The England football team is paying a heavy price for the commercial success of the English Premier League former England manager Graham Taylor told the BBC on Sunday. Taylor, who had an unsuccessful spell as England manager from 1990-93, said the majority of the money pouring into the clubs in the Premier League was not being spent on signing English talent but the top foreign players.

Southampton great Ron Davies, twice the leading scorer in the old First Division, has died on the eve of his 71st birthday, the club website announced on Wednesday. Davies, who played 29 times for Wales, scoring nine goals, was renowned for his heading ability and famously scored four headed goals against Manchester United at Old Trafford in August 1969. Southampton spent what was then a club record £55,000 for him, after he scored 58 goals in 113 games for second tier Norwich, as they prepared for life in the First Division in the 1966-67 season.

Crystal Palace beat Watford 1-0 after extra time in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Monday to secure a return to the Premier League for the first time in eight years. Substitute striker Kevin Phillips scored the game's only goal in stoppage time at the end of the first extra period, after Wilfried Zaha was fouled by Marco Cassetti. thw/pi

Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley will miss England's forthcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil after suffering a calf injury. Cleverley sustained the problem playing for United in their 5-5 draw at West Bromwich Albion on the final day of the Premier League campaign. England manager Roy Hodgson had hoped Cleverley would recover in time to feature in the friendlies, but the Football Association revealed on Sunday that the 23-year-old had withdrawn from the squad, just three days before Ireland visit Wembley for an end-of-season international.