Championship

NEIL WARNOCK is ready to come out of retirement if Sunderland come calling.The 73-year-old hasn’t worked since leaving Middlesbrough nine months ago and announced that he was ready to call time on a managerial career stretching back to 1980.
Warnock would come out of retirement to manage SunderlandCredit: Rex
But Warnock has told friends he’d jump at the chance of succeeding Alex Neil at the Stadium of Light.
He spoke to sporting director Kristjaan Speakman before Neil got the job and has let it be known he’s still interested.
His biggest regret in football was turning down t the Black Cats’ job in 1992 when he was Notts County manager.
Malcolm Crosby was put in caretaker charge and at the time, Warnock wanted to wait until Sunderland were knocked out of the FA Cup.
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But they reached Wembley, where they were beaten in the final by Liverpool and Crosby was handed a 12 month contract.
Though ex-Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray is favourite to take charge, Sunderland are keeping their options open with MK Dons’ Liam Manning another name that’s been considered.

Manning has a good record as Dons manager, holding an impressive 55 per cent win record.
His side also recorded a 2-0 EFL Cup win over Championship side Watford.
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MK Dons then followed up the cup win with a 4-0 thrashing of Morecambe.
The Dons sit 13th in league One. More

CHELSEA loanee Ian Maatsen received a straight red card for an outrageous shove on a Blackpool player yesterday.The Dutch left-back, 20, is spending the season at Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.
Ian Maatsen was shown a straight red card for a shove in Burnley’s 3-3 draw with BlackpoolCredit: PA
A mass brawl erupted between the two sidesCredit: Getty

Maatsen is touted as one of Chelsea’s best promising academy stars.
And before Saturday, he had lit up Turf Moor with a goal and an assist in just four Championship matches.

But Maatsen’s head got the better of him during Burnley’s heated clash against Blackpool.
A stunning game saw Burnley go 3-1 up at home after 33 minutes.
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But a second-half collapse from the hosts allowed Blackpool to salvage a 3-3 draw.
And both sides ended the game with just ten men after a clash between Maatsen and Sonny Carey in the 84th minute.
The latter slid in on the Dutch youngster with a brutal crunching tackle as time ticked down.
But this prompted a furious response from Maatsen, who charged over before shoving Carey powerfully to the ground.
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A melee was then sparked between the two sides as the ref struggled to control things.
But once he got a handle on the situation, he promptly showed straight reds to both players.
Burnley boss Kompany was unhappy with Carey’s challenge and believes the red was deserved.
However, the Man City legend reckons Maatsen must learn to control his emotions when things get tough.
The referee had little choice but to send Maatsen offCredit: PA
Sonny Carey was also dismissed for his cynical swipeCredit: Getty
Kompany said: “It’s shame because it’s an important player [Maatsen], and it’s a conversation I have with him because he’s young.
“But he’s the one who got absolutely booted off the pitch at shin height.
“It’s going to happen to him again, because he’s a good player and he’ll have to manage that.
“I think you are allowed a reaction but when you start putting hands on people you are asking for trouble.
“But I want to make absolutely clear that he is the one that got booted off the pitch.
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“What he (Maatsen) did was not dangerous, it was an error of a young player and a mistake in terms of game management.
“You have to know that might happen and he goes off, you stay on and you show you are a better player by scoring a goal or getting an assist.” More