Sportsday - 18 January 2013 news as it happened

Good morning and welcome to Sportsday Live. We will bring you all the reaction to Lance Armstrong's television interview with Oprah Winfrey, the latest transfer news and the breaking news from the world of sport. But we begin with what has been happening overnight and bring you the top stories from the BBC Sport website.

The big story overnight concerns former cyclist Lance Armstrong, who has ended years of denials by admitting he used performance-enhancing drugs during all seven of his Tour de France wins.

The 41-year-old cyclist confessed during his interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey in front of a worldwide television audience.

"I view this situation as one big lie I repeated a lot of times," he said. "I made those decisions, they were my mistake and I'm here to say sorry."

During the interview, broadcast on prime time television in the United States and across the world on Winfrey's website, Armstrong revealed that he took performance-enhancing drugs in each of his Tour wins from 1999-2005.

He also said that doping was "part of the process required to win the Tour".

Armstrong also said that he did not feel he was cheating at the time and viewed it as a "level playing field".

The American said that he did not fear getting caught, that "all the fault and blame" should lie with him and that he was a bully who "turned on" people he did not like.

In addition, Armstrong told Winfrey that his fight against testicular cancer in the mid-1990s gave him a "win-at-all costs" attitude.

And he said that he would now co-operate with official inquiries into doping in cycling.

British cyclist Nicole Cooke, an Olympic road race champion in Beijing in 2008, reacts angrily to Armstrong's confession of cheating.

She tells BBC Radio 5 live: "Lance Armstrong was living in his own horrible world. He's got no morals and he's a disgusting human being."

More of Cooke's reaction to Armstrong's confession. She tells Radio 5 live: "He admitted to taking drugs but he hasn't totally uncovered what was going on and he didn't want to get into naming names.

"There's still also the question of how deep was that corruption that surrounded Lance Armstrong that supported him and enabled him to get through testing. There are still so many questions to be asked and answered."

Cooke argues that Armstrong's cheating denied other riders a chance of success.

She tells BBC Radio 5 live: "The sad thing is there were clean riders who had livelihoods and careers stolen from them by Lance and we're probably not going to see those people vindicated in any way through this."

Today's race meeting at Chepstow is abandoned because of snow.

There are also 0800 GMT inspections at both Lingfield and Wolverhampton.

Britain's Heather Watson is out of the Australian Open after losing 6-3 6-1 to Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

In the men's singles, world number one Novak Djokovic beat Radek Stepanek 6-4 6-3 7-5.

You can follow all the latest action from Melbourne live on the BBC Sport website.

Fresh from his win over Radek Stepanek, Novak Djokovic has just been quizzed about his feelings on Lance Armstrong.

"I think it's a disgrace for the sport to have an athlete like this. He cheated the sport. He cheated many people around the world with his career, with his life story.

"I think they should take all his titles away because it's not fair towards any sportsman, any athlete. It's just not the way to be successful. So I think he should suffer for his lies all these years."

Lance Armstrong was asked by Oprah Winfrey if he felt it was humanly possible to win the Tour de France seven times without doping.

"Not in that generation," he said. "I didn't invent the culture, but I didn't try to stop the culture."

A selected transcript of the interview is available on the BBC Sport website.

The Sunday Times is suing Armstrong for £1m over a libel payment to him in 2004 after the newspaper alleged he had cheated.

David Walsh, the paper's chief sports writer, tells BBC Breakfast: "My feeling is that the interview was fine as far as it went, but it didn't go nearly far enough."

Walsh has also taken to Twitter to give his reaction to Armstrong's television confession.

"The more I think about the interview, the more conscious I become of the evasions and non-answers. His truth will come dropping slowly."

If you missed the Armstrong interview, it will be repeated in the UK on the Discovery channel tonight at 2000 GMT.

Betsy Andreu, whose husband Frankie was a team-mate of Armstrong, has told CNN overnight of her anger following the Oprah Winfrey interview.

Betsy has maintained that Armstrong admitted in an Indiana hospital room in 1996 that he had used performance-enhancing drugs.

She said: "The hospital is where it all started. He's going to infuriate people who know the truth. He's still protecting people who are close to him."

