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      Ipswich’s Conor Chaplin loving football more than ever after Barnsley transfer thanks to McKenna, but don’t tell anyone

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      CONOR CHAPLIN left Barnsley where he had almost won promotion to the Premier League to join Ipswich in League One.And it is a decision the forward does not regret as he believes the Tractor Boys are destined for bigger things.
      Conor Chaplin has loved every moment of his time at Ipswich
      On Saturday the third-placed side host leaders Plymouth, who are seven points ahead but have played a game more.
      Chaplin told SunSport: “I didn’t decide to leave Barnsley, I was told I wasn’t going to play much as the club were going in a new direction.
      “They wanted to get the wage bill down. I wasn’t forced to leave but wouldn’t have played as much as I would’ve wanted to.
      “I looked for a different challenge and couldn’t be happier than I am now. In league standing, it was a league lower. But in terms of the stature and ambition of Ipswich, it was 10 fold.

      “My relationship with Barnsley and their fans was good. It’s an unbelievable one-town club. I just felt the fans were let down a lot of the time by the board and hierarchy.
      “It’s a buying and selling club. They don’t have a lot of ambition to be winning football games, challenging and bettering themselves.
      “But that is where I’ve landed now and this club is incredible for that and one of the best in the EFL for ambition and wanting to be better.”
      After the club’s relegation to the third tier for the first time since 1957, Ipswich have been rebuilding themselves and making real progress since boss Kieran McKenna took over in December 2021.
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      The Northern Irishman, 36, is considered one of the brightest young coaches in the game and Chaplin rates him as the best he has ever worked with.
      Conor Chaplin won the SkyBet League One player of the month award
      He said: “I get on with him on a personal level and a professional level. I have so much respect for him and the way he goes about his job.
      “Kieran is incredible as a manager and is the best one I’ve worked for. I don’t want to talk too highly about him otherwise other clubs will want him!
      “He’s great with the lads — whether you start every week or your role is something different.
      “Every single person will tell you he is incredible and so particular in the way he sets up the team. His training is so engaging and replicates how we want to play on a Saturday.
      “It’s the most I’ve ever enjoyed going to training. It’s been the most competitive I’ve encountered too — and I’m talking about tackles flying in and lads really wanting to win. We train in the way we want to play so we do find ourselves in games where it’s easier than training because of the quality we have in the squad. 
      “Our 11 v 11 at the training ground is much harder than it is at the weekend because both 11s have top players for this league.
      “That’s something the manager drives. He told me his expectations at the start of the season and doesn’t have to drive anymore because it comes from the players. 
      “We know if we’re not doing it in training, our team-mates will tell us first and foremost and if you don’t come up to the standards you are not going to get picked at the weekend.”
      Ipswich training sessions have been the best Conor Chaplin has encountered
      Ipswich have produced some fine players over the years and the latest one who has shot to prominence this season is 19-year-old Cameron Humphreys. He has scored two in his last two games.
      Chaplin insists that the midfielder is destined for football stardom.
      He said: “Cameron is going to be a top player. He’s a good footballer but his best asset is him as a person and the way he goes about his work, the way he trains every day, his attitude that he shows. I haven’t seen many young players like him.
      “He is really switched on and knows what he is doing. He has had more minutes than he thought he was going to have this season but because of injuries he has been given his chance, which he fully deserves because he has worked his socks off.
      “Even his gym work is second to none. I couldn’t be happier for him. I look out for him because I want him to do well. 
      “When you are his age, the fact you’re a good player comes second because you’ve got to show you have a great attitude and are dialled in everyday. He does all that. And despite being 19, he is already a leader by setting the example he does off the pitch.”
      Teenager Cameron Humphreys has made a big impact
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      Chaplin — who won the SkyBet player of the month award for December — believes he has improved as a player significantly since joining Ipswich — as he now can play in two different positions.
      He added: “I love scoring goals. I’m much different from the player to when I was at Barnsley, where I was an out-and-out goalscorer.
      “I’m playing in two different No10 roles — a withdrawn forward or an attacking midfielder. It’s not my sole job to just score goals. Earlier I was No9.
      “Ever since the new boss came in, we played that shape and he saw me playing in that slot. He made it clear that was where he wanted me.

