Philippa Kaur

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    Man Utd legend Darren Fletcher restrained by colleague after ‘extremely aggressive’ referee confrontation

    DARREN FLETCHER had to be restrained by a Manchester United colleague during his “extremely aggressive” confrontation with referees.Fletcher, 40, is now a coach with the Red Devils having spent three years as technical director until April. Darren Fletcher let rip at the referees following Brentford’s goal at Old TraffordCredit: GettyHowever, his anger boiled over during the club’s 2-1 win over Brentford on October 19 – sparking a three-match ban from the FA and a £7,500 fine. Fletcher was furious over Ethan Pinnock’s opener just before half-time which went in while bleeding Matthijs de Ligt was ordered off the pitch to receive treatment for the gash on his head. And now the details of the referee’s report have been revealed by the Independent Regulatory Commission – including fourth official Gavin Ward’s version of events.As reported by the Daily Mail, Ward told the Commission: “Following the half-time whistle and as I made my way up the tunnel, I was approached by Darren Fletcher of Manchester United in an extremely aggressive manner pointing and shouting at me, ‘You are all f***ing s***, that is a f***ing joke, every f***ing week.’READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”I asked him to calm down and highlighted that his behaviour was completely unacceptable at this point. “He then needed to be held back by another member of staff, as he tried to get closer to me. “With this, I turned away and continued to make my way to the match officials changing room. “Once in the changing room and when the other match officials arrived, I made them aware of the conduct of Mr Fletcher.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSVideo footage without audio from inside the Old Trafford tunnel showed Fletcher’s behaviour.The Commission commented: “[Fletcher had become] agitated and started to remonstrate with the Fourth Official, gesturing with his hands, shouting, and attempting to get closer to the Fourth Official in a confrontational manner. Man Utd director Darren Fletcher in X-rated row with furious fan during heated Leicester draw”He is then held back and pushed away by a Manchester United colleague.”The video showed Fletcher acting in a manner that we consider to be aggressive.”Fletcher admitted his misconduct charge from The FA but denied he was abusive – but the investigation “found this to be proven”. The ex-midfielder apologised for his reaction and claimed it was triggered by United conceding right before half-time.He also claimed his words were “criticism towards the process for managing medical treatment of the particular football player in this matter and in reference to an incident in a previous home game where at a similar stage of the game a red card was incorrectly issued to a Manchester United player”. The Commission took into consideration Fletcher’s exemplary disciplinary record as a player and as a coach – however, further mitigation requests were ignored. Man Utd ratings v LeicesterHere’s how SunSport’s Martin Blackburn rated the Red Devils.ANDRE ONANA – 7Stood tall when Ndidi went through on goal and a decent tip round the post from Ayew as Leicester tried to get back in it.NOUSSAIR MAZROUAI – 6Lucky to escape tackle on Buonanotte without any punishment. Supplied the cross from the left which led to United’s second goal.MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 6Made a key second half clearance when the Foxes were trying to find their way back into the game. Fairly comfortable afternoon for home defenders.LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 7Spent the first hour at centre half then showed his versatility by switching to left-back when Dalot was forced off.DIOGO DALOT – 6Did a steady job keeping the Foxes at bay but then taken off on the hour – presumably due to injury as United had to reshuffle their defence.CASEMIRO – 7Better from the veteran Brazilian who helped United take command of the game before getting the chance to put his feet up late on.MANUEL UGARTE – 6Great challenge on Soumare showed what he is all about and some signs he is finding his feet. Will be looking forward to arrival of former boss Amorim.AMAD DIALLO – 7Delightful backheel for Fernandes to curl home the opener and could have scored himself. The Ivorian has had a good week.  BRUNO FERNANDES – 8Presented with a shirt to mark his 250th appearance before the game and will be getting more plaudits for his performance here. Involved in all three goals.MARCUS RASHFORD – 5Given the nod to start ahead of Garnacho but did not do enough to justify the faith of Van Nistelrooy. No surprise when he was replaced by the Argentine on the hour.RASMUS HOJLUND – 5A largely ineffective afternoon for the Danish forward before he was subbed late on. Nothing wrong with his work-rate but does he have the quality Amorim will want?They added the three-match touchline ban was “a fair and reasonable sanction given the confrontational behaviour displayed on the video evidence and the fact that there was an opportunity to leave the remonstration with the Fourth Official, but Mr Fletcher decided to carry on”.Fletcher served the first game of his suspension during Sunday’s 3-0 win over Leicester.He will then be in the stands for Ruben Amorim’s opening two fixtures as the new United manager – against Ipswich on November 24 and then Everton on December 1. Ironically, Fletcher was sat in the stands for his club’s next Premier League match following the comeback win over Brentford when United travelled to West Ham.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd his fury exploded into another expletive-laden rant when VAR awarded the Hammers a controversial last-gasp penalty – with De Ligt again at the centre of the drama. Fletcher was sat among the United analysts at the London Stadium and reportedly fumed: “One week it’s a high threshold, next week it’s not, f***ing joke.”United were angry Ethan Pinnock scored while Matthijs de Ligt was off the field getting treatmentCredit: Getty More

