The Sports Matrix: Friday 2 March 2012

FA will look for alternatives to Redknapp

The Football Association's search for the new England manager will go beyond Harry Redknapp. The Club England board will draw up a list of candidates in the next few days, and will not limit itself to the Tottenham Hotspur manager.

The Club England board will make a recommendation to the FA board, who will want to see that all possibilities have been discussed.

Sir Trevor Brooking, one of four Club England officials, told i this week that a new manager could be "parachuted in a few days before" Euro 2012. The final squad is named on 29 May, 16 days after the end of the Premier League season. It is thought that Redknapp would not leave Spurs before then.

Micah Richards, who returned for England under Stuart Pearce on Wednesday, described his side-lining under Fabio Capello as "the lowest of the low". "Fighting my way back to get in the squad is the hardest thing I've ever done," he said. "Nothing can knock my confidence any more."

Daniel Sturridge, who played off the bench on Wednesday, said the Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has "helped [him] a lot" by picking him this season. MORE

Murray win sets up Djokovic semi-final

Andy Murray came through his Dubai Duty Free Championship quarter-final with Tomas Berdych to secure a last-four tie with Novak Djokovic. Murray impressed in a 6-3, 7-5 win to earn a chance to avenge his Australian Open semi-final loss against the Serb. MORE

Ritchie arrival boosts Lancaster

Stuart Lancaster's chances of being named permanent England coach have been boosted after Ian Ritchie was named RFU chief executive. "He's done a fantastic job in difficult circumstances," Ritchie said of Lancaster. "He's an impressive person." MORE

Pompey may not complete fixtures

Portsmouth's administrator admitted last night that the club may not be able to fulfil all of this season's remaining fixtures. The club's next parachute payment will go to former owner Sacha Gaydamak, so the club may run out of cash before May. MORE

Cleverley would be 'proud' at Olympics

Tom Cleverley believes that the Olympics would make up for any disappointment at missing a place in the England Euro 2012 squad: "I'd be very proud to represent Britain at the Olympics. An Olympic gold at Wembley would be unbelievable." MORE

Reade happy to fly under radar now

Shanaze Reade says she is happy to take a back seat, media and profile-wise, in Team GB as she seeks to make up for her failure as favourite in Beijing four years ago. "I'm this little fish in a big pond now," the BMX racer told i. "I can blend in more." MORE

Kauto '50-50' for Cup following fall

Kauto Star is rated at "50-50" to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup after suffering a fall in training. The 12-year-old chaser fell under Ruby Walsh last Friday. "We will do what is best for the horse," trainer Paul Nicholls said ahead of the 16 March showpiece. MORE

Dalglish: Gerrard to go on for England

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish does not believe Steven Gerrard is close to retiring from England duty. "He obviously must enjoy representing his country if he's done it 90 times. They've got Euro 2012 this summer and that is an attraction as well." MORE

France building well, says Saha

France, England's first opponents in Euro 2012, beat Germany 2-1 in Bremen on Wednesday, and Louis Saha rates highly the chances of Laurent Blanc's team. "We're starting to build something good," said the Tottenham striker. "We proved that." MORE

Opinion: Ian Herbert

Maybe Harry Redknapp should sit tight until September. The respect England's players have for Stuart Pearce is not an affected one. There is a core, including Micah Richards, who feel a genuine bond with him. MORE