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      ‘We are f***ing massive’ say fans as EFL club’s 2024-25 promotion season will be subject of new Amazon Prime documentary

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      BIRMINGHAM CITY’s emphatic League One promotion will be the subject of a new Amazon Prime documentary.The Blues have bounced back to the Championship at the first attempt under Chris Davies. Birmingham City sealed promotion on Tuesday night with a win against PeterboroughCredit: RexAmazon cameras have been following the team throughout the campaignCredit: RexSpending big last summer, Birmingham revamped almost their entire playing squad for a first season in the third tier since 1995. American chairman Tom Wagner and minority owner Tom Brady dug deep to target an instant return to the Championship. The gamble has paid off, with the Blues running away with the league.And Amazon Prime cameras have secretly been with them every step of the way. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLBirmingham secured promotion on Tuesday night after a 2-1 win against Peterborough. And the club confirmed two days later that a documentary has been in the works since last August. A press release said: “[The doc will go] beyond the day-to-day football operations and explore the unique cultural heritage of Birmingham City, as well as a supporter base who have remained loyal despite a sustained period without success or silverware. “The documentary will shine a spotlight on this community’s resurgence, illustrating how the football club plans to drive its transformation.”Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKBirmingham are on course to beat Wolves’ record League One points tally of 103. And delighted supporters couldn’t help but revel in the limelight after the announcement. Darts legend Phil Taylor reveals he’d consider buying EFL club with Robbie Williams One fan joked on X: “We are f***ing massive.”Another said: “I do hope it goes over some of the really bad stuff that’s happened to us, the glow up will look glorious.”While a third cheekily added: “Will the 3-1 loss to Bolton be fitted onto the documentary?Wrexham are currently in second place behind Birmingham in the League One table.The Dragons could be set for a third successive promotion following their takeover by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. More

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      Former EFL owner agrees £25million deal to buy Reading with race against time to save crisis club from administration

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      ROB COUHIG has agreed a £25million deal to buy Reading and save the club from administration.The former Wycombe owner has revived a takeover offer he made to Reading owner Dai Yongge last summer after a rival bid from Robert Platek collapsed earlier this week.Rob Couhig has agreed to buy Reading and save the club from administrationCredit: GettyThe former Wycombe Wanderers chairman (blue tie) has paid £25mCredit: PAReading fans have long protested over Dai Yongge’s ownershipCredit: PACouhig faces a race against time to get the deal done as the EFL have given Yongge a deadline of April 22 to sell the club.The Chinese businessman was disqualified under the league’s owners’ and directors’ test in February owing to debts and court rulings in China.  Couhig is understood to have agreed to pay more of Yongge’s asking price up front than he did last summer in order to complete the purchase this month. The American lawyer has also agreed to conduct quicker due diligence and to a shorter cooling-off period than is customary in such transactions.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe EFL are being kept informed of the negotiations between Couhig and Reading.And they are hopeful that the sale will finally be completed to end a long-running saga.Reading have been for sale for almost 600 days.Yongge has signed exclusivity deals with five different buyers, including twice with Couhig.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKThe EFL’s position is that Reading must be sold by 22 April.But the EFL Board could grant an extension if necessary if they judge that a deal is close to completion at that point.Championship club could be left without a stadium as EFL deadline loomsDespite turmoil off the pitch, the Royals have mounted an unexpected playoff charge in League One.Reading currently sit in sixth, with a two-point cushion to Bolton in seventh. They have won three of their last four games, including a 3-1 win over Shrewsbury on Tuesday.The Royals take on Northampton Town this weekend. Reading, Couhig and the EFL declined to comment when approached by SunSport. More

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      Birmingham become first EFL club to win promotion as Tom Brady’s club bounce back to Championship at first attempt

