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      Only one side is worse than Birmingham since Man Utd icon Wayne Rooney became boss – Tom Brady might have a call to make

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      TOM BRADY had Wayne Rooney’s number on speed dial in the weeks before the Three Lions legend was made manager of Birmingham.The seven-time Super Bowl winner joined the St Andrew’s board in an advisory capacity in early August after becoming a minority shareholder.
      Wayne Rooney has had a horrible start to life as Birmingham City managerCredit: PA
      He then made it his business to lure Roo back to England.
      Apparently, the fact that John Eustace had been doing a great job at the Blues was of no consequence.
      What the Birmingham board wanted was someone sexier in the dug-out, a coach who would deploy more exciting attacking tactics.
      He also needed to be a sexier name, a figure admired world-wide – just like Brady.

      So an English icon joined an American icon last month, Brady having persuaded Rooney that once his deal with MLS club DC United ended he should return to Blighty and make Birmingham big.
      It will all have made perfect sense to new owners Shelby Companies, a subsidiary of US-based Knighthead Capital who took over in July.
      Rooney, along with Brady, would illustrate the vision head honcho Tom Wagner and CEO Garry Cook had for the club – one that saw Brum in the Premier League, maybe even out-shining neighbours Aston Villa.
      Rooney, said the board, would bring a “winning mentality and a culture of ambition.”
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      He would be a new appointment responsible “for creating and identity and clear ‘no fear’ playing style.”
      Five games after Eustace was dropped like a stone there is plenty of fear around the place – among the fans, at least.
      Rooney has collected only one point – only Burnley out of the 92 have a worse record in that time – and after getting his hands on a team that lay sixth, he takes them into Saturday’s clash with rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday in 18th position.
      Wagner had purred that “Wayne is a born winner” and true enough he was in making himself Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals and also England’s record hitman until Harry Kane came along.
      But he’s not showing that trait with Birmingham.
      Defeat against the Owls, run by their cuckoo owner Delphon Chansiri, is almost unthinkable.
      Wagner insisted Roo would always have the support of the board, when he signed his three-and-a-half year deal.
      He may be revising that stance.
      Brady’s main role is to apply his extensive leadership experience and expertise across the science department to advise on health, nutrition, wellness and recovery systems.

      Well, that’s according to the blurb that accompanied his entrance.
      He’s got a job on, then, for Rooney’s players don’t seem well.
      The boss used last week’s international break to give them a few days off, which was somewhat of a surprise given that he has revealed they aren’t fit enough to deal with his high-press football.
      Rooney gave them personal fitness programmes to be completed at home.
      After the latest defeat at Sunderland he said: “It’s a chance for the players to put some really good fitness work in ahead of a tough three or four months.
      “The fitness work is such an important thing with how I want my teams to play.
      “This is nothing to do with the former manager and nothing to do with the fitness coaches.
      Rooney’s appointment is now looking like an accident waiting to happenKen Lawrence
      “The way they played before was a completely different way and involved sitting back a lot.
      “What I’m asking the players to do now is be front-footed and press high, it’s really intense and hard work, so it’s a different fitness level.”
      Or maybe he was just sick of the sight of them – and perhaps the other way round, too.
      Rooney arrived with a decent CV. DC United were a basket case when he took over last year and while he didn’t take them to the play-offs he made the side better.
      His work at Derby won him plenty of plaudits.
      He guided the Rams to safety in the Championship then in his first full season failed bravely to keep them up due to a 21 – point points deduction.
      The 55 points won in that campaign would have been good enough to ensure safety in any other Championship season.
      Now it looks like safety is all he can hope for again, not a glorious stride towards the top of the mountain of money aka the Premier League.
      Birmingham co-owner Tom Brady might have a decision to make if Rooney cannot turn things aroundCredit: Getty
      Unless things improve fast Brady might have to get back on the blower, this time to persuade Wagner to keep him and not sack him if things get any worse.
      As things stand however, he’ll be making a 999 call.
      For Rooney’s appointment is beginning to look like it was an accident waiting to happen. More

