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      Portsmouth 0 Salford 0 AET (2-4 pens): Neville, Giggs and Scholes see their side win first trophy in history at Wembley

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      SALFORD made history on Saturday by winning their first piece of major silverware at Wembley – but had to hand it back NINETY MINUTES later.
      Jason Lowe buried the winning penalty to win a shootout 4-2 against League One Portsmouth after the teams were deadlocked 0-0 after 120 minutes to land the Papa John’s Trophy.

      Salford beat Portsmouth 4-2 on penalties at Wembley to win the 2020 EFL TrophyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Jason Lowe scored the winner for the League Two sideCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Man Utd legends Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs watch on from the standsCredit: PA:Press Association

      Co-owners Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs watched on from the stands with ex-Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane also in attendance.
      Along with fellow co-owners – class of 92 team-mates David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville and Singapore billionaire Peter Lim – the trio have rocketed the club up the divisions.
      But – because Saturday’s final was postponed from last season – the silverware had to remain at the stadium for it to be ready for Sunday’s showpiece between Sunderland and Tranmere.
      League Two club Salford – only in their second EFL season – now boast the honour of being the shortest-ever holders of a British domestic football trophy.

      By the time Sunday’s trophy is presented Salford will have only held the title for 24 hours.
      Boss Richie Wellens said: “I’ve told the players to remember when Morecambe and Oldham scored in the last minute against us and celebrated like they’d won the World Cup rather than just three points.
      “We’ve won a trophy today and I want the players to enjoy that feeling. I’m going to enjoy it too and have a beer with the lads in the dressing room.”
      EFL officials confirmed Salford were given a replica as they boarded the team coach, which they can borrow for a few months.

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      Salford co-owner Gary Neville adjusts his face mask amid the actionCredit: PA:Press Association

      Neville could barely watch in extra-timeCredit: Rex Features

      Salford were deserved winners without a doubt.
      When Portsmouth lifted the FA Cup in 2008 as a Premier League club, Salford were playing in the North West Counties League – EIGHT divisions below them.
      But Saturday – after a staggering turn of fortunes for both clubs – only a league separated them.
      However, had it not been for a series of stunning saves from Portsmouth keeper Craig MacGillivray, the Ammies would have won this game at a canter.
      And when it got down to penalties, they did not bottle it either – scoring all four of their penalties with Pompey missing their first two.
      Wembley already had a special place in the hearts of Salford after they won promotion from the National League through the play-offs two years ago – and here they were again celebrating another glorious triumph.
      It was a tragedy their loyal fans who have watched the incredible climb up the league were not here to see it.
      The players were able to celebrate on the pitch with the silverware and in their changing room – but then had to hand it back to EFL officials as they left the stadium so it could be sanitised and be ready for the winner of this season’s final between Sunderland and Tranmere.

      Pompey keeper Craig MacGillivray made several good saves and was the clear man-of-the-matchCredit: PA:Press Association

      Salford had the majority of big chances in normal timeCredit: Rex Features
      Boss Richie Wellens only took over in November after the club sacked Graham Alexander.
      And he said: “I’m not comfortable with anyone saying that I have delivered this first piece of silverware.
      “You have to give Graham Alexander and all the players that contributed last season a lot of credit. They are part of this success.
      “We’ve simply been presented with a final at Wembley.
      “Gary asked if he could come down to the dressing room and I’m sure he’s in there right now.
      “We deserved this today though. We were the better team in the middle of the park, created the most chances and this is a proud day for me and the club.”
      MacGillivray pulled off top saves to deny James Wilson’s 25 yarder and another effort from Brandon Thomas-Asante.
      Wilson then forced him into a superb save after a wonderful cross from Ibou Touray.
      And he somehow managed to keep out Jordan Turnbull’s shot on the turn.
      And Sean Raggett was lucky after getting caught in possession by Thomas-Asante with Wilson’s shot across goal just evading Ash Hunter.
      So poor were Pompey, Kenny Jackett made a triple substitution at the break.On came Ronan Curtis, Lee Brown and Marcus Harness.

