English Premiership strugglers Sunderland have sacked Howard Wilkinson after his 20-game managerial reign produced just two league victories.

Sunderland, who are bottom of the league table, last night announced Wilkinson and his assistant Steve Cotterill had left the club with immediate effect.

The club's board announced "that it is in the best interests of the club and its supporters to make a change immediately".

Wilkinson, the former Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday boss, was appointed in October after the sacking of Peter Reid.

But he failed to lift a team which has taken just 19 points from 29 matches this season, leaving them two points adrift of second-bottom West Bromwich Albion with nine matches left.

Sunderland chairman Bob Murray said: "The club and its supporters have faced disappointment over a drawn-out period.

"This has been very difficult for everyone concerned, but we are absolutely determined to arrest the decline and revive the club.

"We will be appointing a successor before our crucial game against Bolton at the weekend.

"The fans have been incredibly tolerant and supportive in the circumstances and I would like to thank them for that.

"We understand how people are feeling and regret this. We all want to see the team get back to winning ways and putting in the type of performances that will give the fans something to cheer about."

Former Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy, ex-Leeds boss David O'Leary and former Sunderland player Niall Quinn are expected to be in the frame to replace Wilkinson.

Meanwhile, Alex Ferguson believes that Roy Keane will be an "absolutely brilliant" manager if he moves into the dugout when he hangs up his boots.

Keane has admitted he would like to move into management when he retires as a player and Ferguson insists the Irishman has the potential to make the transition.

"Absolutely no doubt about that. If he wants to do it he'll be an absolutely brilliant manager," Ferguson said.

Keane, who only recently made his comeback after a lengthy lay-off following a hip injury, is sidelined again after picking up a hamstring strain against Leeds.

"I think three weeks," said Ferguson when asked how long Keane will be out. "He'll be back for the Liverpool game, there's no question about that.

"We've got a two-week international break, which helps in that respect, so we've got two important games where we miss him - that's Aston Villa away and Fulham at home."

The proposed Under-20 friendly match between the Republic of Ireland and Egypt scheduled for Saturday, March 15th next has fallen through.

The game had been designed as part of the preparation for the Irish squad heading for the United Arab Emirates for the (also cancelled) World Youth Championship finals later this month.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy yesterday became the sole director of the club's majority shareholders following the £40.3 million cash-buyout of ENIC by Kondar Limited.

Rangers chairman John McClelland has insisted there is no place for racism at the club.

McClelland made his comments after a section of Rangers fans were heard making racist remarks during the 1-0 defeat by arch-rivals Celtic on Saturday at Bobo Balde and Momo Sylla.

"I do not condone this kind of behaviour, I deplore it," McClelland said.

Wales manager Mark Hughes has named an expanded 27-man squad for the Euro 2004 Group Nine qualifiers against Azerbaijan on March 29th and Serbia and Montenegro on April 2nd.

Announcing his selection on Monday, Hughes included West Bromwich Albion midfielder Andy Johnson, Reading defender Adrian Williams, and Cardiff City defenders Rhys Weston and Danny Gabbidon, even though none are currently fit.