Northern Ireland are set to name their new manager next week, with Michael O'Neill the favourite to succeed Nigel Worthington.

Sheffield Wednesday chairman Milan Mandaric has confirmed manager Alan Irvine has been sacked after just over a year in charge at Hillsborough.

Sol Campbell tonight condemned Newcastle's sacking of manager Chris Hughton and claimed the players will be asking: "What the hell is going on?"

Chris Hughton has today been sacked as Newcastle manager with the club saying they need someone with "more managerial expertise" to take them forward.

Time and the sack have done nothing to still Phil Brown's ambition or dilute his self-belief. Three months after finishing gardening leave from Hull City, he is bursting to take on "the next challenge" and even voluntarily brings up the subject of the England manager's job as an illustration of how high that ambition flies.

Would-be managers and supporters were yesterday scrutinising the wording of Aston Villa's statement about the criteria required of Martin O'Neill's eventual successor. Issued after Sunday's win over Everton under Kevin MacDonald, it appeared to rule out the United States coach, Bob Bradley, as well as Slaven Bilic and Ronald Koeman – although not necessarily the caretaker manager.

Hull have confirmed the appointment of Nigel Pearson as their new manager.

Phil Brown's tenure at Hull is officially over after a statement released by the League Managers Association confirmed both parties have agreed an "amicable departure".

David James, the England goalkeeper, is to be interviewed for the vacant manager's job at Portsmouth, although his chances of landing the post look remote after the club's administrator, Andrew Andronikou, yesterday admitted it might be "too soon" for him.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez claims if either Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres leave the club it will be a departure of their own making and not because they have been sold to balance the books.

Steven Gohouri's dramatic stoppage-time equaliser stole a point for Wigan and confirmed Hull's relegation from the Barclays Premier League.