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    Dominic Solanke to spearhead attack in our England XI determined by Dream Team points

    IT may only be mid-November, but we’ve already entered the THIRD international break of the season…Hugely frustrating for fans of Premier League football, but incredibly good news for Nations League Ultras. Both of them.Anyway, we’ve taken this opportunity to bring you a fantasy football curveball by revealing who should be in England’s starting XI based on Dream Team points.Dominic Solanke makes the cutCredit: DREAM TEAMThis is obviously the only true way of picking an England side and must be adhered to by interim manager Lee Carsley, Thomas Tuchel and Sam Allardyce when he inevitably returns to the dugout.Before we get to the XI, a quick note to acknowledge a crucial limitation of our methodology.Since Dream Team only covers Premier League players, we are forced to omit English players who ply their trade abroad, such as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Sorry lads.GOALKEEPERNot a hugely competitive area of this squad given there’s only a handful of English goalkeepers starting regularly in the Premier League.But Newcastle United stopper Nick Pope has edged out Jordan Pickford by 17 points to secure his spot between the sticks.The 32-year-old has three clean sheets under his belt this season and ranks third for bonus points behind Guglielmo Vicario and Emiliano Martinez. He also boasts a save percentage only bettered by Alisson and Kelleher (80.8%).Newcastle’s Nick Pope has outscored Jordan Pickford in Dream Team this campaignCredit: GETTYDEFENDERSTrent Alexander-ArnoldRico LewisLewis HallWe’ve evidently gone with the Garth Crooks approach for our defensive set-up.It’s not a huge surprise to see Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold leading the standings with a bumper 101 points at an average of 6.7 points per game. He’s yet to score but does have eight clean sheets and two assists in 15 appearances in all competitions.He’s joined by Manchester City’s Rico Lewis, who’s accumulated a sizeable 87 points thanks to his four assists.Newcastle United full-back Lewis Hall completes the defensive trio after edging out Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa – although they might have been useful in this centre-back-less defence…Lewis Hall makes the cut having scored 68 points this seasonCredit: GETTYMIDFIELDERSBukayo SakaCole PalmerEberechi EzeJames MaddisonDwight McNeilAgain, not the most balanced midfield we’ve seen – but them’s the rules.Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer walk into the starting XI courtesy of their combined 235 points this season. The pair also have a combined 23 goal involvements (11 goals, 12 assists).Saka is Dream Team’s top midfielder on 125 points with Palmer not far behind on 110.Yes, we’re aware the pair plus a host of others have withdrawn from the England squad through injury – but c’mon – have some imagination people!Anyway, Eberechi Eze is the next highest-scoring midfielder with 99 points and a whopping 16 bonus points, bettered only by five players on Dream Team.He’s struggled to replicate last season’s form in the Premier League having provided just one goal and one assist in nine for a struggling Crystal PalaceBut he’s fully capitalised in the Carabao Cup with three goals and an assist.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWOne of those five players with more bonus points also features in our England team is Tottenham’s James Maddison.Despite having only completed 90 minutes ONCE for Ange Postecoglou’s side in 15 appearances, he’s still registered three goals and four assists – boasting an average of 6.6 points per game.Maddison, 27, was not in Lee Carsley’s squad for this month’s games, and has not represented England since he was cut from the Euro 2024 squad by Gareth Southgate just before the summer tournament. In fact he’s only been capped seven times for the Three Lions!But he’s not the least-capped inclusion in our fantasy XI, that prestigious honour belongs to Everton attacker Dwight McNeil.Everton’s No.7 has plundered 90 points this season thanks to his four goals and three assists. He ranks FIFTH for chances created in the Premier League – behind Saka, Palmer, Andreas Pereira and Dejan Kulusevski.Dominic Solanke has more points than any English strikerCredit: GETTYFORWARDSDominic SolankeJarrod BowenWith Harry Kane off in Germany, it falls to Dominic Solanke to spearhead this England attack alongside West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen.Solanke, 27, hasn’t exactly been prolific since his switch to Tottenham but he’s still managed to put 98 points on the board – a figure bettered only by Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland.Solanke has six goals and two assists in his 15 appearances in all competitions and, aside from Salah, has the highest average points tally over the last three game weeks (11.3) thanks to his assist in the Europa League and brace against Aston Villa.West Ham captain Bowen has narrowly pipped Danny Welbeck and Ollie Watkins to secure the final spot in this experimental England XI. He’s not been prolific either but a steady four goals and two assists leave him with 92 points for the campaign.Someone ring Lee Carsley and tell him we’ve solved his selection headache. More