      Both goalkeepers performed heroicallyCredit: Rex Features

      It was a keenly contested but cagey affair at WembleyCredit: Rex Features
      And they were denied taking the lead when Curtis cashed in on a slip from Lowe but saw his effort saved by Vaclav Hladky.
      MacGillivray made another stunning stop to deny Ash Eastham.
      With 10 minutes left, Curtis sent a scissor kick over.
      And Pompey went so close to snatching victory when Brown shot inches wide.
      But there was time for MacGillivray to somehow keep out a Bruno Andrade header from point-blank range.
      Hladky made a stunning save to match from Ryan Williams.
      And Pompey captain Tom Naylor scuffed a great chance wide in a crowded penalty box.
      And in extra-time, stoppage-time Andrade could have won it but shot just wide.
      After Williams skied the opening kick in the shootout and Curtis saw his one saved, Pompey could not recover.
      And Jackett is under huge pressure with his team now out of the play-off spots and facing promotion rivals Peterborough on Tuesday and Ipswich Saturday, having lost five of their last seven League One games.
      The Pompey boss said: “Salford had the first half, we had the second and most of extra-time. We paid for not taking our chances.”

      Scholes wrapped up warm to watch the Manchester based sideCredit: Rex Features
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      Valerien Ismael has Barnsley dreaming of Premier League return after unbeaten run eclipsing likes of Man Utd and Chelsea

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      WHEN Valerien Ismael took over at Barnsley his target was to avoid relegation.
      But after seven wins in a row and a draw from their last eight games – they are on the second best unbeaten run in the country – they travel to Bournemouth today sitting in a play-off spot.

      Barnsley are on the second best winning run in the country

      Valerien Ismael has got Barnsley fans dreaming of a fairytale return to the Premier League

      And this incredible run of form has got fans dreaming of playing Premier League football next season.
      The Tykes have only been in the top flight for one season in their entire 134-year history after Danny Wilson famously led them there 24 years ago.
      Ismael told SunSport: “The main focus was to reach 50 points as soon as possible and we now have 58.
      “We want to see how many we can get before the international break in three games time. Then we can see what we can reach this season – can we go for more?”

      Barnsley were seconds from dropping into League One last season until Clark Odour’s dramatic stoppage-time winner at Brentford.
      And when Ismael took over from Gerhard Struber in late October, the Tykes were struggling again – having failed to win in their first seven league games.
      But the French coach has won 17 of his 28 Championship matches in charge with a 3-4-3 formation and an intense pressing game.
      Ismael said: “We’ve done it step by step. The first aim was to implement the philosophy then get results and then get them consistently. When you do that, you climb the table.

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      Daryl Dike and Alex Mowatt have been key figures in Barnsley’s run
      “We did it in December by winning six games out of eight and, even in January when we lost three in a row, the performances were brilliant.
      “So we didn’t lose confidence or faith in the way we play football. We believe this is the right way.”
      Ismael, 45, is proving to be one of the bright up-and-coming managers.
      And he revealed how he settled and believed in his philosophy after his last match in charge of Wolfsburg four years ago – despite the fact it cost him his job.
      He said: “Management is difficult. It takes time to adapt and know exactly what you want.
      “When you fail, it’s not a mistake – it’s normal. You must find a solution, a new way to play and your philosophy.
      “In Germany in my last game at Wolfsburg we played 3-4-3. We lost 2-1 against Werder Bremen but it was a brilliant performance.
      “From there, I knew what I wanted and with more experience am clearer in my mind what I want to see.”
      Ismael moved to Austria last season and made great waves at LASK.

      Barnsley loan signing Daryl Dike celebrates his stunning winner against Birmingham
      He led them to their first-ever Champions League play-off and, after losing to Club Brugge, managed them in their first-ever appearance in the Europa League – where they topped their group which included Sporting Lisbon, PSV Eindhoven and Rosenborg.
      They eventually lost to Manchester United in the last 16.
      He said: “LASK was the breakthrough for me because that gave me confidence.
      “It was good to see everything I believed and trusted in could be taken to the next level and now we’re doing it successfully in England too.”
      The January transfer window was massive for Barnsley. Not only did they keep their best players, they signed strikers Daryl Dike and Carlton Morris.
      USA ace Dike, 20, already has three goals in six starts since his loan move from MLS club Orlando City – including an absolute belter against Birmingham – while Morris has four goals from three starts since joining from MK Dons.
      Ismael said: “They’ve taken us to the next level and now we’re getting rewards of being able to keep our key players.
      “That is a new thing for Barnsley. If you can work with consistency and continue to develop the guys, you can reach something.”
      A big part of Barnsley’s success has been the fitness levels.
      Ismael understood the importance of that when he won the Bundesliga title in 2006 as a player at Bayern Munich under Felix Magath.
      But the German boss flopped when he managed Fulham – unable to save them from Premier League relegation before struggling in the Championship.

