EFL

Subterms

    More stories

    • 163 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Gary Bowyer agrees two-year Salford deal in U-turn after deciding against Derby return

      by

      GARY BOWYER has agreed a stunning two-year deal to remain as Salford City boss instead of returning to Derby County.The League Two team have confirmed Bowyer is staying at Moor Lane, just days after he claimed he was rejoining Derby as U23s boss.
      Gary Bowyer has signed a two-year deal to stay at Salford bossCredit: PA
      Gary Bowyer has signed a two-year deal to remain as Manager of Salford City ✍️! #WeAreSalford 🦁🔴— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) May 12, 2021

      Bowyer took charge of Salford in March until the end of the season to save their season following Richie Wellens’ sacking.
      The tactician secured 20 points from 11 games, leaving Salford just two points shy of a play-off place.
      But Bowyer revealed on Sunday he was heading back to Pride Park to resume his duties as U23s chief.
      However, Salford announced in a shock statement on Wednesday that Derby have allowed Bowyer to leave the club permanently.
      And he has now put pen to paper on a two-year contract with Salford in the hope of building on his impressive work, culminating in April’s Manager of the Month award.
      Bowyer beamed: “I’m really excited, it’s all happened very, very quickly and I’m delighted that it has.
      “I have to thank Wayne Rooney and Derby County for their role that they have played in all of this, they’ve been magnificent for me.
      “Now it’s a case of getting to work very quickly, everybody was very accommodating when I was here and made a real impression on me in the short space of time so it was a very easy decision.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      “We’re really excited now leading into the summer, obviously there is a lot of work to do in terms of organising pre-season games, getting to work on the squad.
      “We’ve got a real good core group here, and we’ll be looking to add the right characters and the right players to hopefully improve the squad further and give us a real opportunity going into next season.”
      Salford captain Ash Eastham added: “The appointment of the Manager on a permanent basis is fantastic news for the Club going forward!
      “His positivity, professional demands and man management skills have been reflected in the team’s performances and results since he joined the club, and we are looking forward to working further with Gary next season.
      “As players we now need to physically and mentally re-charge for what I feel will be a season for our fans to be hugely excited about when the league campaign returns.”
      Man Utd legend Gary Neville wants to move Salford City into Man City’s old training base at cost of £80,000 a year More

    • 188 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Bradford want Derek Adams to quit Morecambe and become new manager after League Two play-offs

      by

      BRADFORD want Derek Adams to quit Morecambe and become their new boss after the play-offs.The Scot has emerged as the first-choice replacement for the Bantams after the sacking of joint-managers Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars.
      Derek Adams is wanted by Bradford to formulate a fresh promotion pushCredit: Getty
      But they will have to wait until he steers his side through the League Two shootout.
      Adams has done a remarkable job at Morecambe after also taking Plymouth to promotion from the fourth-tier.
      Bradford can offer the 45-year-old a far bigger budget and the chance to lead another side to League One – but with a better hope of staying there.
      The Shrimps almost made it into the top-three automatic places with a 2-0 final day win over Adams’ prospective new club on Saturday.
      And they face Tranmere – who have just sacked manager Keith Hill – in the two-legged play-off semis that begin next week.
      Morecambe’s successful campaign was a world away from Bradford’s miserable finish, coming home 15th after a post-Christmas purple patch gave way to a seven-game winless run.
      CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: CLAIM UP TO £800 IN CASINO BONUS CASH

      Speaking after sacking double act Trueman and Sellars on Monday, chief executive Ryan Sparks detailed the need for ‘experience’ in the dugout.
      He stated: “We feel, at this point, we need more experience to take us forward into the summer and next season which, for us, is a hugely significant one.
      “We have a crucial few months in front of us, and it is important we are in the best-possible position to be able to prepare for them.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Watford promoted straight back to the Premier League at first time of asking as Sarr scores in 1-0 win over Millwall More

    • 225 Shares119 Views

      in Soccer

      When are Championship playoffs 2021? Brentford, Bournemouth, Swansea, Barnsley dates & times plus EFL League One & Two

      by

      IT’S the most exciting time of the EFL season as the play-offs return following the promotion of Watford and Norwich to the Premier League.As is the tradition, the campaign will conclude at Wembley, with the play-off semi-finals and finals to be played in front of fans if the government roadmap stays on track.
      Brentford will be looking to reach the Premier League for the first timeCredit: Getty
      Brentford, Swansea, Bournemouth and Barnsley are the teams who will have to fight it out for the final place in the Premier League this season.
      When are the EFL play-offs?
      The EFL play-off dates are as follows:
      Championship
      Semi-finals

