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    Blackburn put Wycombe manager and lifelong fan Gareth Ainsworth on shortlist to replace Tony Mowbray

    BLACKBURN ROVERS are putting lifelong fan and former player Gareth Ainsworth on their shortlist to replace Tony Mowbray.Rovers will let Mowbray leave at the end of his contract and Wycombe chief Ainsworth is fancied as a replacement.
    Gareth Ainsworth will manage Wycombe in the upcoming League One play-offsCredit: Rex
    Ainsworth will be involved in the League One play offs, but would be interested in the job as he has always supported the club and played for their youth team.
    Blackburn expect to speak to a few candidates in the next couple of weeks and would prefer a boss who does not have compensation – although Ainsworth would be an exception to that.
    Former Norwich boss Daniel Farke is interested and may get an interview as Blackburn plan to make a quick appointment.
    The German, 45, briefly managed Krasnodar, only to resign following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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    Ainsworth, 48, revealed his emotion at clinching a play-off place during yesterday’s dramatic League One final day.
    Following his side’s 2-1 win at Burton, he said: “I rang my dad after the game and that was really special for me.
    “He’s been there right through and I’m getting a bit emotional now because he’s backed me as a player and a manager unbelievably.”
    Ainsworth then added: “I’ll never forget the day I was released from Blackburn Rovers. It was on my 18th birthday.
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    “I remember holding it together in Don Mackay’s office as best I could, walking out of the stadium into the road and breaking down in tears.
    “My dad said to me the words I’ll never forget – ‘You’ll make it’. I’ll never forget that.
    “To have something like that has been outstanding and I’ll do the same for my son.
    “There’s more important things than football in the world and family’s one of them – that proved it.” More

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    When are EFL play-offs 2021/22? League One semi-finals CONFIRMED, Championship and League Two dates

    THE EFL has reached its business end as teams look to secure those promotion places.And as every year, in each of the three divisions, four teams will compete in the play-offs with only one earning promotion in the Wembley finals.
    Brentford were last year’s Championship play-off final winnersCredit: Getty
    Brentford were last year’s play-off winners after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Swansea at Wembley.
    When are the EFL play-off finals?
    The dates for each of the EFL play-off finals have been confirmed and will take place across two weeks.
    The League One final will be played a week before the League Two and Championship finals as Wembley is unavailable on the Bank Holiday Monday of May 30.
    The reason for this is the Uefa-Conmebol Finalissima, which will see European Champions Italy take on Copa America winners Argentina at the national stadium on Wednesday, June 1.
    Confirmed EFL play-off final dates:

    League One play-off final – Saturday, May 21
    League Two play-off final – Saturday, May 28
    Championship play-off final – Sunday, May 29

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    When are the EFL play-off semi-finals?
    Dates for the EFL play-off semi-finals are as follows:
    Championship

    6th vs 3rd (7.45pm) – Friday, May 13
    3rd vs 6th (7.45pm) – Monday, May 16

    5th vs 4th (3pm) – Saturday, May 14
    4th vs 5th (7.45pm) – Tuesday, May 17

    League One

    Wycombe vs MK Dons (7.45pm) – Thursday, May 5
    MK Dons vs Wycombe (6.30pm) – Sunday, May 8

    Sunderland vs Sheffield Wednesday (7.45pm) – Friday, May 6
    Sheffield Wednesday vs Sunderland (7.45pm) – Monday, May 9

    League Two

    7th vs 4th (7.45pm) – Saturday, May 14
    4th vs 7th (7.45pm) – Wednesday, May 18

    6th vs 5th (12pm) – Sunday, May 15
    5th vs 6th (7.45pm) – Thursday, May 19

    Do the EFL play-offs have away goals?
    The EFL play-offs do NOT have away goals.
    The rule was scrapped in 1999 after third placed side Ipswich were beaten by sixth placed Bolton on away goals.
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    Wayne Rooney boost for Derby with Chris Kirchner’s takeover set to get green light and Man Utd icon to stay as manager

