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      I’m a former Premier League star who gave up nearly £1m to help my club survive – now I’m making my own way in coaching

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      LIAM LAWRENCE can still picture his shirt hanging up with his name on the back as he walked into Mansfield’s dressing room for his debut on January 11, 2000.It was the start of the winger’s 17-year journey playing for ten clubs and more than 550 club games with FIVE promotions plus his ultimate career dream of playing international football at the highest level.
      Liam Lawrence wrote off £800,000 to help keep Portsmouth afloatCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The 41-year-old is now making his own way as a coach with former club StokeCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      He even had to write off almost £800,000 while playing for Portsmouth, so the South Coast club could stay afloat.
      The 41-year-old is now a key member of the coaching staff at Stoke City and has been working with the Championship side’s academy for the last three years.
      Lawrence said: “The moment I saw that shirt hanging up I treated my career like a ladder.
      “Here I was on the bottom rung. But my top step was playing international football — something I am proud to say I achieved for the Republic of Ireland.”
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      Sadly, one of Liam’s biggest lows was for the Republic in their World Cup play-off game in 2009 when they were cruelly robbed by Thierry Henry’s handball before William Gallas’ equaliser.
      He added: “We lost the first leg 1-0 against the French and we didn’t play that well.
      “But we were deservedly winning the second leg in Paris before Thierry’s intervention.
      “With VAR in operation today that would have definitely been chalked off.
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      Lawrence began his senior playing career with MansfieldCredit: Getty
      “We were cheated out of a World Cup finals place, something I dreamed about as a kid growing up.”
      His first taste of the big time came when he moved from Mansfield to Sunderland in 2004.
      He said: “With no disrespect to Mansfield — who I can never thank enough for giving me my first start — the switch to Sunderland blew me away in terms of how big the club and the infrastructure.”
      Lawrence may have played for ten clubs in his career but Stoke is where his heart is, so returning to the club in a coaching capacity in 2020 has been a seamless switch.
      He said: “I have had great times with every other team I have played for, but Stoke has just been home for me.
      “When I joined them in 2006 on loan, we set up our family home in the city and have been here ever since. It’s just a brilliant place.
      “Working with manager Tony Pulis in 2006 was so rewarding with a great bunch of players. To help the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2008 was special.”
      After Stoke he suffered a horror time when moving to financially  crisis-hit Portsmouth in 2010.
      The midfielder won promotion to the Premier League with Stoke in 2008Credit: AP:Associated Press
      He recalled: “I was told new owners were coming in and the money problems would disappear. Sadly they got worse.
      “As captain of the side I had to act almost as a union rep to keep the players on board — even though none of us were being paid. I lost almost £800,000.
      “But the one consolation is that the club are now back on their feet.
      “I am convinced without the efforts of the players and staff writing off wages, the club would have gone under.”
      Lawrence had a short spell at Cardiff in 2011 before moving to PAOK in northern Greece for two seasons. He said: “It was difficult spending two years away from my family but it was a great experience.
      “The fans over there are ­completely different to here — completely off the scale in terms of fanatical support.
      “I had the weirdest move — switching from Barnsley to Shrewsbury in 2014.
      “I was away on a family summer break and on the way home bumped into Micky Mellon who was on the same flight.
      Lawrence won 15 caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring twiceCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
      “Micky was one of my coaches at Barnsley and had just been made manager with the Shrews and talked about the possibility of me becoming his captain.
      “I thought it would be a great opportunity — it was only 40 miles away from home so it would give me an opportunity to be back with the children.
      “I have been very lucky that every club I played for during my career I really enjoyed — earning promotions with Mansfield, Sunderland, Stoke, Shrewsbury and Bristol Rovers.
      “While I was at Barnsley in 2014, I was 32 and knew niggling injuries were becoming more frequent and I was starting to slow down a little bit.
      “I started to do my coaching ‘B’ licence during my two years at Shrewsbury.
      “At the end of the 2016-17 season — when I was at Bristol Rovers — I knew I had to start making plans outside of playing.
      “I began working in the media on TV and radio and on co-commentary. I really enjoyed it.
      “Compared to coaching it’s chalk and cheese in terms of workload.
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      Lawrence has also worked as a pundit since retiring in 2017Credit: Twitter @LiamLawrence07
      “With the media work it’s a little bit of prep, giving your opinion as honestly as you can be, then pack up and go home. But I loved every moment of it.
      “As much as I have great job ­satisfaction in coaching, it’s all-consuming in terms of early starts, late finishes, training and working with the academy off the pitch on the laptop to ensure they are fully prepared for what lies ahead.” More