      Monday, May 17 – Bournemouth vs Brentford (6pm)
      Monday, May 17 – Barnsley vs Swansea (8.15pm)
      Saturday, May 22 – Brentford vs Bournemouth (12.30pm)
      Saturday, May 22 – Swansea vs Barnsley (5.30pm)

      Final

      Saturday, May 29 (3pm)

      League One
      Semi-finals

      Tuesday, May 18 – Oxford vs Blackpool (6pm)
      Wednesday, May 19 – Lincoln vs Sunderland (6pm)
      Friday, May 21 – Blackpool vs Oxford (7.45pm)
      Saturday, May 22 – Sunderland vs Lincoln (3pm)

      Final

      Sunday, May 30 (3pm)

      League Two
      Semi-finals

      Tuesday, May 18 – Newport vs Forest Green (8.15pm)
      Thursday, May 20 – Tranmere vs Morecambe (6pm)
      Sunday, May 23 – Morecambe vs Tranmere (12.30pm)
      Sunday, May 23 – Forest Green vs Newport (6.30pm)

      What TV channel are EFL play-off matches on and can I live stream them?

      Sky Sports hold exclusive rights to EFL coverage, including the play-off games.
      Matches will be shown live on channels such as Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.
      Some matches may be shown on the Sky Sports Red Button if they overlap with others.
      To stream EFL play-off matches live, head to your Sky Go account.
      Non-Sky Sports subscribers can still watch all the action with a Now TV Day Pass from £9.99.

      Adebayo Akinfenwa and Wycombe Wanderers were promoted from League One at WembleyCredit: Getty
      Northampton Town were victorious in the League Two play-off finalCredit: Getty
      How many fans will be allowed to attend the EFL play-offs?
      The EFL has announced that the play-offs will be held from Monday, May 17 – the date on which the government will allow fans to return to stadiums according to the current roadmap.
      That means that ALL play-off matches will have fans attending as things stand.
      The roadmap states: “The government will also allow some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number), and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number).
      “In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).”
      This can be taken to mean that the play-off finals at Wembley will be played in front of 10,000 fans unless otherwise specified.
      However, it has yet to be confirmed whether participating EFL teams’ stadiums qualify as larger or smaller outdoor venues.
      Will the play-offs have away fans?
      Premier League CEO Richard Masters declared his intention for 500 away fans to attend the last two games of the season when fans return to stadiums.
      However, these plans were later scrapped.
      The EFL have not currently suggested that away fans will be allowed to attend the play-off semi-finals. More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Bolton are England’s promotion kings – now boss Ian Evatt wants town’s fans wearing Trotters shirts not Man Utd kits

      by

      BOLTON being promoted looked unlikely all season – but perhaps with their record, it was actually IanEvattable.Wanderers, under boss Ian Evatt, went up for the 14th time, moving level with Birmingham at the top of the charts for most promotions in English league history.
      Bolton are joint-top for most promotions in English football
      Bolton players celebrate outside the ground on SaturdayCredit: Getty
      And now, he wants more kids walking around the town in white shirts, not those of Manchester United.
      Nobody could have predicted this when Bolton were 20th at the start of February.
      In the first half of the campaign, the Trotters were more like the Phoenix club – a bit of a joke and opposition fans were laughing at them.
      Director of Football Tobias Phoenix’s summer signings were a mixed bag but he was eased out in January with Evatt given more control.
      And the recruitment of loan stars including Declan John, Dapo Afolayan and MJ Williams turned the season around.
      They were more like Usain Bolt-on after that, going on a run on 16 wins in the final 22 games to clinch promotion, including Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Crawley.
      Evatt knows Bolton’s fortunes in League One next season could depend on the experienced spine of his side.
      Irish striker Eoin Doyle, 33, skipper Antoni Sarcevic, 29, and veteran goalkeeper Matt Gilks, 38, have been the mainstays of their magnificent finish to the campaign.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
      Bolton players celebrate promotion on the pitch at CrawleyCredit: PA
      Evatt is backing the trio to prove their worth once again.
       He said: “Although recruitment is crucial we know where our core-strengths lie.
      “The club is on firm foundations again and we are determined to go forward.
      “The players have been outstanding and what they’ve done has enabled us to reconnect with the fans,  the community and the town itself.
      “Bolton people identify with us again and that’s great because I have got tired of seeing people walking around there in Manchester United shirts instead of ours.”
      Boss Ian Evatt, hugging Lloyd Isgrove, wants to see more Bolton shirts in the townCredit: PA
      Doyle finished the season with 19 goals for Bolton.
      Former Plymouth star Sarcevic enjoyed promotions at other League Two clubs including the Wembley play-off final winner for Fleetwood in 2014.
      And ex-Blackpool keeper Gilks has become a growing influence since his arrival, combining first-team duties with a coaching role.
      Centre-back Ricardo Santos – nicknamed The Wall by Wanderers fans – played every minute of the season and will be crucial at a higher level.
      Sarcevic set Bolton on their way at Crawley with a thumping drive on nine minutes and Afolayan tapped home from close range in the 26th minute.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      After home skipper George Francomb’s dismissal for a second yellow card on 34 minutes, Doyle put matters beyond doubt  three minutes after half-time.
      He  said: “It would have been nice to get 20 for the season but on days like this nobody cares who scores.”
      Lloyd Isgrove’s 77th-minute fourth was reward for his ceaseless industry and sub Davide Rodari’s late reply a mere consolation for Crawley.
      Legend Frank Worthington scores a stunning goal for Bolton More

