Tottenham have sacked Mauricio Pochettino as manager, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday, with sources telling ESPN FC that Jose Mourinho is at the top of the club's wish list to take over.

"We were extremely reluctant to make this change and it is not a decision the board has taken lightly, nor in haste," Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said in a team statement.

"Regrettably domestic results at the end of last season and beginning of this season have been extremely disappointing.

"It falls to the Board to make the difficult decisions -- this one made more so given the many memorable moments we have had with Mauricio and his coaching staff -- but we do so in the club's best interests."

Assistants Jesus Perez, Miguel D'Agostino and Toni Jimenez have also been relieved of their duties, the club confirmed.

The statement said an update on the new coaching setup would be made in due course.

However, sources say that Mourinho is expected to speak with the club on Wednesday, with the former Manchester United and Chelsea boss feeling confident the two sides will reach an agreement.

Pochettino, who moved to Spurs from Southampton in May 2014, led the London club to the final of the UEFA Champions League last season, where they fell 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.

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Tottenham finished in the top four of the Premier League for the past four seasons under Pochettino who had become a much-loved figure among the fans.

However, results have tailed off badly this season and the club have won only three of their opening 12 Premier League games and are in 14th spot. They were also thrashed 7-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

"Mauricio and his coaching staff will always be part of our history," Levy said. "I have the utmost admiration for the manner in which he dealt with the difficult times away from a home ground whilst we built the new stadium and for the warmth and positivity he brought to us.

"I should like to thank him and his coaching staff for all they have contributed. They will always be welcome here."

"We came a long way together," Tottenham's Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld told Sky Sports. "A lot of players achieved big things. I can see where we've come from before my time at Spurs. We have to be thankful for what he achieved at the club.

"We have to try to work hard and I think there will be a (new) manager quickly. Spurs are a big club so there will be a big manager for us. We [the players] have to stay together and change things as quickly as possible."

Spurs midfielder Dele Alli posted a picture of himself and Pochettino on Twitter and Instagram and wrote: "I can't thank this man enough. He's taught me so much and I'm so grateful for everything he's done for me. Good luck and hope to see you again my friend."

Information from ESPN FC correspondent Julien Laurens and Reuters was used in this report.

LSU is once again atop this week's edition of the College Football Playoff rankings, with Alabama staying at No. 5 in the wake of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's season-ending hip injury.

The rest of the top four remains the same: No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Clemson and No. 4 Georgia.

Committee chair Rob Mullens told ESPN that Tagovailoa's injury did not factor into discussion about Alabama's ranking, as the Crimson Tide still cruised to a 38-7 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday.

A group of one-loss Power 5 teams rounds out the top 10, starting with Oregon and Utah standing pat at No. 6 and No. 7, respectively.

Oklahoma, fresh off its comeback victory on the road against Baylor, moved up one spot to slot in at No. 9. The previously undefeated Bears, meanwhile, fell one spot to drop to No. 14.

No. 10 Minnesota, the other unbeaten team to lose on Saturday, fell two spots but still edged out No. 11 Florida to remain in the top 10.

Penn State, which lost to the Golden Gophers two weeks ago, finds itself ahead of them once again at No. 8.

The Big Ten once again features the most teams in the rankings with six; No. 12 Wisconsin, No. 13 Michigan and No. 17 Iowa all moved up in this week's rankings.

Following a close loss to Georgia, No. 15 Auburn dropped just three spots from last week. Notre Dame remains at No. 16, despite handily beating previously ranked Navy.

No. 18 Memphis leads all Group of 5 teams, jumping No.19 Cincinnati, while No. 20 Boise State and No. 24 Appalachian State both moved up a spot.

Kansas State, Navy and Texas all fell out of the rankings following losses on Saturday, which made way for newcomers No. 22 Iowa State (which knocked off Texas), No. 23 USC and No. 25 SMU.

It's the first time the Trojans are in the CFP rankings since the final rankings of 2017.

NEW YORK -- Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is taking batting practice in his effort to return from a slew of lower-body injuries.

Minor league instructor and former Mets player Endy Chavez posted and then deleted video on Tuesday of the 34-year-old Cespedes taking swings. That came a few weeks after general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said he was uncertain whether Cespedes would play in 2020.

Cespedes broke an ankle in May while recovering from surgery on both heels. The injuries have sidelined Cespedes for most of the past two seasons.

