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      Blackpool set to appoint Stephen Dobbie as full-time manager despite club’s devastating relegation

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      STEPHEN DOBBIE’S chances of getting the Blackpool job full-time are soaring as pal Ciaran Donnelly is lined up for a key post there.The Scot has been in caretaker charge since Mick McCarthy stepped down earlier this month.
      Stephen Dobbie could turn his caretaker role into a permanent oneCredit: Getty
      And the interim manager may get the nod for next season despite failing to guide the Seasiders away from the relegation zone.
      Around half-a-dozen candidates are set to be interviewed by the club.
      Academy chief Donnelly, who is part of the process of finding a new boss, works closely with Dobbie and knows him well.
      Blackpool were relegated to League One on Friday night after a 3-2 loss to Millwall.
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      The team were in dire form under McCarthy, failing to win seven of his last eight games before he quit.
      However, under Dobbie, results have improved, winning two of the five matches he has been in charge for.
      The 40-year-old is a Blackpool hero after playing for them 56 times during playing his career.
      Before he was appointed interim boss, he worked with young players as their lead development coach.
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      Former gaffer Neil Critchley has been linked with a return to the club, with Graham Alexander also reportedly in the frame.
      Blackpool face Norwich away on the final day of the season with all hope already gone. More

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      Blackburn face fight to keep Jon Dahl Tomasson as he could consider return to European football

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      BLACKBURN face a fight to keep boss Jon Dahl Tomasson after one season at the club.The Dane, 46, has done well on his managerial debut in England with the club in the hunt for a play-off place.
      Jon Dahl Tomasson could leave Blackburn this summerCredit: Getty
      He also guided them to huge scalps versus Premier League opponents West Ham and Leicester in cup competitions this season.
      However, Tomasson could quit the club and be tempted by a return to European football, if Rovers fail to gain promotion to the Premier League.
      He knows Blackburn will cut back next season if they do not go up.
      The likes of star man Ben Brereton Diaz could depart Ewood Park, with his contract set to expire this summer.
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      Additionally, SunSport exclusively revealed that wonderkid Adam Wharton is wanted by Newcastle.
      Tomasson also did not get the players he wanted in the January transfer window.

      The club made a move to sign Norwich’s Todd Cantwell and Leeds’ Joe Gelhardt, but neither move materialised.
      Tomasson was also left frustrated when Blackburn suffered a paperwork disaster that led to two transfer falling apart.
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      Deals were in place for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien and Rochdale ace Ethan Brierley.
      However, the EFL prevented the swoops happening due to paperwork not being submitted before the deadline.
      Blackburn currently sit three points behind the last play-off place and they have two matches remaining while the teams above have just one.
      They face Luton tomorrow before a huge clash with fellow-play-off spot chasers Millwall on the final day of the season. More

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      Sheff Utd will keep Oli McBurnie for the Premier League next season as two top stars enter final year of deals

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      SHEFFIELD UNITED will keep striker Oli McBurnie for the Premier League next season — when THREE of their top stars are in the last year of their deals.Paul Heckingbottom’s side secured promotion back to the top division via a second place finish when they beat West Brom 2-0 on Wednesday.
      Sheffield United star Oli McBurnie is set to stay at the clubCredit: PA
      And the club are planning on retaining several of their key players for next term.
      McBurnie sees his deal run out this summer but the Blades are taking up the option of retaining him for another campaign.
      Meanwhile, Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye are signed up until next year.
      Both are likely to want to carry on in the top-flight’s big shop window and become free agents after that. 
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      McBurnie joined Sheffield United in the summer of 2019 from Swansea for a fee of £17.5million.
      He has been key in the Championship this season, netting 12 goals in 36 matches.

