The appointment of a new Chief Executive is "progressing well", according to Arsène Wenger. Since the departure of Keith Edelman in April, the Club have been working hard to recruit a replacement with "a footballing side". Wenger said: "It is progressing quite well. We are getting to the end of the story. I am involved in it and I am consulted for it but it is down to the Board to make that decision. I think the decision will be made soon but I don't know exactly when."

 Martin O'Neill believes it is important to build from the back but he says Aston Villa will not abandon their positive principles. He stressed: "We are not going to foresake attacking play, far from it. But from a professional point of view, the improved defensive display [against Liverpool] was greeted in some quarters with relief. It's the first time we have had a goalless draw for over 40 games. It is unusual but very commendable."

 Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen will wear the armband for New Zealand on Saturday when he returns to international duty after a four-year absence. Nelsen is standing in for regular captain Tim Brown as he serves a one-match suspension. He will lead out the team against New Caledonia in a World Cup qualifier and said: "Obviously it's an honour captaining in the Premier League but when it comes to your country, it's second to none."

 Gary Cahill has vowed to learn from the first red card of his career. The central defender picked up a three-match ban for his Carling Cup dismissal against Northampton Town and he still has to sit out the Barclays Premier League fixtures at Fulham and at home to Arsenal. He said: "It has been horrible. I just kept replaying it in my head, why I did it and what I could have done better. It is something I have got to deal with and get over."

 Luiz Felipe Scolari is spending part of the international break at UEFA headquarters in Switzerland, attending the 10th annual Elite Club Coaches Forum. Chaired by UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh, the coaches are given the opportunity to air views on current trends and issues affecting the highest echelons of European club football. The aim is to stimulate thought on the development of the game, away from the pressure of competition. In past years the meetings have produced various recommendations which UEFA has taken on board. There is further Barclays Premier League representation in Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger. 

 Everton have re-affirmed their belief that The Kirkby Project is the most viable solution to the Club's stadium issue. Speaking at the General Meeting, acting CEO Robert Elstone addressed the issues that face the Club regarding alternative sites in Liverpool and the redevolopment of Goodison before concluding that Kirkby remains the board's number one choice. Elstone said: "There has been an extensive search process that has lasted many years. Ultimately, in our mind, Kirkby is still very affordable, still very desireable, absolutely necessary and - most importantly - deliverable."

 Julian Gray knows he will have to work hard to force his way into the Fulham side after joining on loan from Coventry City. The left-winger said: "I'm not expecting the gaffer to start changing an Arsenal-beating team around," he said. "If I went straight into the team it would be a bonus but I'm going to work really hard and wait for my opportunity. If I do go in it will be fantastic and I will grab the opportunity with both hands. It's an exciting time for me and I'm delighted to be back in the Premier League. I'm from London and my family all live down here. So being home makes it all even better." 

 Hull City Reserves began life in the Barclays Premier Reserve League with a 2-1 home defeat by Everton. James Vaughan put the visitors in front on 32 minutes but Bill Law levelled on the hour, heading in the rebound after Nicky Featherstone's shot had been saved. Lukas Jutkiewicz won it with a right-foot shot eight minutes from time.

 Hungarian midfielder Zsolt Poloskei will spend a season on loan at Liverpool, the club has today confirmed. The 17-year-old came through a trial at Melwood in pre-season and will now remain on Merseyside until June 2009. Poloskei's settling in process will be helped by the presence of Peter Gulacsi, Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon, all of whom have also arrived from MTK Hungaria.

 Executive Chairman Garry Cook says that it is business as usual at the end of an exciting week for the club. The goal-scoring return of Shaun Wright-Phillips at Sunderland on Sunday, followed by the news of possible new investment in the club and the amazing swoop for Robinho on Monday have all put City in the media spotlight, as Cook admits: "Manchester City is in the news for all the right reasons at the moment, and everybody is very excited at the club. People may talk about the dynamics changing, but staff at the club are still working very hard and Mark is back coaching the team as normal. He has made it quite clear to everybody outside the club that he runs the football side of the business, and he is anticipating nothing changing from that. There is no reason for that to change, he is far more knowledgeable about football than all of us!"

