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      Major broadcasting change for Carabao Cup AND EFL games with Sky Sports and ITV set to show games for FREE

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      FANS have been given a huge boost with Carabao Cup and EFL games to be shown for FREE.Sky Sports and ITV have reached an agreement that will allow fans to watch free-to-air coverage of the competitions.Fans will be able to watch some of the EFL and Carabao Cup for freeCredit: GettyMore matches will be shown on ITVThe deal will come into place in January 2025 and will commence with the Carabao Cup semi-finals.It will run until the end of the 2026/27 season and ITV will be able to jointly broadcast a select number of games on Sky Sports.The new agreement has been approved by EFL clubs.ITV will be able to screen at least nine Carabao Cup fixtures in total.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThis includes one match from each of the first four rounds and one additional fixture from either the third or fourth round.ITV will also be able to show two of the quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final itself.Sky Sports managing director Jonathan Licht said: “This momentous upcoming season of over 1,000 matches from the EFL on Sky Sports+ shows our huge ambition and increased dedication to the EFL and its supporters.”Working with a free-to-air broadcaster isn’t new for us and many of our partners, as we endeavour to help grow and broaden audiences for sports.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”With ITV set to simulcast a select number of matches from the EFL from 2025 alongside Sky Sports full coverage, it means that millions of football fans in the UK will be able to enjoy plenty of action from the Cup and League, boosting the exposure for clubs which is great news for all.”ITV director of sport Niall Sloane added: “This deal brings viewers free-to-air coverage of top-level knockout football over the coming years, as well as standout matches from the EFL, adding regular livematches to our highlights shows.Football icons’ strange hobbies”We’re looking forward to bringing fans some superb action andinsight from this new, fuller EFL package across the next few seasons.”ITV will also be able to show ten matches from the Championship each full season of the deal.The next campaign will only be five as the deal is activated in January.The broadcaster will also have the option to flex the selected matches to League One and League Two. More

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      EFL cult hero makes shock career change as he lands new role at US Open golf in ‘most random thing ever’

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      AN EFL cult hero has made a shock career change after landing a new role at the US Open.Portsmouth icon Carl Baker was once a big name in the EFL.Former footballer Carl Baker has now entered the world of golfCredit: ReutersHe will be a caddie for Robert Rock at the US OpenCredit: Getty Images – GettyThe 41-year-old starred for clubs like Coventry and MK Dons.But it was at Fratton Park where he really made his name.Baker scored nine goals in 50 games for Pompey.And he even helped them seal the League Two title in 2017.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, after retiring in 2022, Baker has now entered the world of golf.And he is now set for a surprise appearance at the US Open next month.That’s because Baker will be caddying for two-time DP Tour winner Robert Rock.The pair appeared together for Monday’s qualifying event, with Rock sealing his spot at the tournament for the first time in 12 years.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnd Baker can’t wait for his time on the green after a whirlwind adventure.He said: “It’s the most random thing ever. I am mates with Rocky and have played with him most weeks over the last year and coached his son. “He played on the European tour for the last 20 years and retired two years ago, but still goes into the qualifiers for the major events.Golfer and girlfriend of Geordie Shore star dubbed ‘John Daly’s long-lost sister’ as she smokes while signing autographs“He’s played at Walton Heath in Surrey for the last 10 or 11 years and never qualified. “I think 95 percent of the 150 to 160 in the field are all tour pros, all massive names and millionaires who do it as a full-time job. “Obviously Rocky doesn’t play much anymore, just once a week socially, so he hasn’t got a caddy.“So I said to him that if he’s thinking of playing in the US Open qualifier to let me know because I’d caddy for him. “He said that would be great so we went down on Monday and played two 18 holes on the same day.“We went there with zero expectations and I was just buzzing to be on a top golf course in this country and inside the ropes with all these players I am used to watching on the telly, so it felt a bit surreal being in the clubhouse with all these top golfers everywhere.“Rocky turned up and didn’t even have a practice round, every player had yardage books so they know how far the flag is and where the bunkers are etc. “They are something like £70 each for these books so we were just winging it.“The player we were playing with – a full-time pro on the European Tour – was laughing and joking about Rocky qualifying, and then he chipped in off the bunker on the 16th and went to nine under, which is where he finished.“We were walking back and there were Sky Sports cameras and hundreds of people following us. READ MORE SUN STORIES”I was 20 yards behind him carrying his bag and people were coming up to me and congratulating us and telling us to enjoy America.”I hadn’t got a clue what was going on. It was the first time I have ever done it and hadn’t got a clue what I was doing.” More

