaur put together a partnership of 129 runs with Shekar Nayak.That stand formed the backbone of India’s total of 319 for five in 40 overs. It looked enough at the start of England’s innings, but Foy and Heindrich Swanepoel added 260 runs for the first wicket and virtually shut India out of the game at that stage.Although skipper Adam Benjamin got out relatively cheaply, run out by Nayak, Foy’s knock (131 balls, 13×4, 1×6) saw England home safely in just the 37th over for the loss of two wickets.

Leeds have made a €12m (£10.3m) offer for Lyon’s Maxwel Cornet, but it doesn’t meet the demands of the Ligue 1 outfit, according to Olympique et Lyonnais.

The lowdown

The 24-year-old has made 251 appearances for his club, scoring 51 goals and providing 29 assists. Last season, he was directly involved in 10 goals (four goals, six assists) in 39 appearances across all competitions.

The Ivorian was predominantly used as a left-back but also operated in more advanced positions on that flank. That could make him an ideal replacement at Leeds for Ezgjan Alioski, who has reached the end of his contract.

After Cornet scored twice in a 2-2 Champions League draw against Manchester City in 2018, Pep Guardiola admitted to being ‘very impressed’ by him. Indeed, he has scored four goals against City in the competition, most recently opening the scoring in last August’s quarter-final upset.

The latest

The report from Olympique et Lyonnais said that Leeds are ‘following Maxwel Cornet with interest’ and that they made a formal bid a ‘few weeks ago’.

However, it didn’t ‘correspond to the expectations’ of Lyon, who have the left-back under contract for another two years. The French club are now waiting to see if Marcelo Bielsa’s side will return with an improved offer.

The verdict

Young and versatile, with a reputation for scoring on the big occasion, Cornet would seem to be an exciting addition at Elland Road if he makes the move.

Leeds missed out to Southampton in the race to sign Romain Perraud recently, but Cornet can offer a similar attacking threat from the full-back position.

With French football in the midst of a financial crisis, perhaps Lyon’s demands will ultimately be quite reasonable, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Leeds return to the negotiating table.

In other news, Kevin Phillips has dropped his verdict on this Leeds target.