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      ‘Biggest prat we’ve ever had’ – Towie babe’s footballer boyfriend slammed for bizarre TikTok dance while club faces drop

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      BIRMINGHAM star Oliver Burke has been slammed by fans for taking part in a bizarre TikTok dance with his girlfriend.The winger has come under fire for his laissez-faire attitude amid the Blues’ relegation fears.Oliver Burke has come under fire for a TikTok danceBirmingham fans have criticised the winger for his relaxed attitudeBurke often takes part in girlfriend Megan McKenna’s TikTok videosCredit: InstagramThe pair have been dating since April last yearCredit: InstagramBirmingham are only above the Championship drop zone thanks to goal difference following a run of seven games without a win.So fans have been left fuming over Burke’s decision to take part in a silly Tiktok dance with partner Megan McKenna, of Towie fame.The clip is set to the New Order classic Blue Monday and sees them shadow boxing while arguing over what to have for dinner. In another video Burke rattled supporters just by making dinner with his girlfriend.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOne fan reacted saying: “Biggest prat we’ve ever had at the club.”Another added: “He’s called Burke for a reason.”A third wrote: “Just sums up everything that’s wrong with loan players, the lack of connection to our club and the fans.”And another commented: “If anything sums up why I can’t stand this current squad it’s this.”Most read in ChampionshipBurke, 26, has failed to impress in his loan spell at Birmingham, making just 22 appearances without a goal or an assist to his name.Megan McKenna starred in The Only Way is EssexCredit: GettyBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERIt is not the first time the Scotland international has endured a difficult loan spell and Burke has now played for ten clubs in eight years.He was once signed for £15million by West Brom after performing well for RB Leipzig, but he scored just one goal in 24 games for the Baggies.Burke later signed for Sheffield United in the Premier League before joining Werder Bremen, who he remains permanently contracted to.Football icons’ strange hobbies More

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      Sunderland line up ex-Premier League boss as manager after sacking Michael Beale but will have to agree special terms

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      PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM is top of Sunderland’s wanted list to be their next manager.The Black Cats want a long-term appointment after staggering along under caretaker boss Michael Dodds.Sunderland are lining up Paul Heckingbottom as their next managerCredit: PASunderland sacked Michael Beale and are under caretaker boss Michael DoddsCredit: RexAnd former Sheffield United chief Heck ticks the boxes.But that is if he is willing to work with the current regime and way of doing things.Sunderland want to promote their young players and keep some existing staff under the next boss.Heckingbottom, 46, had talks with the Wearsiders before Michael Beale got the job in December. Read More on FootballBut the move may suit both parties this time.Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is in talks with a US financial group about a £20million loan.But not all the cash will instantly go to the club.Heckingbottom spent two years in charge of Sheffield United and led them to Premier League promotion in 2023.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERHowever, the Barnsley tactician suffered a dismal campaign with the Blades in the top flight as he lost 11 out of 14 matches, of which he only won one.Heckingbottom was sacked in December and was replaced by Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane.’That’s Freudian slip of the month’, says Sky Sports presenter after embarrassed reporter’s blunder live on TVSheffield United are still bottom of the Prem table with seven points separating them from safety. More

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      Love Island’s Kendall Rae Knight shares ‘happiest moment’ as she takes new baby to watch Championship star dad win

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      LOVE Island star Kendall Rae Knight has shared her “happiest moment” after taking her baby boy to watch his Championship star dad.Knight’s partner, Preston North End full-back Andrew Hughes, starred in their 3-0 victory against Rotherham on Friday.Kendall Rae Knight has shared her ‘happiest moment’ as she takes her baby to watch dad Andrew Hughes playCredit: Instagram kendallraeknightThe Love Island star watched her partner Preston North End star win 3-0 against RotherhamCredit: Instagram kendallraeknightHughes signed for the Championship side back in 2018Credit: RexJust over three weeks ago Knight gave birth to a baby boy Cooper Cole Hughes.And yesterday the 32-year-old took her son to Deepdale to watch Hughes play in the Championship clash.The reality star shared a series of wholesome posts on her Instagram story.One pic was captioned: “One of my happiest moments, taking my baby boy to support his dad.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhile a video of Knight holding her baby boy said: “We’re so proud of you always Andrew.”Preston North End went on to thrash Rotherham after Duane Holmes opener and Emil Riis double strike.The Lilywhites are now eighth in the Championship and just five points behind a play-off spot.Hughes started his career at Newport County and made his senior debut at 16-years-old. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERAfter spending six seasons at the Welsh side and making over 160 appearances to full-back headed to League One side Peterborough. And after two seasons he then made a move to Preston in 2018 for an undisclosed fee.Glam footballer who quit to take up shock role in WWE makes in-ring debut… and uses overhead kick finishing moveMeanwhile in 2018 Kendall appeared on Love Island after having her heart broken by ex-fiance Michael Clark, who broke up with her just three months after proposing.She left Love Island single but her wishes came true one year later when she met Welsh hunk Andrew.Knight met Welshman Hughes in 2019Credit: Instagram kendallraeknight More

