Sport

Football

New challenge: Western Sydney Wanderers captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley.

'We trust Poppa': Topor-Stanley

Western Sydney skipper Nikolai Topor-Stanley has backed coach Tony Popovic to lead the club to a repeat A-League grand final this season despite another overhaul of their playing roster.

FFA to test soccer TV market

Banking on it: Officials hope Tim Cahill will drive up A-league interest.

Football Federation Australia is set to formally test the market on broadcast rights to a suite of its "products" now that its exclusive period of negotiations with current broadcaster Fox Sports is over.

A-League needs expansion, promotion, relegation to realise potential

Can the A-League go to another level? Creating a second division with promotion and relegation might help it do that.

The A-League produces some brilliant games, and when the competition kicks off next week with Brisbane hosting Melbourne Victory on Friday night and a blockbuster clash between Western Sydney and Sydney on Saturday night, drama and controversy can be expected in equal measure.

Time for the Brisbane Roar and Lions to get back together

Common sense solution: Getting the Roar and the Lions Club back together could be a win-win for all concerned.

It's time to bury the hatchet for the two sides of the ugly separation which has blighted Brisbane Roar's A-League journey. Eight years after the split, a renewal of vows between the Roar and their founders, the Lions Club, can be a win-win for all concerned if egos and agendas can be put aside. As the three-times champions scrounge around Brisbane looking for a home – and a heart and soul – the solution is where it's always been. Right under their nose.

Time to breathe between Melbourne derbies

There will be 10 days between Melbourne derbies.

Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat has his wish for breathing space between the two Melbourne derbies next month, with their FFA Cup meeting scheduled for October 25.

Eight EPL managers accused of taking bungs

Pino Pagliara, an unlicensed Italian agent who was banned from football for five years for match-fixing in 2005.

Eight current and former Premier League managers stand accused of  receiving "bungs" for player transfers after The London London Telegraph found widespread evidence of corruption in the English game.

Sam Allardyce scandal leaves English soccer at rock bottom

Former England manager Sam Allardyce, centre.

This is the nadir. We have said it before, but this time it really is. Knocked out of Euro 2016 by Iceland, England have lost their new manager after one World Cup qualifier in an episode that points to a familiar systemic failure of governance.