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      Birmingham wonderkid eyed by Premier League side with Italian giants Atalanta also interested in transfer

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      CRYSTAL PALACE remain keen on Birmingham’s young Welsh wizard Jordan James.The Eagles tried to buy the 19-year-old midfielder and send him back to the Blues on loan last month — even AFTER signing Adam Wharton from Blackburn.
      Crystal Palace are interested in signing Jordan JamesCredit: Rex
      James stayed at St Andrew’s as the offer was too low.
      However, the two clubs have stayed in contact.
      Italians Atalanta made a bigger bid in January and were turned down — they are also still interested and a summer sale is still possible.
      James has scored eight goals in 31 Championship appearances so far this season.
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      Palace signed 20-year-old midfielder Wharton in a £22.5million transfer on deadline day.
      Wharton revealed that he wants to follow in the footsteps of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.
      He said: “I’ve always wanted to play in the Premier League and to play for such a big club like Crystal Palace is a great honour.
      “The way they’ve brought players from the Championship and developed them into world-class players in the Premier League is something that stood out to me, and it’s a big reason why I wanted to come here.”
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      Crystal Palace announced the arrival of new manager Oliver Glasner this week.
      Former boss Roy Hodgson stepped down from his position after falling ill at training.
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      The Eagles won their first match with Glasner in charge on Saturday.
      They cruised to a 3-0 victory over Burnely at Selhurst Park thanks to goals from Chris Richards, Jordan Ayew and Jean-Philippe Mateta. More

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      ‘Delightful footballer and hugely charismatic man’, says Gary Lineker as BBC star leads tributes to legend Stan Bowles

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      GARY LINEKER has led tributes to Stan Bowles after it was announced the QPR legend has died aged 75 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s.Bowles was considered one of the biggest non-conformists of football in the 1970s.
      Stan Bowles passed away at the age of 75Credit: Rex
      Match of the Day host Gary Lineker led the tributes to the 1970’s football iconCredit: Rex
      And taking to X Lineker led the tributes to the Hoops icon.
      The Match of the Day host said: “Sorry to hear that Stan Bowles has died. A delightful footballer and hugely charismatic man.
      “Always loved watching him play. RIP Stan.”
      Bowles played 315 times for QPR and scored 97 goals between 1972 and 1979.
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      The club paid tribute to Bowles, saying: “It is with a heavy heart we have learned that QPR icon Stan Bowles sadly passed away this evening, aged 75.
      “All our thoughts are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. May he rest in peace.”
      Bowles became as well-known for his off-pitch antics as for his on-pitch ones, and once remarked: “Everywhere I went things seemed to end in chaos.
      He added: “I blew the lot on vodka and tonic, gambling and fags.
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      “Looking back, I think I overdid it on the tonic.”
      QPR manager Marti Cifuentes paid tribute by dedicating the club’s 2-1 comeback win over Rotherham to Bowles.
      One notable event during his career was Bowles agreeing a sponsorship deal with two boot companies before wearing one of each.
      Bowles also played for Manchester City, Bury, Crewe, Carlisle, Nottingham Forest and Leyton Orient before he retired at Brentford in 1984.
      The English Football League paid tribute by saying: “A wonderful player, a maverick, an icon and a @QPR legend.”
      Carlisle said: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of legend Stan Bowles. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”
      Brentford said: “One of the finest ever to play in red and white, we mourn the death of Stan Bowles
      “A great entertainer and character who put smiles on the faces of all who saw him play.
      “Our thoughts are with Stan’s friends and family at this incredibly sad time.”
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      He appeared five times for the England national team, scoring once against Wales in 1974.
      In recognition to him, QPR opened the Stanley Bowles stand in 2021. More

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      Incredible reason Ilias Chair is allowed to play for QPR despite being handed one-year jail sentence