David Walsh, the Sunday Times chief sports writer who has spent 13 years working to expose Armstrong as a cheat, is disappointed that Armstrong did not address Betsy Andreu's accusations in his interview.

"She's been called a liar for more than 10 years," Walsh tells BBC Breakfast. "Betsy is furious about last night's interview. She wanted him to admit she wasn't a liar. He didn't do that."

The UCI, cycling's governing body, releases a statement on Lance Armstrong's decision to admit to cheating.

Pat McQuaid, the UCI president, says: "Lance Armstrong's decision finally to confront his past is an important step forward on the long road to repairing the damage that has been caused to cycling and to restoring confidence in the sport."

UCI president McQuaid's statement continues: "It was disturbing to watch him [Armstrong] describe a litany of offences including, among others, doping throughout his career, leading a team that doped, bullying, consistently lying to everyone and producing a backdated medical prescription to justify a test result."

McQuaid adds that cycling is better placed to fight doping than it was when Armstrong was winning the Tour de France, adding: "Lance Armstrong also rightly said that cycling is a completely different sport today than it was 10 years ago.

"In particular the UCI's introduction of the biological passport in 2008 - the first sports federation to do so - has made a real difference in the fight against doping."

The statement from UCI president McQuaid concludes: "Finally, we note that Lance Armstrong expressed a wish to participate in a truth and reconciliation process, which we would welcome."

Brian Cookson, president of British Cycling, tells BBC Radio 5 live of his disbelief that Armstrong was able to get away with doping for so long.

He says: "I don't know whether there was complicity or conspiracy. It doesn't look promising - [there was] some degree of looking the other way and that's being generous to the people at the time. There is more to come. Oprah isn't doing too bad a job, she's been reasonably persistent, let's see what comes out in the second half."

The US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada), which labelled Armstrong a "serial cheat" in a damning report published last October, urges the former cyclist to explain the full extent of his doping in court.

Usada chief executive Travis Tygart says: "If he's sincere in his desire to correct past mistakes, he will testify under oath about the full extent of his doping activities."

British former cyclist Tony Doyle, who claimed in August that Armstrong had been the victim of a witch hunt, tells BBC Radio 5 live of his surprise at the American's confession.

Doyle says: "No one is more amazed or staggered with the revelations that have come out. I completely bought into the Lance Armstrong story, his story on how he overcame the cancer, and everything that went with that. I got to know Lance fairly well, and I'm amazed by the extent of deceit that's been going on."

More from Tony Doyle, who got to know Armstrong well on the Tour de France circuit: "I would have trouble looking him in the face because I have been completely flabbergasted by the web of lies and how he has bullied people.

"He was always very tough and very difficult. He was so focused on training, his preparation and winning and he was never the easiest person to deal with, but how he has abused friendships and completely destroyed people, I am completely staggered."

A brief recap for those of you who are catching up: former cyclist Lance Armstrong has ended years of denials by confessing in a television interview with Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs during all seven of his Tour de France wins.

You can see his confession on the BBC website.

There will be further inspections at 1000 GMT to judge whether race meetings at Lingfield and Wolverhampton can go ahead.

Today's meeting at Chepstow has already been abandoned because of snow.

Brian Cookson, president of British Cycling, tells BBC Breakfast that Lance Armstrong's apology has not gone far enough.

"I don't think he's sorry. I think he's just sorry he got caught."

Armstrong said during the interview that he hasn't doped since 2005, and didn't do so during his cycling comeback between 2008 and 2011.

But World Anti-Doping Agency chief executive John Fahey insists chemical evidence shows Armstrong did dope during his comeback years.

"The evidence from Usada (the US Anti-Doping Agency] is that Armstrong's blood tests show variations in his blood that show with absolute certainty he was doping after 2005," Fahey tells The Daily Telegraph. "Believe Usada or believe Armstrong? I know who to believe."

More from Fahey on Armstrong: "It struck me that the statute of limitations under US law might be relevant and Armstrong would not want to admit to anything in regards to his comeback that might be picked up under the US criminal code.

"This bloke is a cheat and did my view of him change after watching the interview? No."

