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      Former Man Utd keeper once singled out by most opposition managers wakes up unemployed aged 22 after he’s released

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      JACOB CARNEY has been released by Sunderland after just one appearance in two years for the Black Cats.The former Manchester United academy starlet signed a two-year deal with the Wearsiders following his Old Trafford exit in 2021.
      Jacob Carney was previously on the books at Man UnitedCredit: Getty
      Carney, 22, made just one senior appearance for Sunderland – ironically against Man United’s Under-23s in an EFL Trophy match last season.
      This term he found himself stuck behind goalkeepers Anthony Patterson and Alex Bass, and scarcely made the matchday squad.
      He played seven times in the Premier League 2 for Sunderland’s Under-21s during the 2022-23 campaign.
      Carney has been released alongside Black Cats team-mate Carl Winchester.
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      During his time at United he enjoyed three loan spells away, including at Northern Irish side Portadown.
      He impressed during his stint in Northern Ireland, and made opposition bosses take note.
      Portadown gaffer Matthew Tipton gushed about Carney’s skills to the News Letter at the time.
      He said: “Most opposition managers single out Jacob after our games and I am just delighted with everything overall since he joined the club.
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      “I would love him to stay with us again next season and he has really settled in well since moving over to Northern Ireland.
      “One massive bonus Jacob gives us is his kicking ability and that decision-making to quickly get us on the front foot.”
      Carney will now be looking to join a new club ahead of pre-season.
      The goalkeeper impressed while on loan at Portadown in Northern IrelandCredit: Pacemaker More

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      Wigan slapped with another four-point deduction and will start 2023-24 League One season on MINUS EIGHT

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      WIGAN will start League One with MINUS EIGHT points next season after being docked a further four.The Latics failed to meet a funding deadline by the EFL to cover the costs of the club’s next wage bill.
      Wigan will start the 2023-24 League One season on minus eight pointsCredit: PA
      Owner Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi’s two previous late payments had already triggered a four-point deduction last week, with another four suspended.
      The March wages were due on Friday 10 but did not get done until a full fortnight later while the May payments were not completed until Tuesday 16, 11 days late.
      But after missing Friday’s extended 9am deadline to deposit 125 per cent of the forecast monthly wage bill, the EFL wasted no time in throwing the book at Wigan by triggering the extra four points for 2023-24.
      The EFL said: “This follows a previous sanction of four points after failing to pay its players’ wages on time in March 2023 and May 2023.
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      “The EFL has spent the past 48 hours in dialogue with the club in an attempt to find a positive outcome to the issue but as of 09:00 BST Friday morning the required funds have not been deposited.”
      It has been a dire season on and off the pitch for Wigan.

      As well as the financial woes that led to anger at the owner from players and threats of striking, the club went through three managers – including a nightmare two months for Kolo Toure – and ultimately ended up relegated.
      The Latics finished bottom of the Championship on 39 points, with six deducted from their ten wins and 15 draws for late payments earlier in the season – before the further eight for the new campaign.
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      In a lengthy open letter to fans, Latics chairman Talal Al Hammad said: “I want to confirm that an eight-figure sum is currently being processed and is due to land in the Club account imminently. This funding will also ensure financial stability for June and the 2023-24 season.
      “We have been transparent with the EFL who have had full visibility of this amount throughout the process following Friday’s [19 May] statement.
      “It is important to address the numerous late wage payments. As I have previously stated, I recognise this is totally unacceptable.
      “We have learnt from the unsustainable wage budget of this season and consequently have developed a more sustainable strategy for the Club, focused on the development of younger players, especially those that have come through the 3PL Wigan Athletic Academy. 
      “After meetings with the Board and Technical Board, the wage budget for this coming season has been agreed upon. It will be over 65 per cent less than what it was this season, making it a much more sustainable budget from an ownership perspective. We know, however, that this will still be a competitive budget in League One.
      “There have been many questions about the owners’ commitment to the Club. He is fully committed to Wigan Athletic. As an ownership group and Board, we recognise we have a lot of trust to rebuild and this starts again now.
      “We will start next season with a points deduction and that we truly regret and apologise to all fans and stakeholders. This is a culmination of the struggles of the past season.
      “We cannot change the past, but what we can do is look to the future. We recognise we must rebuild trust with you.”
      Shaun Maloney’s side finished bottom of the Championship and were relegatedCredit: Rex More

