Category: Sports

Morecambe have been served with a winding-up petition, the National League side have confirmed.

In a statement posted on their club website, external on Wednesday, the Shrimps wrote: “Morecambe Football Club can confirm that it became aware yesterday afternoon of a winding-up petition that had been filed against the club seven days earlier by one of its suppliers, KPM Groundworks Limited, in relation to a legacy debt incurred prior to the takeover by Panjab Warriors in August.”

The news comes after Morecambe were left in turmoil over the summer, with a takeover at the eleventh hour from Panjab Warriors saving them from going out of business entirely.

A difficult handover process with previous owner Jason Whittingham meant the club were initially suspended from the National League in July before being reinstated the following month after the completion of the takeover.

As well as their off-field problems, it has been a difficult season on the pitch for Morecambe too.

They currently sit second-bottom and six points from safety in the National League with just seven matches remaining after suffering relegation from the Football League last year.

Morecambe’s post added: “This was the first notification the club had received regarding this action.

“Since becoming aware of the petition, the club has been in immediate dialogue with both the supplier and its legal representatives, with the aim of reaching an agreement to have the petition withdrawn at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Morecambe host Hartlepool United in the National League on Wednesday night at 19:45 GMT.

Most have come with Wilson’s left foot too, a source of magic akin to the one Bale possessed.

There is even a slight suggestion of a physical resemblance. Well, maybe that’s pushing the comparison, but Wilson’s flowing locks now require an Alice band like Bale’s. A nod to the hair apparent?

Where Wales used to rely on Bale in their most important moments, now they turn to Wilson.

Craig Bellamy’s side face Bosnia-Herzegovina in their World Cup play-off semi-final in Cardiff on Thursday and, if they are victorious, they will host Italy or Northern Ireland in the final the following Tuesday.

When Wales beat Austria and Ukraine in play-offs to reach the 2022 World Cup, Bale scored all three goals.

Could Wilson do similar this time?

“We can’t replace Bale,” he tells BBC Sport Wales. “He was our best ever player.

“He carried us through games, he got us to major tournaments and the performances he put in in those tournaments were incredible.

“I never saw it as ‘I have to replace Bale’, I just knew along with the other attacking players we’ve got massive boots to fill, a big void to fill. As a collective we have to do that.

“I’m really happy with the way I’ve played and my numbers since Gaz left. But it definitely wasn’t the case of me replacing him because no-one can do that.”

Wales boss Craig Bellamy laughed off the surreal subplot earlier on Wednesday, adding he had not spoken to Cooper since the former Swansea City, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City head coach was appointed by Brondby in September 2025.

Brondby’s communications director Soren Hanghoj rejected Barbarez’s claim and said the player’s omission was a “club decision”, adding: “And there are not that many Wales fans in Brondby after all.”

There will, though, be a sizeable contingent of Bosnian fans who make the trip to the Cardiff City Stadium with their side needing to beat Wales to remain on track to reach their first World Cup since 2014.

The winners in south Wales on Thursday are guaranteed a home final against the winners of Italy or Northern Ireland on Tuesday, 31 March.

Ranked 71st in the world, the Bosnians were edged out of automatic qualification by Austria when they conceded late in a final group game decider in Vienna.

“We cannot compare these two games, against Wales and Austria,” said Barbarez.

“We took some conclusion from the Austria game and we have spoken about it for three days about the experience we have taken from it.

“We have a plan and every eventuality is covered, including penalties and extra time. We are optimistic. These are the games you play football for.”

Forty-year-old former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko is among the group of players who have travelled to Cardiff, though he is not guaranteed to start.

His Schalke team-mate Nikola Katic, formerly of Rangers and Plymouth Argyle, said: “The atmosphere in these kind of matches here is always brilliant and we will give our best.

“This is a serious team we are playing against, but we will play our own game and we are prepared for every eventuality.

“We have not had much success as a nation in the play-offs before, but that is not important for us; it is new for a lot of our players and our team is much stronger than previous sides.”

Skinner’s counter to the idea his side may have been better advised to drop slightly deeper to prevent Harder making those runs was sound.

“There are two mistakes in there from us,” he said.

“If you get pressure on the ball, you can’t play the long ball. They tried it a few times and played the ball out of play.

“It worked for them tonight but if I stop those two chances, they don’t score.”

It sounds simple. But execution is key at the highest level. If you don’t do that properly, you will get punished.

There are a number of minor details to explain why United came out on the wrong side of a tight result.

One of them is unquestionably squad depth.

Take the case of Japan midfielder Hinata Miyazawa, who played in the final of the Asian Cup in Sydney on Sunday, then travelled back to start for United.

