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      Football’s 3pm blackout facing axe after more than 60 YEARS as EFL and Premier League chiefs believe concept is outdated

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      FOOTBALL’S Saturday afternoon TV blackout could be facing the axe after more than 60 years.While 3pm games across the Prem and EFL cannot be shown live on TV other than in specific circumstances, the UK is the last country in Europe with that policy in place.The new Premier League TV deal will see up to 270 matches per season shown liveCredit: GettyNo other country still has a 3pm blackout in placeCredit: AlamyAnd Sun Sport has been told of a growing belief among league chiefs that the concept is now out of date – and should be changed within five years.The new four-year Premier League TV deal, with up to 270 of the 380 matches being shown live, begins next term and will run to the end of the 2028-29 season.Sky’s £935m five year EFL deal, with more than 1,000 games per season being shown, will also run out at the same time, making way for a major rethink by the game’s authorities.And while the FA, which has policed the blackout since it was introduced to protect match attendances in the 1960s, had previously started its opposition to the policy being lifted, the wishes of the leagues could see a change of heart.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe existence of the blackout has been a factor in the number of illegal streams with decoder boxes being used to broadcast international TV feeds in the UK.EFL analysis of this season is understood to have demonstrated little significant impact on match-day attendances despite the extra number of Saturday lunchtime games being shown.European football for seven – potentially eight – top flight teams next season will also see even more matches moved from Saturday to Sunday TV slots.Ruben Amorim introduces rarely-seen pre-match training tactic ahead of 4-0 thrashing of Everton Last month Prem club bosses agreed “unanimously” to end its 20-year partnership with media giant IMG and build the League’s own in-house production centre.Most read in FootballThat opens the possibility of a future “Premflix” direct to consumer offer to fans, with the remaining Saturday 3pm matches an obvious option to raise even more cash for clubs. More

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      FA Cup 3rd round draw ball numbers: Who is in the hat as Premier League sides join?

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      THE FA Cup third round draw will take place TODAY as Premier League heavyweights enter the hat.Lower-ranked sides, including non-league outfits Dagenham & Redbridge and Tamworth, will be hoping to land a glamour tie.Manchester United are the current holders of the FA CupCredit: GettyIn addition to the two FA Cup underdogs, 18 teams from League One and Two join the 20 Premier League clubs and 24 Championship teams to make up the 64 sides in the draw.SunSport brings you every club’s number ahead of tonight’s prestigious event.When is the FA Cup third round draw?The FA Cup third round draw will take place on Monday, December 2.It will begin at around 7pm GMT.Old Trafford will host the draw.How to watch the FA Cup third round draw?The FA Cup third-round draw will be broadcast LIVE on BBC Two.READ MORE IN FA CUPYou can live stream the show for FREE via the BBC iPlayer app/website.Kelly Somers will present the draw, with Mark Hughes and Dion Dublin picking out the all-important balls.You can find out all the third-round ties as they are drawn out by following SunSport’s live blog.FA Cup third round draw ball numbersHere are all the ball numbers for the FA Cup third round draw:Most read in FA CupAFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBlackburn RoversBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBristol CityBurnleyCardiff CityChelseaCoventry CityCrystal PalaceDerby CountyEvertonFulhamHull CityIpswich TownLeeds UnitedLeicester CityLiverpoolLuton TownManchester CityManchester UnitedMiddlesbroughMillwallNewcastle UnitedNorwich CityNottingham ForestOxford UnitedPlymouth ArgylePortsmouthPreston North EndQueens Park RangersSheffield UnitedSheffield WednesdaySouthamptonStoke CitySunderlandSwansea CityTottenham HotspurWatfordWest Bromwich AlbionWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersSalford CityCharlton AthleticExeter CityLeyton OrientBristol RoversDagenham & RedbridgeAccrington StanleyLincoln CityTamworthBirmingham CityMansfield TownPeterborough UnitedStockport CountyWycombe WanderersMorecambeBromleyDoncaster RoversReadingHarrogate TownWigan AthleticWhen are the FA Cup third round ties taking place?FA Cup third round ties will take place over the weekend of Saturday, January 11. More

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      Wayne Rooney slams ’embarrassing’ players after ‘complete collapse’ and admits ‘nothing’s getting through to them’