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      BIRMINGHAM CITY have been promoted from League One.Chris Davies’ side have led the way for months and sealed their return to the Championship at the first time of asking after beating Peterborough 2-1.Birmingham City have won promotion from League OneCredit: PABlues secured their return to the Championship with a 2-1 win over PeterboroughCredit: ©MI News & SportPlayers celebrate jubilantly after sealing a place in the top twoCredit: PAAlfie May opened the scoring as Birmingham won 2-1Credit: GettyBirmingham are two points away from becoming championsCredit: PAChris Davies’ side have led the way all season longCredit: PABlues knew a win would guarantee promotion, even if rivals Wycombe won at Huddersfield, which they did.Birmingham are now just two points from becoming champions, but could have their name on the trophy without playing another league game.That is because they play in the final of the EFL Trophy against tonight’s opponents Peterborough at Wembley on Sunday.If Wrexham fail to win at Wigan, Birmingham will be crowned champions, with the promotion winners still capable of reaching an astonishing 113 points.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIf they do so they will set a record number of points in League One, surpassing Wolves total of 103 which they managed in the 2013/14 campaign.They could also set an EFL record, which is held by Reading who got 106 points in the Championship in 2005/06.Birmingham were relegated from the Championship last season – Tom Brady’s first season at the club.Promotion was a forgone conclusion however with Birmingham losing just three of their 40 league games so far.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThey were favourites for top spot after spending an eye-watering £34million on transfers.Striker Jay Stansfield was brought in for a League One record fee of £15m, and he is the club’s top scorer this season with 18 goals. ‘You f***ing clown’ – Mick McCarthy reveals team-mate lost it with him after awkward communication blunder More

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      ‘My kids feared I was going to die, I could see their fear ‘ – Premier League icon Tony Mowbray on his cancer battle

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      TONY MOWBRAY has opened up on his harrowing battle with bowel cancer.The popular boss, 61, stepped away from his job as Birmingham boss in February 2024 as he battled the disease.Tony Mowbray was appointed as West Brom boss in JanuaryCredit: PAFollowing a “dehumanising” 16-month period that left him fearing for his life, Mowbray was finally given the all-clear to return to work by doctors.The experienced manager subsequently returned to West Brom, the club he won promotion to the Premier League with in 2008.On the stark reality that followed his cancer diagnosis, Mowbray told The Times: “I had the conversation with my family and you could see they were frightened.”Was I frightened? My only thoughts were for my family, my three children and my wife and making sure they were OK.MOST READ IN FOOTBALL”I had to put everything in order and I tried to. My wife saw our banking app for the first time in her life. It’s little things like that.”She understood. This was serious stuff. I felt she needed to know where we had our money, whether it was ISAs or pensions and what was in the bank.”Having collapsed at home, Mowbray spent a night in hospital on a drip.Reliving the awful experience, Mowbray said: “I remember sitting there in bed and my kids’ eyes were watering up. They were scared I wasn’t going to live. How old were they? They were 15, 17 and 19. I could see the fear in their eyes.”Most read in FootballMowbray underwent crucial surgery just 10 days after his diagnosis, and now admits: “Lots of things go through your mind. Am I going to wake up?”I feel very humble. I have been in the hands of some amazing people. I’ve spent a lot of time in hospital, I’ve spent a lot of time on medication. I’ve spent a lot of time in chemotherapy. It’s a medicine to treat cancer. It ravages your body.”Fans say ‘you can’t help but love Tony Mowbray’ as he hails Birmingham’s ‘Champions League’ BUFFETHaving previously been on temporary leave, Mowbray formally stepped down as Birmingham boss in May 2024.His No2 Mark Venus had initially stepped in, before Gary Rowett was appointed until the end of the season.On what made him decide to resign, Mowbray added: “I remember catching myself in a glass door and I didn’t even recognise it was me in the reflection. I was a shell of a man really. My cheeks were sunk in.”I had lost 4.5 stone, I was hunched over and I made the decision then. I phoned Garry Cook [Birmingham chief executive] that day and said I wouldn’t be going back because I needed to get well.”Mowbray maintained that he would like to return to work if his health would allow.And when Carlos Corberan left The Hawthorns for Valencia following Mowbray’s all-clear, the possibility of a dream return to West Brom became a possibility.In January he sealed a remarkable return to work, penning a two-and-a-half year contract with the Baggies.Read More on The SunUpon taking the West Brom job, a delighted Mowbray said: “I’m ready to relish the challenge again. It’s a new challenge.”I know I’ve been here before, but it’s a new challenge, a new time, a new era for me at the football club.” More

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      Crisis club Reading handed lifeline as EFL give hated owner Dai Yongge new deadline to sell before being thrown out