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      I’m a former Premier League star who turned down contract to go on Big Brother and earn £300k – I still regret it now

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      JAMIE O’HARA has revealed he still regrets turning down a contract to appear on Celebrity Big Brother.The former Premier League star was paid £300,000 to appear on the reality TV show in January 2017.
      Jamie O’Hara turned down a contract at Burton to earn £300,000 on Celebrity Big BrotherCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Nigel Clough wanted to bring O’Hara to the Pirelli Stadium in January 2017Credit: PA:Press Association
      However, he had also been offered a short-term deal at then Championship side Burton.
      Nigel Clough was keen to sign O’Hara after the ex-England under-21 international impressed on trial.
      At the time, the midfielder was a free agent after leaving Gillingham in September 2016.
      O’Hara instead opted to enter the Big Brother house, with the pair reuniting on talkSPORT on Friday.
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      Recalling the incident, Clough said: “He said he was happy and he wanted to get back playing and I thought if we offer him a few hundred quid a week then Big Brother happened.”
      The former Brewers boss was offered an apology by O’Hara, though, as he gave his side of the story.
      “Oh Nige I’m sorry mate,” he replied. “I went up there [Burton] and Nige was brilliant with me to be fair because I hadn’t been playing. I was out and I was a little bit worried about my fitness.
      “He asked me to come up there and I trained really well for a few days. He was like ‘look, I really want you, I need a midfielder’ but I’d already signed a contract to go in Big Brother!
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      “I said to my agent ‘Nigel wants me to sign a contract. How much are they offering?’ He said, ‘a couple of grand a week’.
      “It was £300,000 to go on Big Brother. I said sorry Nige, I’m off. I do apologise though Nige, I do regret that one.”
      Asked how long he spent on the show and why he did not sign for Burton afterwards, O’Hara added: “Three weeks and big Nige didn’t talk to me when I got out!”
      The 37-year-old lasted 27 days before becoming the ninth housemate to be evicted.
      Coleen Nolan would win the series – with Jedward finishing runners-up.
      After the show, he joined non-league Billericay, spending two years with the club before retiring in 2019 aged 32.
      O’Hara, who made 93 Premier League appearances for Tottenham, Wolves and Portsmouth, remained with Billericay until 2021 as both a player-coach and manager.
      As for Burton, Clough’s side went on to avoid relegation in their first Championship season by a single point, finishing 20th in the second tier.
      O’Hara made 93 Premier League appearances for Tottenham, Wolves and PortsmouthCredit: Getty More

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      Alex Neil SACKED by Stoke with Potters on brink of slipping into relegation zone as fans demand ex-Chelsea chief

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      ALEX NEIL has been sacked by Stoke City.The former Norwich City manager has left his position at the Bet365 Stadium.
      Alex Neil has been sacked by Stoke CityCredit: Rex
      Fans want Graham Potter to be the new Potters’ managerCredit: PA
      Neil and Stoke had lost their last four Championship matches.
      This poor run of form has left the club 20th, just two points above the relegation zone.
      The club confirmed their decision to remove Neil as manager in a short statement.
      It read: “Stoke City manager Alex Neil has left his position with the club.”
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      The club fans were left begging that former Chelsea manager Graham Potter be hired as his replacement.
      One commented: “Give us Potter.”
      A second wrote: “Potter would be nice.”
      A third said: “BRING IN POTTER.”
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      A fourth added: “Its time to give the potters Graham Potter.”
      Potter has been out of work since leaving Stamford Bridge just months after his appointment last season.
      The Englishman has experience in the Championship having worked at Swansea City.
      Stoke chairman John Coates thanked Neil for his work but admitted that results led to the “difficult decision”.
      He said: “Alex is a man of absolute integrity who has given his all for Stoke City, and we would like to thank him for his hard work during his time with the Club.
      “We are grateful for the building blocks he has helped put in place in bringing together a group of players in whom we have a huge amount of faith regarding their ability to turn things around this season, and who can help us achieve longer-term success.
      “However, with the way the results have been so far, we have made the difficult decision to seek a new direction for the team at this time.
      “Nothing matters to me more than the success of our club and we are now working towards the appointment of Alex’s successor.” More

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      Southampton set to beat multiple rivals to Irish teen sensation Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh for six-figure fee