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      WAYNE ROONEY ruthlessly ripped into his Plymouth players yet again following their 4-0 defeat to Bristol City on Saturday.Argyle conceded three times in 13 second-half minutes as they continue to leak goals away from home.Wayne Rooney raged at his players following another heavy defeatCredit: RexPlymouth disintegrated in the second half against Bristol City on SaturdayCredit: RexIt came just four days after they were thrashed 6-1 by Norwich at Carrow Road.Plymouth are yet to win away from home this season and have conceded 38 goals in just 18 league games.They now sit just two points above the Championship relegation zone.Following the Norwich loss, Rooney gave a scathing assessment of his side by claiming his academy team could have performed better.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd in the wake of the Bristol City defeat, he criticised them in similarly blunt fashion by insisting they showed a “lack of character and fight”.He said: “From there [in the second half], the players collapsed.”Again, this is not something I haven’t told the players. They completely collapsed. It was the same at Norwich away, it was the same at Leeds away.”When you want to have a career in football you need to dig deep at times, and dig deep within yourself.Most read in EFLCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”It’s something I have done many times as a player, and I feel the players showed a real lack of character and lack of fight after we conceded the first goal, and that is very disappointing.”Of course, we have got injuries – and that’s certainly not me making excuses – but those players who have come in have all had the game time. I have tried different ways, different systems.Wayne Rooney teases shock I’m a Celeb appearance as he praises wife Coleen for jungle stint in TV appearance”I have gone at them, I have tried to encourage them. I have tried to find the right balance between both.”Worryingly, Rooney, who only took over in May, also revealed he has “simplified the game as much as I can” for his players but they continue to not understand his instructions.He added: “Up to now, away from home, nothing is getting through to them.”I think the biggest thing is when we concede a goal it looks like the game is over and you are looking at hopefully keeping it down to one goal, which is not a good place to be.”I’m talking a lot on the players and I never like doing that but I think it is at a point now where the players need to understand that they need to give more and show more character, more fight, more desire.”I have simplified the game as much as I can today for them, to not over complicate things.”Rooney has won five, drawn five and lost 10 of his 20 games in charge.And his next two matches could prove crucial in determining his future.READ MORE SUN STORIESThey face back-to-back home fixtures against 17th place Oxford and 12th place Swansea.Since beating Portsmouth 1-0 on November 5, they have drawn two and lost two, conceding 13 in the process.Rooney is under increasing pressure at the Championship clubCredit: Rex More

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      Luton to be forced into massive pay-off if Rob Edwards is sacked with Hatters treading water in Championship

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      LUTON will have to come up with a massive pay-off to sack struggling boss Rob Edwards.The Hatters need to find as much as £1.5MILLION if they fire Edwards, with Luton treading water in the Championship this season.Luton Town could have to fork out £1.5m to sack Rob EdwardsCredit: GettyLuton fought until the final day of the season to stay afloat in the Premier League last term but ultimately saw their brief spell in the top flight come to an end.And after a valiant effort amongst the big boys, everything is beginning to unravel in the Championship.Luton sit 19th in the division, only three points above the drop zone, and have won just two of their last eight games in the league.By comparison the other two relegated sides from last season, Sheffield United and Burnley, are currently occupying the top two spots in the Championship.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAs such, that has piled huge pressure on boss Rob Edwards, who had bought himself plenty of time as boss by helping Luton gain promotion to the big time in the first place.But if the bosses at Kenilworth Road do want to shift on the 41-year-old then they will have to fork out some serious cash.That’s because Edwards penned a new four-year deal in June when he was the Hatters’ flavour of the month.Now that seems a distant memory as Norwich City piled more misery on Edwards and his team in a 4-2 defeat at Carrow Road on Saturday.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSSpeaking after the game, Edwards pinned the blame on his players rather than himself.He said: “People have got to fix it quickly, otherwise they won’t play.Luton star Liam Walsh is sent off just 36 seconds after coming on against Oxford”Too many times it’s happened, but today it was so, so evident.“The plan was good, there was a good performance there, and we should have come away winning the game, but we’ve made four massive errors individually and it’s cost us a game of football again.”Luton lost 4-2 to Norwich City on SaturdayCredit: Getty More

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      Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton lined up for Sheffield United transfer as Blades look to recover from Arblaster injury

