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      League One club brutally trolled by fans for treating stars to Ryanair flight in pre-season

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      CHARLTON were ruthlessly trolled by football fans for putting their players on a Ryanair flight for a pre-season trip.The Addicks will face Turkish side Goztepe in Slovenia on Saturday as they prepare for the 2024/25 campaign.Charlton’s players were seen boarding and getting off the Ryanair flightCredit: instagram @cafcofficialFans ridiculed the club for making their players get on a budget airlineCredit: instagram @cafcofficialAnd Charlton’s official social media channels shared footage of them boarding their flight after a quick stop off at food outlet Leon.But fans were less than impressed by the fact they were made to use budget airline Ryanair.And they quickly ripped into the third-tier club after Charlton shared the video and caption: “Touchdown 🛬 #cafc.”One user replied: “Ryanair, what you couldn’t get the boys anything better? 😂”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhile another added: “Glad you all made it safely, flying with Ryanair đŸ€ŁđŸ˜‚.”A third said: “Ryanair? Are you sure you’ve got everyone?”And a fourth responded: “Hope CAFC got the boys priority boarding 😆.”After their trip to Slovenia, Charlton have other pre-season friendlies against Millwall, Wimbledon and Portsmouth.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThey then begin their League One campaign away at Wigan on August 10.On Sunday, Charlton announced the signing of Scottish midfielder Greg Docherty.Man Utd fans in meltdown over moment Kobbie Mainoo ‘sends Joe Gomez back to Charlton Athletic’ in England training The 27-year-old was released by Championship side Hull at the end of the season and has now dropped down to League One. More

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      Sheff Utd facing disciplinary probe after rivals complain that investors trying to buy club have already broken rules

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      SHEFFIELD UNITED are facing a disciplinary probe after rivals complained to the EFL over their proposed takeover.A group of US investors are trying to buy the Blades and have been accused of breaking rules by conducting transfer business before completing their takeover.Manager Chris Wilder is unable to make signings until the takeover is completeCredit: ReutersSunSport has learned the EFL have received reports that representatives of Sheffield United’s incoming owners, a mystery group based in California, have become involved in transfer negotiations.The EFL are believed to be looking into the matter which could result in disciplinary action.Birmingham are also being investigated over alleged breaches of EFL regulation 86, as a group seeking to buy the club last year are accused of running operations despite not receiving formal approval or passing the owners and directors test. The proposed ÂŁ35m takeover by Maxco subsequently collapsed, but the EFL still charged the individuals involved, with former Charlton chief executive Matt Southall, former Barcelona striker Maxi Lopez and local businessman Paul Richardson all given bans from acting as directors.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe EFL have subsequently reminded all their members that incoming owners cannot act on behalf of the club they are seeking to buy, which has led to several querying Sheffield United’s recent transfer activity.With the Blades in limbo while the takeover drags on the club are in a difficult position, with the Championship season starting in less than a month. Chris Wilder’s squad is in desperate need of reinforcements after 10 players were released following relegation from the Premier League last season, with four loan players also leaving Bramall Lane.Sheffiled United have been on the market for some time, with owner Prince Abdullah last year agreeing a ÂŁ100milllion-plus deal to sell to Dozy Mmobuosi.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBut the Nigerian businessman failed to satisfy the EFL’s owners and directors test and was later charged with fraud in the United States. The club remain hopeful that the two unnamed Americans fronting the consortium will complete a deal before the start of the season.Fans ask ‘did the Year 8s have the gym booked out’ as EFL star forced to do fitness induction in CANTEENThe bidders have not been named, but are understood to be the founders of a capital investment fund based in California. Although the pair are eager to maintain a low profile they are believed to have attended Blades games last season.Sheffield United and the EFL declined to comment. More

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      Carabao Cup first round draw in full as Leeds, Wrexham and Co learn opponents for new campaign

