Australia head coach Graham Arnold has resigned as it is the “best for the nation” after a poor start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying.

The 61-year-old ends his six-year second stint in the job, following a shock 1-0 defeat by Bahrain at home before drawing 0-0 against Indonesia.

The Socceroos are now looking to appoint a permanent replacement before their next World Cup qualifier at home to China on 10 October.

“I said after our game against Indonesia that I had some decisions to make, and after deep reflection, my gut has told me it’s time for change,” Arnold said in a statement.

“I’ve made the decision to resign based upon what’s best for the nation, the players and Football Australia.

“I’ve given absolutely everything I can to the role, and I am immensely proud of what has been achieved during my tenure.”

Arnold led Australia to the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar where they were knocked out of the tournament by winners Argentina, with Football Australia chief executive James Johnson recently backing the Australian to get back on track.

The former Socceroos striker was appointed assistant coach of Australia in 2000 and then served as interim boss for a year after Dutchman Guus Hiddink left in 2006.

He returned to the national side in 2018 as coach after a disappointing World Cup campaign in Russia saw Australia finish bottom of Group C.

Despite initially backing Arnold, Johnson thought he had “run out of gas” and hopes the replacement can still guide Australia to the World Cup.

The Socceroos sit fifth in their Asian qualifying group, with only the top two teams from each group heading directly to the World Cup staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Dave King, Rangers’ largest shareholder, has challenged the current board to call an emergency meeting to let shareholders decide who should succeed John Bennett as chairman after the South Africa-based businessman’s offer to return to the role was given short shrift by fellow directors. (Record), external

Former manager Steven Gerrard did not want to leave Rangers to join Aston Villa when the Premier League club approached him in November 2021, King, has claimed. (Herald – subscription), external

Rangers’ commercial revenue could increase to around £30m next season after agreeing two new deals, an extension with the Kindred Group for the Unibet brand to continue as the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor in addition to Elior becoming their new food and beverage partner. (Football Insider), external

Meanwhile, Rangers’ biggest-ever shirt sponsorship deal, which will enjoy an increase of £1.5m per year to nearly £3m if all targets are met, was more than matched by city rivals Celtic in one game this week in the Champions League. (Record), external

Former Rangers and Scotland Under-21 striker Dapo Mebude will be given the chance to impress in Dunfermline Athletic’s reserve game against Falkirk next week as the 23-year-old continues to train with the Scottish Championship club after leaving Oostende. (Courier – subscription), external

Former Derry GAA manager Rory Gallagher has said he “fully intends” to return to inter-county management in a statement issued by his solicitors.

Gallagher was “temporarily debarred” from the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in September 2023 after Ulster GAA asked an independent panel to investigate claims of abuse made by Gallagher’s estranged wife Nicola Gallagher.

Gallagher, who stepped back as Derry boss in May 2023, challenged his ban and the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA), an independent arbitration body, found in Gallagher’s favour following a hearing on 1 February.

“There is no legal impediment to our client undertaking or accepting a role as a GAA Senior Football manager,” a statement from Gallagher’s solicitors Phoenix Law read.

“Our client fully intends to return to inter county management in the near future.

“Two separate investigations have led – rightly – to decisions by the PPS not to prosecute. Mr Gallagher has not been charged with a single offence,” the statement continued.

More to follow

The Women’s Super League returns this weekend and Chelsea are aiming to win a sixth title in a row – but can anyone stop them?

New manager Sonia Bompastor is hoping to pick up her first WSL title but Manchester City, who lost out on goal difference last season, will want revenge.

With Crystal Palace joining the top flight and others spending big money in the summer transfer window, it promises to be another rollercoaster campaign.

Some of BBC Sport’s pundits have predicted their top three for the 2024-25 campaign, along with who they think will be relegated, while Emma Sanders tries to predict where each team will finish this season.

Emi Martinez, Aston Villa, keeper, £5m – home to Wolves

Clean sheets have been so hard to predict this season.

Gameweek four saw six of them from the 10 games, which means we’ve had 18 in 40 games – or clean sheets for 18 teams from a potential 80!

There’s no standout keeper this week but Martinez has been a big-game performer in the past and derby games can be tight affairs.

Yukinari Sugawara, Southampton, defender, £4.5m – home to Ipswich

The Japanese full-back has been flying down the right flank in manager Russell Martin’s progressive style of play where he likes to overload areas of the pitch.

Sugawara has put in 16 crosses, double any of his defensive team-mates and second on the team to Will Smallbone.

He’s created three of Southampton’s five big chances and also scored at Brentford.

Ipswich have been goal shy so far, with just two in their four games and, should Saints turn some impressive periods of play into a 90-minute performance, Sugawara has chances of a return at both ends of the pitch.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool, defender, £7m – home to Bournemouth

I may sound like a broken record by now but the attacking returns are on the horizon for the most expensive defender in the game.

Alexander-Arnold was close to another clean sheet last week before Nottingham Forest’s smash-and-grab success at Anfield and it’s amazing he has not got an assist yet.

The right-back’s expected assists (xA) stat is an incredible 1.87 from four games. For context, that is an assist higher than any other defender in the game except Villa left-back Digne (0.94). Tottenham’s Pedro Porro and Sugawara are next with just 0.67.

Josko Gvardiol, Manchester City, defender, £6m – home to Arsenal

Defences are likely to be on top when City host Arsenal on Sunday and you’d expect the Gunners to set up like they did last season, to absorb City pressure and hit on the break.

Rodri should return to City’s line-up which should mean Gvardiol playing a more progressive position down the left like he did at the back-end of last season.

He’ll see plenty of the ball, we know he has a goal or assist in him and, if City do keep a clean sheet, the Croatian will be a strong contender for bonus points.