Championship

Subterms

    More stories

    • 225 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Sheffield Wednesday owner Chansiri ready to spend big on striker loan transfer as he U-turns on Scrouge-like pledge

      by

      SHEFFIELD  WEDNESDAY  owner Dejphon Chansiri seems eager to throw big money on a striker loan next month.The controversial supremo reckons paying top dollar for a marksman could save rock-bottom Owls from the drop.
      Dejphon Chansiri will spend some dosh on a striker in JanuaryCredit: Getty
      With the hunt now on, the Championship side may even pay around £30,000 a week for the right man.
      A remarkable turnaround for Chansiri, who recently asked fans to help subsidise the club.
      Last month SunSport revealed the Thai owner would not sell the up even if they were relegated back to League One.
      In a shock statement in September, the 55-year-old refused to commit more money to the club.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      He said: “Hello to all Sheffield Wednesday fans.
      “I have thought about making this statement for some time and it is extremely difficult for me to do something that I never thought I would have to do.
      “But in the end, I think it is the time to say some things that I feel I have to say before it is too late.
      “First of all, I would like to thank all the fans who have supported the club so well over the past nine years or so since I came to Sheffield Wednesday.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      “There has been joy and sorrow, the joy we have shared together and in times of sorrow we have supported each other.
      “Right now, we are not in a good situation in the table and I believe that supporters have every right to voice opinions, speak from the heart and say anything you wish about the football.
      “That is the nature of the game, which I always respect. But I also believe there are limits to balance for the benefits of the club and all other stakeholders as a whole.”
      He added: “We all love Sheffield Wednesday and I am a supporter as well as the owner who must love and care for the club more than anyone else because of the position I am in as chairman.
      “I must take responsibility for everything at the club, including the financial support which is something I always do. But from now, I will not put additional money into the club.
      “If you say you are the owner and I am the custodian, then show me how to be the good owner and help save your club. You want me to leave but you want me to spend money?
      “If you want me to leave, then show me how to run the club and invest the money before I do that.
      “You have no right to ask me to leave. I am the one who saved the club and spent the money for the club, I am the one who needs to pay around £2m on average every month.
      “Some fans need to have more respect for owners of clubs and not be so selfish, thinking of their own benefit without doing anything good to the club.
      “This is not acceptable and as a result I am not willing to inject more money while I am being treated unfairly by those fans.
      “The club needs support from everyone during difficult times. In football, there are good times and not so good times.
      “It is easy to celebrate good times but we must support each other in difficult times.”
      Chansiri bought the Owls from Milan Mandaric in 2015 but has come under fire over recent months.
      Read More on The Sun
      Fed-up supporters have launched a number of protests against the Thai businessman ever since he axed Darren Moore in June just days after securing promotion back to the Championship.
      They then blasted the season ticket pricing and a huge banner at Hillsborough which read ‘Thank You Dejphon Chansiri’ was defaced and removed ahead of their game with Ipswich. More

    • 238 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick lines up Premier League star transfer as Man Utd legend looks to fix leaky defence

      by

      MIDDLESBROUGH manager Michael Carrick is seeking a centre-half in the winter window. Carrick has lost Darragh Lenihan following his ankle operation.
      Michael Carrick is eyeing a defender in the January transfer windowCredit: Alamy
      Darragh Lenihan has been sidelined following an ankle operationCredit: Alamy
      But he will get funds for a top replacement, ideally on loan, for the promotion push.
      Nottingham Forest’s Joe Worrall and Leeds’ Charlie Cresswell are in their sights.
      Worrall, 26, is currently out of favour at Forest and a loan may work for both him and the club.
      Cresswell, 21, is on the fringe of the Leeds side but they may be unwilling to help a promotion rival.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Middlesbrough endured a sticky start to the season after their strong finish under Carrick last year.
      Losing the likes of top scorer Chuba Akpom over the summer hit the club hard.
      And it took Carrick’s side until September 23 to pick up its first win in the Championship this season.
      Since then they have stormed to eight wins in all which currently has them in 12th in the table.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      However, this position is deceiving with just three points separating them from the play-off spots.
      Former Man Utd assistant Carrick is up against ex-colleague Kieran McKenna who is at the helm of high-flyers Ipswich next week.
      Joe Worrall is one target for Boro in the next transfer windowCredit: Alamy
      Charlie Cresswell is an alternative solution in the marketCredit: Getty More

