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Sinha had been undergoing treatment for liver cancer and kidney disease in Singapore and Thailand previously

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Aug-2018BPL chairman and BCB director Afzalur Rahman Sinha died at the Gleneagles Global Hospital in Chennai on Wednesday. He was 68 and is survived by his wife, son and daughter.A Freedom Fighter in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971, Sinha had been undergoing treatment for liver cancer and kidney disease in Singapore and Thailand. He was a well-acknowledged financier and sports organiser, who joined the BCB in 1998 and later became chairman of its finance committee.Sinha was also president of Surjo Tarun, a Dhaka league side with whom he has worked with for two decades. He had also chaired Acme Laboratories; a leading pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh.

Manchester United now “fully expect” to sign a “sensational” £70m star soon, as they want him to take part in their pre-season tour, according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey.

Man Utd looking to sign new forward

It has been a slow start to the summer transfer window for Man United, with Matheus Cunha their only high-profile arrival to date, and they have also faced issues getting some of their own players off the books.

There has been a great deal of speculation surrounding the futures of Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, with Liverpool even reportedly coming forward to sign the England international, although Barcelona seems like a more likely destination.

However, United legend Teddy Sheringham has now weighed in on Rashford’s situation, making the bold claim that he hopes Rashford doesn’t end up at the Spanish side, as he doesn’t deserve the move.

The other main transfer saga surrounding Man United this summer centres around Bryan Mbeumo, with Ruben Amorim identifying the Brentford forward as a player who could help solve his side’s attacking issue.

There has now been a new update on United’s Mbeumo pursuit, with Bailey telling The Boot Room that the Cameroonian is growing frustrated by the lack of progress.

The transfer expert said: “United are very frustrated, as is the player. But again, they are keeping pretty quiet. Officially.

“The guaranteed money is the main obstacle still… this was seen as a minor issue two weeks ago, yet that is still the main problem. Man United are telling Mbeumo they still fully expect him to be on their pre-season tour.”

It is little wonder that the Red Devils are starting to grow tired of the negotiations, given that Brentford have recently raised their asking price to around £70m, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe determined to pay no more than £65m.

Man Utd line up move for "talented" £25m+ PSG star who's been told to leave

United are now interested in signing a defender who is desperate for more playing time.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jul 17, 2025 Man Utd must finalise deal for "sensational" Mbeumo soon

While Ratcliffe should not be pressured into forking out an amount above his valuation of the Brentford star, the saga needs to come to an end soon, especially with the player himself now growing frustrated by the lack of progress.

£70m is, of course, a lot of money to spend on a player who is unproven at the highest level, but the former Troyes man performed remarkably well in the Premier League last season, amassing 27 goal contributions in 38 outings.

Lauded as “sensational” by Sky Sports commentators, Mbeumo could be a fantastic signing for United, so it is promising news they expect him to take part in their pre-season tour, with Amorim’s side set to take on Leeds United in Sweden in two days’ time.

A verdict into Manchester City's legal action against the Premier League is expected this week, a report says.

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City launched action against Premier LeagueCase is separate to 115 chargesCould have knock-on effectFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per the , a verdict into City's legal action against the Premier League is expected in the coming days. The champions launched a claim of "discrimination" over Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, which are designed to stop clubs inflating the value of commercial deals to maintain competitiveness in the top-flight. The rules state that any deals must be independently assessed, something City argue is "unlawful".

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City are seeking damages from the Premier League as they claim they are suffering from the "tyranny of the majority". Twelve clubs in the league voted in favour of the rules being introduced after Newcastle's takeover. Six voted against and two abstained. The case is separate to the 115 charges they are facing, but defeat for the Premier League could have an immense knock-on effect, with the report claiming rival clubs fear it would water down financial controls and competitiveness.

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City have consistently denied breaking any rules, and have argued in their lawsuit that sponsors should be allowed to decide how much they want to pay clubs when entering into sponsorship agreements. They also claim that the current rules are discriminatory towards clubs with strong links to the Gulf region.

AFPWHAT NEXT?

City will hope to win their case, and potentially go on to beat the 115 charges they are facing from the Premier League. A ruling in that case is not expected for another few months.