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      Watch Neil Warnock’s incredible announcement video as EFL legend lands new job after leaving Aberdeen

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      NEIL WARNOCK has revealed his return to football for non-league outfit Torquay in an incredible announcement video.Warnock, 75, announced his retirement from the sport only last month after a short spell in charge of Aberdeen.Neil Warnock has revealed his return to football for non-league outfit Torquay in an announcement videoCredit: @tufc1899Warnock announced his retirement last month after a short spell in AberdeenCredit: PABut the Sheffield tactician is set to return to Torquay as a football advisor following the club’s takeover, where he has been advising a fan-led consortium.And to announce his comeback the Devonshire club posted a video of Warnock alongside new manager Paul Wotton.The clip shows both Warnock and Wotten sitting on deck chairs on a pier in rainy Torquay overlooking the sea.The veteran boss told the Plymouth legend, “There is a job up the road if you fancy it?”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLTo which Wotten replied: “Is there? 100%”And the Gulls fans are over the moon to see the pair take charge of the club. As one said: “Love it! Now work your magic fellas.”While another added: “Great stuff!! Onwards and upwards.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSA third fan then put: “Class, love this.”Warnock will return to the club 31 years after he saved Torquay from relegation from the Football League by winning three of his nine matches in charge.EFL fans in hysterics as ‘absolutely golden’ Neil Warnock returns to live TV with brutal dig at his former players The experienced boss’s managerial career spans over five decades and managed at 16 different clubs with successful spells for the likes of Crystal Palace and Sheffield United.Within English football, he holds the record for the most promotions, with eight, and the most games as a professional manager, with 1626, beating the previous record of 1601.And now he looks to revamp the National League South outfit who were saved from extinction by the Bryn Consortium, which is made up of local businessmen.The group consists of Torquay fans Michael Westcott, Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, Tom Allen, Rob Hawes and Simon Robinson.Clubs Neil Warnock has managed

      1980-1981 Gainsborough Trinity
      1981-1986 Burton Albion
      1986-1089 Scarbrough
      1989-1993 Notts County
      1993 Torquay United
      1993-1995 Huddersfield Town
      1995-1997 Plymouth Argyle
      1997-1998 Oldham Athletic
      1998-1999 Bury
      1999-2007 Sheffield United
      2007-2010 Crystal Palace
      2010-2012 Queens Park Rangers
      2012-2013 Leeds United
      2014 Crystal Palace
      2015 Queens Park Rangers (caretaker)
      2016 Rotherham United
      2016-2019 Cardiff City
      2020-2021 Middlesbrough
      2023 Huddersfield Town
      2024 Aberdeen (interim) More

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      EFL ‘wants major change to play-off finals after being left frustrated by Wembley’

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      EFL chiefs have been left frustrated by Wembley Stadium and the Metropolitan Police over the kick-off times of their showpiece events.The national stadium is set to host the Championship, League One and League Two play-off finals later this month.Wembley is set for a busy month of matchesCredit: RexThe former is set to kick off at 3pm on Sunday, 26 May.While Bolton will face Oxford for a place in the second tier at 4:15pm on Saturday, 18 May.And Crawley will take on Crewe in the League Two play-off final a day later, kicking off at 1pm.According to the Mail, the EFL are frustrated that their finals are not being allowed to kick off at later, “more coveted” times.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSNext month’s Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will kick off at 8pm on Saturday, 1 June.While the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Chelsea was allowed to start at 5:15pm last month.February’s Carabao Cup final, meanwhile, kicked off at 3pm.The national stadium has hosted the EFL’s play-off finals since 2007.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAn exception was made in 2011, when Wembley hosted the Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona.That year the EFL found an agreement to have the Championship play-off final under the arch.EFL club supported by sporting legend set to be saved by mystery US group as buyers scramble to reach agreement in timeBut the League One and League Two showpieces were moved north to Old Trafford.This year’s Championship play-off final will see either Southampton or West Brom take on Leeds or Norwich.Both semi-final first legs finished 0-0 on Sunday afternoon.Leeds will host Norwich at Elland Road on Thursday evening for a place at Wembley.Before Southampton welcome West Brom on Friday.Leeds drew 0-0 with Norwich at Carrow RoadCredit: RexWest Brom and Southampton played out a 0-0 stalemate on Sunday afternoonCredit: PA More