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      SHEFFIELD UNITED may make a loan move for Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton — to soften the blow of losing Oli Arblaster.Morton, 18, has already shown he can handle the Championship in spells at Blackburn and Hull and could now get a third crack.Sheffield United are considering a loan move for Liverpool and England U21 star Tyler MortonCredit: GettyThe Blades need a short-term solution after the loss of injured midfield ace Arblaster, 20, and Morton was surprisingly left at the Kop this term.United have been looking at foreign targets too but those projects would need sales to make them happen and to create vacancies in their talented squad.Morton managed three goals and five assists in 40 Championship appearances for Blackburn last season.This term he has mostly been resigned to the bench for Liverpool under Arne Slot and has made just two appearances in the Carabao Cup against Brighton and West Ham.READ MORE TRANSFER NEWSAt youth level Morton has excelled in the Premier League 2, the Prem’s development league, scoring three times and setting up another in just three appearances.Morton is also a England U21 international and was called up to Ben Futcher’s squad for friendlies against the Netherlands and Spain in November.Sheffield United look like they will be keeping hold of another rising star from the Premier League too.Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is happy for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to stay on loan at the Blades.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSGlasner wanted Rak-Sakyi to get game time and it paid off with Eagles fans keen on him returning to boost their Prem survival scrap.But the Palace manager plans to let Rak-Sakyi, 22, stay at Bramall Lane rather than become part of his thin squad.Since arriving in Sheffield Rak-Sakyi has scored four goals and registered two assists in 17 Championship games.Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is expected to remain on loan at Sheffield UnitedCredit: RexRuben Amorim makes Man Utd transfers vow as new boss wastes no time in stamping authority on new employers More

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      Harry Redknapp rules himself out of shock Championship job as ex-Tottenham boss, 77, admits ‘I’ve had it’

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      HARRY REDKNAPP has ruled himself out of a shock return to football with Frank Lampard at Coventry City.The former gaffer, 77, managed some of the country’s top teams following a glittering playing career.Harry Redknapp has ruled out a return to football at Coventry CityCredit: RexNephew Frank Lampard oversaw a 1-1 draw against Cardiff in his first game as managerCredit: PARedknapp took charge of sides including Tottenham, West Ham and Southampton.But his last role in the dugout came in 2017 with Birmingham.Redknapp’s legacy continues with son Jamie, who played for clubs like Liverpool and Spurs before heading into punditry.While nephew Lampard is now a boss after winning three titles and a Champions League at Chelsea.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe former England midfielder, who has twice managed his old side as well as Derby and Everton, has now landed a new role at Coventry.Lampard’s first match after replacing Mark Robins came in a 2-2 draw against Cardiff on Saturday.And the tactician is hopeful of rebuilding his managerial career after picking up just one win during his last interim spell at Stamford Bridge.However, Redknapp reckons there’s one thing Lampard must do if he is to succeed in the Championship.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe gaffer has already brought long-time assistants Joe Edwards and Chris Jones with him to Coventry.But uncle Harry reckons Lampard also needs to hire a “wise old head” for added experience.Inside Frank Lampard’s superstitious routine as new Coventry boss’ success could depend on Chelsea legend’s DOGFrank Lampard’s managerial career statsDerby, May 2018-July 2019: P57 W24 D17 L16Chelsea, July 2019-Jan 2021: P84 W44 D17 L23Everton, Jan 2022-Jan 2023: P44 W12 D8 L24Chelsea (interim), Apr 2023-May 2023: P11 W1 D2 L8Coventry, Nov 2024-Present: P1 W0 D1 L0However, it won’t be Redknapp himself, who has categorically ruled out taking a role at the club.He told SunSport: “If I could offer one piece of advice to Frank Lampard on his return to management with Coventry it would be to get a wise, old head on his staff.“Not me, I’ve had it, but someone that is a little bit more experienced than him, that he can talk to.“When I went to Portsmouth as manager, I brought in Jim Smith. I was an experienced manager myself by then but he was still brilliant for me to have around.“Frank has got a difficult job on at Coventry and to have an older man on the team to sound out would be a huge benefit. But fair play to Frank for coming back into the game. He has got so much to offer.“His football knowledge is immense and his reputation as a player, and the way he carried himself as a player, will hopefully rub off on the squad.“It’s about getting the right job. For example, people are waiting for Wayne Rooney to fail in every job.“But he has gone to Plymouth and although it is a big club, they don’t have money.READ MORE SUN STORIES“They just about stayed up last season. Wayne’s up against it from the start. Yet I have sat down with him and spoken about football and he has the makings of a terrific manager.“You just need the right club at the right time.”Harry Redknapp’s managerial career statsBournemouth, Oct 1983-June 1992: P457 W180 D107 L170West Ham, Aug 1994-May 2001: P327 W121 D85 L121Portsmouth, March 2002-Nov 2004: P116 W54 D26 L36Southampton, Dec 2004-Dec 2005: P49 W13 D21 L15Portsmouth, Dec 2005-Oct 2008: P128 W54 D29 L45Tottenham, Oct 2008-June 2012: P198 W98 D50 L50QPR, Nov 2012-Feb 2015: P105 W36 D26 L43Jordan, March 2016: P2 W1 D0 L1Birmingham, April 2017-Sept 2017: P13 W4 D1 L8Trophies: Associate Members’ Cup (Bournemouth)Uefa Intertoto Cup (West Ham)First Division, FA Cup (Portsmouth)Championship play-offs (QPR) More