The Sri Lanka mystery spinner talks about how he deals with bowling in the powerplay and death, working with Ajantha Mendis, his first CPL stint, and more

Interview by Deivarayan Muthu29-Aug-2024This will be your first CPL stint. Can you recall the chat you had with Kumar Sangakkara (director of cricket at Royals)?
Kumar called me last year for the CPL, saying that he wanted me to play for Barbados. But last year I didn’t get the NOC to play the CPL because I think we [Sri Lanka] were playing the Asia Cup or something at the time. This year I said to Kumar that I’m definitely coming to Barbados, and I also know about TP [Trevor Penney, Barbados Royals head coach] because I’ve played under him at T10. I also know a bunch of boys here, so yes great to be here at the CPL.You’ve played T20 cricket all around the world, but you’ve played just one T20 in the Caribbean so far. The wind is often a factor across various venues, so what do you hope to take out of this tournament?
Actually, it’s a great challenge for me to play in the Caribbean because I’d just played one match at St Lucia during the [T20] World Cup. Yes, the wind and everything is a challenge because the batters have the power to use it and clear the boundary. I came here and played one practice game with Barbados and the wickets and conditions seem friendly to spin as well. So, there will be turn and low bounce, and there will be more chances to get wickets too with the wind as well.Related

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You used to be a fast-bowling allrounder. How did you become this mystery spinner who could turn the ball both ways?
Actually, it was when I was injured. I had a groin injury in one of the school games and we didn’t have enough bowlers. So, I had to bowl three-four overs, and I tried to bowl spin and I got wickets in that game. In the next game, I got seven wickets bowling spin and I’ve also seen Ajantha Mendis bowl. I was training in school to bowl both offspin and the carrom ball. I used it in that game, and I got seven wickets, so that’s how I ended up being a spinner.How did you develop control over the carrom ball?
I’ve been bowling the carrom ball since when I was 12. I bowled a lot of it in Under-13s, so when I came up to Under-15s, I had the control over it. When you bowl a lot of balls and get your rhythm and everything together, it’s easier to bowl it.How did working with Ajantha Mendis at the Army Under-23 side improve your bowling?
Yes, it helped me a lot. When I was 20 or 21, I got the chance to play Under-23 [cricket] under Ajantha Mendis. He is the legend of bowling the carrom balls and googlies. He used to bowl those with the same grip. We spent two-three months together and I leant a lot with him. He told me how to get the rhythm and balance that I should have with the run-up. He didn’t do a lot of adjustments; he just told me what he does on the mental part of the game in certain moments, and I still talk to him about what I can to do to get better.What is running through your mind when you bowl in the powerplay?
With the new ball, I can get swing. So, swinging it is a great strength that I have. It’s more than a strength – how can I put it? – I can actually get away with it. In the powerplay, I can just bowl to the field and when you have something like that, you know you can survive in that period.Maheesh Theekshana bowled Galle Marvels to a Super Over victory in LPL 2024•SLCCaptains also trust you to deliver at the death. You’ve bowled Super Overs as well. What makes you tick at the death?
When you bowl at the death, you need confidence, and you need to be aggressive as well. When you’re bowling in the powerplay, if you overcome it [the challenge], you could still get some wickets. My thing at the death is that I’m not trying to take wickets and I’m just trying to keep it to a single.When I played against Australia in Australia in 2022, [Lasith] Malinga was the bowling coach. He had a competition every day for the fast bowlers to bowl yorkers. Whenever I had a chance, I also bowled [yorkers] with him and I had a chat with him. The things I learnt from him really matter when I play.Before I bowl at the death, I take a deep breath, and I don’t change my plan when I’m in the run-up. I always think before the start of my run-up and then I have a clear plan to deliver it. And I always try and bowl to my field and keep it simple.Can you recall an example where everything worked for you at the death?
In the Lanka Premier League (LPL) game against Dambulla [Sixers], I had to bowl two-three overs at the end, and it went down to a Super Over. I also bowled the Super Over, which we [Galle Marvels] won. We didn’t have lot of runs on the board; it was a hard wicket to bat on.Luckily, I got my plans and everything right and I got three wickets in the game and then two [one] in the Super Over also. It’s great to win a game for your team when the plans come together. When you do your best, the team wins, which is the most important thing for me. So, that’s the game where I got [it]100% right.What’s the secret behind the arrow celebration?
No more arrow celebrations! I did it earlier because I love the TV series.Maheesh Theekshana’s celebration has a superhero origin story•ICC via Getty ImagesYou started out as a unique spinner who could turn the ball both ways. What does it feel like to have the next generation follow in your footsteps?
It’s really nice to see such youngsters coming up. I saw that video of him [bowling with an action similar to mine] as well. When we were kids, we tried to bowl like Murali [Muttiah Muralidaran] and Ajantha Mendis and even like Dale Steyn as a fast bowler. Everyone in Sri Lanka would’ve tried Malinga’s action. So, it’s a really nice feeling and a proud moment for me. I’m really happy for me and for them [youngsters] as well.What’s it like to play under MS Dhoni’s leadership at Chennai Super Kings in the IPL?
He’s the one who has told me to keep things simple and not to go away from my strengths. He always backs the player he has – whether bowler or batter. The trust is the most important thing you want to have as a player. When the captain and coach are a family and they back you as a player, you can do the job. We also have confidence as bowlers and that [trust] is what’s important when you’re playing as a team.Earlier, you failed to make the Sri Lanka under-19 team. How has your improved fitness helped you become a better player?
At the time, I was fat, and I failed skin folds and yo-yo tests. I had to reduce weight and do a lot of training and things. I reduced the weight by 27kgs, but I still didn’t get a chance. Then I understood the things I could control and not control. I did a lot of running and got into much better shape. I tried to reduce the fat, and do the things I can do, and one year after that, I got selected into the Sri Lankan national team.Sri Lanka continue to have immense depth in their spin bowling. Along with you, there’s Wanindu Hasaranga, of course, Jeffrey Vandersay was particularly impressive against India, Dunith Wellalage is at the CPL with Royals too, Vijay Viyaskanth is also working his way up to the top. What do you make of this spin depth?
Yes, we have a lot of great spinners right now. Even back in those days, we had great spinners. In Sri Lanka, you should always have good spinners to play on our tracks and conditions. Even in the Under-19s and Under-18s, there are some spinners coming up and it’s a positive for us as a team to see those spinners. Last time against India when Wanindu got injured, Jeffrey came in and took six wickets. You have to have that fight and that bench strength is important for the team.Your grandmother has had a strong influence on your cricketing career. She was even in attendance at some of the venues during LPL 2024.
She’s the one who has done everything for me. Yes, in the Lanka Premier League she came down to Kandy and Dambulla to watch me bowl. She has also come to [Chennai] in the IPL in the last three years and all around the world, including Dubai and Australia, for me. She loves the game, and she knows too much about cricket. Whenever I don’t do that well, I also get harsh words from her. For me, it’s great to have someone like her always backing me and being there for me to talk to. At any time, she’s the one who is always there for me. The reason why I’m here [as a professional cricketer] is because of her.

