Zola named new Watford Manager

Former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola has been named as Watford's new manager on a two-year contract. The announcement comes after new owner Giampaolo Pozzo announced on Monday that the Italian would take charge of the Championship outfit following a verbal agreement with the 46-year-old. The club sacked Sean Dyche, who had been in charge of the club since June 2011 and managed to lead the club to their highest finish in five seasons (11th), last week to pave the way for Zola's arrival. Zola has two years managerial experience at the top level, having been West Ham boss from 2008-10 when they were in the Premier League, where they have just returned. He was praised for an attractive style of football at the east London club, while also being hailed for integrating the youth set-up into the first team. However after finishing just five points above the relegation zone in his second season, the former Blues man had his contract terminated. The board are hoping he can bring a free-flowing attacking style of football to the team, while insisting the ex-Italy international is a good fit for their vision.

Woodgate Returns to Middlesbrough

Jonathan Woodgate has completed a return to Middlesbrough after agreeing a three-year deal. Boro have confirmed that the 32-year-old former England international has signed for his hometown club for the second time after making a £7million switch from Real Madrid in 2007. Woodgate was a free agent after his contract at Stoke expired at the end of last month. The defender, who expects to end his career at the Riverside Stadium, told the club's official website: "The pull of helping Boro back in the Premier League is very strong for me, and from what I have seen of the current squad I think it's achievable. " [Manager] Tony Mowbray explained his plans for next season and how he is building a team that wants to get back in the Premier League as soon as possible. "I want to be part of that and if we can achieve promotion in my time here, it will be a fantastic way to end my career."

Watford confirm Dyche departure

Watford's new owners have confirmed the sacking of manager Sean Dyche in a statement issued on their official website. Dyche, 41, only in the post for 12 months, guided Watford to an 11th-placed finish in the npower Championship last season. But the Italian-based Pozzo family, who already own Serie A side Udinese and Spanish club Granada, completed their takeover of Watford from Laurence Bassin on Friday with countryman Gianfranco Zola expected to now take the helm from Dyche. Giampaolo Pozzo told Sky Italia on Sunday that they had reached a verbal agreement with Zola, who has been out of work since being dismissed by West Ham in May 2010. The statement read: "Watford football club confirms that it has terminated the contract of first-team manager Sean Dyche, with immediate effect. "His achievements under difficult circumstances mean that he will rightly be held in high regard by Watford supporters. Everyone at the club extends their warmest wishes to Sean for the future."

Wayne Bridge joins Brighton

Manchester City's Wayne Bridge has dropped down to the npower Championship and joined Brighton on a season-long loan deal. The 31-year-old former England left-back moved to the Etihad Stadium from Chelsea in 2009 but has endured a torrid time in recent years, having fallen well behind Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov in boss Roberto Mancini's plans. Bridge was farmed out to West Ham and Sunderland over the past two seasons and has now agreed another loan that will see him spend next term with the Seagulls. Seagulls manager Gus Poyet revealed Bridge has been one of his main summer targets and is delighted to be able to bring in the former Southampton defender. "It's difficult to say how I happy I am because it's not easy to get top-class players," Poyet told the club's official website, www.seagulls.co.uk. "I'm absolutely delighted to have Wayne with us. He's been one of the top three left-backs in this country for many years. "There were a lot of things that had to come together to make it happen. Firstly, (City first-team coach) David Platt has been great at Manchester City and then Wayne and his agent have helped a lot too."