The DR Congo Football Federation denies media reports that coach Claude LeRoy has quit or been sacked.

However, the team's media officer, Modeste Nzila, admits there is tension between LeRoy and the federation.

Nzila insists LeRoy is still in charge and no official decision has been made about the coach's future.

DR Congo are due to kick-off their Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Ghana on Saturday in Port Elizabeth.

Lance Armstrong's former masseuse Emma O'Reilly rejects his apology after he admitted bullying her for speaking out about his cheating.

O'Reilly, who was sued by Armstrong after she publicly denounced his use of performance-enhancing drugs, tells ITV's Daybreak that his confession is "old news" and that his apology is "not at all" enough.

She adds: "I had only ever spoken about it because I hated seeing what some of the riders were going through, because not all the riders were as comfortable with cheating as Lance was."

Asked if she felt vindicated by Armstrong's confession, O'Reilly says: "All of it has never felt like vindication - I can never think of another word to use, but I hate that word because it suggests almost that there was some vindictiveness."

David Walsh, the Sunday Times chief sports writer who first raised questions about Armstrong and cheating, criticises the former cyclist's conduct towards O'Reilly.

He says: "I was pleased Oprah reminded him he had called Emma O'Reilly a whore. And pleased he confirmed Emma's account of cover-up of 1999 positive.

"Lest anyone forget, he did this interview because his reputation/brand was in the gutter. Only time will tell how much it helps.

"When he said he was behaving like a jerk during those years, I thought 'Lance, I could have told you that back then'."

Cycling journalist Chris Sidwells, whose uncle Tom Simpson was found with amphetamines in his system after his death during the 1967 Tour de France, tells BBC Radio 5 live he is unconvinced by Lance Armstrong's confession and apology.

Sidwells says: "There has been doping in cycling a long time, but it's wrong to say it is a level playing field because it is saying anyone who has ever won anything has doped."

Maria Sharapova beats Venus Williams 6-1 6-3 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.

You can follow the action in Melbourne live on the BBC Sport website.

Michele Verroken, the former director of ethics and anti-doping at UK Sport, tells BBC Radio 5 live that she is "appalled" by Armstrong's cheating.

She says: "The choice to go before the US population was really another strategy to garner sympathy,

"I just felt appalled for all those athletes who've continued to compete drug free, yet here we have the focus and attention on Lance Armstrong."

Verroken adds: "We to draw a line, move forward and say this isn't how we want our athletes to be. We need to reinforce sport is about being drug-free."

The Sunday Times is suing Lance Armstrong for £1m over a libel payment to him in 2004 after the newspaper alleged he had cheated.

David Walsh, the paper's chief sports writer, tells BBC Radio 5 live that the disgraced former cyclist should pay back the money.

"He should pay that now, no questions," Walsh says. "The Sunday Times were the ones asking the right questions, but UK libel laws said we can't ask questions of a great man and had to prove he was a doper."

Walsh adds: "We were told we had to wait for a positive test - but what if he hid it? Armstrong sued in London because he knew he would win. He won because he instructed his lawyers to say he would never dope."

Former Celtic player and coach Sean Fallon has died at the age of 90.

Fallon made more than 250 appearances for Celtic during the 1950s and was assistant manager to Jock Stein between 1962 and 1975, helping the club to win the 1967 European Cup.

Maria Sharapova feels she could have performed better in her 6-1 6-3 win over Venus Williams in the third round of the Australia Open.

Sharapova says: "I really wanted this victory. I was 5-1 up (in the second set) and made a couple more errors than I would have liked so I was very pleased to have served it out."

Follow the action in Melbourne live on the BBC Sport website.

Cycling journalist Chris Sidwells tells BBC Radio 5 live it is hard to judge whether Lance Armstrong is still a good athlete in the wake of his cheating admission to Oprah Winfrey.

Sidwells says: "Because of the drugs, we don't know. His technique and pedalling style - the fast pedalling style he had - might have been just because he could get more oxygen to his muscles. He has destroyed what he did."

Accrington's League Two match against AFC Wimbledon tomorrow has been postponed because of the bad weather.