The video showed the right-handed-hitting Cespedes taking all-out cuts. Chavez captioned it "throwing BP to a prospect in recovery."

Cespedes is entering the final season of a $110 million, four-year contract.

More than 100 members of Congress expressed their "firm opposition" to a proposal by MLB that would reportedly eliminate more than 40 minor league teams.

The letter, signed Tuesday and addressed to commissioner Rob Manfred, warned that the proposal would "devastate our communities, their bond purchasers and other stakeholders affected by the potential loss of these clubs."

The current agreement between Major League Baseball and the minor league teams -- called the Professional Baseball Agreement -- expires at the end of the 2020 season.

MLB is looking to make some major changes that would overhaul all levels of the minors, particularly at low Class A and below.

According to multiple reports, the more than 40 teams at the lower levels that are not included in this venture would be reclassified into a "Dream League," which would be run jointly by MLB and Minor League Baseball and would include players who were not selected in the draft.

"Reducing the number of Minor League Baseball clubs and overhauling a century-old system that has been consistently safeguarded by Congress is not in the best interest of the overall game of baseball, especially when Major League Baseball's revenues are at all-time highs," the letter said.

Of the Congress members who signed the letter, 54 voted in favor of a spending bill in 2018 that included legislation capping minor league salaries. There were fewer who voted no on the bill, and several who were not in Congress in 2018.

Glasgow coach Dave Rennie will take charge of Australia next summer - with Scotland forwards coach Danny Wilson replacing him at Warriors.

New Zealander Rennie, 55, confirmed his interest in the post last month, having said in April that he was keen to head nearer home for family reasons.

He replaces Michael Cheika, who resigned after Australia's Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat by England.

Glasgow will announce Wilson as Rennie's replacement on Wednesday.

Rennie, who had also been linked with the vacant New Zealand post, told BBC Scotland last week he was "pretty close to making a decision" on his future.

His recruitment on a three-and-a-half year contract has been described by Rugby Australia as "a massive coup" and he will assume his responsibilities next July.

"We've loved our time here around great people. It's been as good as I could have wished for after leaving New Zealand," Rennie told the Glasgow Warriors website.

"It's an exciting opportunity to coach at international level and an added bonus that we'll be a little closer to home, near our kids and grandkids.

"All my focus is on the rest of the season in Glasgow as we strive to be in the mix come play-off time in both comps again."

In Rennie's first season, Glasgow reached the Pro14 semi-finals and reached the final last term, as well as reaching the European Champions Cup quarter-finals.

They won their opening game in that competition this season against Sale Sharks last weekend and travel to face Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.

Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson thanked Rennie for "the contribution he's made to the development" of Glasgow since joining from Super Rugby club Chiefs in 2017.

"He's led a talented playing and coaching group with passion and encouraged the team to express themselves and play positive rugby throughout," Dodson added."He enhanced the strong, positive culture at Scotstoun and pushed the team to achieve significant results, playing some outstanding rugby on the way."He has conducted himself throughout with great professionalism and I know he will want to sign off his time in Glasgow with some silverware. We wish him well for the future."

'Wilson ready to strike out on his own' - analysis

BBC Scotland rugby reporter Andy Burke

Having been linked with Australia for the best part of a year, Rennie's appointment comes as no surprise. There was a brief period when he emerged as a contender for the All Blacks job, but former SRU director of rugby Scott Johnson - who's now in a similar role with Australia - identified Rennie as his top target long ago and has got his man.

Wilson is the man chosen to replace Rennie in the top job at Scotstoun. He has been Scotland forwards coach for the past 15 months, having previously spent three years as Cardiff head coach. It seems he's now ready to strike out on his own again as a number one.

STATESVILLE N.C. – Zane Smith has joined GMS Racing to contest the Full NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series schedule next year.

Veteran crew chief, Kevin Manion has joined the organization to lead the team for Smith.

In 2018, Smith drove for MDM Motorsports and competed full-time in the ARCA Menards Series. Throughout the season, Smith captured four wins, 12 top-fives, 13 top-10’s, one pole award and earned a runner-up finish in the series’ standings. He also made one Truck Series start with DGR-Crosley at World-Wide Technology Raceway, where he finished fifth. Most recently Smith competed for JR Motorsports in 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series events and accumulated two top-five and seven top-10 finishes.

“When I got the offer from Mike Beam asking me to run a truck full-time for GMS Racing, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” said Smith. “GMS is a Championship caliber team and to be a part of an organization like theirs is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m looking forward to working with Manion again. He has a lot of experience and I know we will be a great team.”

