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      Everyone at Birmingham’s buzzing that Tom Brady has invested but I’m scared I’ll be kicked out of fantasy league for him

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      THE messages on the Birmingham WhatsApp group were going mad yesterday morning.Imagine this. You’re in a highly competitive workplace NFL Fantasy Football competition and there’s an announcement that Tom Brady — a seven-time Super Bowl winner and the greatest quarterback in history — has joined your company.
      Tom Brady is involved in a group that has taken over BirminghamCredit: Instagram
      Tom Brady is widely-regarded as one of the best NFL players everCredit: EPA
      Troy Deeney played for the club last seasonCredit: PA
      Because that’s exactly what’s happened for those Blues players and staff.
      I’m still in that Fantasy Football competition despite leaving my home-town club this summer and, frankly, I’m worried I’ll be kicked out of it.
      As one of the boys messaged: “Who’s going to make way for Tom Brady?”
      There are 12 of us in the competition, eight players and four staff members — and it’s great because if you choose one player in the draft then no one else can have him.
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      I don’t really want to give him any credit because he was not a gracious winner but striker Lukas Jutkiewicz won our fantasy league last season.
      And he’s so sure of himself that he probably thinks he will beat Tom Brady at it, too!
      Brady has become a minority owner of Birmingham City as well as chairman of the club’s advisory board.
      The boys are absolutely buzzing about the prospect of meeting Brady, who will apparently be passing on advice on fitness and nutrition to them as well as working on commercial projects.
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      Brady addressed Blues fans in a video, stressing he can’t wait to get excitedCredit: Instagram @bcfc
      There was already real optimism that the club would move in the right direction under the new American ownership of Tom Wagner’s Knighthead Capital Management.
      But the involvement of Brady, one of the biggest names in world sport, has added to that.
      If I tell you a little about playing for Birmingham over the past two seasons, you will understand the scale of the transformation at the club.
      It’s 100 per cent true that if Blues hadn’t had the right manager, John Eustace, we would have been relegated last season.
      Sometimes we were going into training not knowing whether the old ownership had signed off the purchase of footballs for us to  practise with.
      If you wanted an ice bath, it was often broken. Players were chipping in with their own money for things.
      On match days, two stands were closed and the playing surface was terrible because the women’s team and the Under-23s were playing all of their matches on it.
      The job Eustace did in leading the club comfortably clear of relegation was outstanding and I hope he gets the time to advance his philosophy and playing style under the new owners.
      Brady is the latest celebrity from American sports and entertainment to buy into English football, after Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking over Wrexham.
      Another Hollywood actor Michael B Jordan investing in Bournemouth and Major golf champions Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas joining the new ownership at Leeds.
      The success of Wrexham — promoted back to the Football League and enjoying a high-profile US Tour on the back of the club’s Disney documentary — has got a lot of Americans interested in English football at lower levels as well as the Premier League.
      For these Americans, it’s not necessarily about the wealthiest or most successful clubs, it’s about great people.
      So it would not surprise me if Birmingham have a Netflix or Amazon documentary made about them as well.
      Those projects, as well as the investment of someone like Brady, are not just PR gimmicks. They say a lot about a club’s direction.
      Some of the Leeds lads have watched the Full Swing Netflix documentary about the PGA Tour and will be excited about the involvement of Spieth and Thomas.
      It all adds glamour to the new Championship season, which starts with newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday against newly relegated Southampton.
      Playing in the Championship is relentless and unpredictable. It’s two games per week, so it’s hard work but also immense fun.I’ve experienced both ends of it.
      At Watford, we were still being run like a  Premier League club when we were promoted back to the top tier . . . staying in the best hotels, flying to away games and no expense spared with facilities.
      At Blues, it was very different . . . wondering if we had enough footballs, staying in average hotels and spending hours stuck on buses in motorway traffic jams on Friday afternoons.
      All that may change for Birmingham now but in such a competitive league, a top-half finish would still be good — but I fancy them to make the  play-offs.
      My time at my boyhood club came to an end this summer but it was a great honour to captain them for two years.
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      And even though I’ve left, the arrival of Brady has excited me, just as it’s excited the rest of that WhatsApp group.
      Please don’t kick me out of the Fantasy Football, lads!
      Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bundchen were married for over 13 years before their divorce last yearCredit: Getty
      Tom Brady played for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay BuccaneersCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Premier League side Burnley advertising job for matchday stretcher bearer