Atletico Madrid have been hit with a partial stadium ban after a barrage of missiles were aimed at Real's Thibaut Courtois during the derby.

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Atleti handed a three-game partial stadium closureHave also been fined €45,000 (£37,000/$49,000) RFEF's competition committee doled out the punishmentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Atletico fans turned on Courtois moments after Real Madrid took the lead through Eder Militao and started throwing plastic bottles, lighters and even a bag of trash aimed at the goalkeeper. The referee was forced to stop the game after three warnings failed to have the desired effect as the situation escalated, leading to a 15-minute suspension of play.

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In response to the crowd trouble, the RFEF’s competition committee has levied a three-match partial stadium closure, targeting the "Fondo Sur" section of the Estadio Metropolitano, the area from which the missiles were launched. The club will also have to pay a fine of €45,000 (£37,000/$49,000) as part of the punishment. This disciplinary measure is seen as a strong statement by the federation, highlighting that such behaviour will not be tolerated in Spanish football.

DID YOU KNOW?

In the wake of the incident, Atletico Madrid have swiftly responded by banning one fan for life. This individual was identified as one of the perpetrators who threw objects onto the pitch. The club has also announced that it is working closely with local police to identify and sanction other individuals involved in the incident. Moreover, Atletico have pledged to implement changes in stadium policies to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future and will be banning ans from wearing clothing that conceals their identity, such as balaclavas, which some fans in the stands were seen wearing during the derby.

GettyWHAT NEXT?

The closure of the Fondo Sur stand will affect Atletico’s home fixtures against Leganes, Las Palmas, and Alaves. However, they still retain the right to appeal the RFEF’s decision. The Rojiblancos are back in action against Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Thomas Tuchel has flipped Gareth Southgate's England training schedule as he finally gets to work at St George's Park.

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Tuchel succeeded Southgate as England bossTakes charge of first game on March 21Has made significant changes to training regimeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The recently appointed Three Lions boss welcomed his first squad to the famous England training centre on Monday and players will have to get used to some big changes in the training regime. A major difference compared to Gareth Southgate's camp is that Tuchel will have his stars train in the afternoon instead of the morning like they did under the German's predecessor.