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      READING have been handed a lifeline after the EFL extended the deadline for owner Dai Yongge to sell the club.The Royals are subject to a takeover bid from an anonymous party.Reading owner Dai Yongge has been given an extension to sell the clubCredit: JASONPIXYongge is set to be suspended as owner of the club by the EFL after he failed the owners and directors test due to debts in China.That means he must sell up or Reading will be disqualified from the EFL.The EFL initially ordered Yongge to part with Reading by April 4 – SunSport can reveal that deadline has been pushed back to April 22.From that point, Dai will have 30 days to sell up.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLast month Reading announced that they had entered a “period of exclusivity with a potential purchaser”.SunSport later revealed that the prospective buyer was Robert Platek, who already owns Italian club Spezia and Portuguese outfit Casa Pia.The new buyer is in talks to take over the club the stadium and the training ground.It was claimed at the time that Reading were hopeful of “a quick completion” to the deal.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSHowever an ongoing litigation case with former prospective buyer Rob Couhig is holding up the sale process.Couhig, who previously owned Wycombe Wanderers, had agreed a £30million deal to buy the Royals.Championship club could be left without a stadium as EFL deadline loomsBut the deal subsequently collapsed with Couhig claiming he lost more than £12m in potential profits after Reading broke their exclusivity agreement. More

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      ‘We have to move’ – Championship club could be left without a stadium as EFL deadline looms

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      OXFORD UNITED’s chief executive Tim Williams has warned the club is in danger of being homeless after plans stalled for a new ground.The Championship side’s lease on the Kassam Stadium expires in June 2026. Oxford United are hoping to move away from the Kassam StadiumCredit: PAThe club have submitted plans for a new 16,000-seater groundCredit: AFL Architects / Oxford UnitedOxford were promoted to the second tier last season for the first time since 1999.The U’s have more than held their own this term and currently sit 19th, two points above the drop zone.CEO Williams admits the club are currently in limbo in regards to a new home – and will soon need to inform the EFL where they intend to play from next summer. Oxford have submitted plans for a new 16,000-seater stadium to Cherwell District Council.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLA decision on the plot, located just outside the city, was delayed in February as the council requested more time to review the application.Williams told The Dub podcast: “There is nothing more important – and I mean literally nothing more important. “We don’t have a stadium to be in if this doesn’t work out. “I don’t particularly like binary decisions. But this really is that binary.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK”We are in a position where we have to move. This actually isn’t now about moving into a stadium that will allow us to generate more revenue. This is about getting into a stadium.”Fundamentally, if we don’t have a stadium, we don’t have a football club. It’s appallingly as binary as that.” ‘You f***ing clown’ – Mick McCarthy reveals team-mate lost it with him after awkward communication blunderWilliams added that extending the club’s licence at the Kassam was his favoured option in the short term.And he was also keen to avoid any possibility of a groundshare. He continued: “I think for everybody involved, none more so than fans and supporters, the path of least resistance would be to see if we can stay where we are for the couple of years that we need to.”I don’t particularly want to groundshare anywhere, that’s not a particularly good option – that’s an understatement.”So, for me, the most attractive option is to stay where we are, assuming that we can.”Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds last month claimed the club should be allowed to move.The club are now awaiting a decision from the council, which is expected in June at the earliest. More

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      Steve Evans axed by Rotherham after embarrassing home defeat with Millers sliding down League One table

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      ROTHERHAM have sacked manager Steve Evans.The Millers have struggled this campaign following relegation from the Championship and have fired Evans following a 4-0 home defeat to Crawley.Rotherham have sacked manager Steve EvansEvans was appointed in April last year but could not prevent Rotherham from avoiding the drop.He was entrusted with a huge rebuild in South Yorkshire and signed 14 players in the summer.But he could not deliver on expectations to challenge for promotion, and he leaves with Rotherham 16th in League One.Rotherham have won just 12 league games this season and failed to pick up three points in their last four fixtures.Evans, 62, apologised following the mauling against his former side Crawley and accepted his “credit” may have run out.He said post-match: “The fans have watched an abject performance.“The fans don’t want to hear apologies – they want the performance to be right.“I will always protect my players. I think a lot of those players have not got credit in the bank at this football club. Maybe my credit will run out, I don’t know.Most read in EFL“I thought we defended poorly. Our players have played with a really heavy weight on their shoulders.“The facts are they have not played in a Rotherham United fashion for much of the season.’I wish he would have hung on for one more year’ Alan Shearer chokes up in tribute to his dad at Newcastle parade“In the games that they have, we have won games comfortably.“We won’t make excuses. I offer my apologies. The performance was limp and way off the minimum standards.”Evans’ second stint at the New York Stadium failed to reproduce the success of his first spell, when he led Rotherham to back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship.Matt Hamshaw has been appointed interim Millers boss until the end of the season as the club searches for a permanent replacement.Former boss Paul Warne has been mooted by fans – the manager was sacked by Derby this season but has been successful at Rotherham in the past, guiding the club to three promotions. More