More from World Anti-Doping Agency chief executive John Fahey, who tells Fox News Australia that Lance Armstrong's confession was "nothing new".

"All he did was affirm what the United States Anti-Doping Agency had put out in a very substantial and irrefutable judgement some months ago - that this man had taken all sorts of substances for performance purposes," says Fahey.

"He denied that until this point, but there was little doubt he was doing that, and all he did was confirm that today in a very controlled manner."

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes will not renew his contract with the Catalan club according to the player's representatives.

The 31-year-old, who made his debut for Barcelona over a decade ago, is under contract until June 2014.

Former Tour de France stage winner Stuart O'Grady says he feels deceived by former opponent Lance Armstrong's admission of using performance-enhancing drugs.

"Lance deceived everybody on the planet, us included," says the Australian. who now rides for the Greenedge Orica team.

"So obviously we all wanted to believe also he was winning the Tours clean. We are all athletes suffering through the mountains and you'd like to think that he was just training harder and working harder than we all were.

"But now it's all come out [I'm] deceived, annoyed, frustrated. It'll be interesting to see what he comes out in the second part and says, but I don't think anything is going to take that away."

Mark McGhee will be appointed as the new assistant coach to Scotland manager Gordon Strachan.

The pair became friends during their Aberdeen careers before both moved into management.

Strachan, 55, was appointed manager of the national side earlier this week.

More games fall foul of the weather, with Bury v Stevenage, Crawley Town v Carlisle, Scunthorpe v Portsmouth, Rochdale v Gillingham and Southend v Plymouth the latest fixtures to be postponed.

Norwich are believed to have made a formal bid for Swansea striker Danny Graham, according to PA Sport.

Sunderland made an offer for the 27-year-old on Thursday, believed to be in excess of £4m, and the Canaries are understood to have followed suit.

Graham has scored four goals in his last five appearances for Swansea.

Theo Walcott is on the verge of ending speculation about his future by signing a new long-term contract with Arsenal, reports BBC Sport's David Ornstein.

The 23-year-old England forward, who is into the final six months of his current deal, rejected a five-year offer worth £75,000 a week in August.

But agreements have now been reached between Arsenal and their top scorer, who could put pen to paper on Friday if legal formalities can be completed.

British number one Andy Murray says it is nice to see so many British players at the Australian Open.

Both Heather Watson and Laura Robson progressed into round three, with Robson still to play her match against Sloane Stephens, while Watson's run ended at the hands of Agnieszka Radwanska.

"I think it's nice to have more British players around the tournament," says Murray. "I haven't spent that much time with the women but I obviously see them around, in the gym, whatnot."

Murray will meet Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis in the third round.

Crewe v MK Dons is yet another casualty of the inclement weather, with the League One fixture the latest to be postponed.

Eight games have been called off so far, with pitch inspections taking place throughout the day.

League One postponed fixtures: Scunthorpe v Portsmouth, Crawley v Carlisle, Bury v Stevenage, Hartlepool v Colchester, Crewe v MK Dons.

League Two postponed fixtures: Accrington v AFC Wimbledon, Rochdale v Gillingham, Southend v Plymouth.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says midfielder Jack Rodwell could return from injury against Fulham this weekend.

"I am happy because I am sure Jack will be an important player for us in the future, because he is young," says Mancini, who lost Rodwell to injury in October.

He adds: "If we have solved his problem - his hamstring injuries have been often - he will be an important player.

"Tomorrow he will be ready, but probably for 20 minutes, no more."

Arsenal will have defender Laurent Koscielny back from suspension for Sunday's Premier League game at Chelsea.

Injured midfield duo Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky remain sidelined, while Gervinho is away at the African Nations Cup with Ivory Coast.

Eoin Morgan believes England can learn from their previous one-day tour of India as they look to turn around the current series in Ranchi on Saturday.

"The only blip we have had since Alastair (Cook) took over as captain was the last trip we had here and we learnt a lot of lessons from that," says Morgan.

"When we were here last we went away from our principles of taking the emotion out of that game and concentrating on what we do best: concentrating on us as a team and our strengths and not getting distracted by other things."

The current five-match series is level at 1-1 after a 127-run victory for India in the second one-day international.