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      THE Carabao Cup first round draw has been completed.And it has thrown up some tasty ties despite no Premier League clubs being involved.The Carabao Cup first round draw has been madeCredit: GettyThe draw took place live on Sky Sports NewsThe two sides were divided into Northern and Southern sections, with the eevnt taking place on Sky Sports News.And it was the latter that went first, with Portsmouth drawing Millwall and Charlton landing Birmingham.Other big clashes saw Cambridge Utd host QPR.While MK Dons will travel to local rivals Watford.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLNext up it was the turn of the Northern sides.The highlight of the draw was a fearsome battle between Leeds and Middlesbrough.Hollywood-owned Wrexham will travel to Sheffield United.And Preston North End will welcome Sunderland.Most read in EFLEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSSouthern drawCambridge Utd vs QPRWalsall vs ExeterCrawley Town vs Swindon TownOxford Utd vs PeterboroughNorwich vs StevenageBromley vs AFC WimbledonPortsmouth vs MillwallNorthampton Town vs Wycombe WanderersBristol City vs CoventryCardiff vs Bristol RoversCharlton vs BirminghamWatford vs MK DonsSwansea vs GillinghamPlymouth Argyle vs CheltenhamLeyton Orient vs NewportColchester Utd vs ReadingAll games will be played on the week commencing August 12.And fans will be eager to see their favourite EFL stars back in action after the summer break.LIVERPOOL stars danced the night away to Dua Lipa as they celebrated their Carabao Cup win over Chelsea The Carabao Cup is currently held by Liverpool, who beat Chelsea 1-0 in extra time at Wembley.The last time a non-Premier League club appeared in the final was 2013, when League Two Bradford were beaten 5-0 by Swansea.And the only time a team outside the top flight won it – or any major trophy – was in 1991 when Sheffield Wednesday of the Second Division beat Manchester United 1-0.Northern drawSalford vs DoncasterRotherham vs Crewe AlexandraCarlisle vs Stoke CityLeeds vs MiddlesbroughBarrow vs Port ValeBurton Albion vs BlackpoolTranmere Rovers vs Accrington StanleyFleetwood vs West BromShrewsbury Town vs Notts CountyLincoln vs HarrogateDerby vs ChesterfieldBolton vs Mansfield TownPreston vs SunderlandSheffield Utd vs WrexhamHuddersfield vs MorecambeWigan vs BarnsleyHull City vs Sheffield WedsStockport County vs Blackburn RoversGrimsby Town vs Bradford City More

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      League One announce never-before-seen opening day fixtures but supporters say ‘already not a fan of this’

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      THE EFL have announced that League One games will start at 5:30pm on the opening weekend in a broadcasting first – and fans are not happy.All EFL fixtures are set for live broadcast on Sky Sports during the first weekend – including matches scheduled for 3pm on Saturday.The Sky fixtures for the Championship, League One and League Two were all announced on WednesdayCredit: GettyBut League One fans have been left reeling with the late kick-offs on the opening weekendCredit: Getty Images – GettyThe 2024/2025 season will see the launch of a brand new five-year broadcast deal between the EFL and Sky Sports – with talkSPORT holding national radio rights for the next four years.This will replace the current iFollow service for UK based supporters.The new deal will allow League One fans to watch their teams on the telly over 20 times a season for the first time.In most cases, 3pm kick-offs on Saturday are not allowed to be shown by domestic broadcasters under Article 48 of Uefa’s statutes.read more football newsBut the new-look opening weekend will NOT be subjected to the 3pm blackout for the first time ever.Yet all League One first day fixtures will start at 5:30pm on August 10, with League Two being offered all 3pm slots.However blackout restrictions will remain in place for the rest of the season, meaning more games will be played outside the traditional time slot.Footie fans have a deep love for Saturday 3pm kick offs – there is a notion that something about football is lost if a game doesn’t kick off at that time.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe blackout idea came about to ensure football matches still attract large attendances despite some games beginning to be televised.And League One fans – particularly those with long away trips – are not impressed with the change to more evening kick-offs.Fans ask ‘did the Year 8s have the gym booked out’ as EFL star forced to do fitness induction in CANTEENOne fuming Leyton Orient fan wrote: “5:30 kick off on the first day? already not a massive fan of this new broadcast deal.”Another wrote: “Opening day kicks off at 5:30pm. Which is annoying!”A third commented: “Pardon? Oh no I don’t like this.”While another said: “Wow only League 2 have been given Saturday 3pm games – Sky Sports are well and truly ruining football!”A fourth chimed in: “Those EFL kick-off times across on the opening day are hideous, 11 games kicking off at 5.30 in the third division.”Another user wrote: “RIP traditional 3pm kick-offs on a Saturday.”The regular EFL season will begin on the weekend of 10-11 August and run until 3 May 2025.Who are these famous footballers?BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS More

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      Bizarre EFL Trophy draw sees two clubs from same city separated into Northern and Southern regions