    • 200 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Jayden Stockley desperate for permanent Charlton transfer after rediscovering lethal touch in loan spell from Preston

      by

      JAYDEN STOCKLEY wants to make his loan move to Charlton permanent this summer after rediscovering his lethal scoring touch.The striker, 27, had an incredible one-in-two career goals-to-starts ratio when he left Exeter for Preston North End almost two-and-a-half years ago in a £750,000 deal.
      Jayden Stockley is loving life at The Valley and wants to make his loan switch permanent
      But he found himself unable to get a regular run of starts under Alex Neil although he still scored nine league goals from 21 starts – but he made a total of 44 Championship sub appearances.
      Yet since moving to the Addicks in January he has fired eight goals in 19 starts.
      Today he hopes to shoot Charlton into the play-offs – although they need Portsmouth and Oxford to slip up.
      Stockley said: “That run of games at Preston never came unfortunately.
      “I scored in back-to-back matches against Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest then found myself back on the bench for Brentford.
      “To be fair to Alex Neil, I learned a lot from him tactically. He was very meticulous in his planning of games.
      “I feel for managers – they go out to win a game of football.
      “They don’t go to upset people or do things viciously. They’re under a lot of pressure. I don’t hold a grudge about it.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
      Jayden Stockley believes Charlton are going places and wants to put down roots in London

      “I back my ability and just feel I should’ve played a lot more.
      “But he brought me to the club and gave me the chance to play Championship football. It cuts both ways.”
      Stockley has one year left on his contract in the North West and would like to move to South East London.
      He said: “It’s up in the air at the moment. I don’t know what fees are circling around and they don’t even know who their manager is going to be next season.
      “What I can say is I absolutely am loving my time here.
      “And this hopefully isn’t the end of my time playing for Charlton.
      “If it works for everyone, I would love it. I feel I have so much to give and these are my prime years.”
      Jayden Stockley fires home as Charlton see off Lincoln to give them a play-off chance
      Charlton is his 14th different club – although nine of them were loan spells while he was a young player coming through the ranks at Bournemouth.
      But after moving permanently from the Cherries to Aberdeen to Exeter then to Preston, he wants to put down roots – and South East London is a perfect home for him and his family.
      He said: “I’ve always looked for that club where I could stay and become a real name.
      “I’m getting to that age now where I want to give my peak years to that team.
      “My partner and I have two children – a five-year-old and two-year-old. They’ve spent a lot of time away from grandparents and other family members – it’s been tough.
      “I don’t want them all moving around too much – but in football you often have to understand that the best choice isn’t always the best fit in terms of location.
      “You only get one career so you have to balance a lot of things.”
      But Stockley has been impressed with Charlton under the new ownership of Thomas Sandgaard and management of Nigel Adkins, who took over from Lee Bowyer after he left for Birmingham.
      The Danish owner wants to take the club from League One to the Premier League – a journey that Adkins enjoyed while in charge of Southampton.
      Jayden Stockley had limited chances while playing for Preston in the Championship
      And Stockley said: “It’s not until you’re down here that you realise what a very big club Charlton are.
      “I love the training ground, I love the area. The stadium is incredible too.
      “It’s been disappointing not to experience playing in front of fans – I did as a visiting player. Hopefully the Accrington game won’t be the last time that the fans see me in their shirt.
      “Nigel has come in and the lads have taken to him straight away.
      “On a personal level, he has been great. His demeanour and the way he works is something I’ve been looking at for a long time.
      “His communication skills are great. Some managers have lacked that human touch. I have found that sometimes during my career.
      “It’s nice for a manager to talk to you, be honest with you and tell you what he wants and expects.
      “And give clear instructions of what he wants and I think that brings out the best in individuals, especially me.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Champions League final chaos for Chelsea and Man City fans as Turkey added to UK travel red list More

