Perrier-Doumbe in Toulouse

Cameroon international defender Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe signed for two seasons with French first division side Toulouse.

The 31-year-old previously played for Scottish side Celtic and French clubs Auxerre and Rennes.

He won the French Cup title with Auxerre in 2003 and the Scottish Cup with Celtic in 2007.

Toulouse had been looking for a defender to fill in for the extended injury absences of Mauro Cetto, Albin Ebondo and Mohamed Fofana.

FIFA world rankings October

World champions Italy have slid to fifth in the FIFA world rankings released with Brazil holding top spot ahead of Spain and the Netherlands respectively.

Italy's fall follows their first round elimination from the Confederations Cup won by Brazil with Germany moving up one spot to fourth.

FIFA world Rankings

1. Brazil 1642pts
2. Spain 1590
3. Netherlands 1379
4. Germany 1195 (+1)
5. Italy 1181 (-1)
6. Russia 1161
7. England 1135
8. Argentina 1080
9. France 1059
10. Croatia 1031

Manchester City and Umbro deal

Manchester City have agreed a new 10-year kit manufacturing deal with sportswear giants Umbro.

The agreement replaces a previous four-year arrangement with Le Coq Sportif which was reportedly worth £10million.

The value of the new deal has not been revealed.

Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook said: "We are thrilled to announce this key partnership. We are building a successful and sustainable football club for the future and our partners are integral to that."

Umbro will also be investing £100,000 in 'Manchester culture' to work alongside City and other local organisations 'to support and inspire creativity across the city'.

Carlo Ancelotti from AC MIlan to Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti took a step closer to becoming Chelsea's new manager after he announced his contract at AC Milan has been terminated by mutual consent.
Carlo Ancelotti said: "I have agreed to leave Milan. The decision was by mutual consent. But a move to London is not certain yet. In agreement with the club, we have decided to bring forward the expiry of my contract. This beautiful adventure at Milan is over. I can't say anything else official. I have not made any agreement with any other club. I am certainly not staying in Italy. I am open to anything. It's obvious I would say yes if you ask me if I would love to coach Chelsea."

Stoke win over West Bromwich Albion

Stoke snatched a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion thanks to Mamady Sidibe's late goal at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

Tony Pulis's side have turned the Britannia into an intimidating arena for opponents this season and Sidibe's winner with six minutes to play was their fifth in seven home games this season.

The victory kept Stoke away from the relegation zone and left Albion - promoted along with City last season - rooted to the bottom of the table.

Rory Delap had an early chance to arrow in one of his trademark long throws in the opening minutes but West Brom's defenders managed to clear the danger.

Stoke suffered a blow in the 10th minute when striker Dave Kitson was stretchered off with a knee injury.

Albion keeper Scott Carson showed no sign of a hangover from his England error against Germany in midweek as he saved Sidibe's 25-yard strike.

A second Delap throw, this time from the right, caused greater anxiety as Gianni Zuiverloon missed his clearing header and the ball skidded straight through to Carson.

Ishmael Miller, deployed in a lone role up front for Albion, was starved of any decent service but managed to work space for a shot dipped just over the crossbar.

Cresswell appealed half-heartedly for a penalty when he was strong-armed off the ball by a combination of Jonas Olsson and Abdoulaye Meite, but was rightly turned down.

Carson was again alert after 52 minutes, getting down well to gather Tom Soares' long-range effort.

West Brom were struggling to get a foothold in proceedings until Miller again tried his luck from an unlikely position.

This time his chipped shot lurched high towards the far post, forcing Thomas Sorensen to concede a corner.

Jonathan Greening headed wide from Chris Brunt's left-sided delivery.

Substitute Michael Tonge was next to test Carson, in what was fast becoming a nervy time for the 23-year-old. He spilled the shot but regained possession before Sidibe arrived.

Garreth O'Connor on a short-term contract

League Two outfit Luton Town have completed the signing of former Burnley winger Garreth O'Connor on a short-term contract.
O'Connor, 29, has been without a club since being released by the Turf Moor outfit this summer, has signed a three-month deal at Kenilworth Road after a trial period.

Hatters boss Mick Harford told the club's official website: "It's no secret I've been looking for wide players and to add some experience to our squad after our recent injuries.

"Garreth's got a great chance to make a name for himself - he knows what we expect of him so he know has his chance to deliver."

Mike Newell is relishing

New Grimsby manager Mike Newell is relishing the prospect of returning to football management at Blundell Park after his unveiling on Monday.
Newell was unveiled as Alan Buckley's long-term successor on Monday, just over 18 months after leaving his previous post at Luton.
The 43-year-old former Hartlepool and Hatters boss is now keen to steer the Mariners - who are winless in League Two this season - away from the foot of the table.
"It's a challenge and I've never ever been afraid of a challenge," said Newell, who has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Blundell Park.
"I'm really looking forward to getting into the job. This has always been a difficult place to come for visiting teams and visiting managers and I've had experience of that myself.
"That's the sort of club and team that we need to get back to."

