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Manchester United are on the hunt for an interim boss and could now turn to a familiar face to lead them out at Old Trafford for the remainder of the season.

Man Utd begin process of searching for new manager

Ruben Amorim has left the building and Darren Fletcher is now the man in charge for the time being as the Red Devils look forward to the rest of the campaign under new management.

Leaving in acrimonious circumstances, the 40-year-old’s relationship with Jason Wilcox broke down, leaving both parties with no choice but to go their separate ways rather than to reconcile.

In scathing fashion, Manchester United’s official statement on Amorim’s departure read: “With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change.

“This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish. The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future.”

Despite the Red Devils sitting sixth in the Premier League table, the process is now underway to find his replacement and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be keen to return to Old Trafford on a six-month contract as they seek interim cover before a full-time appointment is made in the summer.

Ultimately, a swift hire is needed amid a swift run of Premier League fixtures, and the Red Devils hierarchy may now have someone else in mind to replace Amorim.

Man Utd could turn to Michael Carrick

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, United have now opened talks to hire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick on an interim basis until the end of the season.

iNews further report that Carrick has been earmarked as a temporary solution to lead the club until the end of the season. He is among the ‘top contenders’ to succeed Amorim and is available immediately after leaving Teeside at the end of last term.

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Known to use a 4-2-3-1 formation, he won 63 of his 136 clashes in charge of Boro. The 44-year-old also recorded 24 draws and 49 losses across all competitions and amassed around 1.57 points per game in the Sky Bet Championship.

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Previously, Carrick, labelled a “class act” by Cristiano Ronaldo, enjoyed a three-game stint in caretaker charge of Manchester United after Solskjaer’s departure in 2021, emerging victorious on two occasions and drawing one of his three matches.

Short-term fixes are never something clubs would ideally resort to. Nevertheless, the Wallsend-born man would be regarded as a safe pair of hands with an extensive working knowledge of the club, both in a playing and coaching capacity.

Furthermore, the prospect of being able to put himself in the running for a permanent role may be too enticing to refuse, even if it isn’t yet clear whether he would be keen on a return to Old Trafford.

Aston Villa have joined Man United in the January race to sign a highly-rated centre-back as Unai Emery’s men continue their pursuit of a surprise Premier League title.

Villa have surged into genuine Premier League title contention with a remarkable winning streak that has propelled them within touching distance of leaders Arsenal ahead of tonight’s crucial showdown at the Emirates Stadium.

Emery has masterminded 11 consecutive victories across all competitions, matching the club’s all-time record and positioning Villa just three points behind the Gunners with a victory potentially drawing them level at the summit.

Villa’s latest triumph came at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, where they recovered from a goal down to beat Chelsea 2–1 thanks to inspired second-half substitutions from Emery.

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Ollie Watkins hailed his manager as a “tactical genius” following the comeback, which extended Villa’s extraordinary run.

The Midlands club have demonstrated exceptional mental resilience throughout their winning run, earning 18 points from losing positions this season — more than any other Premier League side.

All seven of their most recent league victories have also been sealed by one-goal margins, including comeback wins against Leeds United, Brighton and Chelsea that have defied expectation.

Villa’s defensive solidity has provided the foundation for their challenge, with Emery’s side conceding just 19 goals in 18 matches this season.

Emery has bested former club Arsenal twice in his last two visits to the Emirates, dealing significant blows to the Gunners’ previous title aspirations.

A third successive victory in north London would cement Villa’s credentials as genuine contenders, and they’ve been further boosted by reports that Delcan Rice will miss tonight’s showdown through injury.

Off the field, reports suggest that Villa want to bolster their squad, and they’ve now entered the fray to sign a stellar centre-half from abroad.

Aston Villa join Man United in race for Tarik Muharemovic

According to Italian news outlet Gazzetta Di Modena, Aston Villa have joined the race to sign Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic, with the Premier League title challengers him ahead of a potential summer move.

The 22-year-old has attracted widespread attention across Europe following a string of impressive performances in Serie A, with Villa now competing against English rivals and Italian giants for his signature.

Gazzetta di Modena reports that Villa are amongst three Premier League clubs tracking Muharemovic, alongside Bournemouth and Man United.

