Preston North End have sacked manager Paul Simpson.

Preston chairman Derek Shaw told his club’s official website: “It is with heavy heart that this type of decision has to be made, but the Board and I felt that a change was necessary to try and halt the recent slide in results and performance.

“Modern football is a cut-throat industry and is results based and without an away win in the League this season and with three away league wins in the whole of 2007 we felt we had to act now.

“We have asked Rob Kelly, Billy Barr and Dave Timmins to look after first team training while we search for a successor to Paul, but we hope this process can be concluded quickly and hope to try and get someone in place before the next game, against Charlton Athletic a week on Saturday.

“May I place on record my thanks to Paul for his honest and hard-working approach in his time at the Club and wish him every success in the future.”

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing has revealed that he wanted to quit ‘Boro due to his own club’s fans booing him.

Downing told the Northern Echo: “I am committed and would love nothing more than to bring success to this club.

“But in the last couple of weeks I have been to see the manager and I did express at one point I wanted to go.”

He continued: “The manager has backed me and I am close to him. When we spoke about it, he tried to assure me that times will change. He doesn’t want me to leave on that note.

“He told me ‘Why let these people who get on your back get the better of you? They have done it before to me and I have come through it’.”

He added: “I can understand the fans’ frustrations because they pay their money, but I think it’s a case of ‘get real’. We are not like the top five or so, we have not got millions and millions to spend.

“I would like the fans to get behind us. If fans get behind players then ask any player and they will tell you it helps. It drives players on.

“But if the fans are booing, moaning and groaning, then it does not help anyone.”

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has extended his contract at Old Trafford until 2012.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told his club’s official website: “Nemanja has made a terrific impact at the Club and has forged a partnership with Rio Ferdinand that was a major part in us winning the title last year.

“He is an extremely popular member of the squad both with staff and fans alike. It’s great news that he wants to be part of this exciting side for years to come.”

Vidic added: “Playing in this team is a great privilege. This is such a great club, I am delighted to be able to extend my stay here. The fans and everyone at the club have been very special to me. I hope I can do my bit to bring the club even more trophies in the years ahead.”

Tottenham Hotspur manager Juande Ramos says he won’t make striker Dimitar Berbatov stay at White Hart Lane.

It’s been reported that the Bulgarian international is unsettled at the North London club.

Ramos said: “I believe you can’t force players to stay in the team if they don’t want to.

“It’s not good for the team or player, so I wouldn’t stand in anyone’s way.”

He added: “I think Berbatov is happy, but that is a question you need to ask him.

“He is a Spurs player and he needs to help and support the team.”