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      Middlesbrough players left ‘a bit tetchy’ after plane drama that saw aircraft ‘blown all over the place’ trying to land

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      MIDDLESBROUGH had to suffer a dramatic plane ride that saw the aircraft “blown all over the place” as they travelled down south to play Southampton.Boro snatched a last-gasp 1-1 draw at St Mary’s thanks to Emmanuel Latte Lath’s equaliser in the 90th-minute mark which cancelled out Adam Armstrong’s opener.Middlesbrough underwent a rough plane ride before the Southampton drawCredit: GettyMiddlesbrough boss Michael Carrick admitted that flight left his players ‘a bit tetchy’Credit: GettyMichael Carrick and his men went above and beyond against Saints considering the unpleasant journey they experienced heading to Hampshire.Strong winds led to an aborted landing that almost diverted the aircraft back to the Midlands.However, the pilots managed to get the job done at the second attempt.Nevertheless, Carrick admitted the incident left some of his players “a bit tetchy” and thinking they would rather have a long road trip back home rather than getting back on a plane.Read More on FootballMiddlesbrough didn’t get to their hotel until the late hours but still managed to scrap a point at Southampton the next day.Carrick said as per The Telegraph: “We didn’t get to the hotel until late last night after an aborted landing.“We were getting blown all over the place and we came down to land then had to take off as well and I’m thinking, ‘Oh God, it’s one of them’.“Then we were going to get diverted to Birmingham… It wasn’t pleasant.”Most read in ChampionshipBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERCarrick added as per The Northern Echo: “We came to land, didn’t touch down, but then had to take off again. “It was tasty and some of the boys were a bit tetchy, absolutely. It wasn’t pleasant. Football icons’ strange hobbies”I think a few of the boys are talking about just getting the coach all the way back!”It’s been a bit hectic but it brings you together and I think that’s why in the end you think everything you go through, I’m so pleased the lads got something from it.”Middlesbrough still managed to deliver a blow to Southampton’s hopes of automatic promotion to the Premier League as Russell Martin’s men are now nine points away from second place. More

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      Leicester incredibly face another season in Championship after blowing 17-POINT lead as Leeds overtake Foxes in table

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      LEICESTER’S hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League suffered a fresh setback with a 1-0 loss at Bristol City.And the Foxes’ dreadful run has even seen them drop out of the top two – as Ipswich won to go top and Leeds are a point above Leicester after drawing.Leicester lost to Bristol City and dropped to second placeCredit: PALeicester have now blown a 17-point lead and could find themselves in the play-offsCredit: RexEnzo Maresca’s Foxes topped the table by 17 POINTS only 12 weeks ago.But after losing four and winning only one of their last six league matches, Leicester have been overhauled.And to make matters worse, while the Foxes were losing away on Friday, Ipswich were triumphing 1-0 at Blackburn to move two points above them. That means Leicester could find themselves only in the play-offs after dominating the division for the first half of the season.Read More on FootballCity’s Anis Mehmeti scored the only goal of the game 17 minutes from time with a left-footed shot into the roof of Mads Hermansen’s net.Jamie Vardy came closest to scoring for the Foxes but was twice denied by excellent saves from Max O’Leary.The only glimmer of good news for Leicester on Friday came in the evening game as Leeds dropped two points at mid-table Watford, albeit twice coming from behind in a 2-2 draw.The Foxes are now set to lock horns with fellow promotion chasers Norwich on Monday at the King Power Stadium.Most read in ChampionshipBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe Canaries are sixth, which means they can find themselves in the play-offs.Southampton and West Brom are the other two teams currently occupying the play-off spots.Gary Lineker calls for huge FA Cup rule change after Chelsea knock out his beloved Leicester in thrilling clash More

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      I’m a former Man Utd star who won Premier League title and Championship promotion in SAME SEASON in unique feat