Derby County have sold Jason Shackell to Championship rivals Burnley

Derby County have sold Jason Shackell to Championship rivals Burnley and the Rams are close to signing another central defender.The fee for Shackell is undisclosed but is thought to be in the region of £1.1m. He has signed a four-year deal.The 28-year-old centre-back was ever-present in the back four last season and departs 12 months after arriving in a £750,000 deal from Barnsley. Chief executive Tom Glick said the club were disappointed to see Shackell leave and confirmed that Derby were set to make their own move in the transfer market. "Plans are well under way to not only secure the services of a central defender but also strengthen other areas of the first-team squad." said Glick. Derby turned down four bids for Shackell last month. At the time, Manchester City-bound Glick described him as a top player in the Championship, saying: "So it would take a lot to pry him away from Derby. I expect him to be with us for the start of the season." Shackell made 49 appearances last season and wore the captain's armband in the absence of Shaun Barker. He was also runner-up to Craig Bryson in the fans' player-of-the-year poll. His contribution has been praised by manager Nigel Clough. "Jason has always been 100% professional and a fantastic player to work with," said Clough. "He played every game last season, so it came as no great shock when other clubs started to register their interest in him." Cardiff City and newly-promoted Charlton Athletic also entered the race to sign Shackell. Burnley are his sixth club, as he has also played for Norwich City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Doncaster Rovers. Clough said: "Although I am sad to see Jason leave, we have Jake Buxton, Tom Naylor and Mark O'Brien, who have all proved to be more than capable at performing in the Championship. "We are also actively looking to bring in another central defender and hope to make an announcement in the not too distant future." Derby have indicated all summer that they might cash in on Shackell at the right price if it would help to strengthen the squad.

Fans upset as Cardiff City go from blue to red

Cardiff City upset fans today after bosses confirmed that the club's kit would change from blue to red. The club's Malaysian owners unveiled the new kit today and fans immediately took to social networking site Twitter to voice their opinions. One said: "Sympathy for Cardiff City fans: robbed of history by foreign fast buck men. Football without history & legitimacy is nothing but a circus." Another commented: "Well then, it's confirmed. Cardiff City have become a joke, a sell out and an embarrassment." The switch - which also includes a new club crest and takes effect immediately - comes after the club's hierarchy approved the decision at a board meeting. The club have unveiled three new strips - a red home shirt, a blue away strip, and a third kit, which is mainly black. All new kits bear a redesigned badge, incorporating a main image of a dragon, with a small bluebird inserted underneath, and carrying the slogan "Fire and Passion". In addition to the new kit, the club have announced plans to build a brand-new training ground, pay off the historical Langston debt, provide manager Malky Mackay with a substantial transfer kitty, and explore the possibility of expanding the Cardiff City Stadium. A statement on cardiffcityfc.co.uk, said: "Following a comprehensive review of wider supporter feedback via email, letters, media coverage and polls run via the official Supporters Club and Media Wales and as a consequence of the above commitment, Cardiff City Football Club will also reactivate rebranding proposals with a view to exploiting and maximising its brand and commercial revenues in international markets, which it is hoped in turn will bring success to the club locally, whilst also attracting new partners and investors."

Match Report :Blackpool 1 Birmingham 0

Curtis Davies' unfortunate own goal gave Blackpool a slender 1-0 advantage over Birmingham in the first leg of their npower Championship play-off semi-final. Gary Taylor-Fletcher prodded home from an offside position for the hosts, while Davies headed off target at the other end in a frenetic opening. Marlon King might have done better when his shot from Chris Burke's cutback clipped the top of the bar at the end of a clinical 40th-minute counter attack. The hosts broke the deadlock 44 minutes into an evenly-matched first half when Tom Ince's speculative low drive took a significant deflection off Blues captain Davies. Ian Holloway introduced Nouha Dicko and and Kevin Phillips in a straight swap for forwards Stephen Dobbie and Taylor-Fletcher and the latter thought he had made an instant impact against his former club, only to be flagged offside after heading home a right-wing cross from namesake Matt. King was agonisingly close to levelling the tie in the first minute of stoppage time, stretching to steer Wade Elliott's knockdown against the woodwork.

