Championship

FORMER Reading player and owner Roger Smee is reportedly prepared to save the crisis-hit club with the help of a newly-formed consortium.Smee, 76, spent four years lining up for Reading in the 1960s and 70s before turning to a career in business.Reading owner Dai Yongge (L) is trying to sell the clubCredit: RexA former Reading owner is allegedly willing to take overCredit: GettyHe became chairman of the Royals in 1983 and spent seven years at the helm before making way for John Madejski.However, the ex-forward is now willing to try and save the club from going bust.According to the Reading Chronicle, Smee has formed a consortium with the hope of completing a takeover.It is understood the 76-year-old has already been in contact with the Reading Supporters Trust amid his longstanding interest.Read More in FootballHowever, his consortium would only be willing to take over if Reading fall into administration.The current price tag is deemed too high by Smee and his team.Administration would make the club cheaper, but it would come with a 12-point deduction.Issues would also arise over the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park due to club’s complex company structure.Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSIt is not thought to be an immediate threat.Reading owner Dai Yongge put the club up for sale over a year ago due to ongoing financial problems.EFL club owner gives update on new £2bn ‘spaceship’ stadium included in mega plans for state-of-the-art complex American lawyer Rob Couhig came close to securing a deal in September but withdrew after talks collapsed.As previously announced by the club, an unnamed party is locked in talks. More

BLACKBURN have admitted there are major doubts over the club’s future as a result of the Venky’s legal battle with the Indian government.In club accounts submitted this week Blackburn director Jitendra Desai writes that “a material uncertainty exists” over the club’s ability to continue operating.Blackburn have admitted there is some concern about the club’s financesCredit: GettyBlackburn made a profit of £1.8m last year, but that was down to the sales of Adam Wharton, Thomas Kaminski and Ash Philips to Crystal Palace, Luton and Tottenham respectively raising almost £23m.Without continued player sales the club need funding from the Venkys to stay in business, but the Indian government have blocked them from transferring money overseas.The Venkys’ parent company are involved in a long-running legal case with the Directorate of Enforcement in India in an attempt to get the ban overturned, with a hearing due to take place in Delhi this month.The Directorate of Enforcement are the branch of the Indian finance ministry in charge of investigating money laundering and breaches of foreign exchange laws.Read More in FootballThe Directorate allowed Venkys to make payments of £3.5m and £11m to Blackburn in June and October 2023 respectively after they pleaded for an exception to help keep the club afloat.No transfers have been since however, leaving Blackburn at risk of running out of money next year.Blackburn’s accounts were audited by a firm of independent accounts, PM+M, who issued a similar warning.They wrote: “Until such time as the legal matter is concluded satisfactorily, a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on this group and the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.”Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSBlackburn currently sit ninth in the Championship table, three points adrift of the play-off spots.They next face newly-promoted Portsmouth next weekend.’I was a zebra, Shane Duffy was Goldilocks’ – Norwich City star Kellen Fisher on wild Xmas partys, dinner with Delia and team-mates getting egged More

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY could be set for a quickfire return to football, SunSport has learned.The Dutchman has left Old Trafford after new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim decided he did not want him as part of his coaching staff.Ruud van Nistelrooy has admirers at BurnleyCredit: GettyThat decision came despite Van Nistelrooy winning three and drawing one of his four matches as United’s interim boss.His spell at the Red Devils, on top of his impressive season in charge of PSV, have seen his stocks rise and SunSport understands Burnley are interested.Their managerial hunt in the summer saw both Van Nistelrooy and Scott Parker as candidates – with the Clarets appointing the latter.The decision was taken out of their hands somewhat as Van Nistelrooy instead chose to join Man Utd as Erik ten Hag’s assistant despite holding talks to be top man at Burnley.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe allure of an Old Trafford homecoming was too much for Van Nistelrooy to turn down.But Burnley could now look to revisit that situation if they feel they are heading in the wrong direction under Parker.Owner Alan Pace is well-known for giving managers time, as he has done with Sean Dyche and Vincent Kompany.So it seems unlikely he will axe Parker just yet.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSBut it will certainly be at the back of his mind amid significant fan unrest.Kicking-off their Championship campaign with 4-1 win against Luton and 5-0 win over Cardiff, Parker got off to a great start before things started to go downhill.How Ruud van Nistelrooy’s ‘donut solution’ kicked off Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd revolution earlyBut across Burnley’s last 13 league games since, they’ve only managed nine goals.A disgruntled Turf Moor could be beginning to turn on Parker despite them still sitting fourth in the table.Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man UtdWHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for. More

