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      Norwich sack Dean Smith as manager after loss to ten-man Luton extended horror run to three wins in 13 games

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      NORWICH have sacked Dean Smith as manager.The former Aston Villa boss, 51, has been given the boot following Monday’s 2-1 loss at Luton although the club are fifth in the Championship.
      Dean Smith has been sacked by NorwichCredit: Rex
      Norwich fans had turned on the former Aston Villa managerCredit: Rex
      Smith has been in charge for 13 months but majority shareholder Delia Smith and husband Michael Wynn-Jones made the decision due to the team’s poor recent form and the fact the club’s fans turned on the manager.
      Former Norwich defender and Swansea manager Russell Martin is among the frontrunners but getting him out of the South Wales club could prove to be difficult.
      Assistant head coach Craig Shakespeare and first team coach Liam Bramley have also departed Carrow Road.
      Coaches Steve Weaver and Allan Russell will take interim charge as the club seek a replacement.
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      Sporting director Stuart Webber said: “This was a tough decision, but one that we felt was necessary to give ourselves the best possible chance of achieving our objective of promotion to the Premier League this season.
      “We would like to place on record our thanks to Dean, Craig and Liam, who have always put the best interests of the football club first.
      “With just under half of the season remaining and three consecutive home games on the horizon we now have a real opportunity to build some forward and positive momentum, both on and off the pitch.”
      After the sacking of Daniel Farke, Smith took over in November 2021 but was unable to keep the club in the Premier League and they have been unconvincing this season.
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      Norwich have won just three games in 13 matches and the atmosphere has turned toxic.
      The club’s fans turned on Smith during and after the defeat to Blackburn on December 17.
      Supporters were singing for him to be sacked just 10 minutes into the defeat at Luton and there were also scuffles among fans in the away end during the first half.
      Norwich, playing against 10 men, lost to a 90th minute winner from sub Cauley Woodrow at Kenilworth Road.
      They are back in action on Friday with a home game against Reading.
      The Canaries are 10 points off the top two and only in the play-offs on goal difference.
      Equally, Norwich sporting director Webber is coming under fire after a series of poor signings. More

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      National League ‘to be offered THIRD promotion place’ in huge shake up to football league pyramid

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      A HUGE shake up in the Football League pyramid could reportedly see the National League offered an extra promotion place.Only the champions of the then-named Conference used to win promotion to the EFL until 1997.
      Stockport County celebrate winning last season’s National LeagueCredit: PA
      The National League could get an extra promotion placeCredit: National League
      A second promotion spot was then awarded in 2003, which is secured via the play-offs.
      EFL chairman Rick Parry could be about to play a role in a huge revampCredit: Getty
      However a new report in the Daily Mail states an extra one could soon be up for grabs.
      It states that the EFL are ready to offer three promotion places to the National League “as part of their contribution to the financial reset being demanded by chairman Rick Parry”.
      Talks are currently deadlocked between the EFL and Premier League for more funding from the top-flight.
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      However, this claims that there is “an acknowledgement at the EFL that they also have a responsibility to assist clubs further down the pyramid” too.
      And the “best way” of achieving in many eyes is by offering an additional promotion place.
      It is a particular favourite with clubs in the Championship – “not least as it would not affect them”. 
      However, the change will not affect anything during the current campaign.
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      The rules regarding the EFL’s promotion and relegation system needs to be approved via votes from a majority of clubs.
      And it would not be introduced until next season at the very earliest.
      Notts County are currently four points clear at the top of the National League table going into the festive campaign. More

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      William Hill – Tuesday’s EFL Cup: Over 2 Goals in all four games at boosted to 7/1!