    DERBY’S bid to keep Wayne Rooney will get a huge boost this week — as Chris Kirchner’s takeover gets the OK from the EFL.Rams fear approaches for boss Rooney if they are stuck in administration as the managerial merry-go-round begins.
    Chris Kirchner’s takeover gets the OK from the EFL in a bid to keep Wayne RooneyCredit: Mark Cosgrove/News Images
    But American Kirchner expects to be given the green light by the EFL as he tries to close a deal for Derby before the club’s money runs out this week.
    Kirchner has presented information for the final part of the “fit and proper test” after checks on his finances and that is a massive step towards taking the club out of admin.
    He had suffered from a whispering campaign after previous attempts to buy both Derby and Preston came to nothing, with suggestions his funding was not securely based.
    But Kirchner, 34, had shown he had £100million available to Derby’s administrators at the start of the process months ago and similar cash resources were confirmed to the EFL.
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    Kirchner’s business plan for Derby now hinges on a deal for the stadium
    The local council are attempting to buy Pride Park from owner Mel Morris.
    Kirchner even reached out to playing staff during his bid to buy the relegated club — calling player of the year, centre-half Curtis Davies, to plead with him to stay for next season in League One despite interest from a host of clubs in the Championship.
    Derby’s relegation was confirmed after losing 1-0 to QPR, having been docked 21 points for their financial issues.
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    Afterwards, boss Rooney delivered a rousing speech to Derby supporters, who face watching League One football next season.
    He said: “We’re grateful for the support you’ve shown us all season.
    “It’s been f***ing tough, it’s been hard. Difficult moments, for us, for you especially – it’s been very tough.
    “But we’ve tried our best, we’ve given everything we can.
    “It’s unfortunate we’ve been relegated, but, now we’ll plan to make sure this club comes back.”
    Derby were relegated after defeat to QPRCredit: Rex More

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    Wigan fan cheers as he leaves Shrewsbury’s ground in a WHEELCHAIR surrounded by medics after he is injured in crowd

    A WIGAN fan cheered his way out of Shrewsbury’s ground in a wheelchair after he was injured amid goal celebrations.Will Keane’s 50th minute penalty put the Latics 2-0 up and helped seal their promotion as champions.
    The unnamed fan was still in high spirits despite being caught up in a post-goal meleeCredit: PA
    Wigan fans had been celebrating going 2-0 up away at PlymouthCredit: PA
    But the celebrations by excited fans led to the advertising hoardings collapsing at the away end at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.
    A huddle of fans fell over the hoardings which led to the game being stopped for several minutes.
    One fan, who was injured in the melee, was seen to by medical staff.
    He then cheered to his fellow supporters as he was led away in a wheelchair.
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    Local reporter Lewis Cox also tweeted that a young Wigan fan was escorted to the corner where he “limped away with medics”.
    The worrying scenes at the away end marred an overwise glorious final day of the season for Wigan.
    Their 3-0 win over Shrewsbury confirmed their promotion to the Championship as Champions on a frantic final day in League One.
    An own goal by Josh Vela opened the scoring in the first half before two strikes by Keane made the scoreline more comfortable.
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    They will be promoted automatically alongside Rotherham, who won at Gillingham.
    MK Dons have had to settle for play-offs despite crushing 10-man Plymouth 5-0.
    The result also meant that Plymouth lost their playoff spot, with the humiliating defeat coming on Argyle boss Steven Schumacher’s birthday. More

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    Swansea condemn ‘stomach-churning’ video of Cardiff fan racially abusing Michael Obafemi after South Wales derby clash