Nugent returns to Haunt old Club

David Nugent scored against his former club as managerless Leicester ended their away-day hoodoo with a 3-1 victory at Burnley.Leicester were rewarded for their early intent, albeit through an unlikely source. With 20 minutes played Paul Konchesky, a summer signing from Liverpool, appeared on the left flank to seize a loose ball. He glanced up before scooping his shot against Lee Grant's fingertips and into the top corner.Burnley's response was immediate and when Sol Bamba's careless clearance bounced high and onto the head of Ross Wallace, he instinctively nodded the ball over Kasper Schmeichel and into the gaping net.It was former England cap Nugent, impressive throughout the first half, who had the visitors ahead in the 54th minute. Paul Gallagher stormed down the right wing before supplying a pinpoint cross for Nugent to head home gracefully from close range.The provider turned scorer eight minutes later. Referee Geoff Eltringham adjudged Andre Amougou to have body-checked Andy King in the penalty area, with Gallagher on hand to confidently power home the resulting spot-kick.

Palace Extend Unbeaten Run

Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches after being held to a goalless draw by Portsmouth at Selhurst Park.The result left Portsmouth still looking for their first away victory in the npower Championship this season and they shaded a game of few chances.Portsmouth defender Ricardo Rocha did well to block a shot from Nathaniel Clyne before the visitors took control and Jason Pearce hit the crossbar with a header.Neither side took control at the start of the second half but Portsmouth had a half-chance when Joel Ward mis-hit a cross which Speroni had to claw away and Palace cleared away the resulting corner.Liam Lawrence saw a free-kick deflected just over before Luke Varney got away down the right and Speroni came rushing off his line but the Pompey frontman failed to get the lift on his shot with the goal gaping.An evening of frustration got worse for Lawrence when he hobbled off late on to be replaced by Erik Huseklepp and Palace pushed forward winning a succession of corners. However they could not make the breakthrough and had to settle for a point and a sixth consecutive clean sheet.

Bristol City hold Hammers

West Ham lost further ground to npower Championship leaders Southampton after drawing 0-0 against lowly Bristol City.Boss Sam Allardyce has this week brushed off criticism of his side's style of play, claiming teams that gain promotion need to know how to win ugly.But a stalemate at home to the side who kicked off propping up the division will be hard to stomach for the second-placed Hammers.In fairness they would surely have won at a canter had Frederic Piquionne's radar not deserted him in front of goal, while Kevin Nolan was twice denied by David James and Freddie Sears was a whisker away when he rattled a post.But City, full of confidence after a first win under new boss Derek McInnes on Saturday, were themselves a threat on the break and also hit the woodwork.
Julien Faubert and substitute Carlton Cole both missed late chances in a frantic finish, and Yannick Bolasie fired narrowly wide in the 89th minute as the Robins claimed a morale-boosting point.

Seagulls suffer Hammers blow

Brighton's early-season pace-setters have, by contrast, tumbled down the table after their winless run was extended to seven games.
The Seagulls could count themselves unfortunate, though, having created a host of chances to cancel out Nolan's 17th-minute strike. And they were architects of their own downfall after a bad mistake from Liam Bridcutt gifted West Ham what proved to be the winner.
Brighton manager Gus Poyet likes his team to play the ball out from the back, but not when they end up handing it on a plate to a player of Nolan's ability on the edge of the area. Bridcutt's heavy touch allowed the midfielder to nick the ball off him, stride forward and lash his shot past his old Newcastle team-mate Steve Harper.
Veteran keeper Harper had only joined Brighton on loan a few hours earlier and obviously did not have time to get his bearings, standing far too close to his near post and offering Nolan the rest of the goal to aim at.
Sam Allardyce's side had to see out eight minutes of stoppage time, following a nasty injury to Brighton's Gary Dicker.

Match Report: Brighton 0-0 Hull City

Brighton's winless run extended to a sixth game after they were held to a goalless draw by a resilient Hull.
The stalemate was far from dull, however, and the scoreline might well have been in double figures if not for the remarkable work of goalkeepers Casper Ankergren and Adriano Basso.Nigel Pearson's Tigers can now celebrate a run of seven games without loss in the Championship after an indifferent start to the season.In the early stages, Matt Fryatt's weighted drive was deflected away from danger by a brave Lewis Dunk. Then Craig Mackail-Smith, with five league goals to his name going into the clash, forced Basso to tip a fizzing shot round the post shortly before the half-hour mark.Aaron Mclean emerged as an attacking outlet for the Tigers in the 64th minute, arriving on the edge of the area to force a strong block from Ankergren, before reclaiming possession and stinging the Danish goalkeeper's palms with a fierce strike.The pressure increased on the visitors when Mackail-Smith forced Basso to punch the ball over his crossbar with five minutes remaining, with Dunk again appearing to block a late Mclean drive, but the points were shared.

