Around 40% of clubs in England’s top four divisions of men’s football have changed their manager this season, and one in four of those teams have made more than one change.

With those stats still so high, I am sure people outside the game must be wondering about the process of appointing a manager.

In my day, I never once put on a presentation in front of a chairman or board of directors as part of any interview process.

Usually it was your management record, and your relative success with the respective budgets you’d been given, that would seal the deal.

Today, that has all changed. Many managers and coaches, I’m told, pay to have these presentations professionally prepared for them.

Before you get to that stage, however, club owners and chairmen will rely on their sporting director and chief executive to compile a list of names.

As I’ve mentioned in previous columns about the lack of opportunities now for British managers, with so many foreign owners in our game, there are lots of foreign sporting directors too, so it is not surprising they appoint managers and coaches they know.

Also, the agents who have assisted the owners when they purchased the club, will often have a big say on who the sporting director is too.

Players will also flow into some clubs in a similar fashion, I’m sure, and I’m afraid all of this impinges on managers and coaches from this country, who are not part of that network.

Academy coaches from the top clubs are finding a way through the system, as I am sure their contacts with clubs’ young players is part of their appeal.

It is definitely a route into management that is worth following but I am sure any ex-professionals who have followed it will have quickly been exposed to the key difference between managing at academy level and being in charge of a club’s first team.

Unlike academy football, which is about development, first-team football is about winning.

Every week you will be judged on your result and, no matter what philosophy you employ, the fanbase and the people above you will react accordingly.

MCG will play host to Monday’s
Round 4 AFL game between Hawthorn Hawks and
Geelong Cats. The game kicks off at 3:15 pm with Hawthorn Hawks heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Hawthorn Hawks vs.
Geelong Cats
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Monday April 6, 2026 at 3:15 pm

Where: MCG

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Hawthorn Hawks vs Geelong Cats Odds

Hawthorn Hawks vs Geelong Cats Preview

All eyes will be on the Hawks as they return from a strong showing and look to maintain their upward trajectory. Their attacking flair and willingness to take the game on have been key features, but consistency remains the next step. Their opponents will look to disrupt ball movement and apply pressure, setting up a compelling contest. Expect moments of high intensity, with transitions and execution inside 50 likely to prove decisive. For Hawthorn, it’s another chance to validate their progress and continue building belief.

Mohamed Salah’s long goodbye to Liverpool begins on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, the competition which represents his best chance of a trophy in his final year at Anfield.

The Egypt winger announced last week that he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years at a club where he has broken scoring records and established himself as one of the world’s best players.

Salah potentially has 15 games left in the famous red shirt: Seven in the Premier League as well as three in the FA Cup and five in the Champions League, should Liverpool reach the final in both of those competitions.

That won’t be easy.

In the Champions League, defending champion Paris Saint-Germain is up next in the two-leg quarterfinals and it’s pretty much as tough in the FA Cup, with Liverpool handed an away match at Manchester City.

Salah, who has 255 goals in 435 appearances for Liverpool, missed the Reds’ last game before the international break – a 2-1 loss at Brighton in the league – with a muscle injury but has told manager Arne Slot he should be healthy enough to return this weekend.

“He just does so much for his body for such a long time that he recovers so fast,” Slot said on Wednesday. “So, he will train with the team again tomorrow and if everything works well then he’s available to be with us at City.” 

 
The 33-year-old Salah was left out of the Liverpool team for four straight games at the end of 2025 in what appeared to be a breakdown in his relationship with Slot and the club.

Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah virtually has been an ever-present in the lineup, seemingly winning the Dutch coach round.

“That hunger never drops,” Slot said of Salah. “It’s the thing I find most special about him. So many good players around the world – he’s definitely one of them in the last 10 years – and to show that hunger every three days, that professionalism, that commitment to the club and to the team, wanting to score again, always wanting to play …

“When you take him out three minutes before the end, he’s like, Ah, maybe I could have scored one extra.’” 
City, meanwhile, is seeking a domestic cup double after beating Arsenal in the English League Cup final on March 22. Pep Guardiola’s team is also chasing Arsenal in the Premier League, which takes a break this weekend to give the FA Cup its own space in the calendar.

Key matchups 
The other FA Cup quarterfinals take place across Saturday and Sunday.