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      Just one EFL team left to have never played at Wembley after Crawley demolish MK Dons in League Two playoffs

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      ONLY one EFL team will be left to have never played at Wembley after the League Two play-off final this month.Crawley are one of just two EFL teams to have never played at the famous stadium.Crawley booked their place at Wembley with an 8-1 aggregate win over MK DonsCredit: GettyBut that is set to change after they booked their place in the play-off final with an astonishing 8-1 aggregate victory over MK Dons in the semi-final.Crawley backed up their 3-0 win in the first leg with a dominant display at Stadium MK, as striker Danilo Orsi scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing. Once Crawley line up at Wembley that will leave just one other EFL club as the odd one out – Accrington Stanley.The League Two minnows have come close to the hallowed turf previously, but lost in the play-off semi-final to Stevenage in 2011 before AFC Wimbledon in 2016.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLCrawley will play Crewe at Wembley for a place in League One next season.The Railwaymen also pulled off a surprise result as they overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg to win on penalties.Crewe goalkeeper Max Stryjek was the penalty shoot-out hero and fans loved his underhand tactics.Before the shoot-out kicked off Stryjek threw away a water bottle belonging to the Doncaster goalkeeper which contained instructions for each penalty.Most read in EFLCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnd it had a positive effect as Donny keeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala did not save a single spot-kick.Stryjek only joined Crewe on an emergency loan deal in April but could play a decisive role in their promotion bid, with Lee Bell’s men facing Crawley at Wembley on May 19.EFL club supported by sporting legend set to be saved by mystery US group as buyers scramble to reach agreement in time More

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      EFL club supported by sporting legend set to be saved by mystery US group as buyers scramble to reach agreement in time

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      MORECAMBE are close to a takeover deal with a mystery US group. The hard-up League Two club hope that reaching an agreement before the end of May will save them.Morecambe are close to be taken over by a mystery US groupCredit: GettyMorecambe are boxing legend Tyson Fury’s local football clubCredit: GettyThis comes after the Shrimps, loved by boxing legend Tyson Fury, were hit with a three-point deduction last month.Fury’s favourite club was punished by the FA for “failing to adhere to the terms of an agreed decision”.Morecambe had previously received a suspended three-point deduction last season after failure to pay their player wages in March 2023.That suspended punishment has now been activated after the club failed to keep an account with 125 per cent of the forecast monthly wage bill for its players at a required pre-agreed level.Read More on FootballThe FA released a statement detailing the punishment which also saw the club’s owner Jason Whittingham handed a £10,000 fine.The statement read: “An independent Disciplinary Commission (IDC) has determined that Morecambe Football Club are to be deducted three points from the 2023/24 League Two table for failing to adhere to the terms of an Agreed Decision.”The Club had previously received a three-point deduction, to be suspended until 30 June 2024, after admitting a breach of EFL Regulations for failing to pay its player wages on or around 28 March 2023.”The Club’s ultimate beneficial owner was also required to deposit an amount equal to 125% of the forecast monthly wage bill in a designated Club account.Most read in EFL”Following the failure to keep the account at the required levels, the suspended three-point deduction has now been activated.”Owner Mr Jason Whittingham has also been fined £10,000, payable immediately, whilst a suspended fine of £20,000 has also been imposed, to be activated on 31 May 2024.Tyson Fury lands in Saudi Arabia with huge entourage for Oleksandr Usyk fight – but fans notice who is missing”Unless he complies in full with his obligation to replenish the Deposit Account under the terms of the Agreed Decision dated 17 August 2023.”Fury recently sponsored the club’s shorts and previously expressed an interest in buying the historic outfit. More

