Championship

WEST BROM have released a whopping 12 players including Manchester United target Sam Johnstone.Steve Bruce’s Baggies ended the 2021/22 Championship campaign in a disappointing tenth place, although they were only three points off the final play-off spot.
England international Sam Johnstone has been released by West BromCredit: PA
Former England hitman Andy Carroll has also been released by the BaggiesCredit: PA
Romaine Sawyers has also left the HawthornsCredit: REUTERS
And Bruce has wasted no time in getting rid of the deadwood at the Hawthorns.
Andy Carroll, Johnstone and Romaine Sawyers are the casualties from the first team.
And youth players Jamie Soule, Owen Windsor, Aurio Teixeira, Kevin Joshua, Zak Delaney, Mark Chidi, MacKenzie Lamb, Leon MacHisa and Daniel Ngoma have also been shown the Hawthorns exit door.
Johnstone’s departure could pave the way for a summer move to Manchester United.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BIDDING WAR .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Tottenham in Sam Johnstone transfer fight with two Premier League rivals
The Red Devils are interested in signing the England international as a replacement for Dean Henderson.
Henderson is eyeing a departure from Old Trafford after years of playing second fiddle to David de Gea.
Despite impressing Baggies fans since his January arrival, former England international Carroll hasn’t done enough to bag himself a new contract.
Bruce confirmed the striker’s departure earlier this month, saying: “I need to strengthen in other areas rather than number nines.
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“Andy has done really well for us. He’s in the best nick he’s been in in years and I’m sure he’ll get fixed up with a club.
“But we’ve got five centre-forwards and six centre-backs. We have an imbalance in the squad and we need to use the wages to strengthen in other areas.
“I know how popular Andy was in the dressing-room and it was a really tough decision to make, but I’ve got to think of the overall balance.
“I’ve got two other big strikers in Daryl Dike, who I’ve not seen play yet, and Kenneth Zohore, who we’ve paid a lot of money for and they’re both number nines.
“Zohore hasn’t had a great time of it but he’s got a big summer ahead of him, to get himself fit and get back into some sort of contention.” More

TOM DALEY has praised Blackpool footballer Jake Daniels for coming out – and thanked Harry Kane for the key public support.Daniels, 17, last week became the only professional footballer in the UK currently playing who is openly gay.
Tom Daley has praised Jake Daniels for his ‘brave decision’ to come outCredit: PA
The 17-year-old announced that he was gay on MondayCredit: Blackpool FC
Olympic diving champion Daley, 28, came out in a YouTube video in December 2013 and is married to Hollywood scriptwriter Dustin Lance Black.
Daley, who won 10m synchro gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, says midfielder Daniels’ “brave” decision will encourage other footballers to follow his lead.
And he feels the backing of England and Tottenham striker Kane – who is straight – will make football a safer place for the LGBTQ community
Daley told The Daily Beast: “It’s just incredible.
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“I think about what it means for any queer young kids growing up thinking now: ‘Maybe I do now have a space in football, maybe I will get in, maybe I will be welcomed.’
“It’s not just that the queer community has been so celebratory of it, but the fact of seeing people like Harry Kane speaking out about how amazing it is.
“Straight footballers at the top of the game are commending him, and I think for visibility in the sport it’s just incredible.
“The culture of football doesn’t seem like such a safe space to come out.
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“The fact that Jake came out is a really powerful message to send.
“It’s so incredibly brave it might encourage people to be brave and more people to come out, able to be themselves.
“It will also make it safer for other athletes to do so as well.
“There is such power in visibility, and in telling or sharing your personal story.
“With me, I had people respond that they liked me before I came out, and what had really changed when I came out? Not much.”
Daley also called on sporting bodies like the Premier League and FA to create an “open culture” within the sport to ensure there are more gay players.
The Plymouth-born diver added: “Last year we saw at the European Championships how racist fans can be, and what they shout.
“It’s as if, in that spectator ground, they’re empowered to say what they want.
“It’s because they feel in a safe place around like-minded people.
“It takes a shift in culture from the top down where the heads of organisations and governing bodies are creating that accepting and open culture because if it doesn’t start there, it’s never going to change.” More

