The Rugby Football League announces a major revamp of the Super League play-offs for the 2009 season.

Four threatened Black Country bus services will keep running after transport authority Centro stepped in.

Striker Julie Fleeting hits a hat-trick as Arsenal won 4-1 at Bristol Academy to move six points clear at the top of the Women’s Premier League table.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson defends Cristiano Ronaldo after his bizarre sending off in Sunday’s 1-0 derby win at Eastlands.

Robin Van Persie’s double earns Arsenal a remarkable win against leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Stockport and Droylsden will replay their FA Cup second round ties against Gillingham and Chesterfield respectively on 9 December.

The civil rights campaigner the Rev Jesse Jackson speaks about political representation on a visit to Birmingham.

Steven Pienaar’s strike earns Everton a narrow win in David Moyes’s 300th game in charge to end Tottenham’s 100% home record under Harry Redknapp.

An investigation into an explosion that ripped through a block of flats in Wigan, seriously injuring two men, is launched.

The death of man whose body was found in a canal in Manchester city centre is not being treated as suspicious, police say.