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      Stockport boss Dave Challinor aiming for seventh heaven by going from Colwyn Bay to Wembley

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      DAVE Challinor aims to go to seventh heaven by going from Llanelian Road to Wembley.And the Stockport boss believes the same things apply as he goes for a League One place as when he guided Colwyn Bay to elevation from the then Evo-Stik Premier Division.
      Stockport aim to make it seven promotions for boss Dave Challinor on SundayCredit: PA:Press Association
      The surroundings will be very different from 2011 – about 50,000 are expected at Wembley on Sunday when his first success was secured in front of 2,000.
      However, memories of 12 years ago remain vivid and despite much larger financial rewards, the same theories will apply against Carlisle.
      Challinor said: “I played in most of the games of the first promotion, so it was different – and I wasn’t very good!
      “But it’s not too dissimilar. I remember the first one well, Colwyn Bay v FC United in a play-off game and Jon Newby scored the winner.
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      “It’s the polar opposite in terms of where the clubs were but getting a club the size of Colwyn Bay into Conference North isn’t dissimilar to getting Stockport promoted to League One.
      “It was an amazing feeling and those feelings, whether it was that one or the most recent one in terms of play-offs, with Hartlepool, don’t change.
      “They’re unbelievable and I hope I experience it again on Sunday.”
      County missed out on automatic promotion on the final day but secured their first Wembley place since 2008 by defeating Salford City on penalties.
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      However, a dodgy start after ending an 11-year Football League exile is still rued – but the first day ‘reality check’ of being 3-0 down after half an hour against Barrow helped, even though Challinor did not lose belief.
      As he weighs up whether to hand Will Collar, Ryan Rydel and Antoni Sarcevic starting spots, he added: “I wanted to get to half-time first and foremost but I told the players, whether it was me being stupid or not, I don’t know, ‘I think we can still win the game.’
      Challinor remembers promotion number one ahead of facing Carlisle at WembleyCredit: DAVE PINEGAR
      “We’d made three individual mistakes that had cost us three goals. We still should’ve got something from it, though.
      “I’d suggest that wasn’t the making of us, we won two of our first 11 – not the greatest of starts – but I still had belief in the group, that didn’t change after 45 minutes.
      “Maybe from the outside, that was a bit of a reality check of where we were and what we needed to be. Some of the players were maybe dented from it but we’ve built.
      “To still have that chance of success is a massive compliment to how they’ve adapted and found a way – hopefully on Sunday we can find that final way.” More

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      Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney reveal new Wrexham stadium name in hilarious video but fans are confused by spelling

