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During his retirement ceremony, right-hander Adam Wainwright made a bold claim, saying that he couldn't wait to see confetti flying at Busch Stadium after the S

New Rangers boss Philippe Clement is determined to build a dressing room of winners at Ibrox but acknowledges that he is no football magician. The 49-year-old became the 19th permanent manager of the Govan club following the departure of Michael Beale at the start of the month. After playing at Genk and Club Brugge, Clement won the Belgian Pro League as a manager with both teams but he inherits a Light Blues side who are currently seven points behind cinch Premiership leaders and defending champions Celtic. Speaking at Ibrox, Clement said: “I want to win everything. That’s the mentality when I step into a building, I want to give this mentality also towards the dressing room and create more and more winners in this dressing room. “So we’re going to work really hard to get silverware as fast as possible and to make this story step by step, bigger and bigger. “How fast it comes? You never know I don’t have this crystal ball. “Also I’m not a magician that suddenly can totally change players. But I know if we can work a long time with players that we can make them better.” Clement will give players a chance to impress before he considers changes in the January transfer window. He said: “I’m also somebody who likes to see first, what is the potential that is there already. “I’m not somebody who wants 10 new players every year and say, ‘OK, this one and this one is not good enough’. “I’m somebody who likes to invest in people, who wants to find the key to get the best out of them. “So we need to use the next weeks, months to do that in the best way. “So all the players with me – maybe not with some fans, and that’s a little bit pity maybe – everybody starts with a white page. “Everybody has the chances also until January to prove themselves, to show that they are really good players that they want to be on the pitch, that they want to make the difference for the club, that they want to give everything. And then we will see.” Chief executive James Bisgrove’s next job will be to appoint a director of football. He said: “Certainly in the next few weeks, if not months, we’re having live conversations at the moment. “There are variables in that depending on the individuals that the board believes and the football board and Philippe feel has the best fit. But I believe it will be imminent. “It’ll be a club board appointment that Phillipe will absolutely be part of that process and will meet whoever we bring in before we take that decision. “And that person when they come in will add additional value, expertise and leadership to the recruitment function. “We’ve currently got John Park as the chief scout at the top of that division. “We’ve made some changes to the scouting function recently. We’ve modernised that in terms of some of the processes, additional emphasis on data and video analysis. “And we’ve been I think, more strategic and focused on how we’ve set that up. “Phillipe would have some strong views on that as well. But it’s a decision that the board will take in terms of the long-term football strategy and someone to complete that football board that’s already in existence to make sure we’ve got really robust processes around the decision-making that we take right across the football department.” Read More Shaun Wane urges England to learn lessons from World Cup ahead of Tonga series Wigan captain Liam Farrell returns to England squad for Tonga Test series Mikey Johnston issues Netherlands warning as Ireland look to finish on high On this day in 2018: Shahid Khan withdraws £900m offer to buy Wembley from FA Dallas Cowboys bounce back to edge past Los Angeles Chargers Stephen Kenny focused on fixtures instead of future after Ireland beat Gibraltar

Brandon Staley is costing the Chargers wins. How much longer will the franchise put up with it?

Chelsea have won a battle to buy a significant portion of land next door to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth around £80m. The move opens up the possibility of the club staying at their west London ground – Chelsea’s home since 1905 – and redeveloping the current 40,000-seater stadium, rather than finding a new site, as the owners seek to deliver a major upgrade which competes with leading Premier League venues. The club will buy 2.4 acres of the site, which sits between the stadium’s West Stand and Fulham Broadway Tube station, from Stoll, a charity which provides housing for veterans. Stoll’s board of trustees consulted with residents of the building, Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions, before making the decision to accept Chelsea’s bid from among a dozen on the table. Chelsea approached Stoll six years ago while under the ownership of Roman Abramovich as they drew up plans for a new stadium. Those plans fell through when Abramovic was forced to sell the club over his links to Russian president Vladimir Putin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, and Stoll put the land up for sale as it sought much-needed funding. New owner Todd Boehly and the Clearlake consortium resurrected Chelsea’s interest this year and the purchase has now been approved, paving the way for a potential expansion of Stamford Bridge which could see the stadium demolished and rebuilt with the pitch rotated 90 degrees to run west to east. The club had originally proposed to buy only a small part of the land (marked in red, below) but negotiated a larger share (blue). However, Chelsea have still not ruled out relocating to a new site. If they do stay at Stamford Bridge, the club would need to either groundshare with neighbours Fulham at Craven Cottage, or move into Wembley or Twickenham while the work was undertaken. Stoll will retain a portion of the land at the southern end where it will retain 20 flats, and a leaseback deal will ensure residents do not have to move out immediately. The charity says it will invest the funds in new housing for veterans. Read More Eden Hazard announces retirement from football Arsenal can profit from chaotic title race thanks to three wildcard teams Burnley vs Chelsea LIVE: Latest Premier League updates