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      PREMIER League side Burnley are hoping fans get carried away with their latest job ad — for a matchday stretcher bearer.The newly promoted club — managed by former Manchester City hero Vincent Kompany — want someone who can “perform the manual handling requirements to lift and lower a stretcher”.
      Burnley are advertising for a stretcher bearer to carry injured players off the field at their groundCredit: Reuters
      The newly promoted club is managed by former Manchester City hero Vincent KompanyCredit: Getty
      They say applicants must be fit and active and be able to work evenings and weekends.
      The ad tells hopefuls they would “be present at a list of fixtures to remove injured players by stretchers from the field”.
      It adds: “They will also need to have a flexible approach to work and be able to work evenings and weekends.”
      It stresses: “The ideal candidate will have experience in pre-hospital first aid.”
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      But no salary is given and it is described as a zero hours contract.
      The Clarets, who play at Turf Moor, won the Championship with 101 points last season.
      Burnley will now be taking their place in the Premiership, with Vincent Kompany hoping to put a dent in former club Man City’s hope of winning the league. More

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      I was relegated twice in four seasons from the Premier League.. the Championship is much more enjoyable anyway

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      RUSSELL MARTIN has told his Southampton stars that  playing in the Championship is more fun than getting stuffed each week in the Premier League.The Saints, relegated from the top flight after 11 years, kick off the EFL season on Friday at promoted Sheffield Wednesday.
      Russell Martin has claimed the Championship is more fun than the Premier LeagueCredit: Alamy
      Russell Martin was relegated twice with NorwichCredit: Getty
      Martin, 37, who has taken charge at St Mary’s after two years at Swansea, knows through bitter experience that suffering heavy defeats on a regular basis in the top flight is not particularly enjoyable.
      So this is why the ex-Norwich defender, who suffered the drop in two of his four Prem seasons, reckons Southampton’s stars  will thrive on their role reversal.
      He said: “I know that for a lot of the players who get caught up in a relegation fight each year, it becomes a real grind just to try and stay in the Premier League. They do not admit it publicly because of what comes with the  Premier League.
      “Obviously there are many great things about it.
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      “It sounds crazy because, as a player, you want to be in the Premier League but, sometimes, being in the Championship can be more enjoyable. Certainly I found that.
      “I did not have the luxury of playing in a top team in the Premier League but I was always looking at the next point and where it would come from as we tried to survive. At least you know that in the Championship, you always have a chance.
      “Now, I am hoping our players here at Southampton will be excited by this challenge even though it is relentless compared to the Premier League.
      “I hope we will enjoy being the  aggressor and trying to be the dominant team, rather than trying to fight to stay in the league.
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      Russell Martin is the new Southampton managerCredit: Getty
      “We are trying to win something and get promoted. The mentality has to change to do that but it will be enjoyable.”
      Southampton went down with Leicester and Leeds so this year’s Championship looks set to be one of the toughest, unlike last season when Burnley dominated.
      Martin, who has developed a reputation as a coach whose teams  play possession-based football, said: “There will be bet-ween 10 and 15 teams who fancy having a go. Last year, you expected West Brom,
      Stoke, Norwich and Watford to be right up there and they all underachieved so they will be desperate to bounce back.
      “Alongside those four teams, you have the three relegated clubs in ourselves, Leeds and Leicester.
      “Outside of that, you will have Coventry who were outstanding last season and did so well to get to the play-offs.
      “Middlesbrough under Michael Carrick will be backed financially and you have three promoted clubs — Wednesday,  Ipswich and Plymouth — who will be  fancying themselves.”
      Martin has always been an old head on young shoulders. He was Peterborough’s youngest captain at 21, took over as MK Dons boss at 33, Swansea at 35 and now the Saints.
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      At 30, he  set up the Russell Martin Foundation to help youngsters in Sussex.
      Martin, who grew up in Brighton, said: “We started with two people and 12 kids and now have 28 full-time staff and it turns over nearly £2million although it all goes back in.
      “We started with a football academy but we branched out and we are giving  provision for kids who are struggling in mainstream school.
      “Two of my brothers did not finish school and if they had had something like this, it would have made a huge  difference.”
      Now, though, Martin’s priority is to get Southampton off to a flying start.
      He said: “The atmosphere will be great and Hillsborough is an amazing place to play. It is a tough start and we have  Norwich at home the next week.
      “We want to start well but we know it will not be perfect from the start.
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      “Our team will be playing in a different way to what they are used to.
      “But the attitude has been great, there has been no sense of entitlement from the players and they are all excited to get going and start well.”
      Martin has been tasked with getting Southampton back into the top flightCredit: Getty
      Southampton were relegated last seasonCredit: Reuters More