      Felix Magath was a “special manager” but Ismael says you cannot coach like he did now
      Ismael said: “You build your own mentality and philosophy as a coach while looking at what made a manager like that special.
      “But the way Magath managed you cannot do now. You have to be close to your players and communicate your ideas.
      “We had strong fitness work with Magath where the aim was to destroy you!
      “In training now, the purpose is to prepare the guys so they’re fresh to give 100 per cent in games.
      “Back then, we were so tired but the quality was so high in the squad.
      “That is not the way – especially in the Championship where you have 46 games in a season – and because of the pandemic are playing three times a week.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      “You have to give players the room to recover – not just the body but the mind.”
      Ismael – who also won the Bundesliga as a player with Werder Bremen in 2004 – has always felt he had unfinished business in English football.
      As a young player, he was unable to make an impression after Crystal Palace bought him for a then club-record £2.75million from Strasbourg in January 1998.

      Valerien Ismael failed to make an impression as Crystal Palace’s recording signing in 1998

      Terry Venables gave Ismael an early insight at Crystal Palace into working with a top coach
      Aged 22, he only made 13 appearances as the Eagles were relegated.
      But he got an early insight into what makes a good coach by playing for former England boss Terry Venables.
      He said: “I was too young to make that move and shouldn’t have done it in January either.
      “But it was a new experience for me to work for such a big manager like Venables.
      “I took a lot of experience from him. In training you felt the attitude and experience he had – it was good to see that.”
      There is no doubt that if he gets Barnsley promoted, it will be a football miracle.
      So what is Ismael’s ultimate ambition as a manager?
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      He said: “To be known for the way I play football. It’s important when people are talking about the manager, they can say that was the right way to play.
      “If you think about Pep Guardiola, you think that’s the right way to play football.
      “When they play this football, they reach titles and for me this is the most important thing – to implement my way to play.”

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      Goal machine Charlie Wyke aiming to fire Sunderland to Papa John’s Trophy glory against Tranmere at Wembley

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      CHARLIE WYKE keeps scoring and Sunderland continue winning.
      You could almost copy and paste that statement every week with both in such relentless form.

      Charlie Wyke has been in stunning form for Sunderland this season

      Boss Lee Johnson – since taking over in December – has set the Black Cats up to play to Wyke’s strengths and it is paying dividends.
      Sunderland face Tranmere on Sunday in the Papa John’s Trophy – aiming to win their first Wembley final since lifting the FA Cup back in 1973.
      They go into it with Wyke having now scored an incredible 26 goals in all competitions.
      And Sunderland now sit just two points off the automatic promotion spots in League One after winning six and drawing one of their seven games.

      It is no coincidence that Wyke scored eight goals in the first 18 matches this season – but has fired a further 18 in 20 games under Johnson.
      The striker told SunSport: “This is my third season here and I had two years where I didn’t really score too many goals.
      “The manager has come in and pulled me in for some great chats.
      “He told me that he knew about me while he was Bristol City manager and liked me and how I play. He wants the team to play to my strengths – and it has worked.

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      Charlie Wyke is the third top league goalscorer in England this season
      “It’s just down to confidence and the wingers putting great balls into the box.
      “I’ve been lucky enough to get on the end of them and I’m really enjoying myself at the minute.
      “It’s been fantastic not just for me but all the players.
      “Confidence is high in the group and I know if I make the runs I’m going to get crosses from out wide with people like Jordan Jones and Aiden McGeady and long may it continue.”
      Tuesday night’s 2-0 win at rivals Portsmouth – where Wyke scored with another trademark bullet header – was arguably Sunderland’s best performance of the season.