      “There’s a lot of responsibility out of possession, lots of pressing and sprinting which you have to do and there is no shying away from that.
      “But on the flip side, you bring your own quality to the position and the team. I’ve been able to do that a few times.” More

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      Portsmouth considering shock swoop for Tottenham and Ireland legend Robbie Keane to replace Danny Cowley as manager

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      PORTSMOUTH are reportedly considering a shock managerial appointment in the form of Spurs and Republic of Ireland legend Robbie Keane.Pompey sacked head Danny Cowley earlier this week after his side slipped to 12th in the League One table.
      Robbie Keane has been the assistant coach at Ireland and MiddlesbroughCredit: Getty
      He was dismissed with the club having not won a league match since October.
      Keane, 42, was in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday as two of his former clubs faced off in the third round of the FA Cup.
      Antonio Conte’s men came out on top thanks to a Harry Kane goal as Portsmouth’s winless run was extended to five matches in all competitions.
      And very little was made of Keane being in the stands.
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      But now Sky Sports are reporting that he is being lined up as a potential replacement for Cowley.
      Other names in the frame include Chris Wilder and Lee Bowyer.
      Former striker Keane started his coaching career in 2018 as a player-manager at Indian side ATK where he was in charge for nearly three months.
      He became assistant to Ireland boss Mick McCarthy In November of the same year.
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      In 2019, he was then appointed as the assistant to Jonathan Woodgate at Middlesbrough, meaning he would juggle his roles at club and international level.
      He stepped down from his role with the Irish national team following the appointment of Stephen Kenny in April 2020.
      And two months later he left Boro when his one-year contract came to an end.
      Keane scored 126 Premier League goals in 349 appearances during a superb playing career.
      He featured for a host of big clubs including Wolves, Leeds, Tottenham, Liverpool, West Ham and Aston Villa.
      He also spent time in Italy with Inter Milan, Scotland with Celtic, and USA with LA Galaxy.
      Robbie Keane was a prolific Premier League goalscorerCredit: Getty More

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      Ex-Crawley Town boss John Yems slapped with 18-MONTH ban after being found guilty of 12 racism charges spanning 3 years

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      JOHN YEMS has been hit with an 18-month ban from football after being found guilty of 12 racism charges.An investigation was launched into the former Crawley Town boss last April after he was accused of making 16 discriminatory comments towards his own players, breaching FA Rule E3.2.
      John Yems managed Crawley between 2019 and 2022Credit: Getty
      This rule prohibits language referencing ethnic origin, race, nationality, colour, gender or religion.
      Yems, 63, admitted to one of the charges against him but denied the other 15 during a hearing on Friday.
      The allegations against Yems spanned between 2019 and 2022.
      An independent regulatory commission found him guilty of 11 of the 15 further claims, in addition to the one he admitted.
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      His ban from football related activities will run until June 1, 2024.
      Yems was initially suspended by Crawley on April 23 last year after allegations against him came to light.
      Thirteen days later, with the FA having confirmed that they’d be launching an investigation into their manager, Crawley relieved Yems of his duties.
      Following the FA’s verdict, Crawley released the following statement: “We would like to thank the Football Association for its thorough investigation into these serious allegations and the independent Regulatory Commission for its thoughtful consideration and ruling on the findings.
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      “As we have said many times, Crawley Town Football Club will never tolerate racism or discrimination of any kind.
      “We remain eager to partner with our players, staff and supporters as we build a team and community that Red Devils fans can be proud of — both on and off the pitch.”
      Former striker Jason Lee, who now works as the PFA’s senior equalities education executive, commended those that came forward with allegations for their bravery.
      He said: “It takes bravery to come forward to report issues like this.
      “It’s a massive thing for any individual to do, and that’s why it’s so vital that players have confidence that they will be listened to, believed and supported.
      It’s vital that the structures are in place to tackle this kind of behaviour when it’s reportedJason Lee
      “I hope this outcome shows our members that there is a process in place, that it will be followed, and it can result in proper punishment.
      “A person’s behaviour won’t change unless they are held to account. Letting it go unchecked and allowing them to just quietly reappear in other roles at other clubs doesn’t protect the players.”
      He then added: “It’s vital that the structures are in place to tackle this kind of behaviour when it’s reported.
      “But for the process to work everyone needs to be able to recognise discriminatory behaviour when they see it.”
      Jason Lee commended those with allegations for bravely coming forwardCredit: Rex More

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      Watch Bolton fan in away end at Barnsley get a girl’s number from the home end thanks to some help from a steward

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      A Bolton fan managed to get a Barnsley supporter’s phone number with the help of a steward during their League One game on Monday.A clip which emerged on social media showed the Barnsley-supporting woman handing her number to the steward.
      The steward could be seen carrying the girl’s number back to the Bolton endCredit: Twitter
      A Bolton fan in the away end asked the steward to get a Barnsley fan’s number during the game the other day…Who said romance is dead? 🤣 pic.twitter.com/qe6YY2Ycq6— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) January 6, 2023