West Ham Hammer Blackpool

Three goals in eight second-half minutes ensured a resounding 4-0 victory for West Ham as Blackpool's defence endured a torrid time.John Carew set the Hammers on their way with a 12th-minute header and Blackpool collapsed after the break as a Sam Baldock double and Jack Collison's strike completed the rout.
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce had spoken during the week of his bitterness at being dismissed by Blackpool after leading them to the brink of promotion in 1996 and he gained some revenge with a dominant display at Upton Park.Blackpool had gone into the game high on confidence after winning 5-0 last time out and they actually looked the better team until West Ham opened the scoring.The Hammers needed just two minutes of the second half to double their lead as Matthew Taylor's header put Baldock clean through, and the striker held his nerve to slot coolly past Matthew Gilks.It was all over four minutes later and Matthew Hill was at fault as the ball was allowed to bounce in the area before Carew flicked the ball over Gilks and Baldock tapped in on the line. Collison then grabbed the fourth with a deflected volley.

Former England Manager to Quit Forest

Steve McClaren is considering walking away from Nottingham Forest, just three months after returning to English football.
McClaren could quit the City Ground after running out of patience with Forest’s lack of ambition under chairman Nigel Doughty.
Forest have offloaded nine players this summer and paid out only £2million on signings, leaving a distraught McClaren facing an uncertain future.
Former England manager McClaren is taking a few days to consider his options and is thought to be disappointed and frustrated at the lack of further additions, as he believes he is short of what is required to take the club to promotion.

Beckford Joins Leicester City

Beckford arrives to seal move

Leicester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson landed his man last night with the £4.5million capture of Everton striker Jermaine Beckford.Beckford becomes City's 12th signing under the former England boss and takes Eriksson's spending near to the £15m mark.The 26-year-old forward arrived at the King Power Stadium just 40 minutes before last night's 11pm transfer window deadline to complete the formalities of his switch to City.
Eriksson said: "He is a goalscorer, you just have to look at his record. We have always said we will take in a striker or wide player."Beckford, who signed a four-year deal that was confirmed by City just before midnight, said: "The size of the club attracted me as well as the manager and what he wants to achieve here at Leicester, and I see the club going places. We will go for the title."It was very difficult to turn it down and it will be very exciting to work with Sven, I can't wait to get started."Beckford admitted it was a "wrench" to leave Everton but said he has done it to "play more games and score more goals."

City had made an earlier bid for Beckford, believed to be around £2.5m, and pitched in again after finally giving up on Bristol City striker and long-time target Nicky Maynard.

Everton have signed striker Denis Stracqualursi – who had a trial at Leicester earlier this year without Eriksson pursuing the matter – on a season-long loan from Argentinian side Tigre, as well as Real Madrid midfielder Royston Drenthe, which has convinced Toffees boss David Moyes it is right to sell Beckford.

The two clubs agreed a fee in the region of £4.5m earlier in the day and the Mercury understands that Beckford is not among the high earners at Goodison Park, so City were able to offer him an attractive package.

The big issue for City to overcome was persuading the former Leeds United player, who has spent the past four years aspiring to play in the Premier League, to drop down to the Championship – but Eriksson has won the battle.

Eriksson has finally landed the goalscoring striker he wants to end a protracted search which started in the summer.

He suffered frustrations along the way with targets Shane Long, then of Reading, opting to sign for West Brom, while Peterborough's Craig Mackail-Smith favoured a move to Championship newcomers Brighton. But Eriksson's focus had been on Maynard, making four bids for the 24-year-old striker, the last one understood to be in the region of £5m.

Bristol were not prepared to sell him and the player is holding out for a Premier League club move, possibly in January.

"I would guess it is over," said Eriksson earlier yesterday.