      Wyke heads home the opener during a vital 2-0 win at promotion rivals Portsmouth
      But while Wyke is scoring for fun, they are also stingy at the back – having only conceded 26 goals in their 33 league games so far.
      And he said: “There’s a good vibe at the club right now. We are going into each and every game thinking we can win.
      “What has been great about the low number of goals we’ve conceded is that we’ve had some defensive troubles too.
      “Tom Flanagan and Bailey Wright have both been injured – but then we have someone like Luke O’Nien who can play anywhere.
      “He was brilliant at Portsmouth and did well whenever he had to step in as centre-back.
      “And our away form has been good. We’ve only lost once which means we travel well too.”
      And Wyke is in no doubt that Johnson has played a massive part in that.
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      Wyke’s goals tally has rocketed since Lee Johnson took over at Sunderland in December
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      He added: “The manager has a great style of play. We do a lot of analysis work and go into games knowing exactly how we want to play and how the opponents are going to play.”
      Sunday’s Wembley trip will be Wyke’s fourth – and he is hoping to finally win one after three losses, two with Sunderland in 2019 in the EFL Trophy final against Portsmouth and in the play-offs against Charlton.
      He also lost while with Bradford in the League One play-off final against Millwall in 2017.
      Wyke will forever remember the Pompey match as Wembley had 85,021 there that day – an attendance only beaten by Barcelona in world football that weekend.

      This time it will be eerily quiet with no fans.
      He said: “Yes, that’s a big shame – I’m gutted my little fella Albie, who is 17 months, won’t be able to attend.
      “But he and partner – along with the rest of my family – will all be cheering me on from their living rooms!
      “Although promotion is our priority this season, it would be good to finally win at Wembley – not just me but the club too.”

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      Portsmouth will have Papa John’s Trophy for just 24 HOURS if they beat Salford – after holding FA Cup for seven YEARS

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      JOHN MARQUIS did an online lockdown family quiz night where a great question came up.
      The Portsmouth striker was asked: “Which club held the FA Cup the longest?” It was Pompey, who lifted the trophy in 1939 at Wembley after beating Wolves 4-1 with the competition then suspended until the 1945-46 season because of the Second World War.

      Portsmouth captain Jimmy Guthrie is presented with the FA Cup at Wembley by King George VI after winning the 1939 final against Wolves

      There will be another question that will certainly crop up at a future pub quiz once life gets back to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic.
      Who were the shortest holders of a domestic British football cup competition?
      If Portsmouth beat Salford on Saturday at Wembley in the Papa John’s Trophy final, they will also own that honour too – as on Sunday, exactly 24 hours later, either Sunderland or Tranmere will win the same competition.
      That is because Saturday’s clash is the postponed final from LAST YEAR while Sunday is this season’s final.

      And Marquis, 28, told SunSport: “The question came up during the first lockdown and fortunately I knew the answer because imagine how embarrassing that would have been as a Portsmouth player if I didn’t!.
      “And if I ever get asked in future who were the shortest holders of a domestic cup I’ll know the answer and hopefully I’ll be able to say ‘Portsmouth.’”
      Ironically though the club were unable to keep the FA Cup at Fratton Park for that entire seven-year period.
      Portsmouth – as a frontline coastal naval town – was a target for German bombing.

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      Portsmouth lifted the EFL Trophy two years ago and whoever wins today’s final will only be the holder for 24 hours with Sunderland taking on Tranmere on Sunday
      To keep the trophy safe the cup was kept 10 miles north in the village of Lovedean in a thatched-roof country pub called The Bird in Hand.
      The EFL has told SunSport that because of the uniqueness of this weekend today’s winners will be allowed to borrow a replica of the trophy when they leave Wembley on Saturday evening to enable them to celebrate their achievement – rather than having to return it the next morning.
      Marquis said: “It’s great that we’re being given this opportunity to play the final because for a while there were fears it would never go ahead.
      “It’s the only professional English football trophy that was not played last season so it’s great we haven’t been denied our chance to try to win it.”

      The FA Cup sitting safely in The Bird In Hand pub during the Second World War
      Another quirk is Pompey are the longest holders of the EFL Trophy – having won the last competition in 2019 against Sunderland.
      And victory today against their League Two opponents will see them become the first club to successfully retain the trophy – albeit for one day.
      But Marquis is looking forward to playing at Wembley for the first time – after having his heart broken previously by current Pompey boss Kenny Jackett.
      Jackett left the striker out of the Millwall squad that played against Wigan in the 2013 FA Cup semi-final.

