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      Curtis Davies, 38, wants another year on pitch as Derby mull contract extension despite star’s blossoming media career

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      CURTIS DAVIES wants to play on for one more year — despite turning 38 in March.The Derby centre-half is still fit and hungry to play.
      Derby ace Curtis Davies wants to play for one more year despite his advanced ageCredit: Rex
      Derby will decide about a contract extension for Davies at the end of the seasonCredit: Rex
      And despite a blossoming media career, he plans to stay on the pitch as long as possible.
      County will decide whether to offer him a contract extension following the final game of the season against Sheffield Wednesday.
      But Davies is willing to move to keep his boots on.
      Nevertheless, the centre-back still wants to prepare himself for retirement.
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      The ex-England Under-21 international has a first-class honours degree from Staffordshire University in professional sports writing and broadcasting and a career in media appeals to him.
      However, the ex-West Brom star remains unsure about turning to management.
      Davies told The Guardian: “It’s not in me so much right now.
      “It’s in the back of my mind. A lot of managers have said to me I’ll be a manager.
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      “But it’s a stressful life. You have very little time to make your stamp on something.
      “Derby has opened my eyes to lots of things. It’s opened my eyes to the boardroom and the types of people who should be involved.
      “Would I ever want to go on the executive side? But when you’re in football you realise how much politics there is in general.” More

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      Ex-Man Utd flop Nick Powell to quit Stoke with Potters to use his massive wages to go on summer transfer overhaul

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      NICK POWELL is leaving Stoke at the end of his lucrative contract.Talented attacker Powell wants a new challenge after his four-year spell at the club.
      Stoke ace Nick Powell is set to leave in the summer transfer windowCredit: Getty
      Powell played for Manchester United before joining StokeCredit: Getty
      And he will be one of the better free agents on the market.
      The former Manchester United prospect, 29, was on a big deal at Stoke.
      His exit will give Potters boss Alex Neil extra space in the budget to sign a couple of new faces.
      Neil has stated that Stoke will concentrate on “educated gambles” in the upcoming summer transfer window.
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      The Scottish tactician outlined his plans ahead of Monday’s Championship clash at Watford.
      Neil said: “There are going to have to be some educated gambles.
      “There might be a certain quality we can acquire we need to take an element of risk on.
      “If we were to take a hard line on that and say everyone is going to have to have played 90 per cent of games completed or we don’t sign them… I don’t think we’re at that stage yet.
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      “That might be in a couple of windows when we have the basis of a core squad and we’re adding the final touches. We’re not there at the moment.
      “We need to get to a point where the fundamentals are in place and know this is the group we’re going to go forward with in the next two or three seasons.
      “I think that is what the club needs. It hasn’t had that for a number of years.
      “Then we can push that on and start to add the bits around it.
      “Preferably we want players who don’t get injured and recruitment is a big part in that but there will be a few educated gambles, I imagine, in there.” More

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      Derby lead race to sign red-hot Northern Irish striker Lee Bonis in bargain transfer.. even if they don’t get promoted

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      DERBY head the race to sign Northern Irish striker Lee Bonis.The Larne striker, 23, has 16 goals this season.
      Larne star Lee Bonis is being targeted by Derby ahead of the summer transfer windowCredit: Rex
      And Bonis could now move for about £200,000 in the summer.
      League One Rams are chasing promotion – currently sitting sixth in the third tier.
      But they may bid for him even if they do not go back up to the Championship.
      Dundee United have also been linked with a summer move for the centre-forward.
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      Bonis’ impressive displays have helped fire Larne to the Irish Premiership title.
      The ex-Northern Ireland Under-21 international has been a revelation for the champions after moving from Portadown last year in a £100,000 deal.
      Larne manager Tiernan Lynch is braced for the forward’s departure but insists the Derby target will not be sold on the cheap.
      Lynch said: “My honest answer is that I think Lee has the capabilities to get across the water.
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      “I think he has all the attributes that teams would be looking for — big, strong, physical, athletic and scores goals.
      “I don’t think you would get Lee for anything less than £300,000.
      “I think you need to flip that back and ask if potential clubs can afford not to look at someone like Lee?
      “In today’s market, £300,000 isn’t a huge amount of money.” More

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      Angry Wigan players in talks to go on STRIKE and refuse to play final Championship game of season over more unpaid wages