 Ryan Giggs insists Manchester United remain the biggest club in the world even though neighbours Manchester City have broken the British transfer record with their capture of Robinho. Giggs said: "City have the richest owner in the world but I still see United as the biggest club in the world. United have a status and history that it has taken years to build up. It stretches back to the Busby Babes, to players like Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best. It will be very interesting to see what happens at City, but what we have at United is very special."

 Chairman Steve Gibson has backed Michel Platini's proposal to close the January transfer window. He said: "I think the transfer window has advantages and disadvantages. I know this week Platini has talked about closing the window in the winter and I'd be all for that as it takes the uncertainty away. Every time a transfer window opens, we have a problem with certain players. Stewart Downing in particular is constantly speculated about in the press and it is quite unsettling."

 At an independent regulatory commission hearing today, midfielder Joey Barton was given a £25,000 fine and a 12-match suspension, six of which are suspended until the end of the 2009/10 season. Barton admitted a charge of violent conduct relating to a training ground assault on his then Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo in May 2007. He is suspended for six matches with immediate effect. The suspended sanction of six further matches will be automatically invoked in full should Barton be found guilty of any similar charge involving violence or be dismissed from the field of play for violent conduct (but not for serious foul play).

 Armand Traore is happy to be learning his defensive trade from one of the masters of the art in Tony Adams. Traore has already caught the eye with his marauding runs but he believes Harry Redknapp's right-hand man can improve his quality at the back. He said: "Tony can bring lots of things to my game like positioning, how to defend when you're one-on-one and where I need to be when we don't have the ball. He's got so much experience."

 Danny Pugh looks set to miss three first-team matches after being sent off during Wednesday's 2-1 reserve team defeat by Aston Villa. The Stoke City midfielder received a red card a minute from time for what was deemed as violent conduct and will now sit out the Barclays Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea as well as the Carling Cup tie against Reading.

 Roy Keane believes he now has a squad capable of making an impact in the Barclays Premier League. The Sunderland manager is delighted with the 10 players he signed during the transfer window. The last of those was West Ham United defender George McCartney and Keane said: "That was the player I thought we needed in terms of the left-back position. I was pleased to get George on the last day of business, very much so. At least it's over with now and we can relax and focus on the players we have. I'm delighted with what we've got."

 Tottenham Hotspur will be proudly supporting the Enfield Autumn Show this weekend and are encouraging fans of all ages to come along and put their football skills to the test. The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation will be offering participants the chance to have a go at the inflatable shooting targets seen on the Soccer Schools programmes throughout the local area. The event will run from 10am - 6.30pm on Saturday and Sunday in Enfield Town Park and costs £5 for adults, £3 concessions and free for children. Buy a ticket on Saturday and get in free on Sunday.

 Gianni Zuiverloon is hoping his Barclays Premier League switch will catapult him onto the full international stage. The £3.2m new boy is hoping to attract the attention of senior Netherlands manager Bert Van Marwijk by building on his excellent start to life with the Baggies. He said: "I think moving to West Brom will help me fulfill my international ambitions. If I play well at this level, the coach will see that I can play well in what is probably the biggest competition in the world. If he sees that I can play well in England then yes, why shouldn't I get selected? I have confidence in my ability."

 West Ham United have responded to the claims made by George McCartney that he did not hand in a written transfer request. Having previously declared their interest, Sunderland approached West Ham United at the end of last week with a renewed offer to sign the player. West Ham United had no intention of selling McCartney who handed in a signed written transfer request on Monday 1st September which stated "due to private, family reasons I wish to accept the offer to move back to Sunderland AFC". West Ham United are astonished by the claims made subsequently by the player that there was no written request to leave, with McCartney having also repeatedly spoken of his desire to return to Sunderland to both the manager and senior club officials.

 Kevin Kilbane trained for the Republic of Ireland on Thursday wearing a protective mask over his fractured cheekbone and has been declared fit to start against Georgia on Saturday. The Wigan Athletic winger is expected to line-up in the World Cup qualifier after suffering the injury in Wigan's 5-0 victory at Hull City. The 31-year-old underwent surgery to repair the damage the following day.