The Red Devils dispatched scouts to watch the Bosnian defender in action at the Dall’Ara stadium in Bologna last Sunday, where he delivered another accomplished display and scored his second goal of the campaign.

Muharemovic possesses the characteristics of a ‘modern’ defender that appeal to Premier League clubs, as well as an ‘unusual’ charisma for his age and a profile that is ‘perfect’ for the Premier League.

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Bournemouth’s interest stems partly from their successful experience with Dean Huijsen, another defender developed through Juventus’ youth system.

The Cherries signed Huijsen for over £20m before selling him to Real Madrid 12 months later for around treble the price.

However, Inter Milan and Juventus remain frontrunners for Muharemovic’s services.

The Old Lady hold a 50 per cent sell-on clause from his previous departure, which could provide leverage in talks.

Juve are considering using this clause to reduce the asking price for Inter midfielder Davide Frattesi, valued at £25 million, with Muharemovic potentially included as part of an exchange deal.

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	Away from the storm: South Africa’s players relax in their hotel pool in Bangladesh © Getty Images

South Africa Cricketers’ Association chief executive Tony Irish has responded to claims that some members of the national team could be sanctioned and perhaps even sacked on their return from Bangladesh by saying they are “groundless”.Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport chairman, Butana Komphela, said on Tuesday that alleged talk of a strike amongst the national players in protest at president Norman Arendse’s interference in the selection of the squad amounted to “a mutiny against the president”.”You should sack them, fire them – meet them at the airport and tear their contracts up,” Komphela told Arendse and Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola. “It is a mutiny and it is not acceptable.”Irish responded yesterday on behalf of the national players saying: “There is no basis for any disciplinary action against any of the players. SACA made an internal complaint against the president for the public statements he about the team before they left and we will wait for that to be processed in due course.”Arendse was quoted in Sondag newspaper as saying that the players “they love money too much. Moreover, the majority of blacks are waiting for them to strike, because if they did it would be difficult to come back in politically.”Irish said that, although the references to money had upset the national players, that was not their greatest concern. “Far more upsetting to the players was the divisive references to race and politics. They are a team playing with a common purpose and to be referred to as anything else was matter they wanted addressed.”

Scorecard

Travis Birt broke his century drought at a crucial period © Getty Images

Travis Birt picked a timely day to produce his first Pura Cup century of the season and he lifted Tasmania to an enviable position at Adelaide Oval. South Australia, who were bowled out for 139 on Thursday, fought back with three wickets in the first session to have the Tigers at 5 for 216, but Birt was helped by Sean Clingeleffer to end the challenge.Birt, an Australia A representative last winter, had struggled for sizeable scores during the summer and overcame his problems with a controlled 102 that kept Tasmania on track for a spot in the final. The Tigers grabbed the competition lead with their first-innings points and Birt strengthened the advantage during his 202-ball contribution that included nine fours.His partnership with Clingeleffer, who picked up a useful 46, was essential in preventing South Australia from facing a small deficit. Birt fell to an edge off Paul Rofe, who had earlier picked up Michael Dighton for 52, and Dan Cullen added Clingeleffer to accept his second victim. Mark Cosgrove’s occasional offerings concluded the innings at 337 and he returned a surprising 3 for 3 off nine overs.South Australia’s reply started badly when Jason Borgas was caught at point for 1 and Darren Lehmann departed on the final ball of the day when he was taken sweeping Xavier Doherty. The Redbacks were 2 for 53 and still 145 in arrears.