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Tuchel's reasoning for the change is to prepare the team for evening kick-offs better, putting bodies through their paces later in the day and familiarising their muscles with the routine. The Mirror also report that the former Bayern Munich and Chelsea boss wants time in the mornings to have team meetings and one-to-one sessions with the players.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wembley Stadium is sold out for England's game against Latvia on March 21, with the match against Latvia four days later also close to having a full crowd.

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The England squad have a good few days before they will take to the pitch for their first and second World Cup qualifiers. Every face inside the building looks delighted with how Tuchel's reign has started and the head coach himself will be hoping to get off to a good start in front of an expectant crowd next week.

Looking to land further upgrades, Aston Villa and sporting director Monchi are now reportedly eyeing a move to sign a La Liga winger who just starred in front of their scouts.

Aston Villa transfer news

After signing the likes of Amadou Onana in the summer transfer window, Aston Villa look set to be busy on the incomings front once again in 2025. The Villans have already been linked with names such as Semih Kilicsoy and even Real Madrid’s Arda Guler in two deals that would sharpen Unai Emery’s frontline even further at Villa Park.

The Spaniard has already taken the Midlands club back to the heights of old without those further additions, qualifying for the Champions League last season, before earning a stunning victory over Bayern Munich and very nearly stealing all three points against Italian giants Juventus.

Hoping to turn such draws into all three points, however, those in the Midlands have seemingly turned their attention towards one particular attacking upgrade.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Monchi and Aston Villa are now eyeing a move to sign Takefusa Kubo in 2025 after the winger scored and assisted in front of Villa’s scouts to help Real Sociedad secure an impressive 2-0 Europa League victory against Ajax in midweek.

Aston Villa now want to sign £8m+ midfielder for Unai Emery in January

He could be an excellent squad option at Villa Park available on the cheap.

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The Villans aren’t the only side interested in Kubo, however, with both Liverpool and Arsenal also reportedly eyeing moves to sign the Japan international when 2025 arrives. With such competition, Villa would be making quite the statement by winning the race for Kubo’s signature.

"Dangerous" Kubo could replace Leon Bailey

Whilst it’s difficult to criticise Aston Villa these days after their recent rise, one player who has struggled throughout the current campaign is Leon Bailey. The former Bayer Leverkusen winger has yet to score in 17 appearances in all competitions, whilst managing just three assists. The more that his struggle for form goes on, the more replaceable he looks, which is where Kubo could come in.

By comparison, Kubo has managed four goals and one assist in 18 appearances. Just 23 years old too, the Real Sociedad star’s best form is likely yet to come, making 2025 an ideal time for Villa to swoop in. The Villa target has earned plenty of praise in the last year or so, with analyst Ben Mattinson describing his one-on-one threat as “dangerous”.

Villa are certainly capable of attracting such players, but whether they decide to make their move when 2025 arrives remains to be seen.

Fast bowler joins on two-year deal with view to playing all formats

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2022Northamptonshire have signed fast bowler Ollie Sale from Somerset. Sale, 26, has agreed a two-year contract.Northants announced earlier in the week that they had released seamers Nathan Buck and Brandon Glover, with Sale targeted as a player who can strengthen the squad in all three formats.A tall right-armer, Sale came through the Somerset academy but has struggled with injuries. He required surgery on his back in 2015, making his senior T20 debut the following summer, but was then kept on the sidelines until finishing as the club’s leading wicket-taker in the 2020 Vitality Blast.”Ollie has a very, very high potential.” John Sadler, Northants head coach, said. “He brings real pace and he’s had success in white-ball cricket so far. That’s where his immediate strengths lie but we see him playing all formats for us moving forward too.”He’s at the time of his career now where he felt a move would be good. What he offers feels like a great fit for us right now and he’s someone we’re really excited to get to work with.”Sale missed all of the 2021 season after undergoing double shoulder surgery but returned to fitness this summer, making his List A debut during the Royal London Cup. He has also averaged 17.40 with the red ball in the 2nd XI Championship.”I’m hugely excited to be joining Northamptonshire at what seems to be a really promising time for the club,” Sale said. “When I spoke with John Sadler, he talked me through his vision for the club and the role he sees me fulfilling in the squad and I knew it was a brilliant opportunity for me to join an increasingly strong Northamptonshire team on the rise.”I can’t wait to get going with the boys this winter and hopefully build up to a successful season next year.”Northamptonshire are currently fifth in Division One of the Championship and virtually assured of a place in the top tier next season. As well as the departure of Buck and Glover, the club have let go batters Ben Curran and Charlie Thurston.