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      SOUTHAMPTON are ready to snap up teenage Irish midfielder Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh from Cork City.The 18-year-old will cost a six-figure fee up front and is fancied by many.
      Southampton lead the race to sign Joe O’Brien-WhitmarshCredit: Sportsfile
      The Saints and Middlesbrough are also keen on a loan deal for centre-half Charlie Cresswell, 21, who is out of favour at Championship rivals Leeds.
      O’Brien-Whitmarsh has scored four goals from midfield in 27 senior appearances for Cork despite only turning 18 in May.
      He has developed into a key player for the Rebel Army since making his first-team debut back in March.
      The teenager also has international experience, having represented Ireland at under-15 and under-18 level earlier in his career.
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      Meanwhile, Cresswell could be loaned out once again by Leeds in January.
      The defender spent last season with Millwall as his parent club were relegated from the Premier League.
      However, he has failed to establish himself in Daniel Farke’s side so far this term.
      Cresswell has not played a league match for over two months and has only made two matchday squads in that time.
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      The Saints are also keen on a loan deal for Charlie CresswellCredit: Getty
      As well as making just four Championship appearances, he has only played two minutes in the league since the third round of matches.
      Like O’Brien-Whitmarsh, he has played for his country at youth level, scoring once in 14 caps for England’s under-21s.
      One of those caps came as the Young Lions won the Euros in the summer. More

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      Hull City want transfer for rivals Leeds’ out-of-favour Joe Gelhardt to spur Championship play-off bid

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      AMBITIOUS Hull are keen to sign Leeds’ out-of-favour forward Joe Gelhardt.The Tigers are looking to boost their bid to make the Championship play-offs and think Gelhardt could help them.
      Hull are keen to sign Joe Gelhardt on loan in JanuaryCredit: Getty
      The 21-year-old is not in Daniel Farke’s side and could head out of Elland Road on loan.
      Several Championship clubs are keen but Hull head the list.
      However, they would have to pay top wages and also offer first-team games.
      Hull chief Liam Rosenior has a handful of top attackers already but will look to make space for Gelhardt.
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      Huddersfield are another club keen on Gelhardt, who spent the second half of last season at Sunderland.
      Gelhardt scored three goals in 20 appearances for the Black Cats as they made the play-offs.
      However, since returning to Leeds in the summer, he has been limited to just two league starts.
      The youngster did make a return to the matchday squad on Saturday, though, after two months out in the cold.
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      Gelhardt was an unused sub as Leeds won 2-0 at Blackburn to keep up the pressure on the top two.
      Meanwhile, Rosenior’s Tigers slipped to a defeat away at QPR.
      The result saw his side drop to eighth in the table, only outside the play-off places on goal difference. More

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      Paul Heckingbottom linked with immediate return to management as bookies make him favourite to take over ex-Prem giants

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      FORMER Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom could make an immediate return to management.Heckingbottom only lost his job on Tuesday but could immediately replace Tony Mowbray at Sunderland.
      Heckingbottom could immediately return to football as Sunderland bossCredit: PA
      Bookies BetVictor have him installed as joint 2/1 favourite to take over at the Stadium of Light.
      He is now level favourite with French coach Julien Sable, who was tipped as the man who had been lined up by Sunderland to immediately replace Mowbray.
      But Heckingbottom’s sudden presence as a free agent on the managerial market may see Sunderland make an opportunistic appointment instead.
      Heckingbottom’s connection with Sunderland has also boosted the chances of him getting the job as he came through the academy there.
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      He never made a first team league appearance for the Black Cats however, and left to join Darlington in 1999.
      Heckingbottom made his name as a manager when managing Barnsley from 2016 until 2018.
      Unsuccessful stints at Leeds and Hibernian followed, but he did well at Sheffield United having taken over as an interim from Chris Wilder in 2021.
      The club brought in Slavisa Jokanovic as their full-time manager ahead of the 2021-22 season but after a poor start turned back to Heckingbottom.
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      He did a stellar job in getting the club promoted to the Premier League last campaign despite huge financial issues.
      Those problems contributed to a disastrous start to this year’s Premier League, with Heckingbottom sacked after the club accrued just five points from their opening 14 games.
      He was then replaced by his predecessor Wilder.
      Sunderland could be an attractive prospect for Heckingbottom after the club reached the Championship play-offs last season.
      They have exciting young talents in the form of Jack Clarke and Jobe Bellingham but find themselves ninth in the Championship table.
      Sunderland host West Brom today at 12:30. More

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      Fans suggest career change for Wayne Rooney as Man Utd legend’s horror run as Birmingham boss hits new low at Coventry