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      Fans spot what EFL keeper did to rival’s water bottle in epic s***housery that would ‘make Emi Martinez proud’

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      CREWE penalty shoot-out hero Max Stryjek came up with a brilliant piece of gamesmanship to get one over on his opposite number.The Railwaymen produced a stunning comeback to progress to the League Two play-off final, overturning Doncaster’s 2-0 advantage from the first leg.Crewe goalkeeper Max Stryjek picked up Thimothee Lo-Tutala’s water bottle and threw it awayThe bottle contained the Doncaster goalkeeper’s key notesStryjek proved to be the shoot-out hero with two penalty savesCredit: ReutersThey did it in Donny’s own back yard too with Mickey Demetriou getting on the scoresheet before an own goal from James Maxwell.But it was Stryjek who proved the hero as he saved two penalties in the shoot-out, which Crewe won 4-3.He also came up with a cheeky tactic to disrupt Doncaster goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala.Stryjek ran behind the goal and hurled away his rival’s water bottle far into the crowd.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe bottle contained a list of instructions on which way to dive for each Crewe player’s penalty.Doncaster’s club photographer managed to still pass on some notes from the coaching staff to Lo-Tutala.But they had no effect as he did not stop a single spot-kick.Fans loved the underhand tactic and praised Stryjek for his ingenuity, though the keeper did receive a yellow card for his behaviour.Most read in EFLCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSOne reacted saying: “I didn’t understand why he’d been booked at the time. [Emi] Martinez would be proud of that 😂.”Another added: “Legend.”A third wrote: “Top s***housery from the goalkeeper 👌”And another commented: “This is the kind of tremendous b******ry that you just absolutely love to see. Fantastic stuff.Stryjek only joined Crewe on an emergency loan deal in April but could play a decisive role in their promotion bid, with Lee Bell’s men facing MK Dons or Crawley at Wembley on May 19.Watch never-before-seen Premier League ‘RefCam’ footage of Crystal Palace’s 4-0 demolition of Man Utd More

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      Ex-Premier League star in line to beat his former boss to bizarre managerial comeback

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      MARTIN O’NEILL is reportedly set to be beaten to a new managerial job by one of his former players.The Northern Irishman had been linked with taking over at Rapid Bucharest.Neil Lennon enjoyed successful spells at Celtic both as a player and as a managerCredit: GETTYBut now it is claimed that Neil Lennon is a last minute candidate.Lennon was most recently let go by Cypriot side Omonia in 2022, despite winning the country’s domestic cup competition.O’Neill, meanwhile has been out of the dugout since Nottingham Forest sacked him in 2019.Last month it had also been revealed that O’Neill landed a role at the League Managers’ Association after he was voted in by fellow managers.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSO’Neill likely would have turned down the role if he had accepted the position at the Romanian side.However, the Daily Record have claimed that Rapid Bucharest are in talks with Lennon.Lennon, 52, enjoyed a successful playing and managing career.He gained promotion to the Premier League and won two league cups with Leicester City when O’Neill was in charge.Most read in FootballAnd he went on to win the Scottish league title five times along with reaching the final of the UEFA Cup in 2003.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSLennon finished his career with 561 club appearances and 40 caps for Northern Ireland.As a manager, he won an additional five Scottish league titles with Celtic, along with four Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup.Neil Lennon’s love child court fight But his brief return to England as a manager was not as successful however.Despite an impressive start at Bolton Wanderers in 2014, he was sacked less than 18 months later with the club at the bottom of the table.Rapid sports director Daniel Sandu highlighted his idea of what he wants for the club going forward: “We have to figure out exactly what we’re looking for.”At the moment we are not in a very good place, but I have faith the new management team will reset us and show what Rapid is all about.”Who are these famous footballers? More