Just a few months after their World Cup flop show, the nucleus of a vibrant England one-day unit has emerged. And, unlike previous episodes of the team trying to embrace 50-over cricket, this one feels as though it has some longevity to it

Andrew McGlashan21-Nov-2015Two hundred and fifty seven days. On March 9, England exited the World Cup in the group stages after a 15-run defeat against Bangladesh in Adelaide. On November 20, Jos Buttler broke his own record with England’s fastest ODI century, a brutal 46-ball demolition of Pakistan in Dubai, which set-up a series-clinching victory.Anyone who watched England’s insipid World Cup campaign could scarcely have believed how their year in 50-over cricket would develop. A barnstorming series victory against New Zealand, a hard-fought 3-2 loss against World Champions Australia and finally a convincing series win in Asian conditions which tested various facets of a young side’s game.The Ashes series success will define England’s 2015, but it is the resurgence of the one-day side under Eoin Morgan and the shrewd stewardship of Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace that should really be seen as the stand-out achievement of the latest “new era”. Unlike previous incarnations of England trying to embrace one-day cricket, this one feels as though it has some longevity about it.Driven by Andrew Strauss’ demand that English cricket casts off its dismissive attitude to one-day cricket, the nucleus of a vibrant 50-over unit has emerged in barely six months. Those associated with the World Cup campaign insist that the freedom now being displayed was how they wanted to play in Australia and New Zealand. They never came close, though, after Morgan inherited Alastair Cook’s team and was unable to implement his own ideals in such a short turnaround.However, given the complete backing by Strauss to retain the captaincy – one of the decisions buried on that tumultuous day at Lord’s in May when Kevin Pietersen’s career was ended and the mud-slinging resumed – Morgan was handed the authority to make it his team. He has been immense as a captain and a batsman; it is all well and good to tell batsmen to play without inhibition, but that desire had to be followed through from the top and Morgan was true to his word. Since the World Cup he has made 754 runs at 58.00 with a strike-rate of 101.75.A couple of decisions in the final match against Pakistan in Dubai also highlight his sharp captaincy mind. Firstly, he promoted Buttler to No. 4 and then, with Pakistan throwing the bat, saw Sarfraz Ahmed dispatch Adil Rashid down the ground. It would have been easy to drop a fielder back to long-on, but instead he kept mid-on inside the circle. Off the next ball Sarfraz picked out the man. Neither was a ground-breaking captaincy manoeuvre, but such thinking in the one-day game has not often been natural within an England set-up.Jos Buttler’s century in the final ODI in Dubai was the 12th by an England batsman this year, the most in a calendar year•Getty ImagesWhile inconsistency remains, as shown by an overall tally of eight wins and six defeats since the start of the New Zealand series, the highlights of England’s last three series have been plentiful. Against New Zealand they crossed 400 for the first time, chased down 350 with six overs to spare and secured the series having been 45 for 5 in the chase at Chester-le-Street.Facing Australia, they fought back from 2-0 down to take the series to a decider. At Old Trafford, spinners Rashid and Moeen Ali came to the fore and at Headingley, Morgan marshalled a chase of 300. Back in Manchester, the top order folded with the series on the line and when they started against Pakistan by being 14 for 3 in Abu Dhabi, there was a thought whether progress would stall, but the response was emphatic.For individual players, there have been important career milestones. In the last seven matches, three batsmen have registered maiden ODI centuries: James Taylor, Alex Hales and Jason Roy. Taylor did not play against New Zealand, having emerged from the World Cup carnage with his reputation intact and captained the washout against Ireland in Dublin, but has proved to be an immensely versatile batsman. His century came at No. 3 against Australia and then in Sharjah he nursed a run chase at No. 5 in conditions favouring spin that would have undone many an England side. Do not underestimate his power, either, while his speed between the wickets adds another dimension.The hundreds for Hales and Roy in the UAE showed the value of letting players settle into a position; both have had their ups and downs – Roy started unconvincingly against New Zealand and Hales stuttered against Australia – but there is a long-term view about this one-day team with Bayliss and the selectors content to soak up the occasional hiccup.Centuries win one-day matches and in 2015 England have started to crack the code. Before the series against Pakistan, they already had their most three-figure scores for a calendar year (nine), and the 12 they have finished with – crowned by Buttler’s effort – is evidence of a top order that is quickly learning its trade at the top level, although it also reinforces how far behind the pack their game was. The overall strike-rate, too, of 93.07 is comfortably their best for a year.The bowling depth has been tested and the results have been encouraging. James Anderson and Stuart Broad have been moved aside from the one-day team – the former probably for the good, the latter may remerge – while in the UAE the side was shorn of Steven Finn who had become the senior figure in the team during the summer and Ben Stokes was due to be rested even before his collarbone injury. What David Willey and Reece Topley lack in pace they have made up for in nous, both producing eye-catching spells of swing against Pakistan, while the management have already been impressed by Topley’s variety. Player rotation means that the notion of a first-choice attack may be a thing of the past and the by-product is that the pool of players who can fill a role has expanded.All the bowlers have had to take a deep breath at times – especially in the series against New Zealand which was the fastest scoring bilateral series in history – none more so than Rashid, but England’s commitment to him embodies their new approach. He has conceded more than six-an-over, yet has not been overawed as 19 wickets in 14 innings would attest to. His 3 for 78 in Dubai was a case in point: two of the wickets came after he had been clobbered for a boundary, responding by finding Mohammad Rizwan’s edge with a sharp legbreak and having Sarfraz taken at mid-on.There will be more rough days with the smooth for this side. The first major staging post for them is the 2017 Champions Trophy in England – by when they will also have played series in Bangladesh and India that will challenge other areas of the team – and that tournament will be a good gauge as to how the side is shaping up for 2019. That World Cup, on home soil, is crucial to English cricket on a multitude of levels in terms of performances on the field and spreading the game off it – the challenge of the latter as important as the former. There is reason to believe, though, that there is a team being formed that can deliver.For England in one-day cricket, 2015 was on one hand another but on the other a year where an exciting future emerged.