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      My dad’s a world-famous ex footballer but I was useless and quit at 16 – now I have a normal job

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      GARY Lineker is one of the greatest footballers ever to play the game – but his son freely admits he’s not anywhere near his level.In fact, he quit aged 16 and now has a much more normal job running a tech company.
      Gary Lineker’s son says he’s useless at footballCredit: Instagram
      The 32-year-old spoke candidly on The Online Disrupter podcast with Liam Chick about living up to his father’s fame.
      He said, “I was always useless at football. I played for a bit with the school team and then at 16, I sort of thought, ‘This isn’t working, I’m useless at this, I’ve got to move on.’
      “But every kid wants to be a footballer, so obviously I wanted to be.”
      George recently launched the app, YourBusinessNumber, which allows users to set up a second mobile phone number without the hassle of getting another phone.
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      Alongside his business partner, entrepreneur Sebastian Lewis, the pair have politely declined any funding from Gary, determined to forge their own path.
      The app is being targeted at the self-employed, and those working from home post-pandemic.
      George previously told The Sun, “We need financial help but I don’t want to just go running to my dad.
      “I want people to invest in me because they believe in the product – not because of who my dad is.” 
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      He’s the eldest of four boys, the others being Harry, 29, Tobias, 27, and Angus, 25, from Gary’s marriage to first wife Michelle Cockayne.
      And, unsurprisingly, George has been asked to go on “almost every reality show out there” — including Love Island.
      “That was something I was tempted by,” he said.
      “But then I have to look at it and think I’m only getting asked because of my dad. And if he’s not keen on it, then I wouldn’t do it.
      “The thought of him seeing me snog someone on telly is a bit sketchy too. You’ve got to be a big personality, and be in silly shape — and I’m neither of those things. I’m quite chilled and laid back.”
      The pair are pictured at last night’s GQ Men of the Year AwardsCredit: Rex
      Gary is one of the greatest footballers ever to play the gameCredit: Getty
      George now runs a tech companyCredit: Twitter/@LiamChickCEO More

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      ‘I’m angry and I’m disgusted’ – Wycombe boss responds to claims he tried to get match ABANDONED over sickening injury

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      WYCOMBE boss Matt Bloomfield is “disgusted” after hearing claims he tried to get Saturday’s defeat against Stevenage abandoned following a sickening injury.Brandon Hanlan and then Wanderers’ team-mate Luke Leahy were taken to hospital after being carried off, meaning 26 minutes were added on.
      Matt Bloomfield was unhappy at ‘a lot of what happened’ but above all delighted that Luke Leahy was ‘responsive’ before going to hospitalCredit: Rex
      Players showed their concern as Leahy was treated after a collisionCredit: Prime Media
      Hanlan landed awkwardly on his shoulder following an aerial challenge with Stevenage captain Carl Piergianni late in the first half.
      And Leahy was seriously hurt near the end of the League One match after what appeared to be a clash of heads with team-mate Josh Scowen.
      Stevenage were leading at that stage thanks to Jamie Reid hitting the only goal of the game 14 minutes into time added on in the opening half.
      Bloomfield said afterwards he was “angry” at many things during the match and “categorically denied” attempting to get it called off.
      Stevenage manager Steve Evans had commented: “My players were telling our bench that Wycombe wanted the game abandoned – the staff, the players wanted the game stopped 1-0 down, 8 minutes to go.”
      But Bloomfield responded: “I’ve been told I’ve been accused of trying to get the game called off but I can categorically deny, 100% at no point was I trying to get the game called off.
      “We were preparing our players to restart the game – the referee came across to speak because he realised the severity of the situation more than what I did.
      “I was asked how I was, how my players were – and I replied to the questions I was being asked so at no point did I try to put pressure on the referee to call it off.” 
      Bloomfield added: “I’m angry and I’m disgusted by a lot of what’s happened today.
      “Luke’s gone straight in an ambulance to hospital but the pleasing thing to report is he was responsive by the time he left Adams’ Park.
      “It was a pretty scary moment there in terms of his health.
      “Luke’s gone down, he’s unresponsive – a couple of their players told me they thought something might have been going on with his body on the pitch.
      “He was unresponsive for a while and our doctor was extremely concerned for Luke.”
      Meanwhile, Evans added: “I’ll be the first to message Matty [Matt Bloomfield] to make sure Luke is okay.”
      And of referee Ben Speedie opting to continue the match, he added: “I instructed my staff and players to stay away just before the referee made the decision.
      “I told them if the match official determines this game is going to be stopped we will be respectful as it’s a tough call.” More