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      THE EFL Trophy draw bizarrely saw two clubs from same city separated into Northern and Southern regions. Clubs from League One and League Two and some Under-21 sides from the Premier League join the 64-team tournament.EFL Trophy was won by Peterborough last yearCredit: GettyAll enter from round one and are split into 16 regional groups of four teams, half in the Northern and the remaining in the Southern. The 16 invited U21 teams are placed into their respective Northern and Southern regional groups. And the 48 EFL Clubs are also placed into pre-determined groups.But eyebrows were raised when Nottingham Forest’s U21s were put in the Northern group. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThat is because Notts County were sectioned in the Southern side – despite the teams being just half a mile away from each other. One fan said: “EFL Trophy Group stage draw has #Notts County in the Southern draw It has Forest in the Northern draw. “The stadiums are 300 yards apart.”Another added: “And Notts are the more northernly club.” Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSOne agreed: “And Notts County is the Northern of the two.”Another joked: “Just to make it even more ridiculous, Notts County are further north.” The EFL Trophy was won by Peterborough United, who beat Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 to scoop the ÂŁ100,000 prize. Tartan Army begins mass exodus from Germany as thousands of Scotland fans head home after Euro 2024 heartbreak More

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      Emotional moment Millwall manager Neil Harris chokes back tears as he reveals heartbreak over death of Matija Sarkic

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      MILLWALL boss Neil Harris has paid an emotional tribute to keeper Matija Sarkic following his tragic death.Sarkic passed away at the age of 26 on Saturday after reportedly falling ill while on international duty.Matija Sarkic passed away on Saturday at the age of just 26Credit: RexMillwall boss Neil Harris held back tears while opening up about Sarkic’s passingNow Millwall manager Harris, 46, has opened up about how he found out the devastating news, while he also spoke glowingly about the brilliant young shot-stopper.In an interview with the club, he said: “First thoughts have to go with Matija’s parents and his brothers.”He was a wonderful son and a wonderful brother who was a very caring, good man.”Getting the call at 7am first thing on the weekend, you know it’s not going to be positive news.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”But you could never imagine the devastation in the moment that you find out that such a good man at such a tender age has lost his life.“Words find it hard to explain how you feel. It makes it very emotional for me because I have a 22-year-old son myself. Matija is only a few years older, so anybody in life can relate to something like that.”Devastating news for the family and our football club.”Clearly choked up while talking about the loss, Harris continued: “There is no surprise that when you read obituaries on social media and that people so close to him talk so fondly of him, they talk about his radiant smile, human nature and goodwill.Most read in Football”I only worked with Matija for a three-month period. I was with him last Thursday at the training ground and he had a huge smile on his face about going to see the family in Montenegro that evening.”He had a great summer. He performed so well for his nation against Belgium and had been to his brother’s wedding.MATIJA SARKICAll you need to know about his career:
      Clubs:
      Aston Villa (2015-2020)
      Wigan (Loan 2017/2018)
      Stratford Town (Loan 2018/2019)
      Havant & Waterlooville (Loan 2019)
      Livingston (Loan 2019/2020)
      Wolves (2020-2023)
      Shrewsbury (Loan 2020/21)
      Birmingham (Loan 2021/22)
      Stoke (Loan 2023)
      Millwall (2023/24)
      Honours:
      Birmingham City Player of the Season 2022
      International:Montenegro (9 caps)

      “As a character in the training ground, every day, win, lose or draw, he came in with a smile on his face.”He wanted to be better. That was his thought process. People shouldn’t think of him as a laidback goalkeeper who was quite calm on the football pitch, he was very driven.”He had high aspirations for himself to keep moving forward. He wanted to build his caps up for his country but also drag us forward. “I can’t praise him highly enough as a human being in the time I knew him, but also as a professional as well.”It doesn’t always feel right to talk work in moments like this, but in Matija’s case, it does. He loved the game and loved his job.”Sarkic began his career in Anderlecht’s academy before being snapped up by Aston Villa in 2015.The Grimsby-born stopper joined Wolves in 2020 and found form in loan spells with Shrewsbury, Birmingham – where he was named Player of the Season in 2022 – and Stoke.That convinced Millwall to make a permanent move last summer and Sarkic made 33 appearances for the Lions, who won five games in a row to end the season 13th in the Championship.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe was named player of the match in his last outing for Montenegro as he made nine saves in a 2-0 defeat to Euro 2024 hopefuls Belgium – his ninth international cap.The talented No1 also received the player of the match award in Millwall’s final game of the season – a 1-0 win over Swansea. More

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      Former Premier League star, 25, launches business venture recycling chopsticks into furniture amid injury hell