    • 250 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Rob Atkinson desperate to help seal promotion for Oxford United as he dreams of facing former club Fulham next season

      by

      ROB ATKINSON can go Ful circle if he wins promotion with Oxford.The defender today hopes to help the U’s secure a League One play-off spot and is dreaming of playing against former club Fulham in the Championship next season.
      Oxford defender Rob Atkinson (left) is eyeing Championship football and facing ex-club Fulham
      Atkinson, 22, got signed up by Fulham’s academy four years ago after making a name for himself in non-league with Basingstoke.
      But the 6ft 4in ace did not enjoy his two-year spell in West London.
      He said: “I was playing in the Under-23s – I didn’t like it that much.
      “Even though I thought the players were better, the coaching was better and facilities were immense, I missed men’s football.
      “That was my first taste of academy football.
      “My whole childhood people were saying, ‘You can be scouted for this and that’ and it would be the be all and end all.
      “But I was so late to the party. I was 19 when I joined Fulham.
      “It would’ve been different had I gone to an academy if I was younger but I was already engrained in the men’s game and playing youth football was a step back and I started to hate football.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
      Rob Atkinson heads home for Oxford against Shrewsbury in League One

      “I hated playing games but enjoyed the training at Fulham. I’ve benefitted and grown as a player thanks to the training.
      “The games? I didn’t want any part of it. You don’t play well when you don’t enjoy it. I was also on the bench a lot. It was a bad time.
      “So if we do get promoted, it would be nice and mentally good to see myself at the same level as Fulham.”
      Atkinson ended up going to Braintree on loan for the last six months of his Fulham contract to play in the National League.
      And eventually ended up at Eastleigh, which is where Oxford signed him from halfway through last season.
      He said: “I started to enjoy football again at Braintree even though we were bottom of the table.
      “There was no pressure and then we started to win some games against teams that had a lot of money like Fylde. It got my career kicking on again.”
      Oxford must today better whatever Portsmouth do against Accrington AND at least equal whatever Charlton do against champions Hull.
      But Atkinson is pinching himself at how far he has come over the past year.
      Last season he could not get into the Oxford team after his move from Eastleigh.
      But not only he has started in the U’s team 40 times this season, he was named in the EFL’s League One Team of the Season after a string of impressive performances.
      Oxford defender Rob Atkinson (12) celebrates scoring against Shrewsbury Town
      Although he did get off to a bumpy start – getting sent off on his League One debut against Lincoln
      He said: “Karl Robinson’s history – as well as Oxford’s – of developing young players was a big factor in me coming here.
      “After getting sent off on my debut, it would’ve been easy for any manager to bin me off, thinking I’m not ready or good enough for League One.
      “But credit to the gaffer, he stuck by me and I’d like to think I’ve repaid his faith with good performances.
      “I’m happy with it and for being recognised for my work and must keep going.”
      Atkinson has a slightly different football path than most English footballers – as the first club he played for was Cannes in France.
      He explained: “When I was about five, I moved out to the south of France with my mum and lived out there until I was nine or ten.
      “Cannes were the local team in the area and that is how I played for them.
      “I can speak French – which is useful because there are a lot of footballers over here from France.”
      Cannes is of course famous for the Cannes Film Festival.
      And Atkinson would dearly love to star in a successful promotion bid.
      He said: “I sat on the bench when we lost the League One play-off final against Wycombe last season and everyone was devastated.
      “Some were still upset a few months after, which might explain our slow start to the season.
      “But we have some good momentum now. We’ve won five out of six and in good form at the right time.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Champions League final chaos for Chelsea and Man City fans as Turkey added to UK travel red list More

    • 213 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      When are Championship playoffs 2021? Brentford, Bournemouth, Swansea and Barnsley dates plus EFL League One and Two

      by

      THE EFL season has reached its business end with Norwich and Watford promoted and the Championship playoff sides known.As is the tradition, the campaign will conclude at Wembley, with the play-off semi-finals and finals to be played in front of fans if the government roadmap stays on track.
      Brentford will be looking to reach the Premier League for the first timeCredit: Getty
      Brentford, Swansea, Bournemouth and Barnsley are the teams who will have to fight it out for the final place in the Premier League this season.
      When are the EFL play-offs?
      The EFL play-off dates are as follows:
      Championship
      Semi-finals

