Championship

WIGAN are trying to avoid an automatic three-point penalty after failing to pay players and staff on time.The Championship strugglers missed the wage run for a fourth time this term but are due pay this week.
Wigan are facing a three-point deduction amid their ongoing relegation struggleCredit: Getty
Wigan’s hierarchy has failed to pay players and staff for the fourth timeCredit: Rex
The Latics have a suspended sentence from their past offences and the EFL are monitoring the situation.
Chairman Talal Al Hammad had to pay a month’s money into an account in advance for salaries.
The players’ patience is thin but a points deduction will hurt their survival bid after the 3-0 loss at Burnley left them bottom.
Al Hammad was unavailable for comment and the EFL deflected enquiries.
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Vincent Kompany’s Championship highfliers extended their lead to 13 points from second-placed Sheffield United with their decisive victory over Wigan, who had Omar Rekik sent off early.
The Clarets sealed the three points at Turf Moor thanks to a brace by Nathan Tella and a goal by Lyle Foster.
Wigan boss Shaun Maloney spoke emotionally about his club’s cash crisis – and the nightmare caused by late wages.
Maloney was rocked by news that the wages were not paid to players, staff and club workers as he waits on news on when the Bahraini owners will find the funds.
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The Latics chief said: “It’s been a difficult 48 hours. The preparations for the game were definitely affected, not just the players but the staff and the fans.
“It’s been an emotional couple of days. It’s a position I didn’t think we would be on or expected to be in.
“I’ve tried to build a culture with the group and staff. I have asked them to work hard. We have seen big improvements. In the last 48 hours that culture has taken a knock.
“It’s a big job to rebuild that in the short term. We are hoping it’s a short term situation.
“It’s a difficult and emotional moment for everyone but particularly the staff at the stadium and training ground. Those are the first people that are in the thoughts of every player I have spoken to.”
On the threat of the points deduction, Maloney added: “We will find out more in the coming days. We have to be realistic, we know what the sanction is.” More

DUTCH businessman Rene Neelissen is looking to buy an English club — with Huddersfield in his sights.Neelissen owns AZ Alkmaar but is keen to find another project across the North Sea and his club have hired middlemen to help.
AZ Alkmaar owner Rene Neelissen, left, wants to buy Huddersfield
Huddersfield chairman Dean Hoyle put the club up for sale last yearCredit: Rex Features
Alkmaar have been performing well under Neelissen and had an eye-catching Conference League win in Italy against Lazio last week.
Huddersfield are looking for new owners.
But they are finding it hard to get anyone to meet their asking price — despite several interested parties looking.
The Dutchmen are doing their due diligence and trying to work out who gets what in a complicated deal.
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An American group are also keen and have been hanging around for weeks.
They are advised by well-known English deal-maker Gary Mellor.
There is the possibility that Huddersfield could go into administration and are then taken out of it quickly by one of these two parties.
If they fall into administration by Thursday the 12-point penalty will apply this season.
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That would all but relegate the Terriers, who are 23rd in the Championship and six points off safety.
New boss Neil Warnock was hopeful of steering Huddersfield away from the drop zone but he has picked up just one win in five games. More

WATFORD players were deducted £300 in wages to pay for canteen food just days before Slaven Bilic was sacked, according to reports.The former West Ham and West Brom boss was dismissed after less than six months in charge at Vicarage Road.
Slaven Bilic was sacked just days after Watford players were left angry at a decision made by the ownersCredit: PA
Things began to go wrong for Bilic on the pitch with Watford winning just one of their last eight games.
However, there was off-field issues too, one regarding the players being deducted cash from their February wage slip.
The owners, the Pozzo family, decided that they need more money to pay for food being provided by the club.
To raise funds they took £300 out of the players pockets and £150 was taken from each member of the coaching staff before they were axed.
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The Athletic claim that the principal of the decision frustrated the team not the monetary value.
One source reportedly called the act “inexplicable”.
Fans have not reacted kindly to the claims, one wrote online: “Oh no they had to pay £300 extra for food. That’s a sum that they won’t even notice.
“Meanwhile in the real world some people can’t even afford £30 for food let alone £300.”
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The report goes on to suggest that there have been other issues over transfers and that “sanctity of the dressing room on matchdays caused friction.”
Bilic was replaced at Watford just 17 minutes after his sacking was announced with Chris Wilder taking over.
The Hornets sit just four points off the play-off places. More

READING have been warned they have no chance of escaping a six-point deduction this season.The Royals beat the drop last term — despite a six-point cut imposed in November 2021.
Reading are set to drop to 21st place following the points deductionCredit: Getty
That deduction was part of a 12-point penalty, with the rest suspended.
Reading submitted new financial figures to the EFL, who will decide on any punishment.
But an EFL insider warned: “Nobody at the League is saying that everything at Reading is fine.
“The League is in discussions with the club. If a points cut is applied, it will be immediate.”
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The loss of six points would see boss Paul Ince’s Reading drop from 15th to 21st place — six points above the drop zone.
Speaking about the deduction before Reading’s 5-0 loss to Middlesbrough on Saturday, manager Ince told Berkshire Live: “I think it’s going to be next week [when a decision is made], I don’t know what day.
“We want to know – if we get it then great, give it to us, and if not, let us get on with the rest of the season.
“We’re on 44 points [at the moment in the Championship] – until someone tells me, the players or the fans differently, that’s how we’ve got to look at the situation.
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“What’s happened is not an issue myself or Mark Bowen have created. It’s a historical issue which we can’t do anything about.”
He then went on to add: “We’re trying to do things the right way and have complied with the EFL and the rules.
“We haven’t spent, we can’t overspend… that’s the sad thing about it because we have complied with everything the EFL has given to us and yet we’ve performed in the way we have.
“We can’t cry about it. If it comes, it comes, we deal with it and we all have to get together – us, fans and players all need to galvanise each other to stay in the league. That’s something we are capable of doing.
“Even if we get six points, hopefully we’ll have a bit of breathing space. We have to pull together, it’s not a nice situation but we’ve done it before.” More

SWANSEA boss Russell Martin faces a lengthy ban for his part in the incredible battle of the dugouts.He sparked a mass brawl on the touchline after racing from his bench to confront Luton chief Rob Edwards just before the end of the match at Kenilworth Road.
Russell Martin was sent off for his role in the altercation
The Swansea boss had to be escorted off the pitchCredit: Getty
Ugly scenes ended with Martin being sent off along with Luton assistant manager Richie Kyle, who also runs the risk of a ban from the touchline when they are judged by a disciplinary tribunal.
Earlier this season, Preston’s Ryan Lowe was fined £5,000 and banned for two matches for two breaches of FA Rule E3.
The Deepdale boss admitted that he used abusive and insulting words towards a match official.
In Russell’s case, disciplinary chiefs are expected to take a grave view of the fact that he will be seen as the aggressor.
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An FA insider said: “He could face a £10,000 fine. They will take into account his demeanour and the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Russell explained the dugout brawl was sparked after he told his former team-mate Edwards to get off the pitch.

He said post-match: “(Luton boss) Rob (Edwards) saw something on the pitch, I didn’t as I was following play. I like Rob, he is an ex-team-mate of mine, but he jumped on the pitch and I told him to get off.
“Richie got involved, and I just nudged him to get out of the way really.
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“It has ended up in what it ended up in, and two red cards, which I don’t think was necessary really.
“It is what it is.” More