England star Fran Kirby has been named in the Lionesses squad for the first time in eight months after returning from a knee injury - but Beth Mead misses out despite her own recovery from a ruptured ACL. Kirby and Mead were key players as England won the Euros but both missed out on this summer’s Women’s World Cup because of significant injuries, and were major absentees as the Lionesses were defeated by Spain in the Sydney final. Kirby underwent surgery at the end of last season and made her first start of the campaign in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over West Ham at the weekend - Mead, however, only returned to the pitch on Sunday as a late substitute in Arsenal’s 2-1 comeback win against Aston Villa, where she set up Alessia Russo’s winner. But manager Sarina Wiegman has decided that this month’s double-header against Belgium in the Uefa Nations League has come too soon for the Euros golden boot winner. The Lionesses face Belgium in Leicester on 27 October before the return fixture in Leuven on 31 October. Mead had said after her return to the pitch that she was hoping for a recall and insisted she was “ready” to make the Lionesses squad, but Wiegman said the 28-year-old was “not close” after only just returning to the pitch following nine months out. Wiegman said Mead still needed time to “build” her fitness after such a lengthy lay-off. Elsewhere, Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh returns having missed last month’s win against Scotland and defeat to the Netherlands due to a calf injury. Wiegman has meanwhile handed first senior call-ups to 20-year-old Grace Clinton, who is on loan at Tottenham from Manchester United, as well as 19-year-old Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating. The Lionesses were beaten by the Netherlands last month in Nations League Group A1 and head into the double-header against Belgium third in the standings. England must win the group to have a chance of qualifying for next summer’s Paris Olympics as part of Team GB. England squad for Belgium double-header Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City) Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Lucy Parker (Aston Villa), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal) Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur, loan from Manchester United),Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Katie Zelem (Manchester United) Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Jess Park (Manchester City), Alessia Russo (Arsenal) Read More Beth Mead hopes for England recall after returning from ACL injury The sporting weekend in pictures Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE: Latest Women's Super League updates Arsenal set to welcome Beth Mead back from injury in clash with Aston Villa New Rangers boss Philippe Clement keen to bring winning mentality back to Ibrox Chelsea unlock space for Stamford Bridge expansion with £80m purchase

The NBA will be heading back to Paris for a regular season game between the Cavs and Nets. Here is everything you need to know to watch.

Barcelona, Virtus Bologna, and Valencia Basket soared in Round 2 of EuroLeague power rankings while AS Monaco, Anadolu Efes, and LDLC ASVEL plummeted. Here's a breakdown of what EuroLeague teams should feel good about the start to their EuroLeague season.

Barcelona have fallen behind Real Madrid in LaLiga. Here are five transfers La Blaugrana must make in winter 2024 in order to ensure they repeat as the champions of Spanish football.

Learn how Michael Emenalo is helping to shape recruitment in the Saudi Pro League as the director of football.

Nishad Singh, the third member of Sam Bankman-Fried’s inner circle to testify against him, detailed a rocky relationship

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has discussed comparisons to Manchester City rival Erling Haaland. The two will go head-to-head for the first time in the Manchester derby later in October.

England could join Scotland in punching their ticket to next year’s Euros should they beat Italy at Wembley on Monday. Gareth Southgate’s side are three points clear at the top of Group C with just three games remaining and know that a win would secure their place in Germany next year. They return to face Italy at Wembley for the first time since their heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat in the Euro 2020 final, but they will have exorcised some of their demons from that loss with their impressive 2-1 away win against Italy in Naples earlier in the qualifying campaign. Italy beat Malta 4-0 on Saturday to move above Ukraine and into second in the group in Luciano Spalleti’s third game in charge of the national side. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Tuesday’s fixture. You can get all the latest odds and tips here. When is England vs Italy? England vs Italy is due to kick off at 7:45pm BST on Tuesday 17 October at Wembley Stadium. How can I watch it? All of England’s fixtures outside of international tournaments are for now screened free to air on Channel 4, and can be streamed on the Channel 4 website and app. The build-up for the match begins at 7pm. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. Team news Having made a second-string side for their friendly against Australia on Friday, Southgate will likely return to a full-strength side for this must-win clash. Bukayo Saka remains an absentee after his hamstring injury for Arsenal, while Kieran Trippier could deputise at left-back in the absence of both Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw who are out with long-term injuries. Premier League duo Sandro Tonalia and Nicolo Zaniolo remain unavailable for their national side having withdrawn from the squad after their pair were questioned in relation to a gambling investigation by Italian authorities. Elsewhere, Spalleti will have to deal with a number of injuries in the forward line with Federico Chiesa and Ivan Provedel both withdrawing from the squad due to respective fitness issues. In their absence, Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi looks set to retain his place in the forward line having scored his first goal for Italy in two years against Malta last weekend. Predicted line-ups England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier; Phillips, Rice, Bellingham; Foden, Kane, Grealish Italy XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Dimarco; Frattesi, Locatelli, Barella; Berardi, Raspadori, Kean. Odds England win 8/13 Draw 11/4 Italy win 17/4 Latest odds here. Prediction A full-strength England side to edge out Italy and secure their place in the Euro 2024. England 1-0 Italy. Read More Jordan Henderson: ‘If people want to boo me for playing in Saudi Arabia, that’s fine’ Jordan Henderson set to face Italy despite England boos Ollie Watkins and Lewis Dunk emerge with credit on England’s audition night against Australia Sweden fans given overnight police protection after Brussels shooting Ireland beat Gibraltar to spare Stephen Kenny further questions over immediate future How Scotland qualified for Euro 2024 – and why Germany will be different