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      ILIAS CHAIR was able to start against Rotherham just a day after receiving a two-year jail sentence because Belgian prisons are currently over-crowded.The QPR midfielder was found guilty by an Antwerp court of breaking a man’s skull with a rock after he and his friends got into a row with a trucker as they made their way back from a kayaking trip in northern France in 2020.
      Ilias Chair played for Queen’s Park Rangers against RotherhamCredit: PA
      The reason he is allowed to play has now been revealedCredit: PA
      As well as paying the victim £13,400 compensation for his injuries, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison with a further 12-month suspended sentence.
      Chair is appealing the sentence.
      In Britain, such jail terms are usually imposed immediately.
      But the Belgian system has been hampered by a massive over-crowding problem in the country’s jails in recent years.
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      Until September 2022, anybody handed less than three years jail time would not see a single day behind bars.
      Last September, laws were tightened further so that those with shorter “effective” sentences were meant to spend at least some of that time locked up.
      But with the over-crowding still a factor, the practicality is that those with a sentence of less than two years can ask to be punished outside of jail.
      Belgians generally serve only one third of their allotted time and the last six months of that can be outside prison with electronic surveillance – effectively the entirety of any jail time under 18 months.
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      The club released a statement on Friday stating it could not comment because the legal matter was still ongoing and before the end of the game were unable even to give any indication as the exact position of Chair’s case.
      The Morocco international has been training and playing for the club as usual throughout the legal proceedings and manager Marti Cifuentes has insisted he will continue to select him all the time he is available.
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      Ilias Chair STARTS for QPR in Championship clash against Rotherham just a day after being sentenced to a YEAR in jail

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      ILIAS CHAIR was named in QPR’s starting XI to face Rotherham just a day after being sentenced to a year in jail.The R’s star, 26, was found guilty of breaking a truck driver’s skull with a rock.
      Ilias Chair was in action for QPRCredit: PA
      The wide midfielder has been named in QPR’s starting Xi to face RotherhamCredit: PA
      Chair, 26, remains available to playCredit: Rex
      Chair, who was born in Antwerp, Belgium, was sentenced to a year in jail, with a further year suspended, in his hometown on Friday morning.
      He was also ordered to pay his victim £13,400 in compensation.
      Chair is appealing the verdict and is available to play while his counter is considered.
      The trial heard Chair, his brother Jaber and friends got into an argument with a trucker in Bazeilles, northern France, in summer 2020.
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      Jaber received a six-month suspended jail term and £700 fine for his part in the incident.
      Following the news, QPR wrote in a statement: “The club are, and have been, in regular contact with Ilias Chair’s legal team regarding a charge of assault which has been made against him.
      “The legal proceeding is yet to reach its conclusion. As such, the club will be making no further comment at this stage.”
      The wide midfielder is among QPR’s key players, having netted the only goal in a 1-0 win over Bristol City last week.
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      Going into this weekend he had made 31 appearances in the Championship this term, scoring four goals and laying on a further five assists.
      Antwerp’s public prosecutor told a January hearing: ” According to many people involved, Ilias Chair lashed out at Niels T with a stone and knocked him unconscious.
      The untold story behind Peter Odemwingie’s infamous arrival at QPR’s training ground on deadline day
      “The consequences were dramatic for Niels T. He suffered a severe skull fracture, two centimetres long, and was taken to hospital at Reims in critical condition.
      “Afterwards he had to recover for a long time in a Belgian hospital, and could not do his job as a lorry driver for a long time.
      “The blow was almost fatal for him, and he still feels the after-effects.”
      Niels T’s lawyer said:  “My client almost lost his life, and it took surgeons to save him.  
      “He was unable to work for a long time, and still suffers adverse reactions every day to having been hit with a rock.” More

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      Enzo Maresca suffers FREAK injury celebrating during thrilling Championship clash as Leeds admin trolls Leicester boss