There is no horse racing in Britain today as Lingfield joins Chepstow, Musselburgh and Wolverhampton in being called off because of snow.

West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke will check on the fitness of a trio of players before finalising his side for Saturday's clash with Aston Villa at the Hawthorns.

Claudio Yacob, Shane Long and Marc-Antoine Fortune will be assessed to see if they are ready to return after recent spells on the sidelines.

But right-back Steven Reid will definitely miss the game as a precaution after suffering a knock on the bone he fractured in his leg against Arsenal last month.

Southampton first team manager Mauricio Pochettino: "This is the kind of opportunity that any coach would relish. Southampton is a club with great heritage, and an even more exciting future. There is a clear vision to take the club to a new era of sustained success in the Premier League, and beyond, which I'm delighted to be part of."

Stephen Kelly looks set to make his Reading debut in Saturday's's Premier League game at Newcastle.

Midfielder Hope Akpan could also start his first match for the Royals following his move from Crawley.

Jason Roberts and goalkeeper Alex McCarthy are out but Mikele Leigertwood is available.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew could welcome back Steven Taylor for their Premier League match against Reading.

Taylor has returned to training after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in November and could feature, while striker Shola Ameobi is available after he missed last weekend's goalless draw with Norwich through suspension.

Fabricio Coloccini looks set to continue in defence, but Hatem Ben Arfa remains sidelined.

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge looks set to make his home debut against Norwich after two goals in as many games since his £12m transfer from Chelsea.

Jose Enrique is still not fully fit after a hamstring problem, so Glen Johnson will continue to deputise at left-back, while Jordan Henderson could challenge for Joe Allen's place in midfield.

Saturday's race meeting at Ascot is abandoned due to snow. The news follows all of today's race programme being called off due to bad weather.

Fulham manager Martin Jol confirms Dimitar Berbatov will return for the clash with champions Manchester City on Saturday after the Bulgarian was rested for Tuesday's FA Cup third round replay win over Blackpool.

Steve Sidwell is also available after recovering from a hamstring problem but both Mahamadou Diarra and Kerim Frei are missing.

Sir Chris Hoy says cycling can move on following Lance Armstrong's confession he doped during every one of his seven Tour de France wins.

"I think there's nothing new seen today in the news," says Hoy. Everyone expected him to come out and tell the truth. You've got to remember that its one man, that's one part of the sport, it's not the whole sport."

"Majority of cyclists - huge majority of cyclists - out there are clean. And we're showing that you can win gold medals and can be clean and be proud of your sport and show that not all cyclists like Lance Armstrong."

Former Southampton manager, and vice president of the League Managers Association, Lawrie McMenemy, tells Radio 5 live: "I am shocked to be fair. The lad has done a terrific job, promotions two years running, last year [having] a whole season in the top two positions, which is unheard of."

Rory McIlroy suffers a difficult start to his 2013 campaign after missing the cut in the Abu Dhabi Championship.

After a three-over-par 75 in the opening round, he fired the same score in the second round to leave him on six-over-par, four shots adrift of the cut.

Justin Rose goes into day three with a one-shot lead on eight under, while three birdies on the final three holes saw Tiger Woods make the cut on one over.

Wigan should revert to a more familiar line-up for their Premier League game with Sunderland after making nine changes in the FA Cup in midweek.

But manager Roberto Martinez has issues in defence with Antolin Alcaraz training but not yet match-fit, while Ivan Ramis is ruled out for the season.

Roger Espinoza and Angelo Henriquez are pushing for places but Adrian Lopez, Ben Watson, Albert Crusat and Ryo Miyaichi are still out.

Former Southampton manager, and vice president of the League Managers Association, Lawrie McMenemy speaking to Radio 5 live: "I said right from the start fourth bottom in the first season in the Premier League is success, so long term ambition...I don't know what that means, I mean the ambition this year is to stay in the Premier League, they look set for that, not many teams will go to Chelsea and get a draw."

Former Southampton manager, and vice president of the League Managers Association, Lawrie McMenemy on new Saints manager Mauricio Pochettino: "What does he know about our game? What does know about the Premier League? What does he know about the dressing room? Does he speak English?

