Premier League

SOUTHAMPTON have confirmed that manager Ruben Selles will leave the club next week as they close in on a replacement.The Spanish coach, 36, succeeded Nathan Jones after the Welshman was sacked in February after just one win from his eight matches in charge.
Russell Martin looks set to be appointed Southampton managerCredit: Getty
The Saints have confirmed that Ruben Selles will leave the club next weekCredit: Reuters
But he has been unable to stop the rot at St Mary’s with the club’s winless run since ensuring they have finished bottom of the Premier League.
Now, as they prepare for relegation and life in the Championship, the Saints have confirmed that Selles’ contract will not be renewed.
A statement read: “Southampton Football Club can confirm that it has held conversations with men’s first team manager, Ruben Selles, and decided that his contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the season.
“The club wants to place on record its thanks to Ruben for taking on the managerial position at a difficult time for the club and for giving his all as we attempted to stay in the Premier League.
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“Ruben will take charge of the team for the final game against Liverpool on Sunday at St Mary’s. We wish him all the best for his future career.”
We reported how Russell Martin will take over as Southampton boss this summer.
The Swansea gaffer has verbally agreed terms with the relegated Saints, who are overhauling things on and off the pitch following a dismal season.
Southampton are now negotiating compensation with the Championship outfit and the fee is set to be well under £1million.
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Martin, 37, who has led Swansea to 15th and tenth-placed finishes on a limited budget in his two seasons in Wales, is expected to bring his backroom staff with him.
Former Norwich defender Martin is not the only change on the south coast, with owners Sport Republic announcing a board reshuffle.
Chief executive officer Martin Semmens has left after falling out with Sport Republic and the director of football Rasmus Ankersen.
Jason Wilcox is set to arrive from champions Manchester City as technical director and has already had a hand in Martin’s appointment.

Saints also announced that Andy Young, previously chief financial officer of City Football Group, will join as an independent director.
And Darren Mowbray, the brother of Sunderland boss Tony, is their new head of recruitment. More

PEP GUARDIOLA has hailed Newcastle boss Eddie Howe as a ‘genuis’ after being left stunned by his morning routine.Guardiola, who has just led Manchester City to a fifth Premier League title in six seasons is on the cusp of achieving a historic treble.
Guardiola is two games away from guiding City to a historic trebleCredit: PA
Howe has taken Newcastle back to the Champions LeagueCredit: PA
City take on Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday June 3 before facing Inter Milan in the Champions League final a week later.
However, despite all his success as a manager Guardiola was left stunned by Howe’s morning routine.
Howe has overseen a superb season for Newcastle and has guided the Magpies to Champions League football for the first time since the 2002/2003 season.
The former Bournemouth boss has explained his daily routine while transforming Newcastle’s fortunes which starts with arriving at the club’s Darsley Park training ground at 6am.
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He said: “I do a little workout to get my energy going. I use the facilities to get my energy in a good place. And then, I set about work and preparing the day.”
In an interview with Sky Sports ahead of lifting the Premier League title against Chelsea last weekend Guardiola was left in disbelief at Howe’s early starts.
He said: “I arrive late, later than six! 6am? That is genius. No, at 6am, I’m in bed. I love a sleep, so I’m not there.
“But I think all managers, we arrive early on, that’s for sure, and prepare training sessions and stay as long as you need.”
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Guardiola did admit that Premier League management was a 24 hour job.
He added: “But all managers are thinking for 24 hours in our jobs. We are not different, all of us.”
Guardiola and Howe are both nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Season award alongside Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, Aston Villa’s Unai Emery, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Fulham’s Marco Silva.
City have two league games left as they travel to Brighton tonight and then conclude their campaign at Brentford.
Newcastle’s final game of the season sees them travel to Stamford Bridge to take on struggling Chelsea. More