      As for Berge, the midfielder has been a vital cog in the starting XI since joining from Genk in 2020.
      The player was close to joining either Newcastle or Fulham during the January transfer window, but he chose to stay with Sheffield United.
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      Ndiaye is another who sees his deal expire in the summer of 2024 and he has impressed this season, scoring 15 goals in 50 games in all competitions.
      The Senegalese international was part of his country’s side that lost to England in the World Cup.
      He has previously been linked with a move to Everton.
      Sander Berge could leave Bramall Lane at the end of next seasonCredit: Getty
      Iliman Ndiaye has previously attracted interest from Premier League sidesCredit: Getty More

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      Tony Mowbray suffers freak injury celebrating Sunderland’s last-gasp equaliser against Watford

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      TONY MOWBRAY suffered a freak injury celebrating Sunderland’s last-gasp equaliser against Watford. Patrick Roberts rescued a point at the Stadium of Light with a 95th minute leveller.
      Tony Mowbray suffered a freak injury celebrating Sunderland’s equaliser against WatfordCredit: Twitter

      But the scenes of joy soon turned to pain for Black Cats boss Mowbray, who pulled his hamstring celebrating in the dugout.
      And despite an 18-year professional playing career, the former defender revealed it was the first time he suffered the injury.
      Mowbray said: “I think it’s a hamstring injury.
      “I never had a hamstring injury in 18 years as a professional because I was never fast enough but when that goal went in, I obviously moved a bit too quick.
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      “I’m sure it’ll be fine, a bit of treatment. We have a full treatment room but if I can grab a physio I’ll be fine.”
      Watford had taken a two goal lead after headers from Christian Kabasele in the first half and Ryan Porteous in the 69th minute.
      But 60 seconds on from the second goal, Luke O’Nien gave Sunderland a lifeline before Roberts’ dramatic equaliser.
      The result leaves Sunderland seventh, two points shy of sixth-placed Millwall ahead of their final-day trip to mid-table Preston.
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      Mowbray said: “It gives us real clarity that we have to go and win at Preston next week. If we do, everyone around us has tough games on paper.
      “Let’s go and win. It’s real clarity now, we know we need to go and get the three points and see what happens.
      “I’m pretty relaxed about it. We’ve given ourselves a real opportunity, we’ll take 6,000 fans there, let’s hope it’s a big party.
      “We showed reasonable patience and then Roberts, a guy I’ve been speaking about since I came in here, I could never believe he was playing in League One last year, he’s an amazing footballer.
      “Cometh the hour, cometh the man. I don’t think anybody could argue we didn’t deserve something from that football match.
      “We’re in it until the last day of the season. It still might not be enough, but that’s OK, it’s been an enjoyable season working with the young players.”
      Tony Mowbray celebrates Sunderland’s drawCredit: Rex More

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      Middlesbrough want to make Cameron Archer loan transfer from Aston Villa permanent but told to stump up huge fee

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      MIDDLESBROUGH want to buy striker Cameron Archer from Aston Villa — but will have to find £20million-plus.The England Under-21 hitman has been helping Michael Carrick’s Boro push for promotion from the Championship in his loan spell from Villa.
      Championship side Boro would love to sign Cameron Archer permanentlyCredit: Reuters
      And he is on the kind of hot streak that enhances his reputation and value.
      The highly-rated forward could be a bargain even at that stunning price tag.
      Carrick will make a bid for Archer a priority if they go up and the chance of Premier League football could be appealing.
      Boro’s money men have shown their ambition by paying Archer’s Prem wages in full as they go all out for the top flight.
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      He is due to return to Villa in the summer but the signing of Jhon Duran pushed him further down the pecking order there.
      Local lad Archer, 21, who hit ten goals for Boro this term, seems content with his lot.
      But a bumper offer would give Villa and the striker something to think about.
      Villa may need to keep Archer for an expanded fixture schedule if they qualify for Europe as he would be a handy option for some of the games.
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      Yet Villa chief Unai Emery may also have a new hitman in mind if they make the Europa League.
      And that would be an even bigger problem for Archer. More

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      Arsenal legend Paul Merson slams ‘you don’t do that’ after Sheff Utd’s celebrations for winning Premier League promotion