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    How Did a Golf Course in Dubai Get So Lush? Let Us Explain.

    For the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, it took planning and water. “The desert golf courses are actually the most efficient users of water out of necessity,” a U.S.G.A. official said.Up close, Rory McIlroy teeing off at the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the host of this week’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, looks no different than it would anywhere else in the world.His swing is balanced, fluid and powerful, and his ball flies far and straight, landing on a lush green fairway. There’s water around, some rocks and sand. The skyscrapers surrounding the course present a nice contrast to an always blue sky. But overall, the course looks like another pristine tournament venue for elite professional golfers.Yet what happened to get the Earth Course ready to host the best players on the DP World Tour, let alone to create it out of the desert when Greg Norman built it in 2009, is vastly different to how other top venues on the DP World Tour are prepared.Dubai receives only about four inches of rain a year. Summer temperatures can surpass 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius). The sun is so extreme that working outdoors from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the peak summer months in the United Arab Emirates is strictly prohibited.So how does an area so inhospitable to being outdoors, let alone playing golf, have such a premier facility that serves as the venue for the culmination of the tour’s season?The answer is very carefully and very deliberately.Matt Fitzpatrick and his caddie at the Earth Course during the 2023 DP World Tour. The course uses Bermuda grass, a popular warm-weather grass.Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesWe are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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    DP World Tour: Five Events That Stood Out

    Here are five tournaments that stood out in 2024.Another year on the DP World Tour is about to go into the books, filled, as usual, with heroics and heartaches.Which leads to this week’s finale, the DP World Tour Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where the 50 players who accumulated the most points will compete for the title.There will also be a winner — either Rory McIlroy, who has a big advantage, or Thriston Lawrence — in the Race to Dubai that will award 10 golfers a total of $6 million.Below are five events in the 2023-24 season that provided their share of suspense:Jan. 11-14: Dubai InvitationalDown the stretch, it was McIlroy’s tournament to win or lose.He lost.Up by a stroke on the 72nd hole at the Dubai Creek Resort, McIlroy of Northern Ireland found the water with his tee shot, leading to a bogey. Taking advantage was Tommy Fleetwood of England, who knocked in a 16-foot birdie putt for the victory.“I think I was very happy with the way I played today for the large majority of the round,” said Fleetwood, who prevailed by one over McIlroy and South Africa’s Lawrence.McIlroy was also on target for much of the day. He recorded three straight birdies on the back nine, but three-putted from two feet on 14 and made the costly error on 18.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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    Arsenal star Ben White undergoes procedure but is ready to play through pain barrier to return to action

