EPL updates up til 26th Oct.

Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the sacking of manager Martin Jol following the club's Uefa Cup defeat by Getafe. Assistant Chris Hughton was also removed.

Clive Allen takes charge for Sunday's game with Blackburn while Sevilla coach Juande Ramos has reportedly agreed to take over at the start of next season.

Former Spurs player Allen is the club's development coach and he will be helped to prepare for the game by youth team manager Alex Inglethorpe.

Jol took charge of Spurs in November 2004, replacing the unpopular Frenchman Jacques Santini, and under him the club twice qualified for the Uefa Cup.

Having recruited the likes of Darren Bent, who cost £16.5m, Gareth Bale and French defender Younes Kaboul during the summer, Tottenham had high hopes of challenging for a Champions League place.

But Spurs suffered a disastrous start, recording just one victory - the 4-0 win over Derby in August - in 10 league games and since the reported meeting with Ramos, Jol has faced constant questioning over his future.

Jol's agent is currently in Brazil and was unavailable for comment late on Thursday as regards the terms of the Dutchman's severance package.

Bolton Wanderers have appointed Gary Megson as their new manager.

The former Leicester boss has signed a two-and-a-half year contract and will be in charge for Sunday's Premier League game against Aston Villa.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside said: "Gary has demonstrated he has the right temperament for a battle, which this season is undoubtedly going to be."

Megson succeeds Sammy Lee and inherits a side bottom of the table with just five points from their first 10 games.


Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has received the backing of Reds co-owner Tom Hicks following their 2-1 Champions League defeat at Besiktas.

Liverpool are bottom of their group and will probably need to win their last three games to progress any further.

"We back Rafa - he's the right manager," said Hicks.

"Rafa's rotation has been his policy for three years - his ability to coach and manage in the Champions League should be unquestioned."

Liverpool are still unbeaten in the Premier League, but they have fallen six points behind the leaders Arsenal after drawing their last two home games.

Benitez's side host the Gunners on Sunday and Hicks remains upbeat.

"We're just not playing as good as we can right now. Obviously, Fernando Torres is injured, but hopefully he can play at the weekend,"

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