FORMER Liverpool star Brad Jones has announced his retirement from football aged 41.The Australian international returned to his homeland in 2021 to sign for Perth Glory.
Former Middlesbrough and Liverpool goalie Brad Jones has retired aged 41Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The Australian international won the League Cup while at AnfieldCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Now the goalkeeper has decided to hang up his boots after his two-year deal there expired.
Confirming the news on social media, the former Reds and Middlesbrough stopper said: 
“The time has come to hang up my gloves and bring to an end this long journey that has taken me all over the world for the last 25 years doing what I could only dream of as a young boy in Perth.
“I’ve had the privilege to play alongside some of the best players in the world and work with some fantastic coaches that have helped me along the way.
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“To the fans of my former clubs, I thank you for your support. It is amazing to think that I have been a part of some historic moments for some of them.
“I have to thank my wife Dani, who has had to make many sacrifices, moving wherever my career took us.
“And also my three children who have now lived in four countries and have always adapted and made the decisions to move so much easier.
“Unfortunately, my time at Perth Glory was disrupted with niggles and what was originally thought to be a fairly small injury has now kept me out for over a year, and ultimately put an end to my playing days.
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“I hope to continue to stay involved in football in some capacity in the future and continue to part of the beautiful game.” 
Jones was snapped up by then Premier League Middlesbrough in 1999 as a teenager and rose through the ranks of their academy.
After 57 top-flight appearances for Boro and several loan spells that included stints at Irish club Shelbourne, Stockport, Rotherham, Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday, he headed to Anfield in a £2.3m move in 2010.
The life-long Liverpool supporter was deputy for Pepe Reina during his five-years on Merseyside, which included a loan stint at Derby, but appeared 27 times for the club.
He also earned a League Cup winners’ medal in 2012 but departed the Reds for Bradford in 2015.
He then headed to NEC in Holland prior to joining Feyenoord, where he would go on to win the Eredivisie title, before a three-year spell with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr from 2018 before going back to Australia.
The ace with his wife Dani, who he thanked in his retirement postCredit: Instagram More

MANCHESTER CITY super fan Noel Gallagher was slammed by Laura Woods after the rock star called Arsenal fans “idiots”.City pipped the Gunners to the top of the Premier League table and retained their title despite Mikel Arteta’s men leading the way throughout most of the campaign.
Arsenal fan Laura Woods slammed famous Manchester City star Noel GallagherCredit: talksport
And Gallagher enjoyed watching how the Cityzens came out on top as he claims many Gooners got too cocky, while taking a bizarre swipe at Arsenal supporters for having so many fan channels.
The Oasis legend didn’t like how they were giving the “big’un” and describing their mega-rich title rivals as “evil”.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Gallagher said: “I love it with that lot because the fans are idiots!
“They are! They’ve got more fan channels than any club in world sport.
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“There’s about 1,000 of them, you can’t look at YouTube without seeing some fan channel.
“I know quite a few [Arsenal fans] and they were giving it the big ‘un in January/February and they know they were.
“And I watch enough of their fan channels because it is highly amusing and they know they were, they come out with this, ‘It’s good against evil and all the money’, and all that. It’s just like, suck it up.”
But Arsenal super fan Woods would have none of that as she suggested Gooners are more passionate than the City faithful.
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The talkSPORT presenter added that the only reason her favourite club has more fan channels is because they have a larger global following than the Manchester giants.
Woods said on The Sports Breakfast: “You can call all football fans idiots, can’t you? They’re just passionate aren’t they?
“Noel, the reason they’ve got more fan channels is because we’ve got more fans, sorry!
“Mikel Arteta doesn’t need to tell his fans to liven up a little bit to get them going, I’m just saying, Noel. As much as I love you…
Gallagher called Arsenal fans ‘idiots’ after Manchester City won the titleCredit: talksport
“He can say what he wants. They’ve absolutely done us this season and so he’s completely right in some senses but, not the fans. We’re all idiots. Everyone’s an idiot!
“I remember getting a lot of stick for not backing them. From the beginning of the season, I’ve never not said that City would turn it on in the run-in and they did.
“Noel, if you’re calling our guys idiots we’ll have to play you ‘miserable Mark’ who said, ‘I was not even that impressed, it was a bit of an anti-climax to win It how we did, I was a bit bored by it’. Come on! I’d rather have our fans than a fan like that.” More