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      WILLIAM HILL have a price boost available for tonight’s EFL Cup last 16 action.The bookie is offering punters boosted odds of 7/1 for each of the four games to have at least three goals!
      EFL Cup Tuesday – Over 2 Goals in every game | 7/1!
      EFL Cup Tuesday – Over 2 Goals in every game | 7/1!
      And that’s up from the usual price on their site of 11/2!
      Three of the four games see Premier League sides take on teams from much-lower in the English pyramid
      Wolves host Gillingham, Southampton entertain Lincoln City and Leicester travel to MK Dons.
      While in the other game, Newcastle are looking to continue where they left off when they welcome Bournemouth to St James’ Park.
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      EFL Cup offerWilliam Hill boost
      Wolves vs Gillingham
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      Your first £10 bet could be placed on this EFL price boost and if there are enough goals, you’ll pocket £80 and the free bets!
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      Soccer Saturday studio in hysterics after Tim Sherwood blunder as former gaffer can’t work out why penalty isn’t given

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      THE Soccer Saturday studio were left in stitches by a comical blunder pundit Tim Sherwood made while watching Preston take on QPR. The action had only just got underway when Andre Dozzell caught Ben Woodburn late in the box.
      Tim Sherwood watched in confusion
      The studio burst into laughter when they realised Tim Sherwood’s error
      The foul was committed by the attacking team not the defending team
      Sherwood believed it must be a penalty and was extremely baffled as to why it wasn’t given.
      After much confusion, as the other pundits saw the tackle, fellow commentator Clinton Morrison realised it wasn’t a spot-kick as the foul was committed by the attacking team, not the defending side.
      The ex-Tottenham boss perhaps didn’t realise what way the team’s were shooting thinking the challenge was made in the opposite box.
      Dozzell was booked and a free-kick to Preston was correctly awarded. Of course, there was no penalty at the other end for Ryan Lowe’s team.
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      When the penny dropped in the studio Morrison, Paul Merson and Micheal Dawson were left in hysterics.
      The situation begun with Sherwood first bursting into action claiming it was “a nailed on penalty”.
      He then saw the referee flash the yellow card saying: “Yellow card, penalty.”
      But the eagle-eyed Morrison realised what was going on responding: “I don’t think it is a penalty, I think he is defending. It’s the other way round, look, it’s a free-kick. It’s the other way round.
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      Merson nearly falling off his chair with laughter, said: “Some counter-attack that would’ve been.”
      Host Simon Thomas remained confused before being brought up to speed by Morrison and Merson.
      The ex-Ireland striker exclaimed: “No, it’s a free-kick, the Preston guy is defending.”
      Merson joined in: “They are kicking the other way.”
      Fans saw the funny side of the mistake, one wrote on Twitter: “This is absolutely excruciating.”
      Another said: “That’s embarrassing.”
      While another added: “Tim Sherwood with a new Chris Kamara on Sky!”
      QPR ended up winning the game 1-0 More

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      Cardiff City hit with transfer embargo for failing to pay £15m fee for tragic Emiliano Sala who died in plane crash

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      CARDIFF CITY have been hit with a transfer embargo after failing to pay the first part of the £15million transfer fee for Emiliano Sala.The Argentine striker died in a tragic plane crash in January 2019 as he flew to Britain after completing his record move.
      The consequences of Emiliano Sala’s tragic transfer to Cardiff continueCredit: AFP
      However, the fall-out resulted in the Bluebirds refusing to pay the first instalment to Sala’s previous club Nantes.
      Cardiff lost an appeal and were ordered by Fifa to make the initial payment of £5.3m but the club continue to dispute the ruling.
      Now, though, they have confirmed they are currently under an embargo and therefore unable to make any new signings.
      Chairman Mehmet Dalman, though, is “confident” the punishment will be lifted before the January transfer window opens.
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      He told BBC Radio Wales Sport: “I wish I had the power to lift the shadow of this situation from the club.
      “People at this club want this resolved.
      “People should not forget that a 28-year old man was killed when he there was no need for that accident to happen.
      “There is a human side to this story, it is not just a financial one.”
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      Cardiff are currently in talks with the EFL and Fifa to find a solution while they wait for a Swiss Federal Court verdict to their Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal which is expected to be returned early in 2023.
      Dalman’s club signed 17 new players in the summer transfer window – and yet sat just a point above the Championship relegation zone going into this weekend’s fixtures.
      He added: “There are lots of legal discussions going on and they will continue to go on, but we have received our first invoice from Nantes.
      “We haven’t paid it and at this stage have no intention of paying it, until certain negotiations come to fruition.
      We haven’t paid and have no intention of payingMehmet Dalman
      “This puts the EFL in a position where they automatically put us under a transfer embargo, but until January that is pretty meaningless anyway.
      “Until January I am sure there will be other developments. We are working hard to ensure we can do business then.
      “Should fans be worried we won’t be able to buy anyone in January? Yes and no.
      “We certainly would like to add more players, the manager [Mark Hudson] is keen to do that and we’ve told him to plan accordingly because we believe this is temporary not permanent.
      “But of course it is unpredictable.
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      “I don’t know Mark dreadfully well, but he’s a professional, he understood our position.
      “He didn’t necessarily like it. But we have told him to get his targets in place.” More