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      Huge rule change to be introduced in English football this season after Fifa pressure on Premier League

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      THE PREMIER LEAGUE and EFL have launched a new approach to cut down on time-wasting and increase ball-in-play time.The new Championship campaign starting on August 4 will be the first run of match officials’ new approach to improving time-keeping.
      Officials will be more robust dealing with clear/deliberate actions taken to delay the game restartingCredit: Rex Features
      As seen in the 2022 World Cup and Womens World Cup currently taking place in Australia, games are likely to last for more than 100 minutes.
      One match official has told Sky Sports News it will now be a rarity if a top flight game lasts fewer than than 100 minutes.
      According to the Daily Mail the average ball-in-play time for the 22/23 PL season was 54 minutes 49 seconds – the lowest number since 2010.
      The EFL released a statement on their website on how they plan to enhance ball-in-play time.
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      It includes adding more time for injuries and goals, and a blitz on time-wasting tactics.
      The statement reads: “As the game collectively looks to enhance the amount of time the ball is in play in the forthcoming campaign, the exact time lost when certain game events occur will now be added. 
      “In previous seasons the policy was to add on a nominal period of time for certain game events. The events include:

      Goals and subsequent celebrations
      Substitutions
      Injuries and treatment time (if required)
      Penalties (from moment of offence to the whistle for the penalty kick)
      Red cards (from moment of offence to when the player leaves the field)

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      “Alongside a more accurate allowance for time lost during the game, the EFL will also adopt the multi-ball system, which has been proven to increase ball in-play time.”
      “Match officials will also be taking a more robust approach to dealing with clear/deliberate actions that are impactful in delaying the restart of play, with players cautioned if they are guilty of:

      Delaying the restart of play
      Failing to respect the required distance at free-kicks.”

      Some fans have taken to twitter to share their opinions on the new approach.
      One wrote: “This is good! The ‘park the bus tactics’ will suffer from this. Those teams spend most of the time on the floor.” More

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      The FA’s NINE rule changes in clampdown on players, managers and fans that could see bookings and stadium bans soar

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      PLAYERS, managers AND fans have all been targeted in a major disciplinary clampdown for the new season.The new measures, agreed by the FA, Prem, EFL and refs’ chiefs, will see officials better able to punish “unacceptable conduct on the pitch, on the side-lines and in the stands”.
      Aleksandar Mitrovic received an eight-game ban after his red card at Old TraffordCredit: AFP
      Players are being reminded over their conductCredit: Getty
      Managers are also being urged to behave responsiblyCredit: AFP
      Wembley bosses have been working on the updated proposals since mid-way through last season as on field and touchline anarchy exploded.
      And the hardline measures, to come into effect from the start of the season, are aimed at ensuring referees are no longer pursued and intimidated by players and benches.
      Under the new regulations, all club technical staff, including managers and assistants, must sign up to a “code of conduct” – which has been approved by the League Managers Association.
      That will mandate them to attend pre-match briefings with the match officials, behave in a “responsible manner”, stay within the technical area at all times and not use tablets or or electronic devices to try to show refs that have made errors.
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      In addition, any boss entering the pitch to confront an official at either half-time OR full-time will be in direct breach of the code and face punishment.
      Breaches will bring heavier fines and other punishments including potential bans.
      The crackdown for players, drawn up with the help of the PFA, will put the onus on team captains to “take responsibility for the behaviour of their team-mates”.
      Crucially, players have been explicitly warned they “must not confront, invade the personal space of, or make physical contact with the match officials”.
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      Yellow cards is the minimum punishment and WILL follow if “two or more players surround a match official in a confrontational manner”.
      And players will be punished if they are adjudged to have “instigated or escalated a mass confrontation with opposing players and/or technical area occupants”.
      In addition, and in response to so-called “tragedy chanting” by some fans, the game’s rulers promised “tough new measures” resulting in “stadium bans and potential criminal prosecution”.
      Police and stewards will be expected to identify those guilty of “offensive chanting, gesturing and displaying offensive messages based on football-related tragedies”.