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      ARSENAL legend Paul Merson has slammed Sheffield United for parading a trophy on the Bramall Lane pitch, after winning promotion to the Premier League.The Blades were in party mode after sealing the runners-up spot in the Championship.
      Paul Merson was fuming Sheffield United celebrated promotion with a trophy
      Championship runners-up Sheffield United are back in the big time next seasonCredit: Reuters
      And after their home game against Preston, which they won 4-1, the players celebrated with a trophy.
      However, Merson was not having it. In a hilarious exchange with Jeff Stelling, who had earlier announced he was quitting Soccer Saturday, he let his feelings be known.
      He joked: “I got in the final at the table tennis at Butlins, but I didn’t get anything.
      “I got beat in the final! Why should they get anything? A trophy for second?”
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      As his fellow pundits, including Clinton Morrison, Kris Boyd and Michael Dawson all cracked up Merson was not finished there
      The ex-England midfielder agreed with Stelling that the players and staff should get medals, but he was still up in arms at a trophy parade.
      He continued: “Brilliant going up, but you don’t have a trophy for second.
      “You don’t get a trophy for finishing second in the Olympics and that’s the ultimate ultimate.
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      “They’ve just come second in the league and they’re getting a trophy. You don’t get a trophy, you get a medal for coming second in the Olympics that you work for for four years.”
      Sheffiled United manager Paul Heckingbottom shows off the promotion trophyCredit: Rex
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      Sheffield United were promoted at the first time of asking, when they defeated West Brom 2-0 last week.
      Goals from Sander Berge and Anel Ahmedhodzic were enough to seal the win and now they are back in the big time. More

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      Ex-Man Utd ace Tahith Chong stretchered off and rushed to hospital with horrific looking leg injury for Birmingham

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      FORMER Manchester United man Tahith Chong was rushed to hospital after being stretchered off with a nasty looking calf injury while playing for Birmingham.During a 2-0 defeat to Coventry, the 23-year-old winger went down midway through the second half following a challenge from Jake Bidwell.
      Tahith Chong was injured by a challenge from Coventry’s Jake BidwellCredit: Rex
      Chong was left writhing in pain on the floorCredit: Rex
      He eventually left the pitch on a stretcherCredit: Rex
      He could be seen on the floor in some distress, holding the back of his leg as medics rushed to his aid.
      And after receiving treatment, Chong, who played 16 times for Man Utd, left the field on a stretcher.
      He was replaced by a former Red Devils team-mate in loanee Hannibal Mejbri.
      Birmingham manager John Eustace confirmed after the game that Chong had gone to hospital for a scan.
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      The Netherlands U21 international only signed a permanent deal with the Championship club at the beginning of the season.
      He spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan with the Blues, contributing two goals and four assists in 20 appearances.
      His performances earned him a four-year deal with Birmingham as his stint as a Man Utd player came to an end.
      And he has been ever-present in Eustace’s side, playing in 38 of their 45 Championship games – 35 of which have come as a starter.
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      He has registered four goals and five assists this season despite Birmingham’s struggles.
      They sit 17th in the second tier, 15 points adrift of the play-off places and just nine above the relegation zone with one game remaining.
      Birmingham’s season will come to an end at home to already promoted Sheffield United on Monday, May 8. More

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      Awkward moment Millwall star Zian Flemming is told ‘watch the language’ by Sky Sports reporter after swearing on live TV

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      MILLWALL match-winner Zian Flemming was warned about his language live on TV after swearing.The Dutch midfielder even asked “Can I not say that?” after he was reprimanded by a Sky Sports reporter for saying “s***”.
      There was nothing controversial about the way Flemming hit the penalty winner and celebrated as Millwall cemented fifth spotCredit: PA
      Zian Flemming got intro trouble when he tried explaining how much victory meant for the promotion-seeking Lions
      Flemming seemed unfazed as he continued to smile during the interview – amid laughter in the background.
      That’s partly because he was in buoyant mood as the Lions had climbed back into the Championship play-off zone with a 3-2 win at Blackpool.
      Victory lifted Millwall two places to fifth but confirmed relegation for the Tangerines.
      Flemming started to say in the post-match chat: “When you’ve had such a s*** record…”
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      He was immediately told: “Careful with the language, please.”
      The 24-year-old responded with: “Can I not say that..?”
      His interviewer then not only confirmed he could not do so but added: “POOR record, I think you can get away with.”
      One bemused fan posted: “Championship – always delivers.”
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      Flemming’s 75th minute penalty had finally seen off the Seagulls in a thriller.
      Tom Bradshaw twice put Millwall in front but Blackpool levellers came via a Jerry Yates spot-kick and Lewis Fiorini’s incredible long-ranger.
      Flemming then won it from the spot… before getting in his spot of bother off the pitch.  More