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      ANGRY Wigan players are in talks about going on STRIKE — and refusing to play the final Championship game of the season against Rotherham on Monday.The Latics squad, who did not train on Saturday, have been let down by the club’s Bahraini owners who failed to pay all the wages on time on Friday.
      Wigan players did not have their wages paid on FridayCredit: Rex
      They are now considering going on strikeCredit: Rex
      Some players have now been paid late — but those out of contract in the summer are still to see their money.
      And unless that missing cash arrives before the match with the Millers, relegated Wigan are openly discussing not playing.
      Chairman Talal Al Hammad revealed that the cash will not go in until AFTER the game — and that may not be enough to convince the players to turn out.
      Wigan could be forced to use their reserves or even youth-team players to make up numbers, although that would cause further trouble with the EFL — who are also fuming about the situation.
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      The Latics were hit with a three-point penalty by the league for previous offences of not paying players or staff on four occasions this season.
      They have other charges against their owners, who were ordered to put cash aside for salaries.
      But to field a weakened side — even in a meaningless game — would see further potential punishments that could include points penalties for next season.
      Al Hammad said “all available resources” had been used so far, raising huge questions about how they can fund the club in the long term.
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      A Wigan statement read: “Staff wages were paid on Friday with the chairman Mr Talal Al Hammad making a decision to pay as many employees as possible within the organisation with the resources available.
      “All remaining playing and non-playing staff will be paid at the earliest opportunity following the Bank Holiday weekend.
      “The ownership group, Phoenix 2021 Limited, insist they are working hard to ensure that this is rectified as soon as possible and apologise again for the stress this has caused.
      “All first-team players have been given the day off from training today given the difficult circumstances.
      “The club will make no further comment until it has further clarification.” More

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      Leicester targeting ‘next Brendan Rodgers’ to replace Dean Smith with Foxes in Premier League relegation scrap

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      RUSSELL MARTIN will be top of Leicester’s wanted list this summer.But that’s only if the Foxes go down to the Championship.
      Leicester will target Swansea’s Russell Martin if they are relegatedCredit: Getty
      Caretaker Dean Smith is hoping to keep the Foxes in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
      Dean Smith is trying to keep Leicester in the top flight in a nail-biting relegation scrap.
      But his long-term future at the King Power is uncertain.
      And if Leicester have to start again, they have their eyes on the Swansea boss.
      Martin, 37, is seen as a “new Brendan Rodgers”, who was sacked last month.
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      That is what the Foxes are looking for if they are in for a reset eight years after winning the title.
      Swansea will want compensation for their highly-rated manager.
      But Martin only has one year left on his deal, leaving the Welsh side with little room to manoeuvre.
      In the meantime, Smith will make his own case for the hot seat by attempting to keep Leicester in the Premier League.
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      The ex-Aston Villa boss lost his first game to Man City.
      But he has since beaten Wolves while drawing against relegation rivals Leeds and Everton.
      Leicester’s next game sees them travel to Fulham on Monday.
      The Foxes still have tough fixtures against Liverpool, Newcastle and West Ham to follow.
      Leicester sacked Brendan Rodgers last month and have four games to save their seasonCredit: PA More

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      Shocked fans are just realising which team King Charles supports as they say he’ll be home in time for the match

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      FANS are shocked to discover King Charles III is a Burnley fan on the day of his coronation.King Charles III was crowned at Westminster Abbey alongside Queen Camilla.
      King Charles was crowned at Westminster AbbeyCredit: Rex
      The King is a Burnley fan and received a shirt in 2012Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      And some viewers watching at home have been discussing the topic of his favourite football team – Burnley.
      Some have only just learned the King is a Clarets fan, while others joked he will be happy not to have missed Vincent Kompany’s side in action, with the last game of the season against Cardiff moved to Monday.
      One fan said: “I’m today years old when I’ve found out king Charles is a Burnley fan.”
      Another added: “King Charles is just happy Burnley play on Monday and he ay missing the match 🤣”
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      A third said: “The most important thing to remember about this historic day is that King Charles is a Burnley fan. 😉
      “God save the King! #Coronation.”
      And another commented: “The reason King Charles hasn’t smiled is because he keeps remembering Ashley Barnes will play his last game for Burnley on Monday.”
      King Charles revealed he is a Burnley fan during a charity visit to the area in 2012.
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      In a more recent visit he was even presented wth a shirt by the club with ‘HRH 1’ printed on the back.
      King Charles said of his support: “A consortium of my charities, including the British Asian Trust, has been working in Burnley.
      “Hence, some of you asked this evening whether I support a British football club and I said “yes – Burnley”. And people have responded “Burnley?”
      “Oh yes, because Burnley has been through some very challenging times and I’m trying to find ways of helping to regenerate and raise aspirations and self-esteem in that part of the world.
      “My charities have been working there together to demonstrate that an integrated approach can produce the best dividends.”
      The King follows in the footsteps of his great grandfather King George V, who also supported Burnley after watching them claim their only FA Cup title with a win over Liverpool in the 1914 final. More