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      Andy Carroll reveals he regretted West Brom transfer ‘from the second day I was there’

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      ANDY CARROLL has admitted he regretted his move to West Brom from his “second day there”.The Reading forward, 33, ditched the Royals in January for the Baggies – only to return this season.
      Andy Carroll has played 12 times for Reading this seasonCredit: Rex
      Carroll was recruited by ex-West Brom boss Valerien Ismael after an injury suffered by striker Daryl Dike.
      Just one game later, however, Ismael was sacked – forcing the former England striker into a reunion with old Newcastle boss Steve Bruce.
      Speaking to Berkshire Live about his time at the Hawthorns, Carroll admitted: “To be honest, the second day I was there I regretted being there.”
      Carroll left West Brom after scoring three goals in 15 games, being released at the end of his short-term deal.
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      He was a free agent until September, when he penned a deal to return to Reading until January.
      Following Bruce’s West Brom sacking in October ahead of their clash with Reading, Carroll made a stunning dig at his old boss.
      He said: “It’s always sad to see people get the sack.
      “Especially when we were guaranteed three points at the weekend. It is a shame but that’s football.
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      “You don’t get the results, it’s a business at the end of the day.
      “That’s why you have to keep the lads together and work hard as a manager and get the lads working hard for you.”
      While Carroll could be a free agent again next month, this time he is hoping to extend his stay with Paul Ince’s side.
      He said: “Hopefully you guys have asked the gaffer and he has given you the answer, but I am willing to sign if there is a deal there.”
      Carroll has played 12 times for the Royals this term, scoring twice.
      Reading went into this weekend eighth in the Championship table – two points off the play-off positions.
      Carroll, 33, played under Steve Bruce at NewcastleCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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      Jude Bellingham given hero’s welcome as he returns to Birmingham to say goodbye to fans two years after leaving

