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Andy Pilley has stepped down as chairman and director of Fleetwood as discussions continue surrounding a change of ownership and control at the Sky Bet League One club. Pilley will be sentenced next month after being convicted on four counts of fraud. The 52-year-old was found guilty last week of two counts of fraudulent trading, fraud by false representation and being involved in the acquisition, retention, use or control of the proceeds of fraudulently mis-sold energy contracts. Pilley was remanded in custody and he will be sentenced on July 3. Also chairman of BES Utilities, Pilley had been involved in High Court litigation with Cheshire West and Chester Council, but lost a civil court fight over investigating allegations of mis-selling. Pilley had been the chairman and owner of Fleetwood for 20 years and overseen the club’s rise from non-league status to the English Football League. In announcing the boardroom changes, Fleetwood, who finished 13th last season, said it would be “business as usual” while working through the transition of ownership. A statement on Friday afternoon read: “Fleetwood Town can confirm Andy Pilley has stepped down as chairman and director of the club. “Steve Curwood, who has been the club’s CEO for 15 years, will be appointed interim chairman with current vice chairman Phil Brown to join the board as a director. “The club have this week entered discussions with the EFL in relation to requirements surrounding a change of ownership and control. “The club would also like to clarify there will be no other changes to the board before the planned change of ownership. “In the meantime, the club will continue to operate business as usual and will make a further announcement in due course.”

Manchester United is officially headed back to the Champions League

There is a huge amount of money on the line for Coventry and Luton as they compete in the Championship play-off final.

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes says it is “business as usual” for her side as they prepare for Saturday’s Super League finale, looking to wrap up another title. Ahead of the season’s concluding round of fixtures, the Blues – who have won the WSL five times and for each of the last three seasons – are two points clear of second-placed Manchester United, with a goal difference better by five. Chelsea, aiming to complete a league and FA Cup double, play bottom side Reading away, while Marc Skinner’s United are at Liverpool. Hayes told a press conference: “I think back to every campaign, we’ve only won the league by a couple of points at best, maybe (with) a game (to spare) somewhere along the line, so this is just business as usual for us. “The preparation is what we’d prepared for at the very beginning of the season. “It’s not like we’ve won leagues comfortably in the past – so nothing is different from our perspective. We’ve always known from previous experience it goes to the last game.” A win to seal the title would be a seventh successive league victory for Chelsea, who have scored 24 goals in the past six games, conceding once. It's not like we've won leagues comfortably in the past – so nothing is different from our perspective Emma Hayes Reading, meanwhile, have lost each of their last five games, conceding 16 times across their last four. The Royals pulled off a shock 1-0 win at home against Chelsea last season, and Hayes said: “We don’t think about that. What we think about is we are exactly where we want to be – a position to control the outcome. “I have to keep reminding the team we’re 90 minutes away from winning the title and all of my energy’s focused on doing that.” Regardless of what happens on Saturday, United – guaranteed at least second, their first finish in a Champions League berth – have had their best WSL campaign to date, as well making a debut FA Cup final appearance, when they were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea and Skinner has said he feels his side do not “get enough credit”. Asked about that comment, Hayes said: “They should. They’ve had an outstanding year. I’m sure Marc will build on that and make them even more competitive next year.” Reading need to win to have any chance of surviving, lying two points adrift of 11th-placed Leicester, who have an inferior goal difference by three and go to Brighton. Reading boss Kelly Chambers said: “If you just give up now or don’t believe then, for me, what’s the point of stepping out there on Saturday? “There’s still a glimmer of hope there for us and we just have to give everything we can. If we are beaten by the better team, I can accept that – what I can’t accept is that we don’t turn up and fight for everything.” Third-placed Arsenal look set to seal the final Champions League spot, currently three points clear of Manchester City and holding a goal difference advantage over them of 11. Jonas Eidevall’s Gunners host fifth-placed Aston Villa, whose 21-goal forward Rachel Daly was named WSL player of the year on Friday, while Gareth Taylor’s City play Everton at home. It would be the first time since 2014 that City have finished outside the European places. Taylor said: “It’s fine margins between being successful in the season like Chelsea and where we’re at coming up short. “With the group we have and the support, if we can squeeze more out of these players with another season, it’s exciting times.” Saturday’s other match sees West Ham entertain Tottenham. Meanwhile, according to Football Association statistics released on Friday, WSL attendances are up 173 per cent this season compared to the last, with the 2022-23 average being 5,272, up from 1,931. The cumulative attendance for the current WSL campaign stands at 664,211, and all of the three highest-ever WSL crowds were achieved this season. They were 47,367 for Arsenal against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium in September, 44,259 for Manchester City v Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in December, and 42,700 for Arsenal against Chelsea at the Emirates in January. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live If she hates me, OK – Aryna Sabalenka on first-round clash with Marta Kostyuk Pep Guardiola convinced Man City can make most of opportunity to win treble Pep Guardiola fears Vinicius Junior racism row won’t make a difference in Spain

