Russell Slade has been named as new manager of League One strugglers Coventry City. The ex-Cardiff City boss takes over with the Sky Blues in 23rd spot and two points from safety.

Newport County have been warned Plymouth Argyle plan to win ugly in their FA Cup clash – because of the pretty sorry state of the Rodney Parade pitch. County host their opponents in Wednesday night’s replay with the huge prize at stake of a third round trip to Liverpool.

Former Wales lock Andrew Coombs has voiced his “disgust” with the Newport Gwent Dragons after claiming they have ripped up his medical insurance policy. The former Dragons captain was forced to retire from rugby last summer following his failure to overcome a serious knee injury.

Goalie Ben Bowns has paid tribute to the Cardiff Devils defenceman working to protect him in the chase for Elite League honours. Devils are clear at the top and are hot favourites to qualify for the Challenge Cup semi-finals – and Bowns thanks his D-men.

Geraint Thomas admitted his confidence got knocked this year after he dropped too much weight, too quickly. The Cardiff-born racer was expected to be Team Sky’s Plan B at the Tour de France after his victory in Paris-Nice.

Scottish international David Goodwillie, a former Cardiff City target, looks a potent threat to Newport County hopes of securing an FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool at Anfield. Goodwillie will lead Plymouth Argyle’s attack in their second round replay against the Exiles at Rodney Parade on Wednesday (7.30pm).

Craig Bellamy took charge of Cardiff City’s under-23 development team and there were signs that he has blossoming talent to work with. The Bluebirds won 3-1 thanks to goals from Semi Ajayi, MacAuley Southam and Mark Harris with Bellamy, their newly-appointed player development manager, looking on thoughtfully from the technical area.

The halfway house is in sight in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League, when top and bottom halves of the table go their separate ways. We examine the crucial games ahead with Matthew Burgess, of Inside The Welsh Premier League. Time is running out before the Welsh Premier League splits in January to leave the top-six thrashing it out to contest the automatic European places, whilst the bottom-half of the table scrap for survival and look to enter the play-offs through via the back door of finishing in seventh-place.

Dean Keates has warned that Wrexham have been dragged into a relegation fight after slumping to a third straight defeat. The Dragons are eight points outside the National League drop zone after the 1-0 defeat at Sutton.

Scott Williams insists his Scarlets team have given themselves an outside chance of making the knockout stages of the European Champions Cup. The Wales centre scored the only try of the match before the region clung on to beat three-times champions Toulon, 22-21 on Sunday.

Nottingham Panthers 5, Cardiff Devils 2 Panthers coach Corey Neilson paid tribute to Cardiff Devils after his team sent their Welsh visitors crashing to defeat at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham.

Welshman Josh Yorwerth led the way in Crawley Town’s victory against Newport County in League Two. Bridgend-born centre-half Yorwerth, a former Cardiff City youth player, was man of the match and scored Crawley’s second goal.

Merthyr Town 3, St Neots Town 0 Merthyr Town stepped up their Southern League Premier Division play-offs challenge thanks to a comfortable home win against struggling St Neots Town.

Neil Warnock can’t wait for the year to change to 2017. The Bluebirds manager has two Championship fixtures left, trips to Brentford and Brighton, before he can welcome in the New Year with open arms.

Cardiff Devils 3, Sheffield Steelers 2 Cardiff Devils earned a fifth successive Elite League win against bitter rivals Steelers, helped by enormous fortune for their first goal.

Warren Gatland has denied reports he will quit his Wales job and return to New Zealand after the Lions tour. Gatland has been briefly quoted in New Zealand media claiming he knew nothing of a Daily Mail story which said he would leave his Wales post next summer – two years before his current contract expires – in order to spend more time with his family.

Bob Bradley insists he will not quit the fight after Swansea City slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Middlesbrough. The Swans are now only off the bottom of the Premier League on goal difference from Hull.

Yorkshireman Neil Warnock faces one of his former clubs when Barnsley visit Cardiff City Stadium for a Championship fixture this weekend. Winger Warnock played for the Tykes 40 years ago, scoring 10 goals in 57 appearances.

Striker Rhys Healey looks set to leave Newport County in January – and is likely to head North to Carlisle United or to the South coast and Plymouth Argyle. They are the leading clubs League Two and both have expressed interest in signing Manchester-born Healey, who was playing Welsh Premier League football for Connahs Quay Nomads when the Bluebirds signed him. Cardiff manager Neil Warnock doesn’t feel Healey, 22, is ready for the Championship yet, but does

Merthyr Town have the chance to step up their Evo-Stik Southern League promotion chance when they play struggling St Neots Town at Penydarren Park on Saturday (3pm). This is the third of five successive Premier Division home fixtures for the Martyrs, who are fifth in the table and will climb one place with a home win.