    • 288 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Tom Brady watches Birmingham vs Rotherham at St Andrew’s as fans call for NFL legend to be ‘added to EFL Hall of Fame’

      by

      FANS called for Tom Brady to be “added to the EFL Hall of Fame.”That’s after the NFL legend jetted in to watch Birmingham’s Championship clash against Rotherham.
      Fans want Tom Brady in the EFL Hall of Fame as he showed his support for BirminghamCredit: Getty
      The NFL legend jetted in for Saturday’s Championship game against RotherhamCredit: X @TomBrady
      Brady, 46, owns a minor stake in Brum after announcing his shock investment in August.
      The American played a big role in appointing Wayne Rooney as John Eustace’s successor in October.
      And Brady made sure he watched Birmingham’s latest match as he flew to the Midlands for Saturday’s game against Rotherham.
      The iconic quarterback posted a picture on social media showing himself St Andrew’s before kick-off, having visited the club’s training ground earlier.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      With the sun shining and a bright blue sky in the background, Brady must have felt like victory was inevitable.
      The seven-time Super Bowl champion captioned his snap “St Andrew’s” alongside a heart emoji.
      However, the result did not go to plan for either Brady or Birmingham.
      Rooney’s men could only muster a 0-0 draw against Rotherham, who are second-bottom in the Championship table.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      Brady watched Wayne Rooney’s side stumble to a 0-0 drawCredit: Getty
      The result also leaves Brum in 15th place, with Wazza winning just one of his eight games so far.
      But fans were still delighted by Brady’s epic support, with one saying: “The GOAT has come all the way from America to watch Birmingham vs Rotherham.
      “Get him in the EFL Hall of Fame now.”
      Another declared: “Great to see you back at St Andrew’s. Enjoy the game, you’re our lucky mascot.”
      One noted: “Welcome home GOAT.”
      Another added: “Up the Brady Blues.” More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      West Brom and Leicester fans fume as Sky Sports coverage cuts out due to ‘temporary fault’ ahead of Championship clash

      by

      FANS fumed as Sky Sports’ build-up to their live fixture went down.The broadcaster was supposed to be getting ready for Leicester City’s trip to West Brom in the Championship.
      Coverage of West Brom vs Leicester was cut forcing Sky to show replaysCredit: Sky Sports
      None of the warm-ups were available for viewers to watchCredit: Getty
      The programme started at 12pm, 30 minutes before kick-off in the West Midlands.
      But with a technical fault, there was no live coverage.
      Instead, those tuning in to Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football were left disappointed.
      Sky showed old cricket highlights before a replay of Cardiff City vs Swansea City from 2009 then Huddersfield vs Reading in 2017 and 2014’s Derby vs QPR Championship play-off final.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      The latter started at around 12.25pm, just five minutes before the game was due to get underway with still no sign of the live action being shown.
      A banner on the screen read: “We’re really sorry for the temporary fault and hope to return to the scheduled programme shortly.”
      Plenty of Baggies and Foxes supporters were furious they could not watch the pre-match coverage from The Hawthorns.
      One said: “Hello @SkySports can we have the football on and not highlights of Moeen Ali’s career pls.”
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      Another wrote: “Come on @skysports where is the match?”
      A third commented: “Move the games to broadcast them.. then it doesn’t work. Well done @SkySports you absolute cabbages.”
      A fourth added: “Funny how this never happens for a Prem game, in this day and age this is pathetic from @SkySports.”
      Eventually at 12.30pm with the players on the pitch about to kick off, the cameras cut to The Hawthorns.
      The commentator Gary Weaver immediately said: “Apologies, we have had some major technical issues.”
      He then confirmed there would be slightly reduced coverage with no graphics or replays until the problem was fixed.
      Then the studio presenter David Prutton was overhead speaking off-air.
      Things, though, appeared to be sorted out just in time for the game’s start.
      Read More on The Sun
      Leicester went into the game top of the Championship table, one point clear of Ipswich after a run of just one win in the last four.
      West Brom, meanwhile, started the day in fifth hoping to upset Enzo Maresca’s leaders.
      Sky Sports put on highlights from old Championship matches with no pre-match build-upCredit: Sky Sports
      The game kicked off at 12.30pm with commentary availableCredit: PA More