Bairns at Fir Park

John Sutton's fifth goal in six SPL games proved to be the winner after Falkirk had twice pegged back their hosts. Jamie Murphy and Chris Porter put Motherwell ahead only for Steve Lovell and Graham Barrett to level.

Murphy and Sutton were restored to the starting line-up in place of Bob Malcolm and David Clarkson following Thursday night's UEFA Cup defeat by Nancy.

Motherwell played some of their best football of the season and some sloppy defending at both ends contributed to the excitement.

The teams were tied on seven points before the game but both were looking to continue moving away from the bottom reaches of the table.

Falkirk, who were unchanged, had gone four matches without defeat but it was the home side who secured back-to-back SPL wins.

Motherwell took control early on and Murphy had a deflected effort turned past the near post by Robert Olejnik following an accurate long pass by Paul Quinn.

Murphy, playing wide right in a 4-4-2 formation, then sped to the byline and crossed to the back post where Steven McGarry rose well but could not direct his header on target.

Well had regained some of the fluency largely missing so far this season and Murphy made their pressure count with a calm finish in the 12th minute. Referee Stevie O'Reilly played a good advantage after Lee Bullen fouled Sutton on the right touchline and Keith Lasley lofted the ball into Murphy's path.

The bounce deceived Falkirk defender Darren Barr and the 19-year-old took a touch before sliding the ball past Olejnik from 15 yards.

Well sat off and conceded a soft goal in the 22nd minute when Michael Higdon headed Bullen's long ball over a static defence for Lovell to slot home.

However, the Bairns were guilty of far sloppier defending a minute later as Porter put Motherwell back in front.

Olejnik came off his line to smother Quinn's long ball but deliberately let go as he slid out of the box. Bullen had turned his back on play to leave Porter to slip the ball home from a tight angle.

Reds flying high

Just behind them in the Premier League, surprise package Hull piled the pressure on Tottenham manager Juande Ramos on Sunday with a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane which lifted the Tigers up to third.

Liverpool looked in trouble as they trailed to a 19th-minute goal from Stephen Ireland and Javier Garrido's curling free-kick four minutes from the interval.

However, Fernando Torres slid in from close range to reduce the deficit in the 55th minute.

City then had right-back Pablo Zabaleta sent off for an over-the-top challenge on Xabi Alonso, and they were punished further as Torres headed a 73rd-minute equaliser from Steven Gerrard's left-wing corner.

Liverpool, having used all their substitutes, also went down to 10 men late on when Martin Skrtel was carried off on a stretcher with a serious-looking knee injury.

But in injury-time, Dirk Kuyt fired home to complete the turnaround.

Chelsea's win was much more routine, with Joe Cole (21) and Nicolas Anelka (44) scoring the goals in a straightforward victory over Villa at Stamford Bridge.

At White Hart Lane, another stunning goal from Geovanni compounded bottom side Spurs' problems.

The Brazilian drilled a 30-yard free-kick into the top corner after just nine minutes to move the Tigers, in their maiden season in the top flight, into third place.

Bolton were 3-1 winners at Upton Park in the early kick-off after West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green handed them a 30th-minute lead when he dropped the ball at the feet of Kevin Davies and he hooked home.

Green then fumbled a shot to allow Gary Cahill to stab home from close range four minutes later.

Carlton Cole pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 69th minute but a drilled free-kick from Matt Taylor secured victory.

Jermain Defoe was Portsmouth's match winner again as he fired home in the 51st minute to clinch a 2-1 win over Stoke at Fratton Park after Peter Crouch's overhead kick (25) had been cancelled out by Ricardo Fuller (48).

Kevin Nolan targets greatest Bolton achievement

Premier League survival would be one of Bolton Wanderers Football Club’s greatest achievements, says Kevin Nolan.

A 1-0 win at Middlesbrough on Saturday has lifted the Trotters out of the relegation zone with just three games remaining, and Nolan is determined to help his side finish the job and secure survival.

"Bearing in mind we lost manager Sam Allardyce at the start of the season, sold Nicolas Anelka in January, have lost Jussi (Jaaskelainen) and were without forward Kevin Davies through suspension, we did pretty well,” he said.

"From being one of the most solid and stable clubs in the Premier League, we have switched to being one where chop and change appears to be the motto. But we are getting it together again under new boss Gary Megson.

“Everybody is sticking together for the cause. If we can avoid the drop - and everyone is convinced we will - it will rank with anything Bolton Wanderers have achieved in recent times."