      In a statement the governing body and leagues said: “The game will also continue its efforts to combat dangerous, illegal and unwelcome behaviour off the pitch, be it in the stands or online. 
      “Last season a host of new measures were introduced by authorities which saw enhanced sanctions applied for people identified entering the pitch, using pyros, taking drugs to games, throwing objects or for discriminatory abuse.”
      Explaining the new stance, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “Football has the unique power to unite, inspire and improve the lives of all those that play and watch the game at any level. 
      “However, in recent years we have seen how this can be negatively impacted by a small minority of players, coaches and fans.
      “This season, English football is coming together with a commitment to address this unacceptable behaviour within our game, on the pitch and on the side-lines. 
      “We understand that it will take time to adapt to these new measures – but we are confident that they will have a positive impact at all levels.
      “We are also determined to address the rise in unacceptable behaviour from the stands. Incidents such as dangerous conduct, discrimination, and chanting about football-related tragedies have no place in our game – and can lead to football bans and potential criminal action. 
      “Passion, emotion and excitement are fundamental to football, however this must be shown in the right way. 
      “Everyone can play their part, so that together we can create a safe and enjoyable environment for all.”
      Prem counterpart Richard Masters added: “We want players, managers and fans to continue showing their passion, but these new measures have been introduced to ensure that the line is not crossed when it comes to on-field and technical area behaviour.
      “We also strongly believe there is no room for abhorrent tragedy abuse in football. 
      “Along with our clubs and the authorities, we are committed to sanctioning those found guilty and will also focus on educating fans of all ages so they understand why this abuse is so hurtful and unacceptable.”
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      The new measures for the professional game will be allied to a clampdown at grass roots level as well, including the introduction of point deductions for teams whose players or coaches commit repeated offences of serious misconduct.
      Additionally, the trial of bodycams for referees will continue into the 2023/24 season.
      The new measures could lead to more bansCredit: Reuters
      Fans are also being reminded not to chant abhorrent songsCredit: AFP More

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      I’ve scored 81 EFL goals and married a Love Island star – now I’m balancing professional football with my own TV series

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      BRADLEY DACK has had an unforgettable summer, despite being released by Blackburn.The attacking midfielder was a fans’ favourite at Ewood Park, playing 173 times for Rovers over six years.
      Bradley Dack will star in the latest season of his own reality TV show with Olivia AttwoodCredit: Instagram
      The couple were engaged in 2019Credit: Splash
      Dack, 29, left Blackburn Rovers at the end of last seasonCredit: Getty
      After his playing time dwindled during last season, Blackburn made the difficult call not to renew his contract.
      He has since joined Sunderland, reuniting with his former boss Tony Mowbray.
      Despite finding himself having to change clubs, Dack has still enjoyed the summer of a lifetime.
      The 29-year-old has been dating former Love Island star Olivia Attwood for a number of years after being introduced by mutual friends at a swanky London nightclub before she entered the villa, with the pair getting engaged in 2019.
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      Last month they finally tied the knot following a series of Covid-related delays in a stunning ceremony.
      The happy couple will now star in the latest season of their own reality TV show Olivia Meets Her Match, documenting the build-up to the wedding as well as the big day itself.
      Over four hour-long episodes on ITV, fans will be given behind the scenes access to Dack and Olivia’s stag and hen dos.
      They will also become privy to all kinds of insider gossip from the couple themselves.
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      Appearing in a trailer, Olivia said: “This is the moment we have been waiting for. This is going to be a fairytale. Husband and wife.”
      Dack then added: “I’m about to marry the love of my life. [I won’t cry] as I don’t want to mess up my make-up.”
      Olivia appeared on Love Island in 2017, the same year that Dack joined Blackburn from Gillingham.
      He immediately achieved hero status at Ewood Park, scoring 18 goals on the way to promotion – also bagging the League One Player of the Year award.
      His skills immediately translated to the Championship, in which he netted 15 times during the 2018-19 campaign.
      He was off to a flyer during the first half of the following season, before being struck down in December 2019 by the first of two devastating ACL injuries.
      Dack started just seven Championship games across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns as he battled back from various setbacks.
      Last season he was largely fit and available, although wasn’t always in favour with boss Jon Dahl Tomasson – going on to leave having scored 57 goals in 173 appearances in all competitions.
      In his farewell letter to Blackburn fans, Dack revealed that he still harbours hopes of playing in the top flight.
      Hopefully I’ll see you in the Premier League!Bradley Dack
      He wrote: “I wish the club all the best in the future. Hopefully the club gets back to the Premier League, where it belongs. I would love to have stayed for another season, but that couldn’t happen.
      “I’ll go on and hopefully we’ll see each other soon and hopefully I’ll see you in the Premier League!
      “Thank you again from me. I’m thoroughly grateful to everyone who’s been involved during my time at the club. It’s been an absolute pleasure and I can’t wait to see you again soon.”
      Following his Ewood Park exit, Dack was quickly linked with fellow Championship side Sunderland.
      And he sealed a deal with the Black Cats this week, signing a one-year deal to reunite with Mowbray.
      Upon joining, he told the club’s media team: “It feels brilliant to be here. It’s clear to see the Club is on an upwards trajectory and it’s great to be on board.
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      “To play in front of 40,000 people every week at the Stadium of Light was a huge pull for me, there’s not many teams in England can produce those numbers.
      “I hope my experience and style of play can add something different to the group, and I can’t wait to pull on the shirt for the first time.”
      Dack initially dated Olivia before her Love Island appearanceCredit: Splash
      The happy couple finally wed last monthCredit: Splash
      Dack has signed for Sunderland on an initial one-year dealCredit: Getty More