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      RYAN REYNOLDS and Rob McElhenney have hilariously announced Wrexham’s historic Racecourse Ground’s new name – but fans have been left confused.The American movie stars are still celebrating after finally securing the Welsh club’s return to the Football League after winning the National League.
      Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have announced the Racecourse Ground’s new nameCredit: https://twitter.com/Wrexham_AFC
      The Wrexham owners announced it with a hilarious videoCredit: https://twitter.com/Wrexham_AFC
      It will now be known as The SToK Cae Ras – or SToK RacecourseCredit: https://twitter.com/Wrexham_AFC
      The Wrexham players reacted furiously in the video clip from ‘tea-time’Credit: https://twitter.com/Wrexham_AFC
      The Hollywood duo are now in the process of redeveloping the ground and are planning an £18million revamp of their matchday facilities.
      Now Reynolds and McElhenney, who bought Wrexham in a £2m deal in 2021, have announced a brand sponsorship for one the world’s oldest international football stadiums.
      And their home will now be known as The SToK Cae Ras – or SToK Racecourse – after they sold the naming rights to the American cold brew coffee brand. 
      The news was announced by the pair in a video that poked fun at Britain’s traditional love of afternoon tea.
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      They swapped their players’ refreshment for STōK cold brew coffee – and when the squad found out their reaction was one of fury in the clip.
      A cup was thrown in anger, and it narrowly missed hitting their newly-earned National League trophy, thanks to goalkeeper Ben Foster making the save.
      Fans lapped up the clip after it was released on social media on Wrexham’s channels, although some were left a little confused as to what their stadium will be actually called from now on.
      One asked: “So is it called the stoke cold brew racecourse now?”
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      Another said: “So we’re now the Stoke Racecourse Stadium? Not a lot of thought went into that did it FFS!”
      Another commented: “I like that the sponsor isn’t gambling etc, but I think it sounds an awful lot like “Stoke Racecourse…”
      While a fellow fan said: “Brings a whole new meaning to a cold Tuesday in Stok.”
      Meanwhile, Reynolds took the pee out of his Wrexham FC co-owner – by dedicating a urinal to him.
      The Deadpool star unveiled a plaque bearing fellow actor Rob McElhenney’s face to mark his 45th birthday on Thursday.
      Reynolds and McElhenney — who stars in long-running US sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia — took over the National League club last February, and immediately pumped £2million into it.
      In February they forked out on 365 gin and tonics for fans to mark a year since their takeover.
      The now League Two side were also flown over to the USA as a reward for getting promoted earlier this month for a squad celebration in Las Vegas.
      Fortunately Ben Foster was on hand to save the day in the clipCredit: https://twitter.com/Wrexham_AFC More

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      I managed Luton in the National League, I never cry but I’ll shed a tear if they get to the Prem

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      JOHN STILL is not a man who gets emotional but admits he may shed a tear at Wembley if Luton win promotion to the Premier League.For the legendary lower-league boss set the Hatters on a journey from non-league to within 90 minutes of the top flight in NINE years.
      John Still was the man who put Luton back on the upward curve
      When Still took charge at Kenilworth Road in 2013, the club was not a happy place. They were about to start their fifth season in the National League.
      But the East Londoner — who has managed Leytonstone, Dartford, Maidstone, Redbridge Forest, Dagenham, Peterborough and Barnet — led them to the title and promotion back into the EFL.
      Still said: “The club was on its knees. They felt wronged by the football authorities after having all those points deductions that saw them slide from the Championship.
      “The National League is a hard division to get out of and everyone was losing heart.
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      “It was clear after a few games the fans were not with us. There was no unity at the club. That was the first thing I had to rectify.
      “People told me when I took over if Luton were not 1-0 up after 15 minutes, the crowd would turn.
      “And we had a few episodes where I had to speak out about that. I asked the supporters, ‘What would happen if the crowd didn’t turn on us?’
      “The opposition were always waiting for supporters to go against us. It hadn’t helped the team. We only won two of our opening eight games.
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      “We gradually changed that and the fans kept with us.
      “After a game, I’d get the players around the centre circle and have a fan out there with us to listen in. These sort of things helped unite everyone.”
      Still points to the fact Wrexham have just managed to escape from the National League after 15 years — and Luton had to overcome the trauma of no longer being an EFL club to stand a chance of becoming one again.
      He said: “You must accept you’re no longer a League club, embrace the division and play a different way than what you’ve been used to.
      “Otherwise you’ll struggle like teams such as Scunthorpe and Oldham!”
      Still spent almost two-and-a-half seasons at Kenilworth Road and not only did he put them on their upwards trajectory but also midfielder Pelly Ruddock and defender Dan Potts too.
      Ruddock, 29, was just 19 when he played for the club in the National League, on loan from West Ham before the move was made permanent.
      And Still said: “We paid just £25,000 for him. It’s amazing he’s gone from non-league to within a play-off final away from the Premier League with one club. That’s unique.
      “Sometimes when you change managers — from me to Nathan Jones then to Mick Harford, back to Nathan and now Rob Edwards — they will have different ideas. 
      John Still is surrounded by jubilant Hatters fans after their promotion in 2014
      ”So to be there through various managers, to have to take on their ideas which might be different is a fantastic testimony for him.
      “I’ve always had this thing for young, hungry players and Pelly fits that bill and was maybe someone who wouldn’t get an opportunity in the Premier League. I thought he might do well for us.
      “He was ambitious and has fallen into the category of being the right player at the right club at the right time. He’s grown with the club.
      “Pelly has developed his skills as well as his mentality. Having a good attitude, working hard, listening, taking information, you can’t be taught that. That’s down to you and takes zero skills. You must have those ingredients and, in Pelly’s case, he did.”
      Potts, meanwhile, was 21 when he made the move from the Hammers when Luton were in League Two eight years ago.
      John Still wearing his Conference winners medal in 2014
      He said: “I knew Dan’s dad, former West Ham defender Steve Potts. I lived close to Chadwell Heath where they trained. I knew Dan. He had to overcome leukaemia when he was a kid and got himself going again.
      “I thought he was an ideal person to come to us and rebuild his career. I knew he had the same mentality as his dad so thought it was no gamble.”
      Still will be at Wembley as a club guest on Saturday.
      I ask the legendary boss if he will shed a tear if the Hatters win promotion?
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      He said: “I’m not that sort of person but I think there will be because when I look back at where the club was when I went there to where it is now it’s extraordinary.
      “At Wembley I will be watching alongside wonderful Luton legends such as David Pleat and Mick Harford — and if I am seen as having played just a fraction of a part of their history then I’m delighted to have been that fraction.” More