    POLICE are investigating a “stomach-churning” video of a Cardiff fan appearing to racially abuse Swansea striker Michael Obafemi.The clip was taken during Swansea’s 4-0 victory over the Bluebirds earlier this month.
    Michael Obafemi celebrates scoring against Cardiff City earlier this monthCredit: Getty
    During the video, a Cardiff supporter appears to target Obafemi with racist language.
    In a statement shared by Wales Online, a Cardiff spokesperson said: “Cardiff City have spoken at length with Kick It Out on the matter, have passed evidence on to South Wales Police and will fully support their investigations.
    “The club is disgusted by the deplorable, stomach-churning language and stands by football’s commitment to stamping out such abhorrent behaviour. There is no place for it in our sport or society.”
    Swansea have passed the incident on to cops, who added in a statement of their own: “South Wales Police is aware of footage circulating on social media from Cardiff City’s home fixture against Swansea City at The Cardiff City Stadium on April 2.
    .css-16e4f55{margin:16px 0;}.css-1546w7m{background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);margin:16px 0;}.css-1tapza8{padding:20px 15px;}.css-1bk4jdt{padding:20px 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    “Enquiries are on-going. Anyone with information, or the individual himself, is urged to contact South Wales Police quoting occurrence *140557.”
    A Swans statement read: “Swansea City Football Club is aware of a video circulating on social media from the fixture against Cardiff City on April 2.
    “We wholly condemn the abhorrent language used and we are actively working with South Wales Police and Cardiff City with their enquiries.
    “There is no place for such behaviour in society, let alone football, and as a club we will unequivocally support our players and staff to help eradicate all forms of discrimination from the game.”
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    Quizzed about the incident in his pre-match press conference, Cardiff boss Steve Morison said this morning: ” I haven’t seen the video personally, but I’ve been told about it.
    “I’m not on the social media stratosphere so I didn’t see it. But if it is a Cardiff fan, then he shouldn’t be doing that. No one should be doing anything like that.
    “I echo the club’s statement on it. We’re trying to rid it from society, not just football. but it sometimes rears its ugly head and it’s not nice.
    “We need to eradicate it from society as soon as possible. It’s frustrating when we have to keep talking about these things.
    “But when it’s out there in the public domain, it’s something we have to do.
    “It’s an absolute disgrace and something we don’t want to be associated with at this football club. Football’s for everybody. We’re as one within the club.” More

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    Steve Bruce demands all West Brom players live near ground – then gives brilliant reason why he won’t move from Cheshire

    STEVE BRUCE has ordered his West Brom players to live near the club – but says it would be unfair for him to relocate from Cheshire.The Baggies chief was shocked to discover several stars reside far away as he tries to revive the mid-table Championship side.
    West Brom manager Steve Bruce wants his players to move closer to the Hawthorns – but will be staying put in Cheshire himselfCredit: PA
    So for next season he expects all his players, including new signings, to live within an hour’s drive of the training ground.
    But he claims it’s different for managers – because they could be sacked at any time.
    Bruce believes he needs to shake things up on and off the pitch.
    Early-season hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League faded.
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    That led to Valerien Ismael’s sacking in February.
    And ex-Newcastle chief Bruce has spluttered since stepping in, with West Brom certain to miss out on the play-offs.
    He said of his new plan to get the Baggies moving: “I have told them all (to live within an hour of the training ground). 
    “People are going to throw it at me and say, ‘Are you going to relocate from Cheshire?’
    .css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Championship.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
    “But it doesn’t work with managers. When we sign a contract we usually get sacked.
    “And the players that are here, along with the ones we bring in, have got to commit. We have too many people travelling.
    “Professional athletes shouldn’t be spending three or four hours a day in a car. It catches up with you and probably takes a little bit off your career.
    “You can have an apartment around the area. But you have to be here the majority of the week.”
    And of his wider hopes for next season, Bruce added: “I have put forward what I would like to do next year – that is a rebuild of the squad.” More

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    Man Utd set to miss out on Peterborough wonderkid Ronnie Edwards despite Sir Alex Ferguson advising transfer last year