After City-Liverpool in the early kickoff on Saturday, Chelsea hosts third-tier Port Vale – the lowest-ranked team left in the competition – before Arsenal visits second-tier Southampton.

On Sunday, West Ham hosts Leeds in an all-Premier League matchup.

Players to watch 
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has less than two months to persuade England coach Thomas Thomas he is worthy of a place in the World Cup squad.

Foden started both of England’s recent friendly games – a draw with Uruguay and a loss to Japan – but failed to impress either in the No. 10 role or as a “false nine,” prompting Tuchel to say it’s ” not a guarantee ” that Foden will be at the World Cup.

Foden was English soccer’s player of the year in the 2023-24 season but has not maintained his top form and has rarely started for City in recent months.

Out of action 
Arsenal’s team sheet for the Southampton game will be heavily scrutinized, given 10 players missed games for their national team over the international break because of various issues.

Eberechi Eze, Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard already had injuries that caused them to miss the League Cup final, before Piero Hincapie, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard all pulled out of international duty.

England’s Noni Madueke and Spain’s Martin Zubimendi missed the second games for their respective countries after reporting injuries.

Off the fieldThere might be growing disharmony at Chelsea, going off recent comments by two of the team’s best players.

Enzo Fernandez said after elimination in the Champions League that he couldn’t guarantee being at Chelsea next season, while Marc Cucurella told The Athletic during this international break that the team was “more stable” under coach Enzo Maresca, who was fired in January, and, “If you asked me, I would not have made this decision.” 
Liam Rosenior, the current Chelsea coach, is under big pressure after four straight defeats.

Anthony Joshua’s return to the ring seems to be edging ever closer.

The two-time unified world champion was last out in December of 2025, stopping YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul inside six rounds in Miami, Florida.

Joshua’s team had made it clear that he would get back to the more traditional side of the sport thereafter, however tragedy struck in Lagos, Nigeria when he was involved in a car crash. Joshua survived with minor injuries but two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, sadly died.

It was unclear how long the British heavyweight’s physical and mental recovery would take, and there were even questions raised about retirement.

He has since resumed training, back in camp with the team of former rival Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian has recently stated he believes ‘AJ’ can become undisputed champion by 2027.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has said that talks have begun surrounding his charge’s return, and now an update from boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has provided more clarity. Discussing his general plan for the rest of this year, the owner of Ring Magazine included this about Joshua:

“We are … planning to do two fights for Joshua.”

😂😂😂
Yes, I am very busy with other stuff. Thank God my country is safe and we are happy, even when we are close to war. Thank you for asking. Missile and drones coming to my country each day.

And to prove your point that I am too busy and not interested in boxing anymore,… https://t.co/GR894zig21

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— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) April 1, 2026

Another notable mention is Tyson Fury, who headlines a Ring card this month against Arslanbek Makhmudov. The long-awaited all-British clash between Fury and Joshua appears to be the target for the second fight for both men – at least that was the plan prior to the car accident.

Talk will now turn to when, where and who Joshua faces in the summer. A rematch with Dillian Whyte has not been ruled out, though Hearn recently said no discussions had taken place despite rumours.

Our senior Manchester United writer Tyrone Marshall answers your questions on the club and what is going on at Old Trafford.

06:00, 03 Apr 2026

Manchester United’s internationals are enjoying a few extra days off this week ahead of a return to Carrington over the weekend and then an intense training camp in Ireland next week.

The squad will travel to Dublin on Monday and stay until Thursday as Michael Carrick looks to get his players back up to speed in time for the Premier League resumption against Leeds on Monday, April 13.

That will finally bring to an end a 24-day gap between games, but although it seems quiet at the moment, planning for the summer is well underway and this week’s Q&A focuses on transfers.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

We run weekly question and answer sessions, so click here to submit your questions, and we’ll answer them next week. Here are the answers to some of this week’s questions:

Could United sign three midfielders this summer?

Yes, that is a possibility, but it will depend on several factors. If Manuel Ugarte leaves, there is certainly a case for three midfielders. Two to replace Casemiro and Ugarte and then another to offer back-up and competition for Kobbie Mainoo.

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But I would be surprised if United signed three midfielders. I think two is far more likely, even if Ugarte does go, with Mason Mount sometimes used in a deeper role and perhaps someone from the academy given first-team chances in cup competitions.