Manion has called the shots atop the pit box for many notable top-name NASCAR drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, and many others. He has five NASCAR Cup Series, 15 Xfinity Series and four Truck Series wins on his resume, as well as a Daytona 500 victory and two Xfinity Series titles.

“I am really excited to join GMS Racing and Zane (Smith) for the 2020 season,” said Manion. “With GMS Racing’s championship caliber equipment and Chevrolet support, we have all the resources to win some races and be in the hunt for the 2020 Championship. I got the opportunity to crew chief Zane (Smith) in his first Gander Trucks start in 2018 at Gateway and we worked really well together. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish next season.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Zane (Smith) and Kevin (Manion) into the GMS Racing family for the 2020 season,” said Mike Beam, president of GMS Racing. “With Kevin’s veteran crew chief knowledge and Zane’s skill they will make a great team. I think we have a solid line-up for 2020 and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish.”

LOS ANGELES – Irwindale Speedway presented a rare Sunday event – the inaugural Fall Spectacular – on Nov. 10 from 2 to 4:50 p.m.

It featured the national touring winged 410 sprint car King of the Wing Series in its eighth and final race this season. Sunday was the fifth Irwindale appearance for King of the Wing, which did not compete at Irwindale in 2016.

King of the Wing visited five states from April to November and crowned four regional champions. Bobby Santos III, from Massachusetts, won three of the four regional titles and $16,000 by winning six of eight main events. He did not race in two Meridian, Idaho, events (Sept. 20-21) that had 31 competitors present because he raced with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Versatile Santos, 34, has also raced in the USAC Silver Crown and National Midget divisions and has triumphs in both divisions. He won the USAC Turkey Night Grand Prix 98-lap midget event at Irwindale Speedway in 2008. He won the King of the Wing $2,000 winner’s share Sunday and called Irwindale his favorite track. He also drove the same car to victory in a 20-car King of the Wing field at Irwindale on Nov. 3, 2018.

Santos, driving his No. 22a Richard Fieler Beast/Chevy, won the two-event West Coast Region championship. He won the Nov. 9-10 paved half-mile feature at Bakersfield’s Kern County Raceway Park and Sunday’s 30-lap race. Five cars blew engines Saturday night, reducing the field from 17 to 12 at Irwindale.

Eric Humphries, from Chowchilla, Calif., placed second at Bakersfield and Irwindale and won his second consecutive King of the Wing National title. He drove the No. 15 HSI Beast/Chevy owned by Carl Mott and Dennis Bolding. He drove the same car to victory in Irwindale on Nov. 18, 2017 in a 30-car field.

Humphries, 33, raced all eight events in Florida, Alabama, Colorado, Idaho and California and earned $13,200. He won the championship by 126 points (664-538) over Santos. He is the fifth champion in the King of the Wing series that started in 2014. Champions in order have been JoJo Helberg, Aaron Pierce, Davey Hamilton Jr., Johnny Giesler and 2017-18 champ Humphries.

This year 43 drivers earned King of the Wing points. Hudson Stanley, from Middleton, Idaho, received the King of the Wing rookie of the year trophy at Irwindale after finishing ninth. The 16-year-old placed sixth in final points with 319. The 12 King of the Wing drivers at Irwindale came from six states as follows: three each from California and Idaho, one each from Massachusetts, Nevada, Utah and Washington, and two from British Columbia, Canada.

Santos set the fastest qualifying time of 14.597 seconds (123.313 mph) in single car time trials at 12:30 p.m. Helberg set the existing fastest qualifying lap in Irwindale history with his 13.791 seconds (130.520 mph) lap on Nov., 22, 2014 during King of the Wing qualifying. This year Humphries was second fastest at 15.016 seconds. Humphries and Santos started fourth in the pair of inverted six-lap heat races. Their winning averages were 117.596 mph and 118.215 mph, respectively.

Twelve King of the Wing sprinters raced 30-laps on the half-mile and used a six-car inverted starting lineup based on qualifying times. Pole starter Justin Segura, from Idaho, led the first eight laps with Utah-based Monty Bergener following closely. A single car spin on lap eight caused the first of two caution flags. On lap nine leader Segura’s car began smoking heavily, causing the second caution. A broken valve cover bolt sidelined his car.

