In conversations with residents, business owners and campaigners in Makerfield, the BBC found a mixed mood.
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Facing a seismic by-election, the people of Makerfield tell us what matters to them
London Stadium and West Ham women's team not aware of David Sullivan contact ban
The owner of West Ham United’s home has raised concerns it was not told about safeguarding restrictions.
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'Mum was killing me': England's Declan Rice on sunburn for his World Cup photoshoot
The Arsenal midfielder admits he was a touch pink in pre-tournament photos as players try to adjust to scorching conditions.
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Shaun Edwards: Defence coach in discussion over France exit
Shaun Edwards’ departure from France’s national team is being negotiated, with the fabled defence coach set to be without a role a year out from the Rugby World Cup.
The 59-year-old’s exit is complicated by the 18 months remaining on his contract and France’s desire to protect confidentiality around tactics.
France have won the Six Nations three times during Edwards’ stint, but they conceded more tries than any other team apart from bottom side Wales en route to the 2026 title.
Edwards has been absent from France’s training camps since the tournament, while relations between the Wigan and Great Britain rugby league legend and head coach Fabien Galthie have been strained in the past.
Edwards, who spent a successful 12 years with Wales and won four English titles and two Champions Cups while on Wasps’ staff, said in March that he was interested in coaching in the Rugby Championship, the southern hemisphere tournament contested by South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.
With a little more than a year to go before Australia 2027, that possibility will have raised concerns in the FFR (French Rugby Federation).
Following France’s quarter-final exit on home soil at the last Rugby World Cup, it emerged that South Africa’s coaches had decoded one of their tactical calls, external before a 29-28 win.
Unions can be fiercely protective of the ‘intellectual property’ around their flagship teams.
England initially held defence coach Felix Jones, who had picked up on the French forwards’ pick-and-go call via YouTube footage while working on the ‘Boks’ World Cup campaign, to a 12-month notice period after he resigned in August 2024.
Non-compete clauses, preventing coaches taking on a job with a rival team for a set amount of time, are also common.
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Ben Stokes: England cricket may consider alcohol ban after nightclub incident, says Rob Key
Stokes and Atkinson are the subject of an investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and have been made unavailable for at least the second Test, which begins on 17 June, pending the results of the inquiry.
In a statement released on Monday, the ECB revealed the pair had broken the curfew. It later emerged that 35-year-old Stokes and Atkinson, 28, were present when a member of the England security staff was struck by Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa. The member of security was left bloodied and required medical attention.
Key confirmed the curfew is in place throughout the series against New Zealand and also revealed Atkinson claimed not to know it was in operation when the first Test concluded on Sunday.
Asked by BBC Sport if he felt Stokes could resign the captaincy and retire from playing, Key said: “He has not intimated that to me.”
On whether Stokes will play for England again, Key responded: “I don’t see why not.”
But on if Stokes will resume the captaincy, a position he has held since 2022, Key offered no guarantees.
“There are a lot of things to happen before then,” said Key. “We’ve got to run the investigation, find out what happened exactly. We’re in the midst of that at the moment. No decisions will be made until after that.”
Pressed on the subject, Key replied: “We just have to let this play out. No decisions have been made on our side.
“We’ve not given him an ultimatum, we’re just speaking to him all the time to make sure that he is alright. It’s obviously been a traumatic time for him over the last few days. When things are like that you don’t want to make any decisions. Time is our ally in this.”
Harry Brook is Stokes’ vice-captain in the Test team, yet the captaincy has been passed to Joe Root for the second Test beginning on Wednesday.
Brook, 27, was involved in a nightclub controversy of his own when he was punched by a bouncer in Wellington in October, the night before leading England in a one-day international against New Zealand.
And although Key said there were “many reasons” why Brook had not been chosen to skipper in the second Test, the former Kent batter admitted it would have been “pretty hard” to make Brook captain considering what happened in Wellington.
“That would be one of them,” said Key, when asked if Wellington was a reason for Brook not to be elevated to Test captain. “That’s not the main reason, that’s for sure.
“I just don’t feel it is the right time. That’s a decision we came to. The Test captaincy is a massive job, even in an interim basis, especially going into this next Test match and everything Harry would have to deal with.”
The scrutiny of England’s off-field activities during the winter was compounded by some dreadful performances on the field in a 4-1 Ashes series defeat.
The ECB conducted a review into the tour of Australia, and opted to keep Key, Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum in their posts.
World Cup 2026: The meteoric rise of Scotland’s John McGinn
Together with Scott Allan and Dylan McGeouch, Lennon’s Hibs midfield became one of the most formidable in the country after their promotion back to the top flight.
McGinn was the shining star, though.
“Some of the games there would be boys on his shoulders trying to get the ball off him and he would never lose it,” his former team-mate Allan tells BBC Scotland.
“I was expecting him to be all action and a wee bit loose with the ball, but I was most surprised about how good he was technically.
“That’s not mentioned enough, but that’s because you always see his fight and drive.”
In post-match father-son debriefs, Allan’s dad had no problem letting his boy know he had underperformed.
With McGinn, however, it was different, mainly because it rarely happened.
“My dad would always say to me: ‘John can’t have a bad game, he’s always involved’,” Allan recalls.
“And the way he uses his bum to protect the ball… I show my own son that when he’s playing football. It’s such a bizarre thing to say, but it’s such a crucial tool.”
That ability to repel opposition players has become a trademark move.
His physique had been questioned and he has conceded he is “no stick man” and “will never be ripped to shreds”.
He just wanted to be noticed for using his body “in a unique way” – and Villa did, paying £2.75m for his services as Celtic failed to stump up the cash.
That now looks a colossal misstep from the Scottish champions, given the bargain McGinn has proved to be south of the border.
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The public sale is also expected to make Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire.
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World Cup 2026: Who has played the most minutes heading into the tournament?
France must battle with both heat and fatigue if they are to win the World Cup for a third time.
Didier Deschamps’ squad have been in action more than any of the leading nations, with 1,341 matches totalling 98,895 minutes.
Crystal Palace central defender Maxence Lacroix has the most starts (58) and minutes (5,009) of the France players, but the 26-year-old is only expected to be a squad pick for Les Bleus.
Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise (65), coincidentally a former Palace player, has made the most appearances but by coming off the bench 12 times he is second on minutes played (4,942).
Olise is one of 11 France players who featured at the Club World Cup. Portugal also had 11 with only Germany, on 12, having more in action in the United States last summer.
In the squad top 10 we find Portugal in second, with 1,299 matches and 96,405 minutes.
Roberto Martinez’s squad would have been closer to the top had Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot seen more cup action with Manchester United. The Red Devils failed to quality for Europe and played only one match in both the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
Paris St-Germain midfielder Vitinha played the most games (66) in reaching the final of the Club World Cup and winning the Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo started all 44 matches he played for Al Nassr and Portugal.
England are third, with Thomas Tuchel’s men having played more games (1,304) than Portugal but made fewer starts (1,051 to 1,092).
The workload on Harry Kane could be a concern with the captain – who is 33 next month – playing 63 games for Bayern Munich.
Morgan Rogers is the most played, featuring 64 times across 5,037 minutes for Aston Villa and England.
England have the most players (seven) to make 50 or more starts, followed by Belgium, Germany and Portugal (six).
For Germany, Bayern centre-back Jonathan Tah has played the most minutes (4,923) of Julian Nagelsmann’s squad.
'I haven't left my house, I'm scared' says Mean Girls actor as Belfast shows cancelled over violence
The Mean Girls musical’s run in Belfast is cancelled following disorder in the city.
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