      John Marquis is glad to get another chance to play at Wembley after missing out at Millwall

      Boss Kenny Jackett led Portsmouth to EFL Trophy glory two years ago at Wembley
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      And Marquis said: “I didn’t even make the bench. I was only 20 at the time but had played in all but one of the earlier rounds, including the quarter-finals, and even scored the winner against Aston Villa.
      “So I was expecting to at least be a sub but we had a couple of senior players who had been out on loan that had come back.
      “I was gutted because you’re not sure when you might get that opportunity again.
      “There are no hard feelings with Kenny although I might have to wind him up about it ahead of the game.
      “Hopefully I’ll get my chance this weekend.”
      Pompey have been in terrible league form. Having hit top spot after beating Hull 2-0 in December, they have lost their way.
      Tuesday’s 2-0 home defeat by promotion rivals Sunderland was their fifth in seven games. They now sit sixth in the table – a whopping 10 points behind the second automatic promotion spot.
      And they have two massive league games coming up after the final, against promotion rivals Peterborough and Ipswich.
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      Marquis said: “We’re getting punished for making mistakes and are not getting the rub of the green with referee decisions either.
      “So we see this game not only as a chance to win some silverware and play at Wembley but also to get some confidence and momentum going into those two big league games.
      “We’re not saying we can’t reach the top two but we’ll pretty much need to win every game and hope results go our way to get there.
      “But if we end up in the play-offs, this squad has the ability and quality to get promoted.”

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      Jonson Clarke-Harris has scored more league goals than Mo Salah this season – and is aiming to overtake Ivan Toney

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      JONSON CLARKE-HARRIS had some huge shoes to fill when he replaced a certain Ivan Toney as the main man up front for Peterborough in the summer.
      And not only has he risen to that challenge superbly since moving from Bristol Rovers, he has put himself into a great position to beat his predecessor’s efforts from last season.

      Jonson Clarke-Harris is the fourth-highest league scorer in England this season

      Jonson Clarke-Harris is the League One player of the month for February

      The striker had an incredible February – scoring eight League One goals – to win the division’s SkyBet Player of the Month prize.
      He now has 21 goals from 33 games – more than current Premier League top scorer Mo Salah and just four shy of the 24 Toney had netted before last season was curtailed after 32 matches.
      And JCH is hoping he will end up the campaign bettering those numbers as well as leading Posh into the Championship.
      He said: “Ivan is a goal machine who is tearing up the Championship at Brentford right now and I’ve had to come in to replace him, which is a hard job for any striker.

      “Yet I’m a different player to him but one who can still do the same job as well as want to do even more.
      “It was always my aim to get as close as possible to the amount of goals he scored and even now at this stage of the season I’m thinking I can do better. The numbers are there and they’re saying I possibly can so why not?
      “I feel like I’m going to score every game. I had a chance last Saturday against Burton. I had a chance at Oxford and should have scored.
      “I believe I’m going to get a chance every game, which I hope to take and be the difference between winning, drawing and losing.”

      One of Clarke-Harris’ goals in February, against WiganCredit: Rex Features
      Peterborough have had some superb strikers in recent years. Before Toney, there were the likes of Jack Marriott, Britt Assombalonga and Dwight Gayle.
      And JCH says that is all down to the way Posh are set up to attack – constantly creating chances for their front players.
      Joe Ward and Siriki Dembele in particular have been scintillating this season – creating 19 goals between them.
      JCH said: “I’m doing so well because of the players I have around me.
      “It’s all down to how strong our squad is. Most of the quality is from them and they need as much recognition as me. I just put the ball in the back of the net after they give me the chances.

