:00:00. > :00:09.about half hour's time, could overtake them with
:00:10. > :00:15.Good afternoon. West Bromwich Albion have sacked their striker, Nicolas
:00:16. > :00:19.Anelka, for gross misconduct. In December, the FA found him guilty of
:00:20. > :00:22.making an offensive gesture after scoring at West Ham. The Frdnchman
:00:23. > :00:25.was banned for five games and fined ?80,000. Yesterday, he reve`led on
:00:26. > :00:30.social media he was terminating his contract. But the club say he hadn't
:00:31. > :00:36.followed the correct legal process and have sacked him. Meanwhhle, the
:00:37. > :00:40.club visit Swansea this aftdrnoon in a game which could decide the future
:00:41. > :00:44.of Head Coach Pepe Mel. Albhon are still looking for their first win
:00:45. > :00:47.since Mel took over two months ago. That's led to speculation hd could
:00:48. > :00:58.be sacked if they're beaten again today. If I did not believe there
:00:59. > :01:05.were winners in the changing rooms then I would have spoken to the
:01:06. > :01:12.chairman, in order to leave. What I need is players who are willing to
:01:13. > :01:15.work and willing to win. Now with the winter weather a fading memory,
:01:16. > :01:18.there's hopes of a tourism boost in Staffordshire. The Uttoxeter
:01:19. > :01:22.Racecourse has had to cancel all meetings so far this year btt today
:01:23. > :01:24.will play host to the Midlands Grand National where thousands ard
:01:25. > :01:28.expected. Kevin Reide reports. It's been a winter of spectacular sights
:01:29. > :01:31.but ones we'd all rather forget and that's what staff at Uttoxeter
:01:32. > :01:35.Racecourse are trying to do as they white wash away those winter blues.
:01:36. > :01:44.So far all of this years medts have been cancelled. It has been
:01:45. > :01:50.terrible. But we had five inches in January. That is a lot of r`infall.
:01:51. > :02:00.There has not been a day in February Word has not rained. Out on the
:02:01. > :02:03.course you can see the damage this winter has caused. Only last Tuesday
:02:04. > :02:07.there was a layer of water on here. It's now cleared, but you c`n still
:02:08. > :02:10.see the damage. The nightmare `` it is a nightmare, the grass h`s not
:02:11. > :02:15.been growing. We have not h`d frost, but we were not able to get a
:02:16. > :02:19.tractor on it until the beghnning of this week. But it will suit star
:02:20. > :02:21.attraction, Harry Topper. The seven`year`old was pulled from
:02:22. > :02:27.Cheltenham's Gold Cup at thd last minute because it was too dry. He
:02:28. > :02:31.goes the same speed on soft ground as good ground which is the reason
:02:32. > :02:36.he is good on soft ground. We have no control over what is going on. I
:02:37. > :02:39.do not watch the weather forecast. And with prize money of ?100,00 ,
:02:40. > :02:46.Uttoxeter are expecting arotnd 15,000 visitors and with it a boost
:02:47. > :02:50.to the local economy. When xou think that the population is only 13, 00,
:02:51. > :02:55.you can imagine how benefichal it is. We are very proud that here we
:02:56. > :02:59.are hosting such a big event. So, with spring in the air, Uttoxeter's
:03:00. > :03:02.hoping for a day to remember rather than a season to forget. Kevin
:03:03. > :03:05.Reide, BBC Midlands Today, Stafforshire. Let's have a look at
:03:06. > :03:11.the weather now. Here's Sar` Blizzard.
:03:12. > :03:20.The skies have been brightening and it will remain fine and dry as we
:03:21. > :03:24.head into the afternoon. Thdre will be some cloud toward Stoke`on`Trent
:03:25. > :03:30.of which could produce light showers. A daytime temperattre of 17
:03:31. > :03:33.degrees. A breezy westerly wind which will continue overnight
:03:34. > :03:38.keeping the temperature is `bove freezing, and minimum of six
:03:39. > :03:43.degrees. More cloud in the north of the region, producing some patchy
:03:44. > :03:50.light rain, but it will be divided on Sunday. We might start off with
:03:51. > :03:55.brighter skies, but there whll be cloud later. Sunny spells l`ter in
:03:56. > :03:58.the day. That's it for now. We'll have all the day's football results
:03:59. > :04:00.in our next bulletin at ten past seven. Until then, have a good
:04:01. > :04:13.afternoon. Following on from what has been
:04:14. > :04:15.largely dry and settled week with high pressure