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      LEICESTER manager Enzo Maresca suffered a bizarre injury during Friday’s Championship clash with Leeds.The Foxes took the lead through Wout Faes in the 15th minute, sparking wild celebrations from the visitors at Elland Road.
      Enzo Maresca suffered a freak injury during the matchCredit: Getty
      He was spotted with a plaster on his handCredit: Getty
      But when the match resumed Maresca was spotted holding his hand.
      Leicester’s medical team were quick to treat the 44-year-old and he was later seen with a plaster on his wrist.
      Sky Sports explained that he had slipped in his technical area while celebrating and accidentally cut himself.
      Maresca’s side managed to retain the lead for the majority of the game, but Leeds pulled off an outstanding comeback in the late stages.
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      Connor Roberts equalised with a composed strike into the bottom-left corner in the 80th minute before 17-year-old Archie Gray fired the Whites ahead.
      Daniel James’ free kick then deflected off Patrick Bamford in added time, sealing the win.
      Leeds appeared to troll Maresca after the match with a social media post.
      Ahead of the fixture, the Leicester manager described it as “just one more game,” suggesting that it was a bigger match for Leeds than it was for his side.
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      However, the Whites used that at full-time, tweeting “just one more game,” with the words crossed out before writing “just one more win”.
      After the match Maresca admitted that Leeds were “mentally better” than his side.
      Five EFL Championship stars destined for the Premier League More

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      I’m a former Premier League star – my team-mates stitched me up and I ended up living in rowdy student area

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      LEEDS star Patrick Bamford has revealed how his team-mates stitched him up over his new flat when he was on loan at Burnley.The 30-year-old spent one season on loan at the Clarets while at Chelsea during the 2016-17 campaign.
      Patrick Bamford revealed how he was tricked into living in a rowdy part of Manchester by team-matesCredit: Alamy
      The stitch-up happened while Bamford was on loan at Burnley in the 2016-17 seasonCredit: Steve Bardens/Telegraph Media Group
      Bamford joined Chelsea for £1.5 million in 2012 from Nottingham Forest but was immediately sent on loan, with spells at Milton Keynes Dons, Derby County, and Middlesbrough.
      After winning the Championship Player of the Year for the 2014–15 season with Boro he made his Premier League debut on loan at Crystal Palace, before spells with Norwich City and Burnley.
      While he was at Turf Moor his team-mates thought it would be funny the stitch the forward up regarding his living arrangements.
      On his podcast, My Mate’s a Footballer, which Bamford co-hosts with Joe Wilkinson, the Leeds ace revealed he was tricked into living in the noisy student area of Manchester – the Northern Quarter.
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      He said: “So when I was on loan at Burnley, in your loan contract, you get a bit of an allowance towards a flat wherever you’re going to rent.
      “So I was looking ages for a flat. And I was in the Hilton at Deansgate, the centre of Manchester.
      “I asked some of the lads where I should live. I can’t remember who it was but someone said ‘The Northern Quarter in Manchester is up and coming’.
      “We would stay home the night before a game to get a good night’s sleep.
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      “Well, Friday night in the Northern Quarter. It was like it was carnival. Carnival on the street every night.”
      I should have made England’s World Cup squad but injury ruined my dream and I sat crying on the bench
      After five years at Chelsea without landing a first-team spot, Bamford headed back to Middlesbrough for around £5.5 million in 2017.
      He went on to join Leeds in July 2018 for around £10million and helped the club win the Championship in 2019–20.
      The Lincolnshire-born star represented England from U18 to senior level, making his Three Lions senior debut in September 2021.
      His first and only game for England came against Andorra on 5 September 2021, where he started and played 62 minutes of the 4–0 victory at Wembley Stadium. More

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      QPR star Ilias Chair sentenced to a year in jail for breaking truck driver’s skull with a rock