    BEN WHITE has undergone a minor procedure during this international break.The Arsenal defender has been suffering with “joint” issues for the past few weeks in what has been an injury-hampered season for the 27-year-old so far.Ben White is ready to play through the pain barrier after undergoing a minor procedureCredit: GettyBut after playing the full 90 minutes for the Gunners in their 1-1 draw away at Chelsea on Sunday, White has used this break to try and fix an ongoing problem.SunSport understands this procedure should not keep White out for the long-term, and the player is ready to play through the pain barrier to return to action as soon as possible.It is also understood that despite suffering from reported groin pain, this is not the reason for the procedure.White started the first four Prem games of the campaign – as well as a 0-0 draw away at Atalanta in the Champions League in September – before coming off the bench to play 45 minutes in the 2-2 draw away at Manchester City on September 22.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAfter that, he missed the next four games in all competitions before returning to start Arsenal’s next three from mid-October against Bournemouth, Shakhtar Donetsk and Liverpool.Another off-the-bench appearance away at this month Newcastle followed but he has started Arsenal’s last two games – the 1-0 loss at Inter Milan and the recent draw at Stamford Bridge.However, boss Mikel Arteta has been protective of his right-back since the start of the season, hoping that this latest correction will see him back to full fitness and sharpness.Before the Toon trip, Arteta said of White: “He could not train, he could not get involved so let’s see what happens.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS“This is relating more to a joint.”Despite this brief setback, Arsenal’s injury issues appear to be clearing up with skipper Martin Odegaard playing a full Prem 90 against Chelsea for the first time since August 31.Mikel Arteta ‘disappointed’ by Chelsea draw as Arsenal lose ground in title race The Norwegian suffered an ankle ligament injury on September 9 on international duty but is now expected to be back for the foreseeable future after returning unscathed.Riccardo Calafiori has been out for the past three weeks following a knee knock against Shakhtar, but there is hope he can make his comeback after the international break.Bukayo Saka [muscular] and Declan Rice [toe] – the latter playing with a broken toe against Chelsea – have pulled out of this month’s England camp to focus on recovery.Arsenal face Nottingham Forest on November 23 before trips to Sporting Lisbon and West Ham, beginning December by hosting Manchester United on December 4. More

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    ‘Fame has its dark sides,’ says Andy Carroll as he enjoys ‘easier’ life in French fourth tier despite losing money

    ANDY CARROLL is loving life in France after signing for Bordeaux.The striker was once the most expensive British player of all time when he joined Liverpool from Newcastle in 2011.Andy Carroll is enjoying the simple life at BordeauxCredit: AFPHe won nine England caps and was a familiar face amongst football fans – but he has admitted fame has its dark sides.But now he is living the simple life in the south of France, playing for fourth division side Bordeaux after the famous old club went into administration in the summer and had to start again.Carroll, 35, turned down lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia to join Bordeaux and is happy with his decision, despite the fact he is losing money by playing for the club.He told The Independent: “In France I live a much easier, simpler life.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“People recognise me in the street but respect me. That’s key to my happiness. “I can go back to being Andy, the boy from the north of England. Not the Premier League star I was, if I ever was. It would be unfair to say that popularity has taken more from me than it has given me, but sometimes it’s hard to manage those situations. “Fame has its dark sides.“I hope to make it to 40. I have never let money be the main reason I played football. Especially not now, when it costs me more in rent than my salary.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSIt had been speculated that Carroll has been earning £2,900 a month at Bordeaux, but he claims the figure is actually much lower.He said: “No, it’s a lot less than that.Andy Carroll and Lou Teasdale can’t keep their hands off each other on first holiday as they confirm romance “I won’t tell you the exact figure but to give you an idea, since I moved here, I rent a pretty little house and my salary is less than my rent.”If I joined Bordeaux, it clearly wasn’t for the money. I had offers from elsewhere to play in Saudi Arabia, but that didn’t interest me.” More

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    Paris braces for France v Israel with SAS-style special forces & ‘1 cop per 3 fans’ as anti-Semitic chaos sweeps Europe