By contrast, Tanikawa, who did not get on the pitch against Australia, started on the bench for Bayern, who were mindful of the effects of jetlag and wanted the midfielder to make an impact, which she did, by setting up Harder, then scoring the winner.

Skinner simply does not have enough players to rotate like that.

It makes the next few days, which feature another Old Trafford outing against Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City on Saturday before the trip to Germany for the second leg with Bayern next Wednesday (17:45 BST), particularly tough.

“We’ve played the most football in Europe this year, and we’ve got a really small squad right now, so it will challenge us,” said Skinner.

“It will take us to the depths. But the carrot is there for us.

“We expect it to be difficult. You can kind of trench your mind into what you must do.

“That’s why my players are at Manchester United. If they didn’t want to do it, they wouldn’t be at this club. They’re going to give it absolutely everything.”

Available for 29 days

Mark Chapman is joined by Rory Smith, Mani Djazmi from BBC World Service and Nico Cantor from CBS Sports to discuss the impact of USA being at war with Iran as the World Cup approaches.

Mani and Nico give an insight on potential contingency plans and how the war could affect the World Cup and its preparations. Nico gives his expertise on the footballing planning in the USA and the issues around fans and ticketing cost.

Mexican journalist Marion Reimers joins the pod and tells the team how Mexico is getting ready and the latest situation in the country with the recent unrest. 

 
TIMECODES:
01:30 – Rory on issues going into WC 
05:10 – Mani Djazmi & Nico Cantor on Iran
10:00 – The questions over Iran at the WC
23:15 – Prepartions in the USA & ticket prices
29:29 – Journalist Marion Reimers on the feeling in host nation Mexico
38:04 – The draw

5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries:

Thu 1945 Wales v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Fri 1945 England v Uruguay
Sat 1200 Everton v Liverpool in the WSL on Sports Extra 2
Sat 1330 Man Utd v Man City in the WSL
Sat 1730 Arsenal v Spurs in the WSL on Sports Extra,
Sun 1200 Chelsea v Aston Villa in the WSL
Sun 1500 Leicester v Brighton & Hove in the WSL on Sports Extra 2

Programme WebsiteShow less

Manchester United fan Pernille Harder scored twice against her childhood club at Old Trafford as Bayern Munich gained a precious first-leg advantage in their Champions League quarter-final tie.

REPORT: Manchester United 2-3 Bayern Munich

Available to UK users only.

Al-Ittihad rekindle their efforts to sign Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye is among the players being considered by Manchester United, and Barcelona line-up up a move for Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni.

Al-Ittihad had a £150m offer rejected for Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah in 2023 but the Saudi Pro League side have revived their interest in the 33-year-old Egypt international, who will be available on a free transfer after leaving the Reds in the summer. (ESPN), external

Salah did not get the interest in his services he might have hoped for in the January transfer window and, in negotiating his departure this summer, Liverpool‘s owners – Fenway Sports Group – thought holding out for a fee would make a difficult situation worse. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Liverpool have been in regular contact with former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, who won the Champions League with the Anfield club as a player, and the Spaniard would be willing to take over from Arne Slot in the summer if certain conditions are met. (Bild – in German), external

Liverpool have been linked with replacing Salah with France winger Michael Olise but Bayern Munich are “relaxed” about the 24-year-old’s future as he is under contract until 2029 and does not have a release clause. (Sport Bild – in German), external

Manchester United are looking at 19-year-old RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, Newcastle United and England defender Lewis Hall, 21, and Everton and Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye, 26, as they prepare for a likely return to European competition. (Sky Sports), external

Manchester United and Brazil midfielder Casemiro, who is leaving the club in the summer, agreed in January to remove a clause in his contract which would have triggered a one-year extension if the 34-year-old made 35 starts this season. (Manchester Evening News), external

Manchester United are confident they can find other clubs to buy England international Marcus Rashford, 28, if Barcelona opt not to turn his loan into a permanent move for £26m. (ESPN), external

Barcelona are keen on Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni but could face competition from Liverpool in any contest for the 26-year-old’s signature. (Football Italia), external

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has the backing of the club, despite some unrest among fans following their Champions League exit to Barcelona and a defeat by rivals Sunderland. (Times – subscription required), external

Brazil winger Vinicius Jr says he is only thinking about staying at Real Madrid for a “long time”, with the 25-year-old set to sign a contract extension. (Sport – in Spanish), external

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, 24, says he has no intention of leaving the club after the Ecuador international was linked with Real Madrid. (El Chiringuito TV, via Standard), external

Juventus are closing in on securing Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic on a new deal, with the 26-year-old’s contract running out in the summer. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external