Berlin has just lost its only top-flight club, but reaction to Hertha's relegation has been fairly muted. Paul Joyce explains
In March 2009, Hertha BSC were top of the Bundesliga and went on to finish fourth. The Berlin club were relegated a year later, however, having been bottom of the table since September. For the first time since 1997, Germany’s capital will be without top-flight football next season.
After months of chaos Darlington have been relegated to the Conference. But Thom Kennedy has spotted signs of recovery
The end-of-season dead rubber is often tagged with the optimistic phrase “playing for pride”, though we’ve all seen enough insipid bore-draws played out in front of sparse crowds trying to get value from their season tickets to know there’s little pride involved. But, for an example of a last-gasp attempt to restore some semblance of dignity, Darlington’s victory at Macclesfield on the season’s penultimate weekend fits perfectly. The 2-0 win spared the 54 players who have trudged into the Darlington Arena – and in most cases back out again – during this season the shame of being part of the worst-ever Quakers team.
Football's culture of greed will eventually have dire consequences, both for clubs and for those in charge of the game
Two men have presided over a period of financial crisis in their respective spheres, with large businesses being crippled by debt while many smaller ones hover in the verge of extinction. The first, Gordon Brown, became associated with crisis to the extent that he was deemed to be a liability, and has duly stepped down. The other, Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League, sails serenely on. In fact he’s positively bullish.
Owning your country's biggest club is a sure-fire way to boost public profile, or even become president. Simon Cotterill explains
For all the allegations, infidelity and plastic surgery, the most surprising aspect of Silvio Berlusconi’s time as Italy’s prime minister is his ownership of AC Milan. It’s not surprising that he finds the time – the mystery is why the fans of Inter, Juventus and all other rival teams don’t form a significant political resistance. Were a Premier League chairman to run in an election, most rival club fans would surely put political preferences aside and vote against him.
Steve Menary looks at the changing faces and new ideas in football's hierachy
The shock departure of Ian Watmore after less than a year as FA chief executive rather overshadowed another change in the game’s executive merry-go-round. Shortly before Watmore’s sudden exit, Greg Clarke was confirmed as Football League chairman to replace Lord Mawhinney, who stepped down after seven years.