Still searching to fill their managerial vacancy, Coventry City owner Doug King has confirmed the reports that he has a former Premier League manager who won countless trophies as a player on his shortlist of candidates.

Coventry's managerial candidates

The Sky Blues shocked the rest of the Championship when they sacked Mark Robins, who was one VAR decision away from taking his side to the FA Cup final and defeating Manchester United last season. After seven years in charge, the manager was dismissed with Coventry in an unexpected relegation scrap in the early stages of the campaign.

Coventry close in on "exceptional" manager who's a dream for Wright

Coventry City could appoint this Mark Robins successor very soon who would be a dream for Haji Wright.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 11, 2024

To their credit, even without a permanent manager and left with interim boss Rhys Carr to take charge, Coventry managed to get the post-Robins era underway in impressive fashion, having rescued an unlikely point against Championship leaders Sunderland last time out.

With the international break now underway, however, Carr may not be in charge for much longer as Coventry look to officially get a new era underway. The likes of Lincoln City’s Michael Skubala have already been linked with a move to take the vacant, but Coventry owner Doug King confirmed that one particular name is on his shortlist.

As confirmed by King, Frank Lampard is among the candidates to replace Robins with the owner now assessing his options. He told Sky Sports, as relayed by BBC Sport: “We’ve received a huge amount of CVs from high quality people, of which Frank is one. We’ve done nothing on that process.

“Clearly we’re in the international break. We’ll be assessing everything. We’ll work out who’s going to make the shortlist and we’ll go from there.”

Out of a job since leaving Chelsea at the 2022/23 campaign, Lampard may finally get the chance to restore some credit to his managerial career.

"Tremendous" Lampard isn't without risks

To go from the experience of Robins – a man who was the heart and soul of Coventry at times – to a manager who has always fallen just shy of truly impressing as a coach would be the ultimate risk for the Sky Blues.

Birmingham City should be the first example that they look at in this current moment in time. They decided to controversially part ways with John Eustace in favour of appointing Wayne Rooney, only to drop from the top half to relegation into League One as a result.

Currently sat 17th and just one point adrift of the bottom three, Coventry cannot afford to make a similar mistake so close to the busy festive period, which can make or break a season. In a vital two-week period, King must get his next appointment right even if that means denying Lampard a chance to step back into management.

Former Premier League manager and current Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho is among those to have praised Lampard in the past – dubbing his ex-midfielder a “tremendous professional” – but he may be forced to wait for his return to the technical area despite Coventry’s opening.