    • 263 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      I’m a former owner who sacked the manager by accident, I asked to change the COUCH and the board misheard me

      by

      FORMER Leeds owner Massimo Cellino has recalled the time he accidentally sacked Brian McDermott following a miscommunication.Cellino, 67, took over at Elland Road in January 2014 and immediately made his presence known.
      Massimo Cellino sacked ex-Leeds boss Brian McDermott by accident in 2014Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      McDermott had been Leeds manager for under a yearCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Just shortly after arriving the Italian sacked then-manager McDermott, who previously played for Arsenal, by accident – all because he didn’t like the colour of a couch.
      In an interview with the Daily Mail, Cellino said: “I was a mess when I got there.
      “My English was very poor. My pronunciation was terrible. When I got there, there was a velvet bloody couch in the suite at Elland Road.
      “It was purple. I said, ‘Change the bloody couch, I don’t want to see it anymore’. And then they fired the bloody coach!
      Read More on Arsenal
      “They said, ‘Who is taking the team tomorrow?’
      “I said, ‘Why? We don’t have a manager?’
      “They said, ‘You fired him’. ‘I fired the manager? S***’.
      “It was 10 at night and there were 2,000 people at the stadium who wanted to kill me. They hid me in the stadium and then took me out in a police car. They said, ‘It is better if you don’t go to the game tomorrow’… Bloody purple!”
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      McDermott’s assistant, Nigel Gibbs, went on to take over as caretaker manager and oversaw a 5-1 win against Huddersfield Town.
      Cellino added: “Sometimes the big mistake becomes the best thing you do. That’s bloody football.”
      Despite his initial success, Gibbs was sacked by the owner just four months later.
      Cellino eventually sold his shares in Leeds to Andrea Radrizzani in 2017 and returned to Italy to buy Serie B side Brescia. More

    • 250 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Vincent Kompany will be feeling the pressure, but Burnley can fly up the table if they just beat Sheffield United

      by

      ANYONE going to Turf Moor on Saturday expecting a footballing spectacle between Burnley and  Sheffield United, think again.This will be an old-fashioned slogger of a match. It will be about grinding it out, however ugly.
      Burnley boss Vincent Kompany can turn things around if he beats Sheffield UnitedCredit: Getty
      It’s the old cliche of a six-pointer and this is the ultimate definition of one.
      To get a three-point gap over your rivals at the bottom is huge but I feel it’s bigger for Burnley.
      While they haven’t been great, we can see how they want to play and they have been close in a few games but the pressure will soon start to crank up on boss Vincent Kompany, especially if they lose this one.
      I don’t think he is going to be out of a job — he has achieved so much at that club in such a short space of time.
      Read More on Football
      But everyone expects Sheffield United and Luton to go down.
      Burnley’s owners will be thinking: “I thought we had a better team than them? We won the Championship. Why are we below both of them? Why are they winning and we’re not?”
      In those sorts of games, as a player, you should be really excited. For these clubs, they are always the underdogs. There aren’t many games where you go into matches thinking you should win in the Prem. This is one of them.
      All it takes is one victory. You would be surprised how just one good result can springboard your entire season, especially if it is against a rival or it comes at a pivotal time.
      Most read in Football
      In my first season up with Watford in the Prem in the 2015-2016 campaign, we drew our first three games and then lost away to Manchester City.
      Our next game at home to Swansea felt big. They were a good team but we needed a first home win and we got it — a scrappy 1-0 down to ten men for most of the second half.
      From our next 13 games, we picked up 23 points, which basically kept us up.
      I remember at training in the days that followed, there was a feeling of “We belong here. We’ve made it”. All that self-doubt and insecurity was gone.
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      Troy Deeney doesn’t expect Kompany’s future as Burnley boss to be in dangerCredit: Getty
      Burnley haven’t had that feeling yet. Their only win came at Luton in October and it’s been an uphill struggle since.
      Beating the Blades could be season-defining. Kompany and those players will feel like their season has been kick-started.
      Don’t underestimate how this one result could also determine whether Burnley’s owners spend in January. A few more good results before Christmas and the mood changes. The trust in the current crop of young players returns. Lose, and desperation may creep in.
      The one question that will be going around Vinny’s head is: Can this team win at all costs? Win ugly. Burnley have their style of play, but there comes a time when results matter.
      They got so used to winning last year that they were never really under pressure.
      Turf Moor used to be the stage for so many niggly, gritty sort of games.
      That’s changed — they have made improvements to the stadium. The dressing rooms have been revamped.
      Read More on The Sun
      When Sean Dyche was there, they used to let the grass grow in the corners of the pitch to try and trap opponents there and so the ball would hold up more.
      Vinny has changed that and you have to respect it but the Clarets are definitely not as intimidating as they once were. More