      The Bolton fan celebrated after getting the Barnsley fan’s numberCredit: Twitter
      He then proceeded to carry it back to the away end and walk up the stand to hand it to the man.
      When it was passed over, the Bolton fan could be seen celebrating in comical fashion.
      And both sets of fans got involved as they cheered the brilliant exchange.
      Posting the clip, Football Away Days said: “A Bolton fan in the away end asked the steward to get a Barnsley fan’s number during the game the other day…
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      “Who said romance is dead? 🤣”
      Reacting to the video, one person replied: “Did he have binoculars at the match to spot her in the crowd?”
      Another added: “Saw this happen from the back of the stand 🤣.”
      And a third said: “So many questions about this we’ll never get the answer to!”
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      The man who received the phone number would have been even happier at full-time as Bolton claimed a 3-0 victory thanks to goals from Dion Charles, Jon Daoi Bodvarsson and Kyle Dempsey.
      The result takes Wanderers above Barnsley and up to fifth in the League One table.
      Barnsley sit sixth, below Bolton on goal difference but with a game in hand. More

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      League Two side Crawley Town ‘offered bonus every time defender won a HEADER as part of bizarre contract offer’

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      CRAWLEY TOWN reportedly tried to persuade a player to sign for them by offering them a bonus for every time they won a HEADER.Cryptocurrency company Wagmi United bought the League Two side in April and have attempted to rebuild the squad in bizarre fashion.
      Crawley failed to sign a player they offered a bonus to for each header they wonCredit: Rex
      And a new report has now revealed just how weird their incentives to potential new recruits are.
      The Guardian are claiming that Wagmi United, who are led by “crypto bros” Preston Johnson and Eben Smith, offered a defender a bonus every time he headed the ball per game.
      Perhaps even more amazingly, the player in question allegedly snubbed the offer despite the potential opportunity to rack up a huge amount each match.
      But not every one of their unique offers has been rejected.
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      In fact, it also adds that when they signed Dominic Telford from Newport, not only did they double his wages, they also included a bonus in his deal for every time he wins the ball back in the opposition side’s half.
      The 26-year-old was top scorer in the fourth tier last term but even his arrival has been unable to stop the chaos at Crawley this season.
      The Red Devils are currently 20th and searching for their fourth manager of the campaign.
      Kevin Betsy was axed after just four months before his interim replacement Lewis Young was sacked with ex-Tottenham and West Ham winger Matthew Etherington coming in.
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      However, Etherington was sacked by Crawley after just 32 days and three games at the helm.
      Crawley’s crypto owners also told the 41-year-old that he could not play striker Tom Nichols during one of his games as he had been sold to Gillingham without his knowledge.
      Nichols confirmed the news last month, saying: “I got told after training they had accepted an offer for me from another club and I couldn’t play anymore.” More

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      Man Utd icon Sir Alex Ferguson’s son Darren named Peterborough manager for FOURTH time after Grant McCann exit

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      DARREN FERGUSON is the Peterborough manager… for the FOURTH time.Sir Alex Ferguson’s son replaces Grant McCann in the dugout at London Road, who himself was in his third stint as boss after taking over from Ferguson last February.
      Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has brought Darren Ferguson, right, back as manager againCredit: Rex
      Posh confirmed McCann’s exit this morning with the club sitting eighth in League One following relegation from the Championship last term.
      McCann – who was caretaker gaffer in 2015 and then on a permanent basis from 2016 to 2018 – returned to the club last February alongside assistant Cliff Byrne.
      But after failing to keep Peterborough up, their final game in charge was Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at home to Wycombe.
      However, Posh wasted no time in appointing his successor with Ferguson, 50, back at the club once more.
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      Sir Alex’s kid was Peterborough manager from 2007 to 2009, then again for four years from 2011 and then a further three years from 2019 before his departure 11 months ago.
      But the 1993 Premier League winner with Manchester United under his dad is back in Cambridgeshire having been out of work since choosing to leave the club in early 2022.
      Ferguson’s geographical proximity and knowledge of the club were key to him getting the job.
      The former Preston and Doncaster chief has signed a contract until the end of the season – and the club were quick to confirm this is only a short-term solution.
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      The club’s board, led by Darragh MacAnthony, said: “When you look for a manager in January, it is an impossible time to get someone in, so if you were to write down what you would want in a manager, someone who identifies with how you work was a football club, someone who has had multiple promotions on their CV, someone with a style of football that gets people off their seats, where would you find a manager like that?
      “It just so happens we have one that lives nearby and has agreed to come and help us until the end of the season.
      “We are not talking a long-term appointment, it has been agreed between ourselves and Darren that the best way is for him to come in and work with the squad.
      “He has won five promotions in his career – he will be going for number six and we are delighted that he has agreed to return.”
      Ferguson’s 518th match as Posh manager, and first of this latest stint, is against Port Vale on January 16 in front of the Sky Sports cameras. More