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      Fans are just realising all the ‘spooky’ similarities between Ted Lasso’s AFC Richmond and a real life team

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      FANS have been left stunned after realising that Ted Lasso’s AFC Richmond and Burnley are remarkably similar. The hit comedy-drama show follows the story of an American coach taking over an English football team, with the third season underway on Apple TV.
      Ted Lasso’s AFC Richmond have been compared to BurnleyCredit: Apple TV
      The similarities between Burnley and the fictional club have been described as “spooky”Credit: PA
      And fans of the programme have drawn comparison between the storyline and what’s happening at Burnley, dubbing them the “real life AFC Richmond”.
      Ted Lasso first aired in 2020, the same year that American chairman Alan Pace took over Burnley.
      The similarities continue when, spoiler alert, AFC Richmond are relegated in their first campaign under him.
      Burnley were also demoted to the Championship in Pace’s opening term as chief.
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      After relegation captain and legend Roy Kent then becomes manager as Burnley appoint former Manchester City skipper and hero Vincent Kompany as their gaffer.
      The coincidences don’t stop there as both teams begin the following season with a number of draws.
      The fictional club then signs Jamie Tartt on loan and the real side pen a deal for Tayor Harwood-Bellis until the end of the season, both players join from Man City.
      Things get weirder as AFC Richmond lose in the FA Cup 5-0 and Burnley lose 6-0 to Pep Guardiola’s side in the competition.
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      Both teams then gain promotion back to the Premier League.
      Burnley chairman Pace shared the video of the comparisons on his social media with fans calling it “spooky”.
      Another joked the show’s writers should make them win the league next year. More

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      EFL clubs agree £1BILLION TV deal with Sky Sports.. but fans will be devastated by key part of mega-money agreement

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      EFL clubs voted for a record new five-year live TV deal with Sky Sports worth almost a BILLION POUNDS.The £935million agreement will see more than 1,000 matches broadcast, starting in 2024-25.
      Fans will see a hefty increase in live EFL games from 2024-25Credit: Rex
      Club chiefs unanimously approved the new deal —  a 50 per cent increase on the current terms in place since 2018 — after being informed of Sky’s offer on Friday morning.
      The EFL were willing to consider ending the Saturday 3pm TV blackout but it WILL remain as part of the new  deal.
      In total, 1,059 league, EFL Cup — including all 93 ties — and EFL Trophy matches will be shown live on Sky or a streaming platform, replacing the iFollow service.
      Currently, Sky televises 138 EFL league games each season.
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      The league entered into an exclusive  negotiating period with Sky  in April.
      The deal is made up of guaranteed payments of £895m — plus £40m in marketing benefits.
      EFL chief exec Trevor Birch called it a “landmark  deal for EFL clubs”.
      He said: “This  will showcase much more of our compelling match action to fans while delivering record rights values as we seek to make our clubs sustainable at all levels.”
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      Birch added: “With some 20 million attending Sky Bet EFL matches each season and significant interest in the League at home and abroad, we look forward to growing our collective fanbase further.”
      Sky Sports Managing Director Jonathan Licht said: “This is a ground-breaking deal for Sky and our long-standing partners, the EFL.
      “This is the biggest deal in football, in terms of the number of matches being broadcast.”
      Licht also promised: “Between Sky and the league, we’re pleased to be able to make a commitment to fans that will ensure greater notice periods around the movement of matches for broadcast.
      “There’ll also be greater parity in the number of times clubs are selected to be live on Sky Sports.” More