From the back pages, June 19: FA decide not to renew England U-21s coach Stuart Pearce’s contract

The FA Cup final will be played after the conclusion of the Premier League next year, restoring the Wembley showpiece to its rightful place as the last game of the English season. (Daily Mail)

It scarcely seems worth the effort for a representative team to fly halfway round the world for a rugby match and then fail to show up on the night, so Rory Best’s confession along those lines after this bitterly disappointing defeat – the first Lions failure against provincial opponents in 16 years – was sorrowful in the extreme. Precisely how deeply events have pierced the soul of the touring party is not yet known, but we will find out for sure this weekend when the Test series with the Wallabies gets underway in Brisbane. (The Independent)

Joe Kinnear insists that he will not interfere with Alan Pardew’s first-team selection or tactics after his return to Newcastle United as director of football was confirmed today. (The Times)

War Command put in an impressive display in the 4.25pm Coventry Stakes to claim victory for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Parbold and Sir John Hawkins came in second and third. Ballydoyle handler O’Brien was responsible for 5-2 favourite Stubbs, as well as leading contender Sir John Hawkins (6-1), with War Command a 20-1 shot after making a winning debut at Leopardstown just 11 days earlier. (The Mirror)

Andy Carroll is poised to become West Ham United’s record signing at £15m after he began his medical examination at the east London club on Tuesday. (Guardian)

TREBLE hero Thiago and Isco showed why they are under such a spotlight in Manchester as Spain’s stylish starlets stormed to the Euro Under-21s title. (The Sun)