A new No.6 will cost big money and there are other areas being looked at, specifically left-back and left-wing. Doing everything in one summer will be difficult, but returning to the Champions League will help, as would selling Andre Onana, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund.

Could we sign Bruno Guimaraes and Elliot Anderson this summer?

No, I don’t see this being likely. Anderson is the top target for that No.6 role, but United will face strong competition from Manchester City. It’s going to be a difficult deal to do, and it’s going to cost at least £80million, I would think.

Guimaraes’s name has cropped up recently, but he turns 29 in November and isn’t a typical Ineos signing. Newcastle might just about consider selling Sandro Tonali, but Guimaraes is their captain and the heartbeat of their team, and they will be desperate not to lose him, forcing the price up for a player with no resale value.

That isn’t the kind of deal United have been doing recently and if they spend big on Anderson, I would expect the second midfielder to come from a much lower price bracket.

Sandro Tonali is Premier League-proven, will that be important in signing a midfielder this summer?

Yes, I think it will be very important and I believe United’s primary midfield signing this summer will be Premier League-proven. We saw that with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha last summer and it’s become a focus in recruitment at Old Trafford.

Tonali, Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba are all proven in the Premier League. United have also scouted Joao Gomes recently, with the Brazilian set to leave Wolves this summer, and have also monitored Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, while being linked with his teammate Tyler Adams.

There are midfielders on the continent that United are looking at as well, but I’d expect at least one to come from the Premier League this summer, and probably the elite-level signing.

Will Alejandro Garnacho ever come back to United?

Very difficult to see how this ever happens. Garnacho burnt plenty of bridges when he left United and he’s hardly pulled up any trees at Chelsea. Time is on his side still at 21, but he has to be careful he doesn’t waste his talent.

He was never a good tactical fit under Ruben Amorim but his attitude let him down as well and it wasn’t only Amorim who had had enough by the end of last season. That’s a shame, because had Garnacho knuckled down and stuck it out, he would probably be the club’s first-choice left-winger now.

Will the full-back positions be looked at this summer? I’m not convinced by Dalot and Shaw.

Long-term I think both full-back positions will be on the agenda, but this summer the focus will be on left-back. With Tyrell Malacia leaving on a free transfer, Patrick Dorgu likely to play more as a winger and Luke Shaw now in his 30s, depth is required.

Shaw has started every Premier League game this season but his fitness will be tested if the schedule gets more demanding next season and it’s clear he can’t be relied on.

United will look for competition for the 30-year-old this summer, with the idea being to sign someone younger who can also be Shaw’s long-term successor.

On the right, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are likely to continue into next season, but I would expect right-back to be looked at in the summer of 2027.

Delhi Capitals’ Sameer Rizvi celebrates his fifty (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

NEW DELHI: “Tayyar rahio, ek challenge aane wala hai”That was Axar Patel’s message to Sameer Rizvi ahead of IPL 2026. What Rizvi did not know then was how quickly that challenge would arrive—or how decisively he would stamp his authority on it.When it did, the 22-year-old delivered a statement.Chasing 142 against Lucknow Super Giants, Rizvi walked in at No. 4 and produced a composed, unbeaten 70 off 47 balls, guiding Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket win. He walked into a ring of fire, with his UP teammate Mohsin Khan and the rest of the LSG pace battery making life difficult for the batters. But Rizvi weathered the early storm before settling into his comfort zone and accelerating with control.‘No. 4 is his favourite position’Rizvi’s comfort at the position comes as no surprise. He entered IPL 2026 on the back of consistent domestic form—491 runs in the UP T20 League, where he primarily batted at No. 4.“I am comfortable batting at No 4. I wanted to bat at the spot and the coach had told me earlier that I would come in at No 4 and that they would back me,” he said. “He asked me to play my natural game and stay positive,” Rizvi had told reporters after the game.Axar’s reminder ahead of DC’s season opener was a validation of the trust the management had placed in him.As per his uncle and formative coach, Tankeeb Akhtar, Rizvi relishes batting at No. 4, with time in the middle being key to his game.“Tujhe 4 pe batting karni hai. Tayyar rehna [You have to bat at No. 4. Be ready]. That’s what Axar Patel told him,” Akhtar tells Timesofindia.com. “He was very happy. No. 4 is his favourite batting position. When he called me, he was extremely happy and said, ‘That was amazing, mamu’]”.