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      QPR ace Ilias Chair has been sentenced to a year in jail – after being found guilty of breaking a truck driver’s skull with a rock.The Morocco midfielder has shone since joining the Championship club from Belgians Lierse in 2017.
      Ilias Chair has been sentenced to 12 months in prisonCredit: Rex
      Chair represented Morocco at the Qatar World CupCredit: Getty
      But a court in his home town Antwerp sentenced him to a year in jail, with a further 12 months suspended, on Friday morning.
      Chair, 26, was also ordered to pay his victim £13,400 compensation for his injuries.
      The news is a huge blow to QPR, who are battling against relegation to League One.
      The trial heard Chair, his brother Jaber and friends got into an argument with the trucker in Bazeilles, northern France, in summer 2020.
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      They and the driver, named as Niels T, had been waiting for a bus back to Belgium after a kayaking trip.
      Antwerp’s public prosecutor told a January hearing: “According to many people involved, Ilias Chair lashed out at Niels T with a stone and knocked him unconscious.
      “The consequences were dramatic for Niels T.  He suffered a severe skull fracture, two centimetres long, and was taken to hospital at Reims in critical condition.
      “Afterwards he had to recover for a long time in a Belgian hospital, and could not do his job as a lorry driver for a long time.
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      “The blow was almost fatal for him, and he still feels the after-effects.”
      Chair engaged a new lawyer, but the court rejected their pleas for a retrial on Friday.
      The player’s brother Jaber received a six-month suspended jail term and £700 fine for his part in the incident.
      Niels T’s lawyer said:  “My client almost lost his life, and it took surgeons to save him.  
      “He was unable to work for a long time, and still suffers adverse reactions every day to having been hit with a rock.”
      QPR issued a statement, whch read: “The club are, and have been, in regular contact with Ilias Chair’s legal team regarding a charge of assault which has been made against him.
      “The legal proceeding is yet to reach its conclusion. As such, the club will be making no further comment at this stage.”
      Chair last featured for QPR on February 17 against Bristol City scoring the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win.
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      He has played 33 times in the league this season for the Rangers and has four goals and five assists for the Championship’s 22nd placed team.
      In total Chair has made 223 appearances for QPR since joining the academy in 2017 from Belgian club Lierse SK.
      Chair has been ordered to pay £13,400 to the victimCredit: Instagram @ilias_chair
      He has been handed a 12 month suspended sentence alongside his year long sentenceCredit: Instagram @ilias_chair
      The star last played for QPR on February 17Credit: Instagram @ilias_chair More

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      Millwall sack Joe Edwards after just 19 games in charge with former manager Neil Harris to replace ex-Chelsea coach

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      MILLWALL have sacked their manager Joe Edwards after the club suffered six defeats in their last seven games.The Championship side have already found their replacement to be former player and manager Neil Harris.
      Millwall have sacked Joe EdwardsCredit: Getty
      Former Millwall player and manager Neil Harris is set to become the new bossCredit: Getty
      Millwall are currently on the brink of relegation sitting 21st in the table.
      After a dismal 2-0 defeat to bottom-ranked Sheffield Wednesday the Lions have decided to part ways with Edwards who has been in charge for just 19 games.
      James Berylson, Millwall chairman, said: “This has of course been a very tough time and it is not a decision that we have taken lightly.
      “Joe has worked incredibly hard during his spell with us and it is with sincere regret that the move hasn’t worked out for both parties in the way we had anticipated.
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      “I cannot praise him highly enough for his professionalism, standards, values, and work ethic, and I am confident he will have a long and successful career as a Head Coach.
      “I would like to thank Joe and Andy for everything they’ve done for the club and wish them every success for the future.”
      Edwards’ brief tenure at The Den lasted just over three months but never managed to find his feet at the South London side.
      During his time at Millwall, he secured a mere four victories out of the nineteen games he oversaw.
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      The Lions have picked up one point from a possible 21 following their New Year’s Day win at Bristol City 
      And Harris, a former player and manager at Millwall, is expected to leave his role at League One side Cambridge and return to The Den after his exit in October 2019.

      Harris will be popular with supporters ahead of his task of saving the Lions from relegation.
      Millwall are now just one point above the relegation zone and face fourth-place Southampton on Saturday.
      But they will be in the bottom three this weekend if they lose to Southampton and QPR avoid defeat at home to bottom club Rotherham.
      The club’s chiefs were targeting another season for the play-offs, after finishing in the top nine in three of the last four campaigns.
      Edwards arrived from the club after departing his role with England’s under-20s after being appointed in November.
      He is the second Championship manager to get the boot this week after Sunderland sacked Michael Beale on Monday after just 12 games in charge.
      More to follow.
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