    • 250 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      I got two red cards in two Premier League games under Roy Keane and smashed up the changing room afterwards

      by

      FORMER Sunderland star Greg Halford received two red cards in two Premier League games under Roy Keane.And the defender revealed he smashed up the changing room after he was sent off twice for the Black Cats in the 2007-08 season.
      Greg Halford spoke about the time he received two cards when he played for SunderlandCredit: youtube – Under The Cosh
      Halford said he smashed up the changing after being sent off when playing under Roy KeaneCredit: PA:Press Association
      Halford, 38, has spent his senior career at several clubs across many of England’s football leagues.
      But one unforgettable part of his journey was his short two-year stint at Sunderland for which half of it he played under Man Utd legend Keane.
      And the Essex-born star spoke about the time he was sent off in two Premier League games for the Black Cats.
      After the second red card incident the former Brighton player smashed up the dressing room.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      He said on the Under The Cosh podcast: “I got two red cards in two games. It wasn’t even aggression.
      “One was pulling a shirt against Fulham and the second was a handball against Luton – which wasn’t even a handball.
      “And I have just come into the changing room and I have demolished that changing room.
      “Like I put my studs through the doors and walls thinking this isn’t right.”
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      Keane in his first season at the club during the 2006-07 term led them to promotion into the Premier League.
      And shortly after Halford made his debut for Sunderland in August 2007 in a 2–2 draw with Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.
      He played in the next three matches, but was sent off in the third game after a 3–0 defeat to Luton Town.
      Having returned from suspension he made three more appearances and was again sent off.
      In the 2008 new year Halford was sent on loan to Charlton followed by a season-long loan to Sheffield United before leaving for Wolves in 2009.
      Since then, Halford has played for numerous teams including Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Cardiff City, Southend United and Billericay. More

    • 200 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Unemployed Nathan Jones holds talks over return to management after almost ten months without a job

      by

      UNEMPLOYED Nathan Jones has held talks over a return to management after almost ten months out.The former Southampton boss was sacked in February but has recently interviewed for the head coach vacancy at Championship side Rotherham United.
      Nathan Jones has held talks over a return to managementCredit: PA
      The ex-Luton Town boss has interviewed for the head coach vacancy at RotherhamCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Jones, 50, is desperate to get back in the dugout after being booted out from Southampton earlier this year.
      The Welshman managed to snatch just one league win in eight matches, leaving the Saints at the bottom of the league. They were then relegated at the end of the term.
      But the ex-Luton Town boss has emerged as one of the leading contenders to replace Matt Taylor at Rotherham.
      The Rotherham Advertiser said: “He is one of the candidates to have held face-to-face talks with the club’s top brass”.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      During his unemployment, Jones has been an occasional pundit for BBC Radio 5 Live.
      The ex-Stoke City boss is hoping to recreate the success he had over two spells at Luton Town.

      He guided the Hatters from the bottom half of League Two to the cusp of the Premier League.
      Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart has confirmed he wants the next head coach to have managerial experience in the second tier.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      And another ex-Stoke chief Gary Rowett has also been linked to the new role, as well as ex-Wigan boss Leam Richardson.
      Interim manager Wayne Carlisle struggled on Tuesday as his Rotherham side lost 4-1 to Hull City.
      They face Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham City this Saturday and Carlisle remains keen to continue his role at the club.
      He said: “I haven’t been told anything. I dare say my phone will ring at some point tomorrow and I’ll find out what the next steps are.
      “I’m happy to do it, I’m really enjoying doing it. We’ve done our prep for Saturday today. We’re ready to go if needed.” More