TROY DEENEY has revealed the moment he grabbed a director of football by the throat before lifting him off the floor in front of team-mates.Deeney, 36, laid bare the crazy tale from his time at Watford after 11 years at the club.Troy Deeney has revealed the moment he lifted a sporting director by the neck in front of team-matesCredit: Under The CoshThe incident happened during his final days at WatfordCredit: GettyThe striker scored 140 goals in 419 games for the Hornets between 2010 and 2021.He helped win promotion to the Premier League on two separate occasions.And Deeney remains a fan favourite at Vicarage Road to this day.However, the SunSport columnist claims he had a run-in towards the end of his Watford days with former sporting director Cristiano Giaretta.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDeeney claims the Italian would constantly monitor training sessions from the sideline.And one time he informed then-manager Xisco Munoz not to start Deeney in an upcoming game.Deeney then went off to do his own training session.But the forward was left irate when he felt Giaretta was laughing at him, sending Deeney into a fit of rage.Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSDeeney told Under The Cosh: “I don’t know if he was laughing at me or in general.“I went from being mad at 30 per cent to 300. The old me said to myself ‘are you really going to let him laugh in your face?’Troy Deeney reveals he spent £250k promotion bonus in three days in Las Vegas partying with 15 Victoria’s Secret models Cristiano Giaretta was on the receiving end of Deeney’s rageCredit: Getty“I went straight back out and went to him, ’Is there a f*****g problem? Who the f**k are you laughing at?’“‘You’re going to get me paid up or tomorrow morning you’re going hanging out of your office by your f*****g tie.’“He nervously laughed and I thought again it was at me so I grabbed him by the neck and said, ‘Laugh at me again, I dare you. I’ll f*****g put you in the ground’.“I’ve realised I’ve grabbed him and picked him up off the floor. I’ve got the whole team (watching) going, ‘Oh s**’t what’s happened’.”That season proved to be Deeney’s last at Watford, with the forward joining Birmingham a year later.After two seasons in the Midlands he moved to League Two outfit Forest Green Rovers, where he became player-manager before being sacked in January. More

FRANK LAMPARD could be set for a return to management with Coventry City – but there’s no shortage of competition. The 46-year-old has been out of work since a spell as interim boss of Chelsea last year. Frank Lampard has been tipped for a return to managementCredit: RexThe former England midfielder endured a miserable tenure with EvertonCredit: GettyLampard has managed the Blues, Derby County, and Everton since hanging up his boots in 2016. The three-time Premier League champion is now in the running for the vacant managerial position at Coventry.Sky Blues owner Doug King has confirmed Lampard is being considered for the role. The club parted ways with Mark Robins last week after a poor start to the Championship season. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLKing told Sky Sports: “We’ve received a huge amount of CVs from high-quality people of which Frank is one. “We’ve done nothing on that process. But clearly we’re in the international break, and we’ll be assessing everything.”We’ll work out who’s going to make the shortlist and we’ll go from there.”King also confirmed as many as 80 applications have been received by the second-tier club. Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSRobins’ departure was a shock among Coventry fans, who watched the former Man Utd star drag them from League Two to the cusp of the top-flight. Coventry reached the Championship playoff final in 2022/23, losing on penalties to Luton Town. Frank Lampard hints at next job after Chelsea sacking he’d be ‘crazy’ to turn downRobins guided them to a ninth-placed finish and an FA Cup semi-final last year, but despite serious investment the club currently sit 17th. Following the surprise sacking last week, Coventry legend Steve Ogrizovic spoke of his “shock” at the decision. Ogrizovic told BBC CWR: “Very few things in football shock me but this is a poor decision.”Mark Robins had more to give, look at the club since the day he came in and it’s been year-on-year success and progression.”The sun has been shining on Coventry and they got back into the Championship and along the way there were some great memories for people.”The stadium is full now and it wasn’t when Mark Robins first came to the club.”Mark Robins was sacked by Coventry City last weekCredit: PALampard has not had a managerial position since an interim role with Chelsea in 2023Credit: GettyLampard is a free agent after being sacked by Everton last year.He left the club 19th place in the Premier League, earning just 12 wins from 44 games in charge. Earlier this month, Lampard was tipped to take over from under-fire West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui.READ MORE SUN STORIESFormer Sky pundit Jeff Stelling told talkSPORT: “Is it time, if Lopetegui goes, for West Ham to bring Frank Lampard home? Just a thought. “He is available. He’s been mentioned in connection with the Roma job, but West Ham would be ideal for him.” More