Sameer Rizvi with his uncle and formative coach,Tankeeb Akhtar

“Even last year, in the final match, he played a fine knock—scoring 58 runs to help Delhi win. That’s where it all started for him. Against LSG too, he played a very good knock. The only change was that he needed time at the crease, and Axar gave him that time yesterday. Once he got time to settle on the wicket, he batted really well. He was happy,” he added.’Mamu, you’ll see – I will play well this time’Rizvi was the second-highest run-getter in the UP T20 League, averaging 61.38 and striking at 161.51. He continued his rich vein of form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 238 runs at an average of 59.50.Back home in Meerut, his preparation for IPL 2026 was intense and methodical.“When he is in Meerut, he bats for three hours on the centre wicket. Medium pacers, spinners, fast bowlers—everyone was used to prepare him for the IPL. He has worked extremely hard for this season. I am sure he will continue to play match-winning knocks this season. While leaving, he just said, ‘Mamu, you’ll see – I will play well this time’,” says Akhtar.‘8 crore ho ya 20 lakh – cricket khelna hai bass’Rizvi’s IPL journey has already seen sharp turns. Picked by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 8.40 crore in 2024, he struggled to convert his opportunities and managed just 51 runs in eight matches.He was released the following season – a move that raised eyebrows and brought with it an inevitable dip in valuation. Delhi Capitals picked him up for Rs 95 lakh. That massive drop in price could have easily unsettled the youngster, but as Akhtar says, for Rizvi, it was always about playing the game, not the price tag attached to it.“Dekhiye bura bahot lagta hai but Sameer ne kabhi dikhaya nahi wo apne shakal pe [Look, it does hurt a lot, but Sameer never showed it on his face]. Cricket comes first for him. He never talks about the price tag. He used to say whether it is Rs 8 crore or a Rs 20 lakh base price, he just wants to play cricket, no matter which IPL team it is,” says Akhtar.In 2025, after starting in the playing XI for the initial matches, Rizvi lost his place to the likes of Abhishek Porel and Ashutosh Sharma, and eventually managed just five games the whole season – scoring 121 runs at 40.33 and striking at 153.16, including a fifty in DC’s final game.Making an Impact This year, though, as an impact substitute, Rizvi has made his mark with a match-winning knock in the first game itself. He will now hope for a consistent run – something Akhtar also believes is within reach.“Mauka bahut kam mila tha usko CSK mein [He didn’t get many opportunities at CSK]. Even in the IPL now, this was only his second or third chance, and he played a very good innings,” says Akhtar, adding that the CSK stint did help Rizvi evolve as a cricketer. “He learned a lot from MS Dhoni – both his approach to the game and his thinking evolved. But when Dhoni stepped down as captain, everything changed. I had even asked him about opportunities or moving up the batting order. He said the captain is different now. He just didn’t get enough chances, that’s all,” remembers Akhtar.At DC, Rizvi seems to have found the ideal support system – a captain who trusts him and a senior pro he can lean on.“Axar has supported him a lot. He treats him like an elder brother. He also spends time with KL Rahul. He has told him one thing: ‘Be focused on your goal,’” says Akhtar about the DC setup.From a quiet heads-up before the season to taking on the challenge head-on, Rizvi has shown early signs that he could seize his moment in his third IPL year.

Terence Crawford has shut down any talk of a return since his December retirement, but many remain hopeful he will fight again.

Crawford became the first three-weight undisputed world champion since Henry Armstrong (1938) when he captured all four super-middleweight titles with a monumental victory against Canelo Alvarez back in September.

The Omaha-born sensation retired off the back of that triumph, hanging up the gloves with an undefeated record of 42-0 and a legacy that will be respected for generations to come.

Since then, a host of fighters have called for a shot at ‘Bud’, but even a lucrative rematch with Mexican superstar Canelo has proven to be of no interest to the 38-year-old.

This week, Crawford had also shut down whispers of a possible clash with WBC welterweight ruler Ryan Garcia, telling the Californian that he is simply ‘not on his level and that there is nothing to entertain’ in that proposed fight.

However, on X, Crawford then dialled back a little, telling Garcia to build some legacy-defining victories and become undisputed to earn the right to even discuss a fight.

“Ryan Garcia keep working my boy, you got a lot of catching up to do. Try becoming a 1 time undisputed champ just one time and then we can talk.”