      JCH CAREER RECORD

      Jonson Clarke-Harris has had a long and winding road to this point

      Coventry (2010-2012) – 1 game, 0 goals
      Peterborough (2012-13) – 0 games
      Southend (2012-2013, loan) – 3 games, 0 goals
      Bury (2012-13, loan) – 12 games, 4 goals
      Oldham (2013-14) – 55 games, 10 goals
      Rotherham (2014-18) – 79 games, 10 goals
      MK Dons (2014-15, loan) – 5 games, 0 goals
      Doncaster (2014-15, loan) – 9 games, 1 goal
      Coventry (2017-19, loan then permanent) – 51 games 10 goals
      Bristol Rovers (2019-20) – 49 games, 27 goals
      Peterborough (2020-21) – 35 games, 23 goals

      “That was one of the reasons why I decided to join. I knew there were going to be goals here and that we’d be near the top of the table having a right go for promotion. So it was a no brainer.”
      The other great attraction to Peterborough is that the club do not stand in the way of players moving on to a higher level if they fail to get promoted.
      And the goal ace said: “When you look at the strikers Peterborough have had and the ones they’ve sold for big numbers, they’ve gone on to do it at another level.
      “I’ve not come here to score goals then be sold though. I want to achieve what we’ve spoken about at the start of the season and that is to get Peterborough to the next level. I hope I’ll be the one who makes the difference.”
      JCH says he was able to settle quickly at Posh because of two reasons.
      First, he knew the club having spent a season there when he was 18 and, secondly, he is now only 45 minutes away from his family.
      He said: “I’ve been moving around for the last 10 years during my career. I left home when I was 16 to go to Coventry and never been at a club near to Leicester, where I’m from. It was great – apart from during these lockdowns – to be able to see my mum and sisters more often.
      “When I was here before I wasn’t near the first-team but was around them and that was a great experience – so I already had a great feel for the place.”
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      Second-placed Peterborough have a rare weekend off before hosting promotion rivals Portsmouth on Tuesday.
      And JCH said: “It’ll be good to have a bit of a breather before we get back to work again. It’s going to be non-stop again with three games a week.
      “Tuesday is a big game. We’re in a great position in second at the moment but there are still 13 games to play and other clubs around us. We’re not getting giddy about things.”
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      Alan Judge furiously denies calling Darren Drysdale ‘cheating bald c***’ after ref’s explosive claims in FA hearing

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      ALAN JUDGE has furiously denied calling Darren Drysdale a ‘cheating bald c***’ after the referee’s explosive claims during his FA hearing on Thursday.
      Drysdale has been cleared to return to duty after an FA commission ruled his unofficial suspension meant he had already missed more games than they could ban him for.

      Referee Darren Drysdale remarkably squared up to Ipswich’s Alan Judge during the Tractor Boys’ clash against Northampton last monthCredit: � Richard Calver – www.matchdayimages.com

      But the written reasons for the commission imposing a back-dated three week ban show Drysdale admitted he had lost his cool after being subjected to a tirade from Judge.
      According to Drysdale, Judge responded after being booked for diving.
      Drysdale, 50, told the commission: “As I blew my whistle Alan Judge shouted aggressively in a loud voice at me, and from a distance of only five metres, ‘It’s a f*** penalty you cheating bald c***.’
      “Reacting completely out of character, I took exception to what I considered to be an offensive comment. 

      “I walked towards Alan Judge who then continued his tirade of abuse as he then, what I deemed as, aggressively and provokingly pointed his finger towards my face and shouted, ‘You’re a f***ing cheating c***’.”
      Drysdale, who admitted an FA misconduct charge, added: “I accept that I should not have moved my head towards Alan Judge as this only inflamed the situation.
      “At no time was there any physical contact between myself and Alan Judge. 
      “My action of moving forward was as a posture of authority and with the player being significantly shorter than me, this led to me looking down at him.”

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      Drysdale has claimed he reacted to Judge after the player called him a ‘cheating bald c***’Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      The commission heard that Judge had declined, on two occasions, to give any evidence to the hearing.
      It found that Drysdale, who was immediately taken off the EFL match list, had effectively served a suspension in excess of the ban that would have been imposed and that it would be ‘disproportionate’ to add a further suspension.
      Despite his ban having been deemed to be served between February 19 and March 10, Drysdale will not be on duty this weekend or next midweek as the appointments have already been made.
      But, Judge has hit back at Drysdale’s claims, angered by the attack on his ‘reputation’ while claiming he has more important things to worry about after his mum passed away last week.

