SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: England have taken Ireland to the cleaners twice in the past 12 months, but only one of those victories counted for a bean and that was in Dublin 12 months ago.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT PEBBLE BEACH: With eight top five finishes in the majors but no victories, it's hardly surprising that Rickie Fowler is considered the best player under the age of 40.

Blackpool fan Simon Sadler has completed a 96.2 per cent acquisition of the club following approval of the purchase by the English Football League.

Free agent striker Nicky Ajose is weighing up a number of offers after attracting interest from Blackpool, Exeter City and Lincoln City following his release by Charlton.

Terry McPhillips has resigned from his position as Blackpool manager. McPhillips took over as permanent manager in September 2018 having had a successful spell as caretaker.

ON THE ROAD: The joke wasn't lost on the home fans as they gathered at the Happy Abode. Supping on pre-match lager from plastic pint pots and surrounded by the wrong shade of blue.

The former Celtic and Aston Villa striker had been talking to Southend United about becoming part of their management team with Henrik Larsson and Johan Mjallby until Johnson pulled out.

Tommy Johnson has joined Blackpool's recruitment staff in a move which led to the collapse last week of Southend's bid to appoint Henrik Larsson as manager at Roots Hall.

A shocking video has shown the moment a football fan was punched in the face by an 'aggressive' and 'out of control' steward during Blackpool's EFL Trophy clash with Scunthorpe.

Legendary Blackburn Rovers coach Tony Parkes broke down in tears during a revealing interview with his daughter about his struggles with Alzheimers.   

Blackpool have sacked manager Simon Grayson after a dreadful run of just one win in 12 games. The League One club were fourth in December but are now down in 15th.

The 41-year-old spent six-and-a-half years at Liverpool's academy and oversaw two of the Reds' first-team games this campaign but will now take charge of the League One side.

MATT BARLOW: When football last ground to a halt back in 1939, Cyril Lawrence was a teenager on the verge of a breakthrough into the Blackpool first team.

Young actress Millie Bobby Brown, 13, turned heads at the MTV Video Music Awards after party after changing from her frock into a stunning two-piece metallic outfit.

Rita Ora rocked leopard print for her VMA Kickoff Concert performance with surprise guest Liam Payne on Sunday night in New York.

The star arrived at the exclusive bash — held at at New York City hotspot Beauty & Essex — wearing a particularly eye-catching ensemble on Monday night.

She stole the spotlight at the MTV VMA's the week before. And Bebe Rexha continued the trend as she commanded attention on the red carpet for the iHeartRadio MMVAs in Toronto on Sunday.

For many celebrities, one outfit per red carpet is quite enough effort. But Winnie Harlow raised the bar for everyone when she swung by the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City on Sunday.

She is set to be MTV Australia's correspondent for the the night at the VMAs on Monday.

Heidi Klum did not disappoint Monday night as she hit the VMAs red carpet in New Jersey, The 46-year-old showed off her model assets in a metallic black sequined mini dress ahead of the award show.

The 23-year-old singer took over the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards on Monday in a mermaid dress that showed her admirable abs.

She may seem like somewhat of a goody-two-shoes in some of the roles she selects, but on Monday night, actress Alison Brie was anything but.

The 33-year-old mother-of-two said 'next time I won't eat ice cream and drink too much wine the weeks prior'

Sometimes a little hint goes a long way, and in the midst of all the showy fashion statements at Monday's MTV VMA event, model Adriana Lima made a subtle yet sexy statement.

Ava Max was shining bright at the MTV VMA Awards when she stepped out in a red superwoman style ensemble on the red carpet, somewhat channeling Lady Gaga.

The 24-year-old Grammy nominee tweeted that she 'loved' the 22-year-old Englishman, who blasted Russia's 2013 'gay propaganda' policy in Moscow

The 39-year-old former WWE star posed in a tiny string bikini, on the beach in Mykonos, Greece on Wednesday

Mohammed Jibra-Eel Saleh, 37, of Leicester, sent threatening emails to government officials, the Ministry of Defence and even Prince Andrew before Harry and Meghan's wedding.

George and Amal Clooney enjoyed an early anniversary dinner Thursday with their friends Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber. The couples were dressed in matching outfits.

The 40-year-old blonde beauty, who used to date George Clooney, will welcome the baby in May, she told People on Wednesday.

Stacy Keibler showed off her baby bump when she headed out for a hike in Beverly Hills on Thursday. 

The TV presenter, 34, was sure to set pulses racing as she stepped out for the third day of Glastonbury Festival on Friday.

The socialite, 28, looked festival ready, as she flaunted her toned torso, in a pair of leopard print trousers and a tiny black crop top.

Anais Gallagher, 19, proudly displayed her toned abs in a quirky double denim ensemble on Wednesday, as she attended the Magnum Pleasure store launch in London.

The 53-year-old had been working with the Rugby Football Union on youth development, but has now accepted a role north of the border. He had been considered to replace Eddie Jones as coach.

Safe passage through a group that contains the No 2 ranked side in the world in Ireland and hosts Japan is the minimum expected of Gregor Townsend's men. Anything less would be an abject failure.

World Rugby says it aims to make a decision on whether Scotland's storm-threatened clash with Japan on Sunday can go ahead as early as possible.

NIK SIMON IN YOKOHAMA: World Rugby have given the green light for Japan's game with Scotland to go ahead - with supporters also being allowed to attend the crunch clash.

Scotland suffered a devastating Rugby World Cup elimination at the hands of Japan, who made history by reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.  

The SRU was reprimanded following comments made by chief executive Mark Dodson during the World Cup in reference to a match against Japan potentially being cancelled.

Scottish rugby fans were left truly stunned after it was revealed that the SRU chief executive more than doubled his salary from £455,000 to £933,000. The news comes prior to the Six Nations kick-off.

Gregor Townsend has absolved Stuart Hogg from blame despite the Scotland skipper making his second costly mistake in as many Guinness Six Nations games.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Don't we ever learn? The marquee events, the marquee players, don't care about our wish for a northern powerhouse and FIFA will be no different.

The superstar musician's burgeoning domestic empire started in 2012, when he bought a modern farmhouse in the town of Framlingham.

Suffolk's Chantry Park is the venue for a series of gigs by the Shape Of You hitmaker.

A British vlogger, who hit headlines when her parody of Ed Sheeran's Shape of You racked up 20 million views in just a few weeks in 2017, has shared a hilarious rap about being 30.

Frank Sheeran, who was infamous for 'painting houses' by spattering victims' blood on the walls, was allegedly a 'distant uncle' to Shape Of You singer Ed, 28.

The millionaire pop star, 28, lodged plans to open the 'prayer retreat' last month at his estate in Suffolk. But his local parish council has since stressed that the current plans are not legal.

The 26-year-old megastar, who headlined Glastonbury earlier this year, returned to Kensington Avenue Primary School in Thornton Heath, south London.

Pop sensation Ed Sheeran has been granted permission to turn his upmarket London restaurant into a pub despite neighbours having previously complained about noisy punters.