Latest North East & Newcastle sports headlines & news

Kawasaki pull out

Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki have pulled out of MotoGP due to the economic downturn. Read

Gow move off after failed medical

Alan Gow's move to Wolves is off after the Rangers midfielder failed a medical at the Coca-Cola Championship club. Read

Kavanagh leaves Sunderland

Midfielder Graham Kavanagh has left Sunderland by mutual consent. Read

Bowyer's Birmingham deal

Birmingham have completed the loan signing of West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer until the end of the season. Read

Carrick issues title warning

Michael Carrick feels Barclays Premier League table-toppers Liverpool will have every reason to be afraid if Manchester United beat Chelsea on Sunday. Read

Lucas calls for vital win

Liverpool midfielder Lucas has urged his team-mates to take advantage of Sunday's meeting between their main two rivals by moving six points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League. Read

Warne dismisses England coach rumours

Shane Warne has played down suggestions he could become the next England coach. Read

Bridge admits Cole frustration

New Manchester City signing Wayne Bridge hopes to achieve with England what he failed to do with Chelsea in dislodging Ashley Cole from the left-back slot. Read

Zola determined to stave off suitors

Craig Bellamy heads a list of 'untouchables' in the West Ham squad that manager Gianfranco Zola is determined not to sell during the transfer window. Read

Ince hits out at lack of backing

Paul Ince believes he was deprived of the time he needed to succeed at Blackburn - and prove the point that a young English manager is up to the job at Premier League level. Read

Inquiry blow to Hammers sale hopes

West Ham owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's hopes of selling the club for a big profit have suffered a fresh blow after the Premier League announced a new investigation into the Carlos Tevez scandal. Read

Federer awaits cruising Murray

Andy Murray set up another meeting with Roger Federer by beating Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4 6-2 to reach the semi-finals of the Qatar Open in Doha on Thursday. Read

N'Zogbia ponders flying Magpies' nest

Newcastle winger Charles N'Zogbia has reiterated his desire to leave the club, admitting that Arsenal would be his first-choice destination. Read

ECB: 'Fall out is not our fault'

England's National Selector Geoff Miller has defended the actions of the England and Wales Cricket Board in the wake of the row that led to the departure of Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores. Read

Donington's drive gets thumbs-up

Donington Park has been given the green light to begin work on a £100million redevelopment of the circuit. Read

O'Neil bid refused by Boro

Middlesbrough have turned down a bid of £4.5million from Portsmouth for midfielder Gary O'Neil, the south coast club have announced. Read

Man Utd star Ronaldo crashes Ferrari

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo walked away uninjured after writing off his Ferrari sports car in a crash on Thursday morning. Read

Etherington completes Potters switch

Stoke have completed the signing of Matthew Etherington from West Ham and he is expected to make his debut against Liverpool on Saturday. Read

Strauss 'has KP's support'

New England Test captain Andrew Strauss insists he has the full backing of his predecessor Kevin Pietersen. Read

Boyd move is dead - McLeish

Kris Boyd's move to Birmingham from Rangers is "dead" and is unlikely to be resurrected, according to the Championship side's manager Alex McLeish. Read