      Judge said: “I said the incident was over as far as I was concerned when I walked off the pitch and that I wasn’t looking for an apology.
      “I didn’t want to make anything of it because it’s a tough job being a referee but I’m not going to keep quiet when I’ve been accused of calling the referee a cheat and using the C word.
      “I’ll admit using the F word but I said to him ‘you have got to be f****ing joking me’ and I said that a couple of times to him.
      “I never used the C word. I don’t use that word and I didn’t call him a cheat.
      “My mum passed away last week – which is far more important than this – and I don’t need this hassle to be honest.
      “Like I said, the matter was closed but I’ve got a decent reputation in the game and I won’t stand by and be accused of saying something I didn’t and not responding.
      “Our media team have got some audio and it backs me up.
      “Some people have said I should have come out straightaway and explained what I said but I didn’t want to do that.
      “I was trying to help Darren. I said the matter was finished and it was but I have to make it clear now that I totally dispute what has been said by the referee.”  

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      EFL chief Rick Parry warns Uefa new Champions League format could decimate English football

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      EFL chairman Rick Parry has warned Uefa its Champions League expansion plans risk decimating the fabric of English football.
      European chiefs are set to confirm the new plans to come into effect from 2024 after getting the backing of Europe’s biggest clubs.

      Rick Parry has warned Uefa of the threat faced by smaller clubsCredit: PA:Press Association

      But Parry, who was supported by Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, suggested the planned extra 100 Champions League games per season would destroy the League Cup and be potentially fatal for some of English football’s most historic clubs.
      Parry told the European League’s Club Advisory Platform virtual meeting: “The 72 clubs in the EFL are at the heart of their communities
      “The League Cup has been in existence for 60 years and is owned and managed by the EFL.
      “One of the conditions on the formation of the Premier League was that all clubs would play in it.

      “But Uefa proposal poses a major threat to the League Cup, especially with regard to the teams in the Champions League – and it will have a massive effect on EFL revenues
      “We estimate we could lose one third of the revenues we distribute to our clubs – which could pose a very real threat to the existence of those clubs.”
      Parry was echoed by Selhurst chief Parish, who added: “This would have a devastating effect on domestic competitions in England.
      “The League Cup is the largest financial contributor to the EFL and this will be the end of that Cup in its entirety or reduce it to a youth competition.”

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      Clubs like us feel so remote from the decision-making and there is a huge conflict of interest.
      Steve ParishCrystal Palace chairman

      Uefa have reached agreement with Europe’s biggest clubs that there will be no weekend games in its club competitions, leaving the field clear for domestic leagues.
      The deal effectively kills off the planned European Super League, despite efforts led by Real Madrid to breathe life into the dying embers of the breakaway plan.
      But Prem clubs want to thwart the proposal to play two of the 10 games in the initial league phase of the 36-team Champions League “Swiss model” competition in January.
      Uefa will formally announce the new format next month but Parish also blasted Nyon chiefs and the influential European Club Association for ignoring the voices of those left out of the elite group.
      He said: “Clubs like us feel so remote from the decision-making and there is a huge conflict of interest, with Uefa and the ECA now choosing to make changes for the long term in the middle of a pandemic.
      “We are expected to accept them because they’re not as bad as they could have been.
      “But there will be a huge impact on us and the creep is never ending.“
      Parish and Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow also condemned the proposal, backed by the Prem’s ‘Big Six’, for a backdoor safety net to be available for two clubs to qualify for the Champions League through their Uefa coefficient score.

      Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin is set to green light Champions League reformsCredit: REUTERS

      Parry fears for the future of the League Cup if the changes occurCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Palace chief said: “If we took it on last season, Leicester were fifth but the two clubs below them [Spurs and Arsenal] would have qualified for the Champions League based on an arbitrary period of success in Europe.”
      Purslow added: “It affects domestic competitions if you boost teams from the Europa League to the Champions League based on what they did in the past.
      “That would give clubs in the Premier League a £45m advantage over a team that may have finished ahead of them. Most people would see that as unfair and not right.”
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      Bolton remember the 33 victims of Burnden disaster on 75th anniversary of stadium tragedy – they must never be forgotten

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      THERE was a time that not even the Bolton captain knew about the Burnden disaster.
      And he was playing for Wanderers only two decades after the tragedy, which happened 75 years ago tomorrow.