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      Sheffield Wednesday star’s playoff final saved as fan finds missing mask after club’s desperate appeal

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      LEE GREGORY’S play-off final dream has been saved after his missing face mask was found by a supporter.The Sheffield Wednesday striker has been wearing the protective mask since suffering a facial injury in training ahead of the final game of the regular season.
      Lee Gregory has been wearing a protective face mask during the play-offsCredit: Rex
      Gregory’s mask was found on social mediaCredit: TWITTER
      Gregory helped the Owls to their sensational League One play-off semi-final comeback against Peterborough on Thursday – getting on the scoresheet as they overturned a 4-0 deficit.
      Wednesday’s 5-3 penalty shoot-out triumph prompted pandemonium, with fans invading the pitch to celebrate.
      Amid the bedlam, Gregory’s protective mask went missing – putting his final participation in doubt.
      In a desperate social media appeal, Wednesday pleaded: “Can you help!?
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      “In the aftermath of our stunning comeback win on Thursday, Lee Gregory’s mask is missing!
      “The custom-built protective cover was near the dugout. Due to a short turnaround, we cannot replace in time for next week. Any ideas where it might be!?”
      Just five minutes later, fan Louie Hodkin appeared to come up trumps.
      The season ticket holder wrote: “Yes , my dad picked it up after the game! Dm me ill get it to him before monday!”
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      Hodkin accompanied his response with a picture of the mask.
      Seeing Hodkin’s tweet, another fan wrote: “Not all heroes wear capes.”
      While a second added: “This kind of stuff only happens in the efl and I couldn’t love it more.”
      Wednesday will take on Barnsley at Wembley on May 29 with a place in the Championship up for grabs.
      Darren Moore’s side came third in League One on 96 points, missing out on automatic promotion to champions Plymouth Argyle and runners-up Ipswich Town.
      Sheffield Wednesday’s comeback sparked a pitch invasionCredit: PA More

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      Football fans slam Sky Sports as ‘absolute shambles’ feed cuts out deep into extra-time of League Two play-offs semi