Michael Clarke gets going in the first ODI against South Africa © Getty Images

Australia may be hit by injuries and down 1-0 in the five-match one-day series, but Michael Clarke does not think there is much to worry about. Clarke, who scored a half-century in Sunday’s six-wicket loss, believes the side is playing well despite losing the opening two games of the tour.”[The first ODI] was a little bit disappointing but we’re not far away,” he told . “I don’t think we have too much to worry about. We’re playing pretty good cricket.”Australia’s back-up bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Mick Lewis suffered in the first one-dayer alongside Brett Lee, but injuries are becoming a greater problem as Ricky Ponting (stomach), Andrew Symonds (hip) and Stuart Clark (rib) are all in doubt for Friday’s second match at Cape Town. Phil Jaques will arrive in South Africa as cover on Wednesday and will be considered for a spot at No. 3 or in the middle order.Ponting is hopeful of playing and Clarke backed his captain to be fit. “Fingers crossed, I hope Ricky is fine for Friday, so Phil probably won’t get the chance to play,” Clarke said. “Jaquesy is a fantastic player. As he has shown before, he’ll step up and do well. We’ll get Jaquesy if Ricky and Andrew [Symonds] aren’t fit.”Clarke said the appearance of both injured players would give the side a big lift as they attempt to level the series. “Ricky and Andrew, if they don’t score a run between them, just their presence in the field is missed unbelievably,” Clarke said. “Punter is the No. 1 batsman in the world at the moment and ‘Symmo’ is certainly up there. You can’t replace those sorts of guys and they were certainly missed.”The Test squad is announced next week and Clarke has been fine-tuning his new-ball method in the nets in a bid to return to the squad for the three-match series starting on March 16. “I just need to continue working hard on my game, continue scoring runs and hopefully another opportunity will come up,” he said.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Michael Kasprowicz dismissed three top-order batsmen as Australia raced time at Wellington© Getty Images

Australia’s growing charge was again stalled by rain just as Ricky Ponting enforced the follow-on with a massive lead of 326. Michael Kasprowicz reignited Australia’s hunt for victory as New Zealand were dismissed for 244 at tea, but the players did not return on a day when it wasn’t only the pitch that wanted to stay under the covers.Two sessions were wiped off by rain and mist hugging the Basin Reserve, and more is forecast for tomorrow. Any lost time on day five will probably ensure an Australia victory is sucked down the drain. If clear skies reappear – it’s a big if – New Zealand must show greater application than they did in the first innings against an in-form attack that dealt the wickets around.Australia’s bowlers are fresh after delivering 81.1 overs – only 42.1 were possible today – and finishing off their opponents in a session that lasted almost three hours. Through Lou Vincent and James Franklin New Zealand made a reasonable attempt at crease occupation in their unlikely bid to pass the follow-on target of 421.Once Vincent, who posted his seventh Test half-century, and James Franklin added 58 Kasprowicz struck twice with two edges, Shane Warne followed it up with Brendon McCullum and Craig McMillan, and New Zealand were all out after some clever Daniel Vettori aggression. Australian hands that were warming in pockets were suddenly preparing for a second bowl. Dwarfed by Australia’s mammoth 570 for 8 declared, New Zealand started 448 runs behind and reduced the damage by 122 when the covers went back on for good.Kasprowicz, running in under ghostly fog suiting his `Kasper’ nickname, homed in on both Vincent and Franklin with carefully constructed plans over a couple of overs that produced nicked attempted drives and easy catches for Adam Gilchrist. The naggingly accurate and slippery bowling again showed why he has kept Brett Lee cleaning shoes and wondering when he’ll get his next first-class game.Intent on a long stay, Vincent was happy to front-foot pull the fast bowlers and sweep Warne, and he offered a small acknowledgement for his 115-ball fifty. His partnership with Franklin, the nightwatchman, became irritating for the experimenting Australians. Gilchrist crouched outside leg stump for a couple of deliveries to Warne, who sometimes employed five close-in catchers to Franklin. All were avoided and he played a couple of smart drives on his way to a Test-best 26.The pair’s resistance started talk of time running out for Australia, but then Kasprowicz popped up, giving himself three victims for the innings and 99 in his career. When McCullum arrived in a hurry and pushed his third ball to Michael Clarke at midwicket three wickets had fallen for 18 runs. The boost revived Warne and life was breathed into a dreary session.McMillan has lost some embarrassing battles to Australia over the summer and was fighting to retain his place. He began under control and then snapped, slogging Warne for a large six over mid-on. He can’t help it. From there he was confused and soon left head-down to a horrible swipe on bended knee off Warne.Jason Gillespie upset Iain O’Brien before Vettori and Chris Martin provided two stumbling blocks. Farming the strike, Vettori crashed eight boundaries in making 45 and Martin successfully tried not to get out. The tactic worked until Vettori picked out Damien Martyn, and more thoughtful batting will be necessary to see off Australia on the final day. Unless it rains.How They Were Out
Franklin c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 26 (166 for 5)
Feet stayed planted as he eyed a drive but edged instead.Vincent c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 63 (180 for 6)
Ball angled in to Vincent, who tried to push through cover but his weight wasn’t all the way forward.McCullum c Clarke b Warne 3 (184 for 7)
Playing outside leg stump, he pushed a catch to a diving Clarke at midwicket.McMillan b Warne 20 (201 for 8)
Lost his head again, slogging across the line to a ball that hit off stump.O’Brien b Gillespie 5 (212 for 9)
Yorker brushed pad on the way to leg stump.Vettori c Martyn b Warne 45 (244)
Caught in the deep hitting to midwicket.