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      Axed Coventry boss Mark Robins lined up for instant managerial return with Championship club – but sets strict condition

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      MARK ROBINS is open to a managerial return with Hull — but will not attend an interview for the post.Robins was sacked by Coventry last month and is one of the candidates Tigers plan to talk to about replacing the axed Tim Walter.Mark Robins is open to a managerial return with HullCredit: PAHull are asking for applications and CVs but Robins would prefer to be offered the jobCredit: AlamyHowever, Hull are asking for applications and CVs — and the 54-year-old Robins would prefer to be offered the job rather than go through that process.The ex-Coventry boss was the EFL’s longest serving manager as he spent seven years in the West Midlands.The Sky Blues were sitting adrift of the Championship drop in 17th place before his dismissal.Thus, the former Manchester United ace saw himself at the centre of a relegation battle this season.Read More on FootballRobins was in his second spell as Coventry boss, having returned to the club in March 2017 after the sacking of Russell Slade.He also had a short one-year stint in charge of the team back in 2012.Robins oversaw the resurrection of Coventry from the depths of League Two, to the champions of League One in 2020.He was even on the cusp of bringing the West Midlands club to the Premier League when they lost the Championship play-off final on penalties to Luton in 2023.Most read in ChampionshipBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnd he memorably led them to the FA Cup semi-final last season, where they were unlucky to marginally lose out on pens to United after climbing back from 3-0 down in the second half.Coventry ultimately replaced Robins with ex-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.Frank Lampard confirmed as Coventry manager as Chelsea legend returns to management after 18 months unemployed Lampard went on to sign a two-and-a-half year deal with the Championship outfit. More

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      Fans joke Wayne Rooney will ‘be able to go to Australia soon’ after his Plymouth side ship 10 goals in dismal five days

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      FOOTBALL fans trolled Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney after a disastrous five days that saw his team concede a staggering TEN goals.Plymouth suffered a miserable 6-1 loss at Norwich on Tuesday in the Championship.Plymouth boss Wayne Rooney has seen his team concede TEN goals in five daysCredit: GettyPlymouth fans joked Rooney may soon be free to find his wife Coleen in AustraliaCredit: RexAnd then the Pilgrims sustained a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Bristol City at Ashton Gate.That means, Rooney, 39, has now officially lost nine out of 19 matches during his short six-month stint in charge of Plymouth, winning only five games along the way.And some fans took to social media joking that at this pace the Manchester United record goalscorer may soon be free to fly to Australia and find his wife Coleen.The England legend’s missus is currently competing in the hit reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! which takes place Down Under.Read More on FootballOne fan tweeted: “Think he will be able to go to Australia, if this carries on.”Another commented: “Should have gone to the jungle.”A third wrote: “He’d of been better off going in the jungle and let Coleen run the team.”This fan said: “That’s really tough for him.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnd that one stated: “Tough week for Wayne Rooney.”Rooney switched to management after rolling credits on his glittering 19-year football career in 2021.Coleen Rooney shocks I’m A Celeb stars with savage swipe at husband WayneThe legendary striker underwent a two-year spell with Derby County and spent a year with DC United as well as Birmingham City before moving to Home Park. More