Dustin Poirier has backed Conor McGregor to stop Michael Chandler inside two rounds, provided that the Irishman is ‘100 percent dedicated and focused’. McGregor and Chandler, both of whom have fought Poirier before, are set to square off later this year, though no date, location or weight class has been confirmed for the UFC bout. Poirier suffered a TKO loss to McGregor in 2014, but the American exacted his revenge in January 2021 with a knockout win, before their trilogy fight six months later ended with McGregor suffering a broken leg. That contest went down as a TKO victory for Poirier, who submitted Chandler in each man’s most recent fight, in November 2022. Poirier discussed McGregor vs Chandler on The MMA Hour this week, saying: “I think that if Conor comes back anything like he was, with his timing and rhythm, with the injury that he had and this long of a lay-off – and we’re not getting any younger either... if he comes back similar to who he was before he left, I think he stops Michael Chandler. “If Conor is who he was before the injury and stuff, I think two rounds; I think the fight’s over in two rounds. “If anybody can [dial back the clock], I think it would be [McGregor]. If he’s 100 percent dedicated and focused, and [he can] put the blinders on and really go at this with all of himself, I think he can. But we’ll see, man. That’s what makes it so interesting.” McGregor’s 2014 victory over Poirier was a key moment on the Irishman’s journey to winning the UFC featherweight title, which he secured in 2015. A year later, McGregor claimed the lightweight belt to become the first dual-weight champion in UFC history. Meanwhile, Poirier is a former interim lightweight champion who has twice failed to win the undisputed belt. Compatriot Chandler is a former three-time Bellator lightweight champion, who has also unsuccessfully challenged for the UFC lightweight title. McGregor’s back-to-back bouts with Poirier in 2021 feature heavily in McGregor Forever, the second documentary covering the 34-year-old’s career. The four-part series was released on Netflix this month, and you can read The Independent’s review here. Poirier is due to return to the ring in July, taking on Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 291. The vacant ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ title will be on the line in the all-American clash, which is a rematch of a 2018 bout won by Poirier. Poirier stopped Gaethje, a fellow former interim lightweight champion, in the fourth round. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More McGregor Forever: The problem with the new Conor McGregor documentary Eddie Hearn and Conor McGregor had ‘friendly row’ after KO of Irish boxer Gary Cully Joe Rogan is right: Tyson Fury has ‘no chance in hell’ against Jon Jones The night Conor McGregor became ‘Mystic Mac’ Eddie Hearn and Conor McGregor had 'friendly row' after KO of Irish boxer Conor McGregor reveals how he scored Katie Taylor fight from ringside