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      A FORMER Belgium international once celebrated Premier League title success and Championship promotion in the very SAME SEASON.This 35-year-old came through the ranks at Royal Antwerp before Stoke snapped him up in 2007.Ritchie De Laet got a Premier League title medal during his time at Leicester CityCredit: PA:Empics SportHe was signed for Man Utd by Sir Alex FergusonCredit: PA:Empics SportHe failed to make a league appearance for the Potters but, after a loan at Wrexham, Manchester United swooped to sign him in 2009.He went on to play three times in the Premier League under Sir Alex Ferguson but spent the majority of his three years at Old Trafford out on loan.He had spells with Sheffield United, Preston, Portsmouth and Norwich before leaving permanently for Leicester in 2012.It was at the Foxes where he enjoyed most action in England, playing over 100 times for them and helping them to win the Championship in 2014.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLHowever, it was two years later that he enjoyed double joy.Having made a number of appearances, largely from the bench, during the first half of the 2015/16 season, this ace headed out on loan to Middlesbrough for the second part of the campaign.And while his team-mates back at Leicester defied 5,000/1 odds to lift their first-ever league title, he was also celebrating at the Riverside as they won promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.The player in question is, of course, Ritchie De Laet.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERBut just weeks after that double whammy, he was lining-up for a brand new club.That summer he signed for Aston Villa on a permanent basis, but things failed to work out for him there.Man Utd hero Lee Sharpe opened up about the most unforgettable hairdryer treatment he ever received from legendary manager Sir Alex FergusonHe only made eight league appearances and ended up being shipped out on loan back to his first club Royal Antwerp before heading to Australia with Melbourne City.However, he has enjoyed more success since then in his later years.De Laet, who was capped twice by Belgium, secured a permanent switch to Antwerp in 2019 and he is still part of their squad today.He toasted Belgian Pro League joy in 2022 and has also helped them to lift the Belgian Cup twice as well as the domestic Super Cup.And with both nations close to his heart, he will no doubt be tuning in to watch England’s friendly with Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday.He also celebrated promotion with Middlesbrough in 2016Credit: PA:Press AssociationThese days he is back in Belgium playing for Royal AntwerpCredit: AFP More

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      Former Premier League club given green light for ‘sports mecca’ with £50million deal for abandoned motor circuit close

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      BIRMINGHAM are reportedly close to finalising a £50million deal for an abandoned motor circuit.The Championship side plan to build a “sports mecca” at the site, which would include a new home stadium.Birmingham have received the green light to buy the abandoned Birmingham Wheels motor circuit siteCredit: Youtube @GrandPrixKartingThe Blues plan to move from St. Andrew’s and build a stadium at a new ‘sports mecca’Credit: GettyAccording to the Birmingham Mail, the club have been given the green light by the city council to buy a 48-acre piece of land.A £50million deal to purchase the abandoned Birmingham Wheels motor circuit is now close.The site was previously known as Wheels Adventure Park before being bought back by the council in 2019.It is hoped the deal will be finalised within the next two weeks after months of negotiations, the report adds.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, the report also reveals that the council cannot confirm the identity of the buyer and the club have yet to comment.Birmingham are understood to be planning to build a “sports quarter” on the sity.A new stadium for the club would be at the centre of their 10-year vision for the project.The Blues have played at the 29,409-capacity St. Andrew’s since 1906.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSOn the pitch, the club are currently fighting to avoid dropping into the third tier for the first time since 1995.Birmingham sit 21st in the Championship with eight matches remaining and are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.Iconic World Cup stadium bigger than Stamford Bridge lies abandoned covered in weeds ahead of heartbreaking demolition Despite spending seven seasons in the Premier League since 2002, the club are now into their 13th consecutive season outside the top flight. More

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      Premier League club’s owner launches stinging attack on Championship and fumes ‘why should we pay’