Scores at the end of the final round of the Commonwealth Bank Under-19 Championship Series:South Australia v Victoria
South Australia 7/356 dec (Littlewood 155, Crook 54*)
defeated
Victoria 245 all out (Evans 85, Crosthwate 38, Bailey 4/51, Smith 3/25)New South Wales v Queensland
Queensland 167 all out (Ross 47, Beadle 4/17)
lost to
New South Wales 6/170 dec (Clarence 35*, Coyte 35*, Fitzpatrick 3/67)Tasmania v Western Australia
Tasmania 214 all out
lost to
Western Australia WA 3/309 (Doropolus 75, May 159*, Pomersbach 49*)Australian Capital Territory v Northern Territory
Northern Territory 280 all out (MacDonald 103, Skewes 82, Poidevin 6/50)
defeated
Australian Capital Territory 194 all out (McCard 3/40, MacDonald 4/13)New South Wales have clinched the title.

Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson attended a meeting at Lord’s earlier this week where the future pattern of the first class game was under discussion.When I asked him what progress had been made at the meeting Mr Anderson told me,” Discussions between the counties are intensifying over the proposals to drop one of the one day competitions in favour of a twenty over 4.15pm – 8.15pm affair and all counties have agreed that they must have both a marketing and a business plan in place before any decision is made.”He continued, “As far as Somerset is concerned it’s fan base, be that members and non members indicates that they like the early season knock out cup competition. At that time of the year the financial advantages of the cup are in the hands of the weather. Some counties, not Somerset, have indicated that over the years that they have had poor returns.”Mr Anderson went on, “Advocates of the proposals point to the commercial benefits of floodlit cricket, and the assumption is that for two or three home matches with an after work proposed start and end time similar audiences would be attracted.”The chief continued, “Somerset acknowledge that grounds situated in a centre of high population stand a chance of attracting an audience for a short game. Our view is that in a rural area where many of the supporters have to travel substantial distances for home matches that it is unlikely that they will do so for a four hour match at the end of the working day.”He concluded “Somerset would not be against the proposals if it was in addition to rather than instead of the early season one day competition, but notice must be taken of coaches and players, who think that an additional competition would be too hard and therefore the best players, particularly bowlers would probably not play which will lessen the attraction.”