Chelsea are insistent on receiving at least £55m for Mason Mount this summer, with Manchester United yet to match the club’s valuation for the England international despite leading the race for his signature. The 24-year-old is willing to go to United amid interest from Liverpool and Arsenal and agreement on a price is now the only obstacle to his move to Old Trafford. Mount only has a year left on his contract and has refused to sign a new deal amid uncertainty at Chelsea. The midfielder believes United’s system under Erik ten Hag offers the best fit, with the Dutchman understood to have the clearest idea for him. United do not want to go as high as £55m because their own summer budget is open to change with the takeover, but it is felt a deal will eventually be done despite the clubs currently being some way off agreement. United thrashed Chelsea on Thursday night to secure Champions League qualification which drastically improved what they can offer Mount next season. Ahead of the meeting at Old Trafford, United boss Ten Hag rather pointedly noted that spending big sums without having a cohesive plan in place to utilise those signings effectively was a total waste - as Chelsea have found out this season. “When there is no strategy behind, or (not) the right strategy, money doesn’t work,” he said. “In this moment there is a centralisation of good players, of the best managers, also of the money, it is all here in the UK. And that makes a great competition, but also a tough and a hard competition. “And you have to do the right things and you can have money but you have to do it and spend it in a smart way and also you need a strategy behind it, because, otherwise, the money doesn’t work.” Read More £600m spent but still outscored by Haaland – Chelsea’s masterpiece of stupidity Manchester United owe Champions League return to one man Man Utd to learn extent of Antony injury which will see him miss FA Cup final

Pep Guardiola has said he is “not optimistic” the Vinicius Junior racism row that has erupted in Spain will drive a change of attitude in the country. Real Madrid forward Vinicius was racially abused by fans during his side’s game at Valencia in LaLiga last week. The affair has sparked a wave of criticism of Spanish football and the way it deals with such matters. It is thought to be at least the 10th time Brazil international Vinicius has been racially abused this season alone. Manchester City manager Guardiola, the former Barcelona boss, believes the Spanish game can learn from English football on the issue. “They should,” he said. “Here they are so strict. They know what they have to do. “Of course racism is a problem everywhere, not just in one specific place. Everywhere we have (people) thinking we are better than our neighbours, we are better than the other ones, for all generations everywhere. We need to accept the diversity as a strength, like a human being – and still right now, we are far away from that Pep Guardiola “Our ancestors come from migrants, come from wars, come from dictatorships, you have to move from other countries, build families there and come back to where you’re born. “The problem is that there is racism everywhere. Not just for gender but for colour, for attitudes. We believe that our language is better than the other one, our country is better than the other one. “As much as you travel in other countries, you realise we are the same, with the same fears, with the same good things. “We need to accept the diversity as a strength, like a human being – and still right now, we are far away from that. “Hopefully it can be one step to getting better in Spain but I’m not optimistic. I know a little bit the country and I’m not really optimistic. “There are a lot of black people stepping forward to defend what they should not (have to) defend. Hopefully justice can help to do it but in the same time is it going to change anything in Spain?” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Pep Guardiola convinced Man City can make most of opportunity to win treble Ryan Mason believes Tottenham are still an attractive proposition for managers Rankings don’t lie – Dan Evans believes British tennis has soul-searching to do

Of course, Alabama head coach Nick Saban would be opposed to a nine-game SEC schedule...SEC expansion is coming in two years, but we still don't know if it will be remain an eight-game conference schedule out of fear and control, or if the league will wisely accept the notion of a progressi...

Aaron Boone has faced criticism for his uneven performance in the dugout, but the Yankees manager continues to stand up for his players -- and exit games early.The New York Yankees are 30-22, riding a strong wave of positive momentum and solidifying their place in the American League contenders ...

Welcome to Social Buzz, a daily column looking at what’s trending on social media platforms. I’m Caitlin Fichtel,