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      DAVID SULLIVAN has blasted Championship clubs who pay players £40,000 a week and managers £1million a year.And the West Ham co-owner asks: “Why should the Premier League pay for that?”West Ham owner David Sullivan has launched a stinging attack on the ChampionshipCredit: 2023 DeFodi ImagesEFL chairman Rick Parry has claimed the Premier League pays £2billion more in wages than the other four major European leaguesCredit: RexThe EFL receives £130m-a-season in solidarity payments from the top flight — but Prem chiefs have failed to vote on a new six-year £995m deal.Sullivan, 75, claims EFL clubs or incompetent owners have racked up debts because they do not live within their means.And he dismissed EFL chairman Rick Parry’s claim the top flight pays  £2BILLION more in wages than the other four major European leagues.Businessman Sullivan came out fighting to SunSport after reading our Monday EFL column which criticised his failure to agree more Prem funding.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe argued: “The flaw in the system is the Championship. These clubs are having financial problems because they’re paying too high wages and agent fees and some have managers on £1MILLION a year.“If you look at Serie B [Italy’s second tier], the managers don’t earn that nor are players on £30,000, £40,000 a week!“If the EFL can’t work with the funds we give them now, what suggests they can work with another £50m or £100m?“They should manage their finances better and stop paying silly money.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“But they don’t want to because they’re competing to get into the Premier League.“If we give to the EFL what they want, in five years we’ll be exactly where we are today.”Why More Penalties Are Being ScoredSullivan blames owners who have proved incompetent, or stopped pouring money into chasing the dream of promotion to the Premier League.He said: “Some EFL owners are richer than those in the Premier League.“Yet some clubs have got into trouble because their owners have gone for promotion but got fed up.“Then there’s my old club, Birmingham. They sacked a good manager, John Eustace, when they were on the verge of the play-offs to bring in a flagship name in Wayne Rooney. It messed it up.“Why should we subsidise their incompetence?”Sullivan insists promotion-chasing Ipswich should be used as a model.He added: “They’re a flag bearer for everything that’s good.“They’ve done it within their budget.Parry believes parachute payments are causing a huge imbalanceCredit: Rex“They’re a well-supported club, which helps. But then look at Bradford, who’re getting almost 20,000 in League Two and cannot do better on the pitch.“There’s Stoke, who could go down to League One with one of the richest owners.”EFL chairman Parry believes parachutes cause a huge imbalance in the Championship.A relegated club receives £55m in their first season, another £45m for the second and, if that team was in the Prem for more than a year before relegation, £20m in the third.That adds up to a whopping £120m. In the same period, a normal Championship side gets £8.2m-a-season, totalling just £24.6m. Parry says relegated teams also benefit from receiving bumper transfer fees.Leicester banked £92m from selling James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Timothy Castagne and George Hirst last summer, immediately after their relegation.Sullivan said: “In the Premier League, if you’re on TV it’s £900,000-a-game but drops to £100,000 in the Championship.“Our sponsors give us £10m a year — but that’d fall to £1m. Total income drops by 75-80 per cent.Sullivan fumed ‘why should we pay’ amid the row over EFL fundingCredit: Rex“Some players you go down with are assets — for example Maddison.“But you have others who’ve got injured or aren’t in-form and you’re paying them £100,000-a-week. You can’t give these players away.“You might have paid £30m for a player on a five-year deal, he’s had a disastrous season and you’re forced to get him off the wage bill by releasing him for nothing. That’s £24m written off!“You can’t put relegation clauses in their contracts that get them to drop their pay by 75-80 per cent.”Sullivan says withdrawing parachute payments would weaken top-flight competitiveness.He argues promoted teams will not risk investing in their squads — because there is no buffer if they go down.And he added: “Those clubs wouldn’t spend a penny because they’d go bankrupt as soon as they were relegated.“Around half of the Premier League teams would not take on overheads in a bid to compete with top clubs.”Sullivan urged clubs to follow the model of Championship high-flyers IpswichCredit: AlamySullivan believes a regulator will take £10m-a-year out of the game.The Government wants to grant powers to an independent body to oversee clubs in the top five tiers.They will be tasked with deciding how much money the Premier League should filter into the EFL and National League.Multi-millionaire Sullivan fumed: “It’s going to cost £10m-a-year with 50 staff to run this Quango. They’ll operate from home three days a week because they can’t get the Civil Service to work.”Sullivan fears if the Premier League pays more money, the gap between the clubs who have qualified for Europe and those who have not will widen.He said: “If they want another £100m-a-year, the top clubs want everyone to contribute the same, while the rest want those in Europe to pay more. You need 14 teams to agree — that’s unlikely.“So it ends up being divided equally.  If you take £5m off Manchester City,  it’s not much. If you take that from a bottom club, it’s significant.“There’ll be a bias to big sides when you’re trying to make it competitive.”Stoke were singled out by the West Ham owner as they battle against relegationCredit: RexEFL chairman Parry dismisses Sullivan’s claims the Prem could lose their status as the best in the world.He argues top-flight clubs pay £2bn more wages per season, according to figures from accountants Deloitte, than Germany, Italy, Spain and France — so extra  revenue paid to the EFL would not dilute their power.But Sullivan said: “That figure is exaggerated. We don’t pay £100m-a club more.“I accept we overall pay higher but in Italy they’ve 28 per cent top-rate tax, Portugal 25 per cent. Here it’s 45.“It’s easier sometimes for them to attract top players.“But we have a more competitive league because there are more clubs who can pay higher wages.“In Spain, it’s Real Madrid and Barcelona. In Scotland, Rangers and Celtic.“Here, you’ve got Newcastle and Aston Villa breaking into those top places.“There’s not a successful business in the world which is forced to pay money to their competitors.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We could damage the Premier League — which is the golden goose.“If that happens, we won’t get the  TV money we do, everything declines and we won’t have the cash to filter down anyway.” More