"He hasn't got that long to get everything sorted out, the games come thick and fast. Everton at home isn't easy and the next game is - would you believe - at Old Trafford. I suppose if he wins both of them, he'd start winning supporters over, but in the meantime supporters will be equally shocked, and everybody will be feeling sorry for Nigel Adkins."

Former Southampton manager, and vice president of the League Managers Association, Lawrie McMenemy on Nigel Adkins' future job prospects: "I don't think he'll have a job getting another appointment, even if it's in the Championship. He's done so well, and speaking as vice president of the League Managers Association, I think too many managers are losing their jobs too soon."

Ireland's Olympic silver medallist John Joe Nevin confirms his intention to target gold in 2016 in Rio after helping the British Lionhearts to their latest World Series of Boxing success.

Nevin, beaten by long-time rival Luke Campbell in the bantamweight final in London, initially announced his intention to turn professional after London but admitted a few weeks later it had been a mistake.

The 23-year-old tells the Press Association: "I said if I won an Olympic medal I would turn professional afterwards. When I jumped out of that ring it was still my only intention.

"But I sat down and realised I had just missed out by three points against Campbell, which is not a lot of difference when it comes to being crowned Olympic champion."

Belgian international Kevin Mirallas is not expected to be risked when Everton travel to Southampton on Monday after two months out with a hamstring injury.

The forward is reported to be back in training but, after attempting to come back last month and breaking down again, manager David Moyes will not want to rush him.

Johnny Heitinga could return after missing the last two games with a knock but Tony Hibbert and Darron Gibson remain on the sidelines.

Team GB and Team Sky head coach Shane Sutton steps down from his position to take up a part time advisory role, reports The Daily Telegraph.

"I'm working in a support role alongside Dave [Brailsford, team director] as an advisor and a troubleshooter," says Sutton. "We've worked together for a long time and we've got a good working relationship.

"If there is an issue that the team has identified or an area that needs exploring then Dave will be able to bring me in and we can take a look at it."

Theo Walcott agrees a new three-and-a-half year contract with Arsenal worth £100,000 a week, BBC Sport's David Ornstein confirms.

He is expected to sign the deal later this afternoon.

After making the cut at the Abu Dhabi Championship with a score of one over, Tiger Woods now misses it after suffering a two-shot penalty for wrongly thinking he had a free drop after his ball became entangled in weeds.

He joins Rory McIlroy in not playing the final two days in a tournament Justin Rose currently leads.

Tottenham Hotspur's Brazilian midfielder Sandro will miss the remainder of the season through injury.

A club statement reads: "Following consultation with the knee surgeon, the club can report that Sandro is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the season after surgery on his right knee earlier this week.

"The Brazil international was forced off during Saturday's game against Queens Park Rangers after injuring both his Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Lateral Meniscus."

Celtic manager Neil Lennon says he's very disappointed news of Norwich City's bid for Gary Hooper has been leaked.

The bid, way under Celtic's valuation according to Lennon, has been rejected.

Lennon spent most of this morning in discussions with the striker's representatives.

But he admitted he didn't know whether Hooper would still be at the club at the end of the January transfer window.

QPR's new signing Loic Remy will feature in tomorrow's Premier League clash at West Ham.

Junior Hoilett returns, but Esteban Granero and Armand Traore are doubtful.

Samba Diakite is at the African Nations Cup, Jose Bosingwa is out and Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora remain longer-term absentees.

Sunderland skipper Lee Cattermole has suffered a setback in his bid to return from injury.

The Black Cats' midfielder, who was used as a substitute in the midweek FA Cup third round replay defeat by Bolton following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with knee ligament damage, jarred the knee in a practice match yesterday and is likely to miss Saturday's Premier League trip to Wigan.

Manager Martin O'Neill says: "He had a bit of a setback there. We are certainly hoping it's not as long as it was before, that would be terrible. But it is a setback and I would say he would be doubtful for tomorrow."

Just to confirm, Theo Walcott has now signed his three-and-a-half-year deal as revealed by our man David Ornstein, who has been across the story from day one. It's been a drawn-out process but finally Arsenal fans can relax and David can get some sleep!