Ryan Mason insists the Tottenham job remains an attractive proposition despite another protracted search for the head coach role. Spurs saw another contender to permanently replace Antonio Conte exit the running this week after Feyenoord boss Arne Slot committed his long-term future to the Eredivisie club before he signed a new deal on Friday. Tottenham held an interest in Slot but no direct discussions with the 44-year-old took place, the PA news agency understands. Other managers linked with the vacancy, such as Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso and Burnley boss Vincent Kompany, have also pledged their immediate futures to their current clubs, but acting head coach Mason is under no illusions the top job at Spurs remains desirable. Asked if the Tottenham job was still an attractive proposition, Mason replied: “Absolutely, yes. “It is Tottenham Hotspur, it is a big club. Not just for managers or coaches, but for staff members, for players. “Anyone here should feel the privilege and honour to represent the badge. If they don’t, then they shouldn’t be here. It is as simple as that.” When Conte left his position on March 26, Tottenham were firmly in the race for Champions League qualification but they travel to relegation-threatened Leeds on Sunday with only a faint chance of securing a place in the Europa Conference League. It is Tottenham Hotspur, it is a big club. Not just for managers or coaches, but for staff members, for players Ryan Mason Mason insisted that, while European football for next season is crucial, the most important task for the club is to put a plan in place. “Obviously it has its implications and it’s not where the football club wants to be. We definitely want to be competing in Europe,” Spurs’ acting head coach stated. “Any European competition is important for a club this size but at the same time the most important thing, regardless of whether we’re in or out of Europe, is that there is a plan and there is commitment from everyone to that going forward.” During the last few weeks, Mason has repeatedly referenced the need for commitment at the club without going into specifics. Even before Conte departed two months ago, the future of the Italian was uncertain with his deal set to expire this summer anyway. Mason again refused to be drawn on whether any coaches, players or staff had lacked commitment this season, but admitted the squad had been affected by the turmoil off the pitch. He added: “The results before he (Conte) left weren’t amazing. I don’t think results have dipped a huge amount. “Obviously we were in a different position but I think you could feel it, you could feel it the weeks leading up to it there was uncertainty and it’s never great to have that uncertainty. “We’ve probably been in that situation for the last eight weeks where there’s been a lot of uncertainty. “That is why one of my main things when me and my team of people came in, I wanted to create a togetherness and make us feel part of something towards the end of the season.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Rankings don’t lie – Dan Evans believes British tennis has soul-searching to do Cameron Norrie sees Lyon title defence ended by Francisco Cerundolo Mikel Arteta braced for even harder Premier League challenge next season

Ivan Toney has responded to additional revelations about his ban for gambling on football matches with a cryptic message posted on social media. The England striker was banned for eight months last week, and fined £50,000, after admitting to 232 breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules and the full written reasons behind the suspension were released as a report by the FA on Friday. They included the fact that Toney bet on his own team to lose on 13 occasions – although he was not in the matchday squad for any of those games – and that the 27-year-old had his suspension reduced from 15 months to eight months after being diagnosed as a gambling addict. Shortly after the report came to light, the Brentford forward posted on Twitter, writing “I’ll speak soon with no filter”. A couple of hours later, he then took to Instagram and posted a short message on his stories that gave an insight as to his reaction to the information. Toney wrote: “I used to rush to defend myself against false accusations but now I watch to see who believes it so I know who to cut off first.” The report that was released also showed that Toney admitted to lying to the FA about betting on football and providing inside information to a friend on when he was starting a game, while he also bet on himself to score in a number of matches when it wasn’t widely known that he would be in the starting line-up. He was going to be handed a 15-month ban for his breaches but the suspension was ultimately cut to eight months because he pleaded guilty and was diagnosed with a gambling addiction. Psychiatrist Dr Philip Hopley attended Toney’s personal hearing and diagnosed the England international with the addiction. “The commission finds that a significant reduction should be made to reflect the diagnosed gambling addiction identified by Dr Hopley,” the report explained. “The lack of control the player has in respect of gambling is clearly a reflection of his diagnosed gambling addiction. “The present case is not one of match-fixing. If it was, the charges would have been pursued under different provisions. “There is no evidence that Mr Toney did or was even in a position to influence his own team to lose when he placed bets against them winning, he was not in the squad or eligible to play at the time.” Read More Ivan Toney bet on own team to lose as gambling addiction revealed Gareth Southgate urges football to be ‘careful’ after Ivan Toney punishment Ivan Toney handed eight-month ban for breaching betting rules