Bergener inherited the lead with Santos and Humphries in tow and led laps nine through 13. Santos shot into the lead on lap 14 on the outside near the starting line. Humphries took second on lap 20 as lapping began. Santos extended his lead to a straightaway and won by 5.444 seconds over Humphries.

A.J. Russell started fourth and finished third, with fellow central Californian Audra Sasselli coming from seventh to fourth in her Beast/Chevy. Canadian Ron Larson started third and placed fifth. Bergener was sixth and the last driver on the lead lap. Ten drivers finished the 16-minute race. Santos ran the fastest race lap at 15.159 seconds (118.741 mph).

Other events on the diverse program that attracted about 3,000 spectators on a sunny, mid-70s day included INEX Legend Cars and four-cylinder enduro sedans. Both series used group qualifying starting at noon and raced scheduled 25-lap mains on a new road course laid out by driver Ryan Partridge and Irwindale’s Will Kozak. The 12-turn course used portions of the half and third-mile ovals and the infield. Drivers and fans loved the competition on the rubber cones and blocks-marked course.

Ten vintage pre-1970s open-wheel midgets and sprint cars also staged a 15-lap exhibition race on the third-mile oval. An additional four vintage race cars, including a 1940s WRA track roadster raced by Sam Hanks, the 1957 Indy 500 winner, were on static display inside the front gate for arriving fans to examine.

Seven Legend Cars raced and 12-year-old rookie Jake Bollman led all 15 laps. The Huntington Beach resident started fifth and won by half a lap. He won his first Irwdinale 35-lap main Sept. 14 on the third-mile oval. Fastest qualifier Tyler Hicks was a close second on lap four when he retired with a mechanical problem. He had set the fastest qualifying time of 62.827 mph. A blown engine oiled a turn and with four cars remaining officials shortened the race by ten laps.

The 21-car four-cylinder enduro sedan race on the road course produced the closest race of the day. The first six starters, inverted by qualifying times, had fastest qualifier Kirk Kubik (38.610 seconds – 46.620 mph) sixth. Bobby Ozman (Acura Integra) and Bory Molina (Toyota Celica Supra) traded the lead three times and captivated the crowd as they darted between lapped cars. Molina edged Ozman by 2.436 seconds after a lapped car interfered with Ozman’s plan for a last lap pass. Eight of 18 finishers completed all 25 laps.

The final event was the first RV Destruction Figure 8 race with nine starters. The Sunrise Ford Mustang 5.0 pace car, driven by Irwindale co-promoter Tim Hudddleston, ran several F-8 mid-race laps for added spice. Robert Rice battled fellow front row starter James Bolinas early. Rice led the first 14 of 20 laps by a straightaway and avoided near collisions at the infield X. However, he tried to catch the pace car, overheated his engine and retired. Bolinas lapped the field by lap 16 but he also slowed on lap 17, allowing several RV drivers to unlap themselves. Bolinas barely edged closing Bill Altfather and Steve Cook.

TORONTO -- While it acknowledges an error in judgment, the NHL will not amend its rulebook after an incident involving an injured Colorado Avalanche player Saturday night.

Against the Vancouver Canucks, forward Matt Calvert of the Avalanche lay bleeding on the ice after being struck by an Elias Pettersson shot in the third period. Play was allowed to continue because the Canucks had possession of the puck, and the on-ice officials felt Calvert's injury wasn't severe enough to stop play.

Alexander Edler scored to make it a one-goal game, and the Avalanche eventually won in overtime.

Colorado players were incensed after the game.

"A guy laying there, bleeding out the side of his head. I can only imagine if that was LeBron James and his head was bleeding, and the other team was allowed to take a 3-pointer to tie the game," Avs star Nathan MacKinnon said. "I know it's not the ref's fault. It's the league rule. I don't think he's faking it to try and get a whistle."

On Tuesday, NHL director of officiating Stephen Walkom said there was no push for a rule change at the league's meeting of general managers in Toronto.

"What we direct officials to do is, when there's a serious injury and any of them sees it, we want them to kill the play, especially when it's in the head or the face," Walkom said. "When a player is seriously injured on the ice, we don't want a lot of time going by before we kill the play. It seemed like an eternity in that game, even though it was probably closer to four or five seconds. The puck was moving around. The player attempted to get up. Of course we would have liked to blow the play down earlier, especially when it resulted in an injury."

Walkom said the Calvert injury occurred on a part of the ice where "no one had a real sight line" on it.