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      ‘You need to appease clubs’ – Scots Fifa referee who moved to England stunned whistlers turn ‘blind eye’ to simulation

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      BOBBY MADDEN has lifted the lid on the power English clubs hold over referees.The former Fifa whistler retired in the summer after a season taking charge of games down south.
      Bobby Madden quit the game in Scotland to go and further his career in EnglandCredit: Kenny Ramsay
      Madden had achieved all he’d set out to as an official in Scotland and wanted a fresh challenge in EFL League One.
      But he hung up his whistle for several reasons, including being stunned at how the observer marking system is weighted in the clubs’ favour.
      Madden, 45, said: “There were challenges and a different mentality in how they manage situations from an FA and PGMOL point of view.
      “The clubs pay them, so they have control over officials.

      “One of the frustrations which didn’t affect me directly is the clubs have 40 per cent of the mark that’s given to a referee.
      “Essentially you need to appease the clubs to get on, so anyone going into that system needs to referee with that in mind.
      “It’s difficult when you’ve refereed to a level with an observer system then you have a club system like that. It’s difficult for the referees.
      “There were good referees in League One and Two, but would they turn a blind eye to obvious simulation or clear dissent or foul or abusive language? I saw it happen.
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      “I think that’s one of the challenges they have.
      “Each club has 20 per cent of their mark.
      “In Scotland it’s one observer and you receive one mark and it’s the same with Uefa.
      “In England the assessor only has 20 per cent. They also go to a panel and review it, so it was a new system.
      “The clubs and players and managers know they are marking you.
      “I’ve heard comments like, ‘Just remember who’s marking you’. The clubs know they have that power.
      “It’s a challenging environment for referees coming through.
      “I didn’t change my tactics, though. I just managed games the way I always have.
      “I was probably known for not showing that many yellow cards and I tried to follow that, but it’s probably a more difficult arena to do that in.”
      Madden was also disappointed by the quality of the game down south, despite its bold claims, and the lack of respect shown by players towards officials compared to Scotland.
      He said: “In England the football and the teams are very well organised. The surfaces and facilities are good.
      “But I was disappointed with the football.
      “League One there compares to the bottom three or four in our Premiership and League Two compares to the Championship.
      “But England are very good at marketing their leagues, so people believe it’s high level.
      “Of course it’s very well organised, but the level of football probably wasn’t what I expected.
      “I was still fortunate to referee some decent games in League One.
      “In Scotland teams play against each other four times a season or whatever, so there’s a lot of repetition and it’s the same with referees.
      “You’ll referee each team five or six times a year. Take that over ten years and you are in a lot of contact with the same people so you build up a relationship.
      “They might not agree with your decisions and players will use foul language and I’ll use the same type back.
      “In England that level of respect isn’t there because of their approach, but it was maybe because I was a new face that they didn’t know.
      “They’re also in that arena where they’re very well paid, they have a fantastic environment and there’s maybe a degree of entitlement.
      “I did find a lot of players difficult to deal with and they didn’t like to be challenged.
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      “In Scotland I liked the banter and to give a bit back and have that relationship.”
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