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      Charlie Austin, 33, completes free transfer to Swindon Town as he rejoins old club two weeks after Brisbane Roar release

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      CHARLIE AUSTIN has rejoined Swindon Town more than a decade after leaving the club.The 33-year-old striker left Brisbane Roar two weeks ago due to family reasons following a brief six-month stint with the Australian outfit.
      Charlie Austin’s return to Swindon Town has been confirmedCredit: Instagram / Swindon Town FC
      He spent two seasons with the English outfit between 2009 and 2011Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      Now he is back in England with fourth-tier side Swindon – who he previously played for in League One between 2009 and 2011.
      Austin scored a superb 37 goals in 65 appearances for the Robins before leaving for Burnley.
      Since then, he has gone on to play for QPR twice, Southampton and West Brom.
      Just 11 games for Brisbane Roar preceded the return to Swindon – who currently sit fifth in League Two, 14 points behind table toppers Leyton Orient.
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      And Austin, who was called up to the England squad back in 2015, is excited to return to the Wiltshere club.
      Speaking about his comeback, he tweeted: “Delighted to finally get the deal sorted and be able to announce it, a new chapter in the footballing book but also a revisit to another one.
      “Look forward to get started in a couple of weeks time.”
      Manager Scott Lindsey added: “I’m delighted to have Charlie onboard and this is a really top signing for the football club.
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      “His career speaks for itself and he’s a natural goal scorer with a lot still to offer.
      “His experience both on and off the pitch will be invaluable and play a key part in driving us forward for the remainder of the season.”
      The completion of Austin’s return is subject to EFL approval and international clearance.
      Austin will be hoping to hit the ground running upon his return to SwindonCredit: Instagram / Swindown Town FC More

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      Wycombe striker Tjay De Barr rushed to hospital for tests after collapsing on pitch at full-time in worrying scenes

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      WYCOMBE WANDERERS star Tjay De Barr was rushed to hospital after collapsing on the pitch at the end of his side’s 1-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle.Fans and players were left shocked as the striker fell to the ground with no-one around him moments after the final whistle.
      Wycombe Wanderers star Tjay De Barr collapsed after his side’s 1-0 defeat at Plymouth ArgyleCredit: Getty
      The Gibraltarian striker was treated by paramedics before being stretchered off the field
      De Barr, 22, was a second-half sub for the visitors in their League One loss at Argyle’s Home Park stadium.
      Paramedics rushed over to the player as he lay on the floor as team-mates gathered around him.
      Thousands of concerned fans watched on from the stands.
      De Barr was treated on the pitch by medics before being covered in a foil blanket and placed onto a stretcher to be carried off the pitch.
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      He was taken to hospital and was accompanied in the ambulance by Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth.
      Tweeting after the game, Wanderers said: “There was a medical incident at full-time involving Tjay De Barr.
      “We thank the staff for their swift action and await news of his condition.”
      It is unknown what caused De Barr to collapse, but during the match he was reportedly left puffing after a collision with an opponent.
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      Wycombe later added: “Tjay De Barr has been treated on-site by medics and is in a good condition, but will go to hospital for further tests.
      “Thank you to everyone for their well wishes, and to the medical staff for their swift and expert assistance.”
      Wycombe’s assistant manager Richard Dobson said: “He is up and talking but obviously you don’t want to see that at the end of the game.  
      “There is obviously great concern about for him and his wellbeing. Tjay is a real fighter so for him to go down in the manner he did is totally out of character. 
      “So something is clearly not right but he is in good hands and in the right place.” 
      Plymouth manager Steven Schumacher said: “It was a brilliant result but obviously our thoughts with their player Tjay De Barr. You never want to see that on a football pitch. 
      “The games are hard fought and everybody wants to get through them and speak about the football but when something like that happens the result pails into insignificance.” 
      Fans were quick to send messages wishing the Gibraltarian well on social media after the distressing scenes.
      One said: “All thoughts this evening with Tjay De Barr.”
      Another wrote: “Argyle fan here hoping to hear good news, felt sick walking home.”
      One noted: “Not nice to see , hope he makes a speedy recovery.”
      Another added: “This is the main thing that matters most tonight, best wishes on behalf of me and all Argyle fans to the lad.”
      De Barr joined Wycombe on a free transfer in August 2021 and scored once in eight games last term.

      He spent the second half of the campaign on loan at National League side Eastleigh, playing four times.
      De Barr’s cameo against Plymouth was his fifth appearance of the current season, and the ace also has three goals in 30 games for Gibraltar. More