"By the time they were sure, the puck was in the net," Walkom said.

Walkom said that blood isn't always the determining factor for the severity of an injury, as it's sometimes difficult to see it.

"I don't think it's blood. I think it's more. ... If you see a player get a wicked stick to the head or a puck to the face, you can get a good sense from the players around him and how the player is acting on the ice," Walkom said. "We don't want players that are seriously hurt on the ice. We want to kill the play. That was just an unfortunate situation in that game."

Colin Campbell, NHL vice president of hockey operations, said he is concerned about players embellishing injuries that could whistle down a play more quickly, thus the reluctance to change the rulebook.

"We're always concerned with the competitive aspect of games. We're always worried about how competitively [teams] will take rules and use them. It's no different when a player embellishes an injury," Campbell said. "In that situation, we all agree there should have been a quick judgment there."

The general managers supported the NHL's stance and viewed the play as an unfortunate anomaly.

"The officials have the discretion to blow the play down. I can't recall many instances like that where there's been an incident," said Philadelphia Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher. "Usually they're making the right call at the time. I don't expect there to be any rule change to that effect."

In other news at the general managers' meeting:

• Campbell said Washington Capitals forward Garnet Hathaway will have a hearing Wednesday for spitting on Anaheim Ducks defenseman Erik Gudbranson in a game Monday night. "It's a fine or a suspension," Campbell said, regarding potential punishment. "I've never had this before. I've had player on official, but never player on player. But we'll hear the player's side of the story [at the hearing]."

• The general managers will continue discussing tweaks to the offside rule at their March meeting, including whether a player's skate in the air that "breaks the plane" of the blue line could be counted as that player being onside.

• Walkom said coaches' challenges are down about 65% since the NHL implemented a new rule that penalizes teams for a failed offside, goalie interference or missed stoppage of play challenges. "We think that's a great thing for the game," he said.

• Some GMs were upset that a coach who challenged something that didn't turn out to be challengeable under the rules could still get a penalty for it. Walkom said officials didn't want to "tell a coach that he couldn't challenge, because that would end up in the media the wrong way." But he said referees have been instructed to quickly correct coaches who may ask for, say, a challenge for a penalty. But Campbell said it's on the coaches to know the difference: "They've got a rulebook. They should know it."

• The NHL has named its general manager of the year award the Jim Gregory Manager of the Year Award, after the late Toronto Maple Leafs GM and scouting director who died on Oct. 30.

• Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Don Fehr were seen meeting at the NHL offices after the GM meeting, but neither provided an update on collective bargaining talks. The NHL's CBA expires in 2022. Both sides opted not to reopen it early this year, ensuring short-term labor peace.

TORONTO -- The term "midget" is being dropped from youth divisions in Canadian hockey because the governing body aims to be more inclusive.

Hockey Canada says it wanted to be sure it wasn't "putting up barriers to keep people away from the sport." The term "midget" has long been used in a variety of sports although it is considered derogatory by many.

The issue generated attention a year ago when the parent of a young son with dwarfism noticed the term on a banner at a mall.

Also dropped starting next season are the categories novice, peewee, bantam and atom. They will be replaced with age-based designators. The change was approved at Hockey Canada's winter congress over the weekend.

The International Ice Hockey Federation and USA Hockey already use age designators for their divisions.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Less than 24 hours after winning his second consecutive PGA Tour event, Brendon Todd was back at work Tuesday at the RSM Classic.

“It’s been a whirlwind. Flying here, coach, with the trophies so my kids could see it was pretty neat,” Todd said. “They were waiting for me at the airport and got to give me a big hug, which was pretty special.”

Following back-to-back victories, some might have considered taking this week’s RSM Classic off, but it was at Sea Island Resort last year where Todd’s professional fortunes shifted.

After struggling for years with what he calls the “hitting yips,” Todd planned to leave the game last fall to open a restaurant, but before he could arrange a meeting to start his own pizza franchise he made one final attempt to resurrect his career at the Monday qualifier for the 2018 RSM Classic.

“I came here for the qualifier, shot 61, got in the tournament, made the cut which then allowed me to get more past champion starts in 2019, which ultimately qualified me for the Korn Ferry [Tour] finals,” Todd said. “Without that 61 last year I definitely would have had the meeting and I definitely would have pursued something else.”

Todd is vying to become the first player to win three consecutive Tour starts since Tiger Woods in 2006.