      Police and fans on the Burnden Park pitch following the crush on March 9, 1946Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Thirty-three Bolton fans were killed on that fateful day, 75 years agoCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      In fact, the first Gareth Williams, at Bolton from 1967-71, knew about it was when he read it in Sun Sport five years ago.
      Williams’ wife Karen tweeted at me following that article on the 70th anniversary, saying: “My husband Gareth Williams was captain for years at Bolton never knew about this! Shameful
      “He was astounded when he read this article never had been mentioned.”
      It wasn’t shameful that he didn’t know about it – but seems extraordinary now.

      For years, Bolton didn’t really make much of the anniversary of what is the fourth worst stadium disaster in British football history.
      Thirty-three Wanderers fans were crushed to death on March 9, 1946, during an FA Cup quarter- final with Stoke at Burnden Park
      An estimated 85,000 people – some of them just back from World War Two – packed in to see Stoke’s star man, Stanley Matthews.

      The front cover of Bolton’s programme for Tuesday’s match against Cambridge will contain the names of the 33 people who died in the Burnden disaster
      He was shocked when, despite supporters being injured and dying all around them, the match continued.

      Lots of Bolton fans have family members who were there that day – my grandad and great uncle went.
      Many of those supporters didn’t really know how severe the tragedy was, according to Wanderers chaplain Phil Mason, who has spoken to many survivors and their loved ones over the years.
      Indeed, some fans just went to the pub or the cinema afterwards while their panicked relatives listened to radio updates and prayed they would return home.
      And when they did, they got a clip round the ear!
      There is no chance any current Bolton player will be oblivious to the significance of the Burnden disaster.
      At the home game against Cambridge tomorrow there will be a minute’s silence, both teams will lay wreaths.

      My husband Gareth Williams was captain for years at Bolton never knew about this! Shameful
      Karen Williams, Gareth’s wife

      Flags will be half-mast, there will be a list of those who died on the LED advertising boards and the big screen.
      Wanderers will also remember them on social media, the manager and players will read out the names of those who died, and it’ll conclude with a prayer.
      Mason explained: “It was the first major English football stadium disaster and we see ourselves as part of a small family of clubs who have suffered that pain. We all stand together.
      “Nobody should go to a football match and lose their life.
      “We will remember the 33 who died but also the 500 or so who were injured, many of them suffering life-changing injuries.

      Bolton club chaplain Phil Mason conducting the 70th anniversary service five years agoCredit: Rex Features
      “They should never be forgotten.
      “It’s more out there than it’s ever been, you’d have to be walking around with your eyes closed not to see it.”
      Mason, 56, started at Bolton in 2003 but it was before the 2006 remembrance service – the 60th anniversary – that he and the club decided to do “a bit more to remember the tragedy”
      The day was especially poignant for Mason, whose father passed away on the morning of the service, meaning he had to go to Preston to identify the body before heading back and leading the prayers.
      He recalled: “I was feeling the pain of the people who were there, the families of the 33.”
      The current board and staff will play their part in remembering it.
      In his programme notes for the Cambridge match, manager Ian Evatt writes: “The disaster is a poignant chapter in the club’s long and distinguished history and it is our duty as supporters and staff to ensure that their memories continue to shine throughout what we achieve.”

      The plaque at the site of the Burnden disaster – now inside a supermarket
      It is only right that the memory of the tragedy is woven into the fabric of the club and that we Wanderers make the wider football world aware of those supporters from Bolton and Rochdale, Wigan and Blackburn, Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley who lost their lives.
      So well played to fans in the Bolton Wanderers’ Remembrance Group, who raised money for a flag inside the stadium.
      There is a plaque at the site of the tragedy but as the club moved from Burnden Park in 1997, that tribute is now inside an Asda.
      However, there is now a permanent plaque at the site of the Nat Lofthouse statue outside the University of Bolton Stadium.

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      The current Wanderers regime and supporters deserve huge credit for the importance they place on March 9 – as chairman Sharon Brittain writes in her programme notes for tomorrow’s match: “The club commemorates victims of the disaster and we shall do so forever more.”
      Those who died and were injured will never be forgotten.
      RIP the 33. More