SUNDERLAND are back in the Championship following victory in the League One play-off final against Wycombe Wanderers.The Black Cats returned to the second tier of English football thanks to a 2-0 victory over Wanderers in the play-off final at Wembley.
Elliot Embleton fired the Black Cats into the lead in the first halfCredit: REX
His strike sent the travelling Sunderland supporters into a pandemoniumCredit: REX
Ross Stewart sealed their return to the Championship five minutes before full-timeCredit: Getty
A first-half strike from Elliot Embleton put the northeast club on the brink of a Championship return four years after their second successive relegation.
And Ross Stewart’s goal five minutes from time sent the travelling Sunderland supporters into pandemonium and ended their four-year stint in League One.
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GARETH BALE has been backed to make a sensational move to Cardiff because it ‘ticks all the boxes’.That’s the view of the Real Madrid superstar’s national boss Robert Page, who has given the thumbs up to the possible switch if Wales reach the 2022 World Cup.
Gareth Bale has been backed to make a Cardiff homecomingCredit: Getty
Talk of Cardiff-born Bale, 32, returning home when his Bernabeu contract expires this summer has been growing in recent weeks.
Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett has already stated the Wales captain will decide on his club future depending on the outcome of the World Cup play-off final in Cardiff on June 5.
But Page endorsed a Cardiff homecoming when he said: “It ticks all the boxes. It makes a lot of sense. He can base himself at a training ground he’s familiar with.
“Everybody is thinking the same thing. It will depend on how that results go with regards to what he does next season with a club.
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“The only person who can answer that is Gareth and ultimately, it’s his decision. All I know is whenever he turns up for us he is first class so he’s right to say, ‘Let’s throw full focus on the 5th’. Let’s see what happens.”
Before Wales’ bid to make history by reaching a global finals for the first time since 1958, Bale has a Champions League final against Liverpool on May 28 to prepare for.
Bale – as well as Brennan Johnson and Sorba Thomas who are involved in the Championship play-off final between Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield, will miss next week’s training camp in Portugal.
Although if Bale’s not in Real boss Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for Paris and the option of releasing him is available, Wales will take him.
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Page said: “We will keep in touch with him. It’s common sense if he is not going to feature at all and Real Madrid are happy with releasing him then of course we would like him on camp.
“They don’t have to. We don’t have to have the players until the 30th so we can’t pull rank on that. 
“Gareth puts himself when he is fit to be available for Real Madrid like he does with us.
“It is down to the manager then whether he wants to select him or not in the squad. He is confident he will be involved and we will wait and see whether he is involved – and rightly so because he’s employed by the club. If there’s an opportunity to get players in earlier then we would like that.”
The Algarve camp is preparation for the play-off against Scotland or Ukraine plus four Nations League matches, starting against Poland on June 1.
Page confirmed Bale, who scored twice against Austria in March’s play-off semi-final, will be available for all Wales’ June fixtures up to the 14th but would want him to find a club if the Dragons qualify for the Qatar finals in November.
He added: “If he was playing for Cardiff and we had qualified for the World Cup I wouldn’t change my thoughts or respect for Gareth whatsoever.
“He would definitely be a part of the World Cup squad anyway. As long as he is out playing football – that’s the most important thing for us.
“He’ll need to be part of a club and training, even if he is not playing, at that tempo with other players every day.”
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Page hopes 102-cap Bale will not retire if Wales do lose the play-off final because his influence is similar to the late Gary Speed among his team-mates.
Page said: “I wouldn’t want him to. The door is always open, for what he does in the changing room as well. I’m blessed I see how he is with the players.
“I see a lot of what Speedo was in Gareth and I told him that. Whether you played Championship football or Premier League football, you were treated exactly the same.
“And Baleo does that. I’d want him to carry on as long as he possibly can because it’s the influence he has in that changing room as well.” More

QUEENS PARK RANGERS legend Brian Bedford has passed away aged 88, the club confirmed. The striker netted 180 goals in a six-year spell with the west Londoners, the second most in Rangers’ history.
Brian Bedford (L), pictured in 2017 alongside David Seaman and Andy SintonCredit: Rex Features
Bedford played 284 games for the R’sCredit: Rex
Bedford, pictured here during his time with ScunthorpeCredit: Rex
Part of a QPR statement read: “The club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Brian Bedford at the age of 88.”
It added: “The thoughts of everyone at QPR are with his family and friends at this sad time.
“May he rest in peace.”
First joining QPR from Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in 1959, Bedford didn’t score less than 25 goals in any one of his six-seasons at the club.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}STOMP SHOCK .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Sheff Utd’s McBurnie appears to STAMP on Forest fan as FA begin investigation
The Welshman also spent time with Reading, Southampton, Scunthorpe and Atlanta Chiefs in America, plus a short spell down the road from QPR at Brentford.
But it was at Loftus Road, now the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, where Bedford made the most impact.
The 1961/62 season in particular was Bedford’s best for the R’s – the striker netting an incredible 39 goals in a single campaign.
All in all his 180 goals came in just 284 appearances for the club.
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Only George Goddard’s 189 goals in 259 appearances for the R’s is higher than Bedford’s scoring record.
But Bedford is the club’s leading scorer in the post-war era.
He netted a remarkable 14 hat-tricks in the colours of QPR, and even bagged four goals in one game on two separate occasions.
Bedford was inducted into QPR’s “The Forever R’s Club,” similar to a Hall of Fame, in 2017. More