Many will see Crawford’s statement as fun and games, as he appears to be comfortable in retirement. Garcia, however, may see it a serious challenge with a potentially huge reward.

Garcia – who has said Crawford ‘left a lot on the table’ by retiring too early – is currently being linked to a unification clash with fierce rival and WBO titleholder Devin Haney, with either July or September being a possible date for that in-demand rematch.

Meanwhile, Rolando Romero (WBA) – who has already beaten Garcia – and Lewis Crocker (IBF) hold the other belts in the division, making the road to the undisputed title a long one.

Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman on Thursday said that the Argentina football team allegedly deceived the state by not coming to play a match even after receiving money for it.

Abdurahiman said that he had really wanted the Argentina football team and Lionel Messi to come to Kerala and play a match in the state.

“For that, I had held several discussions. It was also not an easy task to find sponsors to arrange the Rs 250 crore to be paid to the international football team.

“But, after receiving the money, the Argentine football team cheated us. We did not expect such a betrayal from them. Not coming after promising to do so,” the minister told a TV channel here.

He said that when he enquired, he found out that Argentina had done this to five other countries.

“They took money from those countries, but never went there to play. It is a situation where a case will have to be filed against the Argentine football team, and they will have to pay us compensation,” Abdurahiman said. 

He said that he was really looking forward to their arrival and that, therefore, their deception was disappointing and made him sad.

“It has disappointed the football lovers in Kerala. I don’t know to whom I will tell my disappointment,” he said.

The minister in November last year had said that the Argentina football team and Lionel Messi would come to Kerala in March this year.

Regarding his decision to contest from Tirur assembly constituency, instead of Tanur, from where he had won twice, the minister said his move was not motivated by a search for a winnable seat.

He said that he came to Tirur as it was his native place, where there was a lack of development, and there were numerous complaints from the people regarding it 
At the same time, he asserted that his absence from Tanur will not result in loss of that seat.

The Assembly elections in Kerala will be held on April 9.

Sanjiv Goenka’s intense chat with Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant after the side lost to Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026 on Wednesday led to a lot of intriguing speculation. LSG owner Goenka has been known to be very involved with his team – like many of his counterparts – and is regularly seen with the squad before and after matches. During IPL 2024, a video of Goenka with then LSG captain KL Rahul went viral. In the video, Goenka could be seen animatedly talking to Rahul. The latest video featuring Pant prompted social media users to revisit that episode.

While what was exactly spoken between Goenka and Pant is not clear, former England captain Michael Vaughan commented: “One game into the tournament… no need for this.”

1 game into the Tournament .. No need for this .. https://t.co/4aJbjrIU9r

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— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 2, 2026

Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi, who left India in 2010 amid allegations related to tax evasion, money laundering, and proxy ownership linked to the IPL, made a controversial remark while responding to Vaughan’s post.

“I told you this guy @DrSanjivGoenka, owner of @LucknowIPL, is a complete loser and joker of the highest order. I am seriously embarrassed by his behaviour. I created the @IPL for fans and players alike, not for this to happen every time, every year. If I was still chairman and commissioner, I would have banned him immediately and made him forfeit his ownership of the team forever. He is a complete pompous clown. There is a clause in the franchise agreement for this exact issue. #BCCI implement it-keep integrity above all. Sucking up to the powers that be is not the way to allow him to get away. Fans and players alike will remember,” Lalit Modi wrote on X.

I told you this guy @DrSanjivGoenka owner of @LucknowIPL is a complete looser and joker of the highest order – i am seriously embarrassed with his behaviour. I created the @IPL for fans and players alike. Not for this to happen every time every year. If I was still Chairman and… https://t.co/5mHzg8RAY1

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— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) April 2, 2026

After the incident went viral, LSG put out a clarification. “Not everything you see is the true story. Here’s the unfiltered post-match vibes, when cameras don’t cut,” the franchise posted, along with a fresh angle of the video.

Not everything you see is the true story, here’s the unfiltered post match vibes, when cameras don’t cut. pic.twitter.com/EiPMWrmlkQ

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) April 2, 2026

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Earlier, Goenka had shown support for Pant. “This is a long season, and moments like these are part of building something meaningful. I have full confidence in our captain and the team to respond with strength. To our fans, thank you for your support at Ekana today. We will come back stronger. The story of @LucknowIPL this season is far from written,” he wrote on X.