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      FANS were left fuming at Sky Sports as their play-off feed cut out deep into extra time.Carlisle’s dramatic win over Bradford vanished from screens near the end of the League Two semi-final second-leg.
      Fans were left fuming as Bradford’s defeat to Carlisle cut out on Sky Sports late on
      Carlisle beat Bradford 3-2 on aggregate to seal their place in the League Two play-off finalCredit: Getty
      And supporters quickly piled on social media to slam the “absolute shambles.”
      One said: “Sky Sports lost the the picture for the Carlisle Bradford game with 2 mins of extra time left. You’d be fuming.”
      Another declared: “Watching the Carlisle Bradford game and its just switched off completely. Nice one Sky.”
      One noted: “The blank screen of Carlisle vs Bradford is exactly why we’re playing Sky a criminal amount per month – didn’t want to watch it anyway.”
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      Another added: “Are Sky Sports taking the p**s with the Bradford game?! Absolute shambles.”
      One said: “Bradford Carlisle coverage has been a shambles on Sky, went to an ad break 3 minutes early in normal time, and now this went on for a good 5 minutes in extra time.”
      Another added: “You’d be sick if you were a Carlisle or Bradford fan watching this on Sky. Absolute shocker.”
      One noted: “Watched that game for 118 minutes for you to get a technical fault now. F**k off Sky. Imagine being a Bradford fan who couldn’t go.”
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      Bradford were left heartbroken at full-time as Carlisle sealed a 3-1 win to win 3-2 on aggregate.
      Bradley Halliday’s own-goal put Carlisle ahead in the 21st minute.
      And after the game went to extra time, they took a 98th minute lead through Callum Guy.
      Bradford then levelled eight minutes later thanks to Matt Derbyshire’s strike.
      But Ben Barclay pounced in the 112th minute to put Carlisle ahead again and seal their place in the League Two play-off final. More

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      EFL chairman found guilty of fraud and facing prison and losing club ownership after five-year investigation

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      FLEETWOOD TOWN Chairman Andy Pilley has been found guilty on four counts of fraud following an eight-month trial.BES Utilities – the firm owned by Pilley – stood accused of multi-million pound fraud involving the mis-selling of energy supply contracts to small businesses. 
      Pilley has been found guilty on four counts of fraudCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      And on Friday, the 52-year-old was found guilty on all the charges, which include two counts of running a business with the intention of defrauding creditors, one count of false representations, and one count of being concerned with the retention of criminal property.
      Pilley’s sister, Michelle Davidson, 49, as well as Lee Qualter, 52, and Joel Chapman, 38, were also found guilty of a number of fraud offences.
      The Fleetwood Chairman was remanded in custody after the jury delivered their unanimous verdict.
      The presiding judge, Judge Knowles KC, has indicated that he will likely face a prison term when he is sentenced on May 23. 
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      After the verdict was announced on Friday, Fleetwood Town released an official statement which read: “Fleetwood Town Football Club acknowledges the verdict in the court case involving club Chairman, Andy Pilley.
      “The Chairman would like to reassure supporters the club will continue to operate as normal.
      “Today’s verdicts will not affect the running or future of Fleetwood Town Football Club. 
      “The club is already in talks with the EFL regarding the next steps and will be making no further comment at this time.”
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      An additional statement read: “Fleetwood Town would like to reassure supporters the Club will continue to operate as normal and there will be no risk to the future of the club.
      “The Club’s Senior Management Team and directors have been planning for a number of months for the event of a verdict of this nature.
      “A meeting of the Club’s management has taken place this evening and plans are already in operation to ensure its business as usual.
      “We’d like to reassure supporters charges are solely brought against Andy Pilley and not Fleetwood Town Football Club or any of the businesses attached to the group.
      “Talks have already taken place with the EFL and an announcement regarding the next step will be made in due course.”
      Pilley was charged with the allegations in September 2021 following a five-year investigation into BES Utilities, which has been Fleetwood Town’s main sponsor for 18 years.
      The Fishermen finished the 2022-23 campaign 13th in the League One table. More