    BRENTFORD will pay Peterborough another £1million for avoiding relegation as part of their Ivan Toney transfer deal.That will take the current deal to £9m and could increase further if various clauses are activated.
    Ronnie Edwards is in high demandCredit: Getty
    The Posh are set to receive more cash for Ivan ToneyCredit: Rex
    But Toney’s deal could be dwarfed by the amount Posh are expected to receive for 19-year-old central defender Ronnie Edwards.
    Alex Ferguson urged Manchester United to sign him last summer but the club did not follow their former manager’s advice.
    RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund are currently ahead of Prem clubs Crystal Palace and Spurs for a player that could cost anything between £15m and £20m.
    During one of his England Under-19 games, there were an astonishing 98 scouts there with many coming to see Edwards — who has made 29 starts for Posh this season.
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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;}MAN UTD NEWS .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;}Ten Hag’s ‘De Gea concerns’ revealed, Paul Pogba ‘leaves club WhatsApp group’
    But it looks as though he could be the latest young English player to head off abroad.
    SEB SOARS
    Mo Salah and Kevin De Bruyne are among the players who struggled in their first spells in the Premier League before becoming major successes in English football.
    Maybe the same will apply to Sebastien Haller.
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    The Ivory Coast ace failed to become a major success at West Ham after arriving for a club record £42million from Frankfurt in 2019.
    But it was still a strange decision by the club to accept a £20m bid from Ajax rather than let him go out on loan.
    Forward Haller has scored 11 Champions League goals this season in a total of 31 for the Dutch giants.
    Erik ten Hag is moving from Ajax to become manager of Manchester United and it looks as though Haller, 27, could be following in the same direction.
    He has two years left of his contract and would cost £35m which is a fee the Red Devils could pay.
    Unfortunately for United, they are currently unable to afford the £100m-plus sums which would be needed for Declan Rice and Harry Kane.
    Sebastien Haller has rebuilt his reputation at AjaxCredit: EPA
    HEY JOBE
    JUDE BELLINGHAM continues to star for Borussia Dortmund and has now played 87 times for the Germans despite being aged just 18.
    As previously reported in this column, the England international has little interest in returning to his home country this summer because he is loving life in the Bundesliga.
    Equally, it looks as though he could soon be joined by brother Jobe.
    Aged just 16, he has played twice for Birmingham and can play in both midfield and attack. Dortmund are interested in bringing him over as well.
    Jobe Bellingham may be another star in the makingCredit: PA
    WELL DONE COL U
    WELL done to Colchester United. They have left open their justgiving.com page to raise as much money as possible for the British Red Cross in Ukraine.
    The U’s reduced their ticket prices for their League Two game with Forest Green last month to £10 and gave all the cash to help the humanitarian aid efforts.
    More than 6,000 fans turned up to the fixture and the money has kept on trickling in — and nearly £70,000 has been raised so far, through donations to the club, ticket sales and the JustGiving page.
    But what a shame no other football club, particularly those who could afford it in the Premier League, have bothered doing something similar.
    Colchester have been putting money to a good causeCredit: Rex More

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    How Luton Town manager Nathan Jones got Hatters to verge of Premier League.. by BURNING the club table tennis table

    THE Championship’s manager of the season has revealed some of the secrets behind his success – having no “superstars” and burning a table tennis table.Nathan Jones, 48, is in his second spell in charge at Luton Town and is looking to end their 30-year top-flight absence.
    Nathan Jones has been named the Championship’s manager of the yearCredit: Rex
    The Welshman initially guided the Hatters to promotion from League Two back in 2018.
    That was before he left Kenilworth Road for an ill-fated stint at Stoke – during which time the Bedfordshire outfit he departed sealed a second-straight promotion.
    18 months later he was back at Luton and is now leading the Championship’s fifth-placed side to a surprise push for Premier League promotion.
    His efforts were recognised at Sunday’s English Football League awards ceremony when he picked up the manager of the season accolade.
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    While Jones was recognised, not a single one of his players made it into the team of the year.
    However, Jones was not that bothered by that.
    In fact it is one of the key ingredients behind Luton’s rise.
    And speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio, he revealed some of the secrets behind his and Luton’s rise to the brink of the top-flight:
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    NO SUPERSTARS
    Jones said: “We have no superstars and we have a group of players that want to achieve something – they are nowhere near their ceiling.
    “Outside Luton, everyone would have thought this is a huge, huge surprise, that it couldn’t be done – but inside we had that confidence that we could push boundaries this year.
    “Ideally everyone would like to do fantastically well without spending a hell of a lot of money. “That isn’t the case in football on all levels but we do it very well.”
    TABLE TENNIS 
    “When I came in, I felt some of the players were more concerned about being good on the table tennis table than they were about being professional footballers.
    “There was a big table tennis culture so I thought I can either cajole them and try to get them into the gym or I can burn the table tennis table.
    “It was far easier to burn the table tennis table.”
    RECRUITMENT
    Jones has prided himself on bringing in bargain buys that do not blow the club’s strict budget.
    One of those is 17-goal topscorer Elijah Adebayo, brought in for an undisclosed fee from Walsall back in January 2021.
    Jones explained: “It’s evolution really – we’ve been on a journey.
    “This year we wanted to really challenge – we believed it, we recruited that way.
    “Recruitment is everything because no matter how good a manager or coach or CEO you are, if you get that wrong you are done.
    “And we’ve got recruitment right – that’s probably been the secret.”
    WHAT’S LEFT?
    Luton only need two points from their final two matches to secure a play-off spot.
    And they could still make them even if they lose both games should the chasing pack drop points.
    They visit already-promoted top dogs Fulham on Monday before a final day home clash with lowly Reading. More