    FRANCE are set to take on Israel in a huge Nations League clash this week with Paris bracing for dangerous anti-Semitic chaos. SAS-style special forces are being deployed across the city ahead of Thursday’s game with officials announcing there will be at least one cop per three football fans in the capital.SAS-style RAID special forces are being deployed across Paris ahead of the France vs Israel matchCredit: AFPOfficials have announced there will be at least one cop per three football fans in the capitalCredit: GettySecurity concerns ahead of the match are already mounting with Paris’ police chief labelling it as a “high-risk event”.The fears have drastically ramped up in recent days after disturbing footage showed Israeli football fans being chased through the streets of Amsterdam by an anti-Semitic mob.Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were ambushed by masked rioters in the Dutch city as they left the Johan Cruyff stadium last Thursday.This has prompted international concerns over the safety of Jewish fans particularly those watching Israeli-based teams.read more in football fearsWith the international break now underway, Israel’s national side are due to play France away in Paris before travelling to play against Belgium on Sunday.The match against Belgium has already faced intense scrutiny with it being moved to a neutral venue in Hungary due to safety fears.Despite France agreeing to host the 81st ranked international side in their capital a number of security measures have been put in place.SAS-style special forces and up to 6,000 other officers are all scheduled to be on duty for the high-risk game at the Stade de France.Most read in FootballOrganisers have told The Sun that they are struggling to sell tickets due to issues around Israel with the Middle Eastern conflict – with less than 15,000 seats reserved so far.France’s elite RAID tactical unit are believed to be the first line of defence at the game and have been deployed following the violence in Amsterdam.Inside Paris’ ‘patchwork of steel’ security op with AI surveillance, 45,000 cops & drones for most guarded Olympics everParis police chief Laurent Nuñez said security at the game was of extreme concern for the authorities. He said: “There’s a context, tensions that make that match a high-risk event for us.”There will be an anti-terrorist security perimeter around the stadium.”RAID – which stands for Search, Assistance, Intervenion, Deterrence – will be in the stadium, he confirmed.The RAID was one of the first special forces units rushed to the scene when ISIS suicide bombers attacked Paris in November 2015.Terrorist thugs killed 130 people on a single night with chilling eruptions even being heard from the Stade de France on the harrowing night.Israeli security forces, including agents from the Mossad intelligence agency, will also be inside the stadium.French President Emmanuel Macron and his prime minister, Michel Barnier, will also attend the match.Many people have called for the game to be moved to a neutral venue but Bruno Retailleau, France’s Interior Minister, said it was hugely important that the game went ahead in Paris.Rioters run through the streets amid disturbing clashes in Amsterdam between Israelis and an anti-Semitic mobCredit: RexRAID officers will join 6,000 cops to help protect Paris after the police chief labelled the game as a ‘high-risk event’Credit: AFPIsrael fans have been targeted at sporting events such as in the Paris OlympicsCredit: GettyHe said: “I think that for a symbolic reason we must not yield, we must not give up.”The RAID has been active since the Israeli team set foot on French soil, and they will be in the stadium.”The Israel team arrived in France on Wednesday but have been forced to train and stay at secret locations on the outskirts of Paris.Manager Ran Ben Shimon has told the press he and the team feel safe.France has already answered calls for tightened security around Israeli athletes after the 2024 Paris Olympics earlier this year.They deployed a widely successful “ring of steel” around the Games to ensure safety after several declarations of violence from terror group ISIS and anti-Israel parties.It became the most guarded Games ever with over 60,000 cops and soldiers, drones, helicopters and a huge increase in AI surveillance all deployed.Just this week, a Jewish football team was placed under police protection after it was “attacked” by a knife-wielding pro-Palestinian mob in Berlin.Teens from Makkabi Berlin’s youth team claim they were “hunted down” by a group of Arab youngsters after a game against local rivals.One player’s dad claimed that his son was “deeply shaken” when he came back home from the game.The boy was allegedly spat at and later harassed by a mob of kids and adults who followed the squad off the pitch with sticks and knives. There’s a context, tensions that make that match a high-risk event for usLaurent NuñezParis police chief Away from the football, another Israeli-linked security fear comes in the form of a pro-Palestinian march.Thousands are expected to take to the streets of Paris on Wednesday – a day before the football clash – to demonstrate against a controversial pro-Israel gala.The “Israel is Forever” gala was originally set to be attended by Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich but he has since pulled out.Several controversial figures linked to Israel’s far-Right are expected to show – making life difficult for cops.Police chief Nuñez spoke on the gala and said: “A gala in a closed place is not a demonstration on the public road, so it is more complicated for a prefect to ban it.”I considered that there was no risk of disturbing public order but we will be attentive to the comments made and I can potentially take legal action.”An open letter by seven civil rights groups to the French media reads: “Holding this gala in the French capital constitutes an insult to international law and contempt for the United Nations and for the orders issued by the highest international court.”A counter-demonstration has also been announced and is expected to attract up to 8,000 people.Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, antisemitic violence has surged globally.It has been fuelled by heightened geopolitical tensions and polarising public discourse around the war.This escalation is marked by an alarming rise in physical attacks, threats, and hate speech targeting Jewish communities.In Europe, reports of antisemitism have spiked, with attacks on synagogues, Jewish schools, and individuals intensifying.Countries like Germany and France have seen notable incidents of physical violence and vandalism.READ MORE SUN STORIESIn Germany, synagogues were firebombed, and Jewish youth sports teams have reported attacks, reflecting a growing climate of fear.Public spaces associated with Jewish identity, including schools and cemeteries, have also required heightened police protection.A match between Mali and Israel at the Parc des Princes in July 24 saw brawls up in the standsCredit: The Mega AgencySoldiers patrolling the River Seine at the OlympicsCredit: APMembers of the RAID deescalating a situation in FranceCredit: AFP More