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      FOOTBALL fans have suggested that Wayne Rooney switch careers following his disappointing start to life as Birmingham manager.Rooney, 38, took the helm at St Andrew’s in October with the Blues fifth in the Championship table.
      Some fans think Wayne Rooney should become a punditCredit: Getty
      However, the Manchester United legend has registered just one win in nine games.
      Since Rooney took over from John Eustace as manager, the Blues have lost six games and drawn two.
      They have subsequently slipped to 16th in the table, leaving fans furious.
      Some are now suggesting that the ex-England striker should quit management altogether to pursue a career as a pundit.
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      One person tweeted: “Rooney should resort to becoming a sports pundit or something. He lacks everything needed to become a successful coach, he’s been performing poorly.
      “He’s literally dirtying his legacy at Manchester as a player, someone should advise him.”
      Another wrote: “Rooney should just quit this coaching thing and go be a pundit just like the other former English players.”
      While a third added: “Rooney should just become a pundit, you are already rich man.”
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      Birmingham suffered a 2-0 defeat to Coventry on Friday.
      After the match, Rooney admitted that the team are in a difficult position.
      He said: “We’re in a difficult place, we know that, with the run of results and the points we’re losing.
      “The big thing is the goals we’re conceding are very poor goals. We have to figure it out and make sure we don’t give easy goals away. The run of form can’t continue.
      “Of course I understand the fans’ frustration. That’s normal when you go through a run of results like this and we have to change this as quickly as possible.
      “If I was a fan in the stands there tonight I would be exactly the same. But what I can tell you is we’re working really hard to fix it, to improve results and performances.” More

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      We played together before working alongside each other under Solskjaer – now we’re rivals battling for promotion

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      MICHAEL CARRICK knows he has his work  cut out trying to spring a surprise on Manchester United pal Kieran McKenna.Firstly, Middlesbrough could be without TEN players for the visit of high-flying Ipswich this afternoon.
      Carrick will be taking on his old pal this afternoonCredit: Shutterstock
      McKenna was a rising star in Utd’s backroom team under OleCredit: Leila Coker/Shutterstock
      Solskjaer is still to return to management after his time at United
      And even at full strength, Boro chief Carrick knows how hard it will be to get one over “one of the best coaches you could ever hope for”.
      The good mates met as Tottenham players before being reunited at United when McKenna, 37, took over as Under-18s coach while Carrick, 42, was nearing the end as a player.
      They then worked under both Jose  Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
      Ahead of  locking horns as bosses for the first time, Carrick said: “Of course, there is a temptation to try to catch him off guard.
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      “We worked in each other’s pockets  for so long at United — we emptied our football brains on to each other.
      “We helped prepare a team along with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for a number of years so we saw a lot of similar things to be able to work together.
      “You unload all of your knowledge on  to each other and feed off it, developing some sort of understanding. We certainly think in similar ways.
      “I picked his brains a lot and we ended up learning a bit from each other, though  I probably learned more from him than  he did from me!”
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      McKenna began his coaching path  when a hip injury forced him to retire, aged 22.
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      Fast forward 15 years and he is the envy of the Championship and attracting admiring glances from Prem clubs having propelled the Tractor Boys to second after going  up from League One last summer.
      Carrick said: “He has done an incredible job, which I am not surprised about one bit. He is one of the best coaches that  I have ever come across.
      “He’s got a very good football brain and eye for detail. His knowledge is just incredible in terms of what he  can store and remember.
      “On the grass he’s fantastic in how he structures his sessions. He’s just  an all-round top coach.
      “I knew from the start, when I first saw him working, how good he was with the youth teams and Under-18s at United when I was playing.
      “Then I got to work with him with  the first team — and I knew from that stage that he would go on to have a  terrific managerial career.
      “We speak a lot and are good friends. Who knows what is going to happen  with Kieran? I just know how good he is and what he is capable of.”
      Equally, McKenna sees Carrick as a pal and inspiration.
      He said: “Of course, the opposition manager is a good friend and someone I hold in the highest regard as a player, coach and, more importantly, as a person.
      “The full focus and respect has gone into preparing for a really good opponent.
      “I think we have very similar views on things, very similar views on football.
      “How we like the game to be played and quite a lot of things that we enjoy from a tactical point of view in terms of how we want our teams to go about things.
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      “So I think we share quite a lot of  viewpoints and a relationship in football that I feel like I’ve learnt and benefited from such a lot.”
      Carrick believes both  were given a great grounding at Old Trafford.He added: “I had some good and some more challenging times — and you learn from that as a player and coach.”  More