Lloyd steps down

John Lloyd has resigned as Great Britain's Davis Cup captain, the Lawn Tennis Association announced on Wednesday evening.

Following Great Britain's recent defeat by Lithuania, chief executive Roger Draper asked LTA player director Steven Martens to review Great Britain's Davis Cup performance. But Lloyd opted to leave the role, leaving the position vacant ahead of the relegation play-off with Turkey in July.

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Messi brace puts Barca through

Lionel Messi staged another masterclass to power holders Barcelona into the quarter-finals of the Champions League following their 4-0 (5-1 aggregate) victory over Stuttgart.

Messi struck a brilliant opener after just 12 minutes to put Barca on track, and then played a key role as Pedro Rodriguez made it 2-0 soon after as the Catalan giants built a 3-1 aggregate lead.

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Bordeaux battle into quarter-finals

Bordeaux survived an unlikely Olympiacos fightback to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals following a 2-1 (3-1 aggregate) victory at the Stade Chaban Delmas.

Yoann Gourcuff's superb free-kick gave Bordeaux an early lead and the France midfielder saw another set-piece come back off the frame of the goal as visiting goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis struggled to cope with his delivery and there looked no way back for Olympiacos when Matt Derbyshire was sent off in the 60th minute.

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Injured guard: Terry was blameless

Security guard Steve Rowley insists he does not blame captain John Terry for the leg injuries he sustained in a car accident following Chelsea's Champions League defeat to Inter Milan.

Rowley, Chelsea's deputy security manager, issued a statement through the club in which he was quick to absolve Terry of any responsibility for the incident. The 29-year-old's Range Rover hit the club official as he left Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

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Andronikou: Storrie must take some blame

Portsmouth's administrator Andrew Andronikou claims former chief executive Peter Storrie must bear part of the blame for the crisis that has engulfed the club.

Andronikou was speaking after the Premier League confirmed a nine-point deduction as a sanction for Portsmouth going into administration, action that should guarantee relegation. Storrie, who is still acting as an advisor for the club, called the deduction "terribly unfair" but Andronikou said the former chief executive must take some responsibility for their predicament.

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Dowie targets long-term Hull stay

Iain Dowie hopes to be at Hull beyond the end of the season after being appointed manager of the Barclays Premier League strugglers.

The 45-year-old was unveiled as the successor to Phil Brown, who was sacked on Monday with the Tigers second from bottom of the league following last weekend's injury-time defeat by Arsenal.

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Johnson: Wilkinson has future

Martin Johnson insisted his decision to drop Jonny Wilkinson does not signal the beginning of the end for England's World Cup-winning fly-half.

Wilkinson has been axed for only the third time in his 12-year international career after Johnson decided to revamp his back division for Saturday's clash with Grand Slam-chasing France.

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Brown must prove fitness - Robinson

Team manager Andy Robinson confirmed Scotland flanker Kelly Brown has further tests to pass before being allowed to start Saturday's final RBS 6 Nations game in Ireland.

Brown has kept his place in the side for the trip to Dublin after recovering well from a sickening clash of heads with England wing Ugo Monye in last weekend's Calcutta Cup draw at Murrayfield.

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Zeb stars in Mother masterclass

Big Zeb laid to rest his jumping demons with a flawless performance in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival - with Master Minded well beaten.

Paul Nicholls' Master Minded was attempting to emulate Badsworth Boy by becoming only the second ever horse to win the race three years in a row.

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Olazabal to miss Masters

Next month's Masters will have Tiger Woods, but it will not have Jose Maria Olazabal.

Champion at Augusta in 1994 and 1999 - he was Europe's last winner there - the 44-year-old Spanish star is again suffering from rheumatism and his manager Sergio Gomez told Press Association Sport that he will be pulling out of the tournament this week.

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