Another football fixture has been postponed. Yeovil v Preston in League One is now off joining a host of other fixtures affected by the snow. You can get the full list here.

Former professional cyclist Paul Kimmage, who is a Sunday Times colleague of journalist David Walsh and played a key part in Lance Armstrong's downfall, has been describing his disappointment regarding the TV interview. He told BBC Radio 5 live: "During the first minute I thought Oprah did terrifically well when she restricted the answers to yes and no, but after that it was downhill and by the end of it I was extremely frustrated and disappointed."

Former professional cyclist and Sunday Times journalist Paul Kimmage also said: "What is blatantly obvious here is that Lance Armstrong regrets one thing: that he was caught, nothing else. Betsy Andreu could be impoverished now, her husband could have committed suicide, David Walsh could have lost his job, I could have lost my job. Lance Armstrong would not give a damn had any of that happened."

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been giving his reaction to the shock news about Nigel Adkins's departure from Southampton. The Scot said: "It is a crazy world. It is hard to believe. There is no point saying we are surprised. It seems very unfair."

AC Milan are in talks to take Real Madrid midfielder Kaka back to the club in the current transfer window, vice-president Adriano Galliani has confirmed. He told the Gazzetta dello Sport: "Kaka? [President Silvio] Berlusconi has spoken to him today. All three of us need to agree. We are struggling to make ends meet in terms of the numbers, but we can succeed if we are a bit clever, imaginative and make some sacrifices."

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has expressed his sympathy for former City midfielder Michael Johnson. Johnson was released by the club in December and has since revealed he has been receiving treatment for mental illness. Mancini said: "Michael Johnson was a guy with a big talent and I am sad for this, sad for him. He could do everything with his talent. I am very sorry for him. I hope he can resolve all his problems."

New Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino has wasted no time in holding his first news conference. He has spoken via an interpreter and BBC Solent are Tweeting from the scene. Pochettino said: "The only thing I can say is that I have great respect for what he was doing."

More from new Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino via BBC Solent "The biggest challenge is to win the games ahead of us. That's the mentality we have to have." He also said the club are close to signing Molde defender Vegard Forren. "I think the signing of Forren is being finalised. He's a centre half for the future, he had a lot of offers."

Norwich keeper John Ruddy has revealed the extent of the injury that has kept him out of action since November. The England international said that his thigh muscle had "ripped off the bone" during the 1-1 draw against Everton eight weeks ago. The 26-year-old added that his recuperation is going well and that he hopes to be back in action by April.

More now from new Southampton Mauricio Pochettino, who has been holding a news conference. He said in English he was happy to be at the club before speaking through an interpreter. In response to questions about fans' anger regarding the dismissal of Nigel Adkins, he said: "The kindness of the supporters is one of the biggest challenges I have. Supporters are one of the biggest parts of having a club in general."

Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino added: "I'm very passionate about the Premier League. I have seen many games and it is very attractive to me. I have spoken at length with people who know the league like Jose Mourinho, who is a good friend of mine and he has told me that the best football in the world is being played here."

Kempton's meeting on Saturday is in doubt after officials called a 0730 inspection. The all-weather circuit at the Sunbury venue is currently covered in snow.

Teenager James Woodburn-Hall is taking a week off school to join London Broncos on their pre-season trip to France. The 17-year-old half-back was a late addition to coach Tony Rea's squad. Rea said: "He's not a token actually. He's genuinely at the top end of our squad so it's good to have the opportunity to look at him."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes midfielder Darren Fletcher has given himself the best possible chance of salvaging his top-flight career by undergoing surgery to cure a chronic bowel condition. "It will take him quite a while to recover but we expect him back in July," Ferguson said.

Hull City have signed Fulham keeper David Stockdale on loan.

BBC Sport's Phil Cartwright says: "Bury confirm that their loan from the Professional Footballers' Association has been repaid in full and their transfer embargo has now been lifted."

Pre-tournament favourite Judd Trump suffers a shock 6-1 defeat to Scotland's Graeme Dott in the quarter-final of the Masters at Alexandra Palace. He will face the winner of Mark Selby and Mark Williams in the semi-final on Saturday. You can watch more live action from Alexandra Palace on the BBC website right now.

