Football’s loss is proving to be rugby’s gain in the case of Alex Mann. The Cardiff flanker has been the United Rugby Championship’s top tackler this season but he spent three years on the books of Cardiff City as a teenage centre-half before opting to focus on the oval ball rather than the round one.

Premier League clubs must use their record-breaking television revenues to make matchday attendance more affordable for fans, the Football Supporters’ Association has said. The league announced domestic media rights sales worth £6.7billion on Monday for the four seasons starting in 2025-26, with the live rights increasing in value by four per cent within that to £6.406bn compared to the current cycle.

Wales will benefit from the growing pains that have come with five straight defeats in the Women’s Nations League qualifiers, according to captain Sophie Ingle. Manager Gemma Grainger’s team finish their campaign against Germany in Swansea on Tuesday night – looking to prevent a whitewash of half a dozen losses.

Swansea City chairman Andy Coleman has admitted the club got it horribly wrong in appointing Michael Duff, who they sacked as manager late on Monday night. Leam Richardson, Nathan Jones and Osian Roberts lead the early betting with Welsh bookmaker DragonBet as the Swans prepare to replace Duff after a run of just one victory in his last eight matches.

Rob Page has called on his Wales team to give their supporters the chance to enjoy the Euro 2024 experience. Wales are still two wins away from qualification but now know that if they can make it to the tournament they face mouthwatering matches against the Netherlands, Austria and France in Group D.

Michael Duff insists the fact that his Swansea City players scored a 94th minute equaliser against Huddersfield proves they “have not downed tools”. It may appear as a straw being clutched, but without Charlie Patino’s injury-time leveller to earn a 1-1 Championship draw with their fellow strugglers, it would have been much worse for the Swans.

Russell Martin insists he has no regrets about his post-match celebrations that riled some Cardiff City fans. Martin stuck four fingers in the air in the direction of travelling Bluebirds supporters after his Southampton team had beaten Cardiff 2-0 at St. Mary’s.

Gemma Grainger has called for “some perspective” after a fifth straight defeat for Wales in the UEFA Women’s Nations League Group A3 saw then relegated to League B. The Wales manager watched her team slide to a 2-1 home defeat to Iceland at the Cardiff City Stadium which made it a whitewashed campaign for the hosts. Wales have been competing at the top level, but their limitations have been exposed even though most of their matches have been competitive.

Yannick Bolasie insists he is excited to make his home debut for Swansea City after the former Everton and Crystal Palace winger made his first appearance off the bench in midweek at Elland Road. The 34-year-old signed for the Swans on a short-term deal earlier this week and says: “I am looking forward to Saturday, for any team these home games are important.

Callum Robinson insists he took no offence, but plenty of advice, after being criticised by his Cardiff City manager, Erol Bulut. Republic of Ireland striker Robinson was told by Bulut he needed to work harder defensively after he was left out of the starting line-up earlier in the season.

Wales have enlisted the support of former manager Chris Coleman to help them avoid relegation from the Women’s Nations League. Coleman memorably led Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and spoke to boss Gemma Grainger and her squad before Friday’s relegation decider against Iceland in Cardiff.

Michael Duff admitted Swansea City were undone by “Premier League quality” they were unable to match as they fell to a second defeat in three matches at Leeds United. Duff insisted he was pleased by his team’s overall performance but claimed the difference between the sides was illustrated by the goals – two of which were scored by former Swans players Joel Piroe and Daniel James, with the other from Georginio Rutter – in a 3-1 defeat.

Former Cardiff City forward Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes aspiring black managers are not taking their coaching badges because they do not believe they are given ‘a fair chance’. The ex-Netherlands international has reunited with former Middlesbrough team-mate Gareth Southgate earlier this year when he joined the England boss’ staff in March ahead of the Euro 2024 qualification campaign.

Erol Bulut has jumped to the defence of Cardiff City’s Arsenal loanee Alex Runarsson and claimed he was not at fault for the goal that gave West Brom victory over the Bluebirds. Bulut watched his team fail to seize the chance to move into the play-off spots as they lost 1-0 at home to the Baggies on Tuesday night.

Steve Cooper has joined the growing army of managers who want a VAR re-boot after claiming it is creating “animosity inside stadia”. The Nottingham Forest boss – one of two Welsh managers currently working in the Premier League – blamed the VAR system for poisoning the atmosphere after a stormy clash last weekend in his club’s 3-2 home defeat to Brighton.

Swansea City boss Michael Duff says he is hopeful of signing free agent Yannick Bolasie on a short-term deal. The former Everton and Crystal Palace winger, 34, has trained with the club this week and could join ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Leeds.

Erol Bulut has hailed Cardiff City’s team ethic after they climbed to seventh place in the Championship table with a dramatic win at Preston North End. The Bluebirds boss believes the 2-1 victory – won with two goals deep into stoppage time – can prove more significant than merely closing the gap to the play-offs to just a single point.”It’s a very important win for us here today,” said Bulut.

Newport County manager Graham Coughlan has ordered his team to become more consistent and build on their best result of the season. County earned high praise from their boss after stunning League Two leader Stockport County, 2-1, at Rodney Parade to lift themselves into mid-table. Not only was it Newport’s first win in four games, but it denied Stockport the chance to set a new record in the fourth tier of 13 successive victories.

Josh Bowler is determined to prove there is a healthy life beyond the Premier League waiting room. Two Premier League clubs have forked out £3.8m for the services of Bowler, yet the Cardiff City loanee has yet to play a first team game in the top-flight for either club.

Poland manager Michal Probierz said he is working on his side’s mindset after a disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying campaign that could now end with a shootout against Wales. “The meeting between Wales and Finland promises to be interesting. We haven’t watched these teams yet, but we know that Wales are playing very well. But we definitely have a chance to qualify for the championships,” Probierz said.