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      SHEFFIELD UNITED midfielder Tom Davies believes launching his sustainable business venture helped his mental health during a difficult maiden season in South Yorkshire.The 25-year-old left boyhood club Everton last summer after 14 years but injury restricted him to just nine appearances as the Blades were relegated from the top flight.Tom Davies has launched a business recycling chopsticksCredit: Instagram @1tomdaviesOver five million chopsticks have been collectedCredit: Instagram @1tomdaviesThe material has been used to craft furnitureCredit: Instagram @1tomdaviesDavies revealed the business has provided a big boost to his mental healthCredit: Instagram @1tomdaviesGambling and mental health have become issues in football but, despite a long lay-off, Davies found solace preparing for the launch of ChopValue UK, which has opened a micro-factory in Liverpool after collecting almost five million chopsticks to recycle into furniture and homeware.”I don’t want to do these things that are going to negatively impact me or the people around me,” Davies told the PA news agency.”Football gives you a great platform to speak about things that are important: sustainability is one thing, mental health another.”These are things I care about and building a community, feeling like I am doing good, it really does make me feel full and living a good life.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”That’s why footballers need outside interests. Some like golf, fashion or cars. This is the thing I like to do. It’s a nice distraction to have and it’s definitely helped.”When you are just focused on football and you get an injury it can be quite consuming but I never felt like that for the last injury.”During his lay-off Davies took a sustainability course to better understand the business, franchised from a Canadian company, he is managing director of.The former England Under-21 international, who shaved off his trademark shoulder-length hair to raise funds for James’ Place, a charity supporting suicidal men in Liverpool and London, has also made his venture a community interest company to benefit more causes in the city.Most read in FootballEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERS”When we start getting an income we will start putting some of that back into the community to help homeless charities, mental health, Everton in the Community,” he added.”The city has been great for me and I want to try to help people out. We are just trying to make an impact as best we can.”Football icons’ strange hobbies More

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      Oxford announce forgotten Chelsea wonderkid’s new deal and aim sly dig at John Terry in stunning announcement

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      OXFORD took aim at Chelsea legend John Terry in their announcement video of ex-Blues man Josh McEachran’s contract extension.Midfielder McEachran, 31, played 22 times for the two-time European champions after coming through their academy set-up.Josh McEachran’s face was mocked up into his contract extension announcement videoCredit: X / @OUFCOfficialOxford aimed a sly dig at Chelsea legend John Terry in the clipCredit: X / @OUFCOfficialHe has since gone on to play for the likes of Brentford, Birmingham and MK Dons, before he joined Oxford on a free transfer last summer.His deal expired at the end of this season, but the newly-promoted Championship outfit have now confirmed a one-year contract extension with a hilarious video on X.It showed McEachran’s face photo-shopped into the scene of a film where a passenger is checking into a flight.The character mocked up to be McEachran proceeds to receive a complimentary entrance to the first-class lounge.READ MORE ON CHELSEAIt then cuts to a clip of former Chelsea defender Terry, 43, saying: “And I’m sitting in economy, Josh McEachran… all in first class.”The footage came from an interview Terry gave back in April when he claimed ex-Blues manager Andre Villas-Boas made senior players fly economy while the younger members of the squad went first class.And fans on social media were loving the mash-up announcement by Oxford.One said: “This is outstanding đŸ€Ł.”Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMcEachran played 26 League One games for Oxford this seasonAnother added: “Unreal announcement vid.”While a third replied: “Okay that’s class.”Forgotten Chelsea flop Hakim Ziyech lashes out and throws boots away after being subbed in World Cup qualifierTerry said on Up Front with Up Front with Simon Jordan: “I’ll give you a little story. We went to Hong Kong, I think when he was first manager.”We get on the plane, we get on and I’m sitting in economy on a 13-hour flight and we’ve got Josh McEachran, Nathaniel Chalobah, couple of other young players in first class.”And this was part of AVB’s going, ‘No, no. No player’s bigger than me. Everyone’s the same.'”So, I get on the plane and it turns out that Lamps is flying out first class and I’m flying back in first class.”If you fly out in first, you come back business or economy, premium economy, whatever it was. But basically it wasn’t good enough.”So I’m on the plane going, ‘No, no, we’re not going anywhere until these young players go back in economy and the first-team players that have built this club to where it is today go back in first.”And we’re on the plane and people are up and down, AVB comes up and goes, ‘What’s the problem?'”I’m going, ‘Well, we’re not going anywhere till the young players move.’ And to be fair to the young players they’re going, ‘JT, it’s really uncomfortable we’re going back.'”And I’m going, ‘No, no, it’s not your decision he has to own it as AVB.'”This was one of his first things in front of everyone, in the end it spins so all first-team players fly first, younger players go back in economy.READ MORE SUN STORIES”That’s how it should be, these younger players are striving to be where we’ve got and he tried to make a statement on day one and he failed instantly because I promise you, the plane wasn’t going.”And, it would have gone without myself, Frank and Didier.” More