Steve Waugh today called for the Australian cricket team to visit the Gallipoli battlefields prior to every Ashes tour.The Australian captain, clearly moved by the team’s tour of the battlefields today, suggested that the Ashes squad do the sameevery four years as a stop-over to London.”I’d like to think this could be a traditional start to every tour by an Australian side to the UK,” he said from the Gallipolipeninsula.”It’s so peaceful and beautiful now the hardest part is to realise what it was like in 1915.”In that year more than 8,000 ANZACS were killed and a further 18,000 wounded during the ill-fated eight month campaign.Today the Australian cricketers visited memorial sites such as Lone Pine, The Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and Chunuk Bair, thehighest ground at Gallipoli which was briefly held by New Zealand forces.Waugh, who described the visit as a once in a lifetime experience, praised the courage and determination of the ANZACS.”It puts things into perspective for us because people call us heroes but we just play sport and we’re good at it,” the36-year-old said.”But realistically those who fought are far more deserving of the accolade of heroes than any of us.”As for the other players, everyone is taking it in and is very interested but it’s hard to comprehend the scale of what happenedhere with half a million casualties.”Waugh said he and his teammates were thinking about the young soldiers who went off looking for adventure only to findthemselves facing a determined Turkish enemy and punishing conditions.”For all those who ended up dying, it’s hard to comprehend the numbers dying and fighting and all the commotion andconfusion. It must have been terrifying,” he said.Waugh explained the idea of seeing the battlefields was formulated about 12 months ago when he had dinner with Australian ofthe Year Lieutenant-General Peter Cosgrove.They discussed the common features of the armed forces and cricket – namely that both required careful planning andcamaraderie – before putting the idea to the Australian Cricket Board.ACB executive chairman Malcolm Speed agreed and the Gallipoli visit was made part of the tour itinerary.During the five-hour bus trip from Istanbul to Gelibolu, the team watched the Four Corners documentary “The Fatal Shore” andthe 1981 Peter Weir film “Gallipoli”, starring a young Mel Gibson.The movie records an attack on the narrow ridge called The Nek on August 7, 1915, when more than 300 Australians weregunned down in a futile but courageous attack on an area no bigger than the size of two tennis courts.Four lines of men were sent to almost certain death before the attack was halted.Today, the Australians planned a game of cricket on the beach at Anzac Cove, re-enacting a match played by diggers on afamous section of the battlefield called Shell Green during the final days of the campaign.On December 8, 1915, Britain’s General Kitchener ordered the evacuation of the ANZAC forces.The Turks must have been literally stumped when they watched a group of soldiers from the NSW 4th Battalion stage a cricketmatch at Shell Green on December 17, 1915.By this stage of the campaign the Turks and the ANZACS had developed a mutual respect and often exchanged presents.The Turks held their fire to watch the cricket but after two hours they’d had enough and started shelling the Australians.According to the diary of one ANZAC, Granville Ryrie, the match continued anyway until the Turks doubled their firepowerand the Aussies reluctantly called it a draw.

ScorecardRob Key added another hundred to his large collection at the St Lawrence Ground•Getty Images

Rob Key’s first Championship century inside 16 months helped Kent prosper on the opening day of their LV= County Championship clash with Division Two leaders Lancashire in Canterbury.On an overcast day when 26 overs were lost to rain and bad light, Kent’s top-order flourished against a weakened and lethargic Lancashire attack to post 235 for 3 from only 70 overs’ play.Key hit a season’s best 113 and featured in stands worth 72 with Daniel Bell-Drummond and then 149 inside 35 overs with Joe Denly on a day when Lancashire – who began the round needing five points to clinch promotion – clearly expected ball to dominate bat.Without three key members of their pace attack – including the division’s leading wicket-taker in Kyle Jarvis as well as their overseas pro James Faulkner, both with fractured hands – Lancashire elected to field first when play started on time at 10.30am.However, only 28 balls were bowled during a staccato opening session before the players, with Kent on seven without loss, fled for cover from a heavy shower for an early lunch just after noon.Key might have gone for 3, when Alviro Petersen downed a slip catch off Glen Chapple with the home total on 23 without loss, yet Kent’s only casualty of the opening two sessions came after 28.3 overs.With his score on 37 after 103 minutes at the crease Bell-Drummond, walking across his stumps and aiming to leg, was trapped lbw by a Tom Bailey off-cutter to make it 72 for 1.Key scored only four boundaries in his patient 116-ball 50, two of which came with straight drives in successive overs from left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan, as Key and Denly set out their stall to bat time.Denly reached his 79-ball 50 with a sweetly-timed leg-side clip off Chapple for his eighth boundary, while Key reached three figures with an all-run four after straight driving the same bowler. The hundred came off 179 balls and included 11 fours, 10 of them boundaries.It was Key’s first Championship century since May 5 last year when he scored 126 in the win over Surrey. It was also his 24th first-class hundred on the ground for Kent, where he is comfortably the county’s leading run-scorer with almost 8,000 runs to his name.Bad light took the players off for a fourth time shortly before 5pm and Key and Denly both perished soon after the resumptions half an hour later. Denly, playing late to the skiddy pace of Jordan Clark, departed lbw for 65 then Key, after 201 balls, fenced at a Clark lifter and spooned a comfortable catch to gully off the shoulder of the bat in the same over.Lancashire might have finished the day on an even bigger high had Karl Brown held onto a sharp slip chance offered by home skipper Sam Northeast when on 4, but the opportunity, off the bowling of Clark, went to ground allowing Northeast and night watchman James Tredwell to bat out the three remaining overs through to stumps.