April 21 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

- The chief executive of John Wood Group is to stand down as the company closes in on a sale that promises to transform its balance sheet. Link

The Guardian

- The Bank of England is asking lenders and insurers to pay an extra £24m so it can hire 100 extra staff and keep track of new risks, including those linked to crypto assets. Link

- More than 40,000 railway workers are to be balloted in a dispute over jobs and pay that a union says could result in Britain's biggest rail strike in modern history. Link

The Telegraph

- P&O Ferries sacked seven agency workers who had been brought in as cheaper replacements to existing staff after they were found to have been drinking alcohol while on duty. Link

Sky News

- Germany has said it will stop Russian oil imports by the end of the year. Link

- The billionaire backers of the Boston Celtics and Toronto Maple Leafs have committed to "lifetime ownership" of Chelsea Football Club if they triumph in the £2.5bn auction of the Premier League side. Link

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)