Southampton are finalising Gordon Strachan's appointment as manager following the sacking of Stuart Gray after just eight league games in charge.

Former Coventry chief Strachan is expected to be confirmed as Gray's successor today, when he will inherit a team second from the bottom of the FA Premiership after the ex-manager's reign of less than four months.

Gray (41), impressed during his caretaker stint after Glenn Hodle's switch to Tottenham in April, but flopped since being installed on a permanent basis on June 29th.

He guided his team to six defeats this term, including yesterday's 2-0 reverse at West Ham, who had themselves been thrashed 5-0 and 7-1 in their two previous matches.

Bookmakers were tipping Gray for the sack virtually as soon as he was appointed, and it is no surprise that he last night became the latest managerial casualty in a season that has already seen the sacking of Leicester's Peter Taylor and Derby's Jim Smith, as well as Strachan after a five-year reign at Coventry.

ITALY: Serie A newcomers Chievo went top of the table with a 1-0 win over Parma yesterday while champions AS Roma showed they are back to form with a 5-1 hammering of Lecce.

Inter Milan missed the chance to go top when they fell 4-2 to rivals AC and are both two points adrift of Chievo.

SPAIN: Real Madrid's Spanish league woes continued last night with a 1-1 draw at home to Celta Vigo.

Real fail to improve on a poor start to the season that has brought them just two victories in nine games and left them 10 points behind leaders Deportivo Coruna, who are now three points clear at the top.

Spanish international striker Catanha gave Celta the lead on nine minutes, popping up at the far post to turn in an Alexander Mostovoi corner.

Guti put Real level after 27 minutes. The Madrid side are 15th in the table.