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      Premier League manager keeps bizarre object in a case on his desk to remind him of ‘fine margins’ in football

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      PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM keeps a bizarre object in a case on his desk to remind him of the “fine margins” in football.The Sheffield United boss is preparing for his club’s return to the Premier League following promotion last year.
      Paul Heckingbottom will manage Sheffield United in the Premier League this seasonCredit: Getty
      However, the Blades could have been back in the top-flight a year earlier had it not been for play-off heartache in 2022.
      Heckingbottom’s side were beaten on penalties by Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals after drawing 2-2 on aggregate.
      During the second leg, midfielder Iliman Ndiaye was agonisingly denied by Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba.
      The Senegal international’s shot deflecting wide after scraping one of Samba’s studs.
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      Heckingbottom now keeps a stud in a clear case on his desk as a reminder of the fine margins in football.
      He sees it as a symbol to control every controllable, with everything else in football down to fortune.
      Speaking to I in October last year, he explained: “When I was playing, I used to have a manager who would constantly say to us that it is better to be a lucky manager than a good one.
      “Even when he messages me now, he always signs off with ‘Be lucky’.
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      “Those moments can often define a match or a season and you aren’t in control of them.
      “As long as you know everyone has given their best, you are happy. And if you have the right environment, you can eliminate risk.
      “The more details you get right over time, you will win more of those marginal moments than you lose.”
      Heckingbottom has been in charge of the Blades since November 2021, following spells as both a caretaker boss and their under-21 manager.
      Having taken over with the club 16th in the Championship, he guided them to fifth place and the play-offs in that maiden campaign.
      The former Leeds gaffer then went one better last season, finishing second and achieving automatic promotion to the Premier League.
      His side will kick-off their top-flight return at home to Crystal Palace on August 12.
      Heckingbottom keeps a stud on his deskCredit: PA More

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      I’m former wonderkid who became a Netflix star before completing huge Euro transfer… now I’m unemployed at 24

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      FORMER Sunderland star Josh Maja is unemployed after he was released from Bordeaux.The 24-year-old was one of the stars of the hit Netflix show Sunderland ‘Til I Die.
      Josh Maja is now a free agent after being released by BordeauxCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The documentary took fans behind-the-scenes during the 2018/19 season.
      Maja, who was just 19 at the time, netted an incredible 15 league goals in 24 matches as he became a fans’ favourite.
      His performances attracted interest from other clubs and the transfer saga became a major part of the series.
      Maja left in January to sign for Bordeaux.
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      Sunderland owner Stewart Donald expressed his disappointment with striker’s agent as the club failed to get him to agree a new contract.
      Maja went to the French side and had loan spells back in England with Fulham and Stoke.
      Last year he netted 17 goals as Bordeaux narrowly missed out on promotion back to Ligue 1 after they were controversially docked a point due to crowd trouble.
      Maja has now been released by the club and is a free agent.
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      The Nigerian is searching for a new team and has been linked with several sides in the UK with him keen to return home.
      Rangers, Birmingham and Blackburn are all rumoured to be interested. More