BBC Sport's Francis Keogh says: "Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot, which had been due to feature Sprinter Sacre on Saturday, has been rescheduled for Cheltenham on 26 January."

Bournemouth have completed the signing of Aberdeen winger Ryan Fraser. The 18-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with the League One club after rejecting a new deal at Pittodrie.

Southampton announce the signing of Norwegian international defender Vegard Forren from Molde after the 24-year-old pulled out of a week's trial with Liverpool.

New Southampton signing Vegard Forren, who has agreed a three and a half year contract, tells the club's website: "It's a dream come true for me. Southampton is a big club in the Premier League, which is where I have always wanted to come and play football.

"When I was told of the interest from Southampton, straight away I wanted to come and talk to the chairman. We had a chat and I was very impressed. There was no doubt that this is where I wanted to be.

"The plan the Chairman has for this club is fantastic. There is a good, young squad here and the way they play fits me well, so I hope I can join the team and get some good results."

Watford manager Gianfranco Zola responding to a report in a national newspaper that he is a serious contender for the Chelsea job tells BBC Three Counties Radio: "I'm more focused on what I have to do here. My mind is completely on this job."

Great Britain speed skater Elise Christie wins the 1500m at the European Short Track Championships in Malmo, Sweden. It is the first event of three for Livingston-born Christie. Charlotte Gilmartin, 22, from Redditch came third.

Manchester United striker and Leeds Rhinos supporter Wayne Rooney adds his support to Danny McGuire ahead of his testimonial against Bradford Bulls at Headingley on Sunday.

"He has obviously looked after himself and dedicated himself to rugby league," says Rooney. "To have become the leading try scoring of all time in Super League and played for so long is incredible. I am sure he is a great example to all the younger players around the country who play the sport."

Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend has made 10 changes for their final Heineken Cup match of the season against Northampton on Saturday. Glasgow were left without a win in Europe this campaign following their 23-6 defeat by Ulster last weekend, and Townsend will utilise his squad.

Only Josh Strauss, James Eddie, Sean Maitland, Moray Low and Al Kellock retain their starting places.

Pre-tournament favourite Judd Trump after suffering a shock 6-1 defeat to Scotland's Graeme Dott in the quarter-final of the Masters at Alexandra Palace: "By the time I've got home, I will have already forgotten about it. I couldn't get going. It wasn't there. I tried my best out there but it didn't happen. It's the worst I've felt and played since breaking through."

Hearts sign Danny Wilson on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season, BBC Sport Scotland report.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is charged in relation to media comments, the Football Association announce.

The Football Association statement on West Ham manager Sam Allardyce being charged: "West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has been charged with misconduct in relation to media comments following this week's FA Cup with third round replay against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

"The charge is in relation to an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 concerning media comments which questioned the integrity of the match referee and/or match officials in general and/or implied that the match referee and/or match officials in general are motivated by bias and/or brought the game into disrepute.

"Allardyce has until Wednesday 23 January to respond to the charge."

West Bromwich Albion say "concerted efforts" are underway to ensure Saturday's West Midlands derby with Aston Villa goes ahead.

"We hired gritters to service both inside and outside the stadium yesterday and they will remain on site for the rest of today and tomorrow," says Mark Miles, Albion's head of facility operations and development.

"The under-soil heating has been on for several days, which is keeping the pitch temperature at ten degrees celcius. We are making concerted efforts to remove the heavy snowfall from in and around the stadium and this operation will continue tomorrow morning."

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova on keeper Victor Valdes rejecting the chance to renew his contract: "Victor did not ask to leave, he just said he's not renewing his contract and we have to respect that. There is never a good time for a player like Victor to say that he is leaving the club. I don't know what the ideal moment would be.

"As long as he carries on performing like he has done then I'll have no doubts about him continuing to play. I don't doubt his professionalism in the slightest."

That is it for another week of Sportsday Live. A reminder that you can follow the second part of Lance Armstrong's interview with Oprah Winfrey on the BBC Sport website's live text commentary from 0200 GMT Saturday. Have a good weekend.