THE FA are investigating after Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie appeared to stamp on a Nottingham Forest supporter amid the chaos following Tuesday night’s play-off clash.The Blades’ promotion hopes were ended at the City Ground after they were beaten on penalties following a thrilling two-legged tie that ended 3-3 on aggregate.
Oli McBurnie appeared to stamp on a fan in the post-match pitch invasion last nightCredit: Twitter
A clip of the Sheffield United striker has gone viral on social mediaCredit: Twitter
A Forest supporter was on the floor when McBurnie appeared to stamp on themCredit: Twitter
It’s not the first time that Oli McBurnie has been involved in an incident with a fanCredit: Getty
After Forest’s place in the Championship play-off final was confirmed, thousands of supporters invaded the pitch from the stands to celebrate.
However, the night was marred when Blades captain Billy Sharp, who was watching the penalties from the touchline, was viciously attacked by a home supporter.
Police have confirmed that they have arrested a 31-year-old man following the assault that left the striker needing stitches.
However, another investigation is likely to be launched after fellow United striker McBurnie, who was injured for the clash, appeared to stamp on a Forest supporter during the pitch invasion.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}SHARP HORROR .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Forest’s dramatic penalty win soured as Sharp attacked by fan
Decked out in the club’s tracksuit, the 25-year-old Scottish international appears to have been chasing an individual, who falls to the ground, as another teammate is pulled away.
And the 6ft 2in powerhouse then starts stamping his leg on the floored fan before a melee of bodies get involved and the forward is pushed away amid the chaos.
A supporter, who appeared to be filming the scenes on his phone, can then be heard shouting: “Sheffield United player just stamped!”
A Sheffield United spokesman refused to comment.
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But a club source said: “There were football fans on the pitch, where they shouldn’t have been, and he was acting in self defence.
“The video doesn’t show what happened before – or after – and it does not show that any contact was made.”
McBurnie later appeared to deny he had stamped on the fan.
Replying to a Twitter post that said McBurnie “looks more like he was trying to step over with him with one bad leg”, the Scotland international responded with the ‘100’ emoji to signal agreement.

Inspector Andy Wright of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We have been made aware of a video circulating on social media showing a possible altercation where a Forest fan can be seen on the ground following the play-off semi-final.
“We have now started an investigation into this incident.
“The person in question has not yet reported the incident but would urge them to come forward along with any other persons who many have witnessed the incident or have video footage so we can establish the full circumstances.
“We would particularly appeal to the owner of the original footage to make contact.”
“Contact can be made by calling Nottinghamshire Police on 101 and quoting incident 754 of 18 May 2022.”
Sharp, who previously enjoyed a stint playing for Forest, tweeted this morning after his incident: “One mindless idiot ruined what was an unbelievable night of football.
“Congratulations to Nottingham Forest on victory and good luck in the final. As an ex Forest player I will not let one scumbag ruin my respect for the Forest fans.
“Incredibly proud to be captain of this group of Sheffield United players, they gave their all and can hold their heads up high. We will be back and go again.
“Thanks for all your messages and support after the incident.”
Billy Sharp was attacked by a Nottingham Forest fan after the final whistleCredit: Ruckas
Sharp thanked supporters on social media earlier for their support after the shock attackCredit: PA
McBurnie hit the headlines last year after he clobbered a footie fan following United’s relegation.
Elliott Wright was with pals when he poked fun at the £20million striker on the street.
McBurnie then appeared to march up to the man as Wright recorded him on his phone.
The striker was held by officers from North Yorkshire Police after the insurance broker, then 21, reported the incident, and was released on bail.
The Leeds United fan had been with friends when he spotted McBurnie arguing with a girl in the street.
He told him to calm down – and then poked fun at him for his team getting relegated to the Championship.
The 24-second film then showed him allegedly kneeing and punching Elliott who was left with a swollen black eye and cuts to his face before the alleged victim later appealed to the police to drop the charges with the ace escaping action.
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Bearded McBurnie, wearing trainers and a tracksuit top and bottoms, was seen in the video allegedly striding towards Elliott, knocking the phone to the ground and stamping on it before allegedly assaulting him.
McBurnie was fined £30,000 in 2020 for drink driving. More