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    Gareth Ainsworth makes shock return to management over a year after being sacked by QPR

    GARETH AINSWORTH has sealed a stunning return to management with Shrewsbury.The 51-year-old’s last job was with Queens Park Rangers.Gareth Ainsworth has sealed a shock return to management with ShrewsburyCredit: GettyHe was sacked from the position more than a year ago having been in the job since February 2023.But he – along with long-term assistant Richard Dobson – is now back in management with League One Shrewsbury.A club statement said: “Shrewsbury Town are thrilled to announce the appointment of Gareth Ainsworth as our new head coach.”The 51-year-old arrives in Shropshire having previously enjoyed spells in charge of Wycombe and QPR.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”A former midfielder, Ainsworth is also a cult hero for the performances he put in as a player at Preston North End, Wimbledon, QPR, Port Vale and Lincoln.”He joins Town with his long-standing number two Richard Dobson – who has been appointed Town’s assistant head coach.”Shrewsbury sit bottom of the division with just two wins and two draws from 15 league games this season.Director of football Micky Moore said: “I’m delighted to welcome Gareth and Richard to the football club. I think it is a massive coup for Shrewsbury Town to have them here.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”From the moment we started the recruitment process, Gareth and Richard were our number one targets.“I’ve known Gareth for a long time. He was the standout candidate. And he is someone I have always admired for the outstanding work he did at Wycombe.Frank Lampard one of ‘eighty’ applicants for vacant EFL job as owner confirms Chelsea legend has applied “He brings to this football club an enthusiasm and a wealth of knowledge having managed more than 150 games in League One. He is exactly what we need.“I’m sure, in time, we will be able to build a football club that will really make the town and our supporters proud.”Shrewsbury chairman Roland Wycherley MBE added: “On behalf of the board of directors, all supporters and everyone connected to Shrewsbury Town – I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Gareth and Richard at this difficult time.“I wish them every success in their endeavours as they work to restore the feel-good factor to our club.”Shrewsbury sacked former manager Paul Hurst 10 days ago following the Shrews’ elimination from the FA Cup at the hands of Salford.The club fell to a 3-0 defeat to Walsall in their last match on Tuesday in the Football League Trophy, leaving them bottom of Group I in the competition.They were due to play Reading away this weekend, but the match has been postponed due to international call-ups – which has left some clubs furious.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt means Ainsworth’s first game in charge will be at Croud Meadow when his team host Birmingham.Before QPR, Ainsworth – who fronts his own rock band – had managed Wycombe for 11 years, having taken over as a caretaker player-manager in 2012 before retiring from playing in 2013 to focus on coaching. More