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      New football regulator could see teams thrown out of the league and stadiums closed down – the game doesn’t need it

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      FOOTBALL has flourished for a century and a half.It is the world’s biggest sport and certainly one of its greater preoccupations.Stars like Man City hitman Erling Haaland have made the Prem special around the world and we must be careful about any changes we makeCredit: APIt is loved by players, ­spectators, TV viewers and children from an early age.It gives £8billion to the Treasury every year.And it provides livelihoods, dreams and dramas, excitement and disappointments.To some it is a life in itself.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSo, what does it need?It is easier to tell you what it does not need — a regulator as judge and jury of professional clubs.Problems are plentiful — they always have been — and our first occupant is due to take their bow fairly soon.There is no question a revolution is on its way and a heck of a lot of money to go with it.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKIt will become law towards the end of the year.The bill passed through the House of Lords this week and they sent it to the Commons.Man City launched probe into Erling Haaland after he ‘left club’s mascot with whiplash’ after hit to back of headI sit in the Lords and the debate convinced me that the introduction of a regulator for professional leagues will bring little reward and a lot of work and expense.Our game has been settling wrangles forever.A regulator hasn’t been required before and isn’t now.He or she will have considerable power in granting each of the 116 clubs a licence to operate — each with separate conditions governed by the law of the land.Breaches of licence conditions could result in teams being thrown out the league, stadiums being closed down or even a stint in jail — although a few nights in the Scrubs do not seem likely.However, a serious offence could result in a named director being fined as much as £75,000 a day.The regulator also has a duty to ensure that each club is sustainable.If it is not, the club may look to sell assets, probably stars players.That’s when the riots could start.Regulators have a patchy record. One of them, Ofwat (the water services regulation authority), has been paddling round the question of dumping waste into many rivers, lakes and the sea.Swimming filthy rivers such as the Wye has become a risk to health. And the post under Ofcom has become slow and indecently expensive.Regulators are seen by many politicians as a cure-all.But, frankly, they would, wouldn’t they?Many fans may also feel this way although I suspect there will be considerable mind-changing when they realise what interference might do to their club.The Premier League’s riches and status have caused envy elsewhere — most obviously within the EFL.Many EFL clubs I speak to hate the idea of being answerable to a regulator with untold powers to tell them what to do and how to run their clubsThis is partly understandable — even if Championship clubs are reasonably well off.That  is, after all, the sixth richest league in the world,  having just signed a new £1billion TV rights deal.But while nine clubs in that division are owned by billionaires, quite a few in the lower divisions are hard up.Accrington Stanley, one of the founding members of the Football League, have not had a home crowd anywhere near 3,000 this season.And for one League Two night game in September their gate was just 791.Of course such poor relations should be propped up — and most Premier League clubs appreciate the fact.That is why we send £1.6BILLION down the pyramid while the PL Stadium Fund has contributed more than £207m towards projects including 577 clubhouses and changing rooms, 832 stands, 682 floodlights and 480 pitch improvements.Further talks on an alternative to politicians’ pet scheme should be held between the FA, the Premier League and the EFL.Many EFL clubs I speak to hate the idea of being answerable to a regulator with untold powers to tell them what to do and how to run their clubs.The initial plan for the new regulator is that a report will be published on the state of the game.This will take 18 months but there is such a lack of detail and clarity in the bill that the bundles of legal challenges will be a nightmare!Neither are the outcomes at all promising.And who would pay for the grandiose schemes?Well, it will be the Premier League of course.READ MORE SUN STORIESEvery penny spent on the regulator is a penny taken away from all the good causes, and all the pyramid funding.And, that’s the real tragedy. More