football

Hull City football club has appointed Iain Dowie as manager until the end of the season.

The 45-year-old, who has previously managed Crystal Palace and Coventry, replaces Phil Brown who was sacked on Monday.

Hull had been linked with a number of other managers, including Steve Coppell, Gary Megson, Mark Hughes and Paul Jewell, since Phil Brown's dismissal on Monday.

The former Northern Ireland international has been given a contract until the end of the season.

Plymouth Argyle’s fight for survival in the Championship was given a dramatic boost last night when they beat Westcountry rivals Bristol City 3-2 at Home Park.

Argyle were leading 2-0 at the break with goals from Chris Clarke and ex-Man City player Bradley Wright-Phillips. Phillips with a superb overhead kick just before half-time.

In the space of 20 minutes the Robins were soon level - pulling it back to 2-2 after City striker Nicky Maynard struck twice to upset the Home Park faithful.

England manager Fabio Capello has blamed the amount of money footballers are paid for the recent scandals regarding players’ private lives. 

“It is not only here. In Italy, in Germany, in Spain, in every country where football is so important it is the same problem," he said. 

Capello admitted that fame and riches at such a young age can be difficult to deal with. He added that he hoped his players would make sacrifices for the good of their careers. 

Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand has withdrawn his second appeal against match bans following charges of violent conduct.

Defender Ferdinand had received a three-match suspension following an incident where he appeared to swing an elbow in the face of Hull City Striker Craig Fagan in their clash at Old Trafford.

The charge was initially denied by 31-year-old Ferdinand and he was given an additional one-game ban for a "frivolous appeal". 

Truro City celebrated their first home win since August, after beating Hemel Hempstead Town by two goals.

This well-deserved 3-1 win leaves them with an outside chance of achieving the play-off places in the premier division of the Zamaretto Southern League. They face Helsowen away on Saturday.

The match started well. After 18 minutes a shot at goal by Marvin Brown was blocked by Will Viner, the Tudors' keeper. Brown's strike partner Andy Watkins then scored giving the White Tigers the lead.

John Terry does not intend to resign the captaincy of England following recent allegatons about his private life.

He could still lose the job if manager Fabio Capello decides he can no longer perform the role. 

England football boss Fabio Capello is expected to hold talks with Terry on Friday.

The Football Association has made it clear the Italian will decide the 29-year-old Chelsea defender's fate.

Capello has been recovering from knee surgery at his holiday home in Switzerland and will return to London on Thursday.

Brackley Town 4-3 Truro City

Truro City fell to a narrow away defeat in a seven goal thriller against Brackley Town, despite taking an early lead on Tuesday evening.

Things started well for the White Tigers when former Manchester United trainee Andy Taylor slotted home within eight minutes.

The home side hit back with two goals from Owen Storey in quick succession at St James Park.

The two teams went into half-time level, however, when Aaron Pugh equalised before the break.

Three of Chelsea's players have fitness fears ahead of their Champion's League game against  Juventus tonight.

Top scorer Nicolas Anelka has a bruised toe, midfielder Deco is struggling with a hamstring tear and defender Ricardo Carvalho is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

Fitness tests on Anelka are taking place before the Champion's League last-16 second-leg match with Juventus. Chelsea lead one-nil from the first leg.

Chelsea's boss Guus Hiddink doubted Anelka would be fit for the game. 

Chelsea and Liverpool both closed the gap on Manchester United after their wins last night.

But Man Utd still remain four points ahead of their rivals and have two games in hand.

The first of these games is at Newcastle tonight where the leaders will start as favourites. Newcastle have only won four out of 13 games at St. James’ Park this season.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and Chelsea counterpart Guus Hiddink have both vowed to keep pushing Manchester United for the Premier League title.

England face European Champions Spain in a friendly in Seville this evening.

But England mid-fielder Michael Carrick is optimistic after their 2-1 victory in Germany, which was their fifth win in a row. He says the team are going over there full of confidence and looking forward to the game.

England Captain John Terry is calling it their hardest test since Manager Fabio Capello took charge.

Rio Ferdinand speaks about David Beckham's acheivement of 108 caps.mp3