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM returned to St Andrew’s tonight to a raucous reception.The England superstar came through Birmingham City’s academy before breaking into their first team aged just 16.
      Jude Bellingham applauds his old fansCredit: Getty
      Bellingham, 19, played 44 times for BluesCredit: Rex
      The England star waves at the adoring St Andrew’s crowdCredit: PA
      He impressed at the heart of Blues’ midfield, making 44 appearances before departing for Borussia Dortmund in a £25million deal.
      The in-demand midfielder, 19, has retained his affection for his boyhood club – returning tonight a hero after his Three Lions World Cup exploits.
      Bellingham was greeted pitchside 15 minutes before Birmingham’s Championship clash with Reading – high-fiving awe-struck ballboys before waving and blowing kisses to the crowd.
      Decked out in a grey hoodie and a warm black jacket, the all-action star tipped for the top was brilliantly received by his old supporters, who gleefully welcomed him home.
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      He then took a picture with the Birmingham mascot, before shaking hands with lucky fans sat in the front row.
      Prior to his appearance, he said: “I never got the chance to say goodbye, until tonight! I’m back to finally say thank you.”
      Such was the impression that Bellingham left on Blues, that they decided to RETIRE his No22 shirt after his departure.
      The move was roundly mocked at the time, although England fans recently joked that his incredible performances since have vindicated the decision.
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      Bellingham gives a thumbs up to the crowdCredit: PA
      An affinity for Blues clearly runs in the family, with Bellingham’s younger brother Jobe on the bench for John Eustace’s side this evening.
      Jobe, 17, has already made 15 appearances for Birmingham.
      Blues went into tonight’s match 14th – but only five points off the play-offs.
      Tonight’s starting XI features Manchester United loanees Hannibal Mejbri and Tahith Chong – as well as SunSport columnist Troy Deeney.
      Despite being happy at Dortmund, Bellingham has been linked with all of Europe’s heavy hitters.
      He is set to have his pick at the end of the season, with Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid all believed to be keen.
      Upon Bellingham’s St Andrew’s return, many Blues online wished he could be out there playing.
      One tweeted: “You bringing your boots?”
      With Dortmund not back in Bundesliga action until January 22, Bellingham has been enjoying some time off this week.
      He went to Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland after returning from Qatar – posing with fans and riding on rollercoasters during his night out.
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      Bellingham watched Birmingham beat Reading 3-2 on Friday night, with a Deeney double and a Chong effort firing them to victory.
      He proudly took pictures on his phone when little bro Jobe came on in the 76th minute – clearly thrilled to see his sibling playing for his boyhood club.
      Jude Bellingham played 44 times for BirminghamCredit: PA
      Jobe Bellingham, 17, is currently on Blues’ booksCredit: Getty More

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      EFL fixture chaos as games including Luton vs Millwall get postponed due to freezing weather

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      THE cold weather is taking its toll on the EFL fixture list with a number of games already postponed.Currently, SEVEN matches in the English Football League have already fallen victim to the freezing temperatures.
      Seven games have already been called off due to the weatherCredit: Getty
      Sunday’s Championship game between Luton and Millwall is OFF.
      This comes despite the Hatters calling on their supporters to come down to Kenilworth Road in a bid to clear the snow from the pitch.
      Confirmed Postponements
      Championship
      Millwall v Luton
      League One
      Peterborough v Shrewsbury
      League Two
      AFC Wimbledon v Stevenage
      Hartlepool v Newport
      Northampton v Carlisle
      Stockport v Gillingham
      Tranmere v Crawley

      In a statement, Luton said: “Following a pitch inspection conducted by an EFL match official, and with the weather conditions forecast between today and Sunday morning, the Hatters’ Sky Bet Championship fixture against Millwall has been postponed.
      “We would like to thank all supporters who had been in touch following our request for volunteers to help clear the snow from the Kenilworth Road pitch on Saturday morning.
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      “Your offers to help have been so much appreciated, but now will not be required.
      “Any rearranged date for the fixture will be confirmed when agreed between the two clubs and the EFL, with information on arrangements for tickets purchased shared in the coming days.
      “Please keep warm, stay safe and we look forward to seeing you here on Boxing Day for the visit of Norwich City.”
      In League One, Peterborough’s home game with Shrewsbury has also been postponed following an inspection on Friday.
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      But League Two has been hit the hardest, with five games already called off and potentially more to follow.
      Games at AFC Wimbledon, Hartlepool, Northampton, Stockport and Tranmere have all fallen to the freeze.
      Wimbledon said: “A big thank you from the Club to all those volunteers who helped us to cover the pitch earlier this week.
      “We did everything to get the Stevenage game on, but below zero temperatures all week meant that it was called off today.”
      In better news, Northampton have confirmed in a statement that their home match with Carlisle has been rearranged.
      The fixture will now be played on Tuesday 20th December, kicking off at 7.45pm. More