      Monday, May 17 – Bournemouth vs Brentford
      Monday, May 17 – Barnsley vs Swansea
      Saturday, May 22 – Brentford vs Bournemouth
      Saturday, May 22 – Swansea vs Barnsley

      Final

      Saturday, May 29 (3pm)

      League One
      Semi-finals

      Tuesday, May 18 – League One A 1st leg (6pm)
      Wednesday, May 19 – League One B 1st leg (6pm)
      Friday, May 21 – League One A 2nd leg (7.45pm)
      Saturday, May 22 – League One B 2nd leg (7.45pm)

      Final

      Sunday, May 30 (3pm)

      League Two
      Semi-finals

      Thursday, May 20 – League Two A 1st leg (6pm)
      Thursday, May 20 – League Two B 1st leg (8.15pm)
      Sunday, May 23 – League Two A 2nd leg (12.30pm)
      Sunday, May 23 – League Two B 2nd leg (6.30pm)

      What TV channel are EFL play-off matches on and can I live stream them?

      Sky Sports hold exclusive rights to EFL coverage, including the play-off games.
      Matches will be shown live on channels such as Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.
      Some matches may be shown on the Sky Sports Red Button if they overlap with others.
      To stream EFL play-off matches live, head to your Sky Go account.
      Non-Sky Sports subscribers can still watch all the action with a Now TV Day Pass from £9.99.

      Adebayo Akinfenwa and Wycombe Wanderers were promoted from League One at WembleyCredit: Getty
      Northampton Town were victorious in the League Two play-off finalCredit: Getty
      How many fans will be allowed to attend the EFL play-offs?
      The EFL has announced that the play-offs will be held from Monday, May 17 – the date on which the government will allow fans to return to stadiums according to the current roadmap.
      That means that ALL play-off matches will have fans attending as things stand.
      The roadmap states: “The government will also allow some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number), and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number).
      “In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).”
      This can be taken to mean that the play-off finals at Wembley will be played in front of 10,000 fans unless otherwise specified.
      However, it has yet to be confirmed whether participating EFL teams’ stadiums qualify as larger or smaller outdoor venues.
      Will the play-offs have away fans?
      Premier League CEO Richard Masters declared his intention for 500 away fans to attend the last two games of the season when fans return to stadiums.
      However, these plans were later scrapped.
      The EFL have not currently suggested that away fans will be allowed to attend the play-off semi-finals. More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Oxford star John Mousinho named new chairman of PFA with 13-man board including Troy Deeney and Tom Heaton

      by

      OXFORD defender John Mousinho has been elected as the new chairman of the PFA.Mousinho was voted in by the new 13-strong Player’s Board which includes Aston Villa keeper Tom Heaton, Leicester’s Wes Morgan and SunSport columnist and Watford striker Troy Deeney.
      John Mousinho is the new PFA chairmanCredit: PA
      Mousinho, who replaces Ben Purkiss, will work with incoming new chief executive Maheta Molongo.
      Former Coventry winger Peter Vincenti is the new vice-chair.
      Mousinho said: “It is an honour to represent our members as elected Chair of the Players’ Board, and I look forward to continuing the organisation’s vital work. 
      “We have a diverse, experienced and knowledgeable Players’ Board who are perfectly positioned to take the union forward.”
      Vice-chair Vincenti, 34, added: “During my time as a professional, I benefited greatly from the available services to members and it is with great pride that I accept this nomination as Vice-Chair of the PFA.
      “As a board, we look forward to building on the exceptional contributions of those before us, and we will work hard to ensure that players are proud to be part of their union.”
      Mousinho, 35, started his career at Brentford, making 67 appearances for the Bees between 2005 and 2008.
      Following loan spells at Woking, Slough and Yeading, he left Brentford permanently to move to Wycombe Wanderers.
      Former pro Peter Vincenti is the new vice-chairmanCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      Two years and 77 outings later he was on the move again, spending two years at Stevenage under Graham Westley.
      His boss then moved on to Preston North End in the Championship, taking the defender with him.
      Loan spells at Gillingham and then back to Stevenage followed, before a permanent transfer to Burton Albion in 2014.
      Mousinho became a regular for the Brewers over a three-year spell, before joining current club Oxford United.
      He has made 132 outings for the U’s, but only seven of them have come this season, with none since December.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      PFA chief Gordon Taylor slams UK government for singling out footballers for not taking a pay cut More