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      I served a two-year drug ban and worked in a garage while I was suspended – now I’m making my own way again in EFL

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      BAMBO DIABY swapped playing football for flogging cars during his two-year FA drugs suspension.And now the defender wants to help Sheffield Wednesday transform from a clapped-out banger to a purring Rolls Royce.
      Bambo Diaby is with Sheffield Wednesday, two years after his drug ban endedCredit: Rex
      Diaby was found guilty of breaching anti-doping rules while he was at Barnsley in 2019Credit: Rex
      Diaby, 25, was found guilty of breaching anti-doping rules after testing positive for the banned substance Higenamine while at Barnsley in 2019.
      Although the Senegalese ace was cleared of having knowingly taken the drug, he still had to sit out a lengthy ban.
      He said: “It was a difficult time. I went home to Barcelona and spent all the money I had on working out in a professional gym to keep myself fit.
      “But I also started working in a local garage as I’ve always had an interest in cars.
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      “I went along and asked the boss if I could work there. I explained my situation — that I was a professional footballer who had been banned.
      “I wasn’t shy to tell him because that was the reality.
      “So they gave me a trial and I learned so much about cars —  if you ever want a car, I can sell you one!
      “I had to sell cars online, over the computer, on the phone, talking to people face-to-face.
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      “The cars were coming in and going out. I was having to buy and then sell them. I had to control around 200 cars. It was such a great experience.”
      Diaby’s whole life up to that point had been training and playing in front of thousands of people each week in the glitzy world of football.
      But during his time selling motors Diaby was having to live in the ‘real world’, working normal working-day hours from Monday to Saturday.
      He said: “In between working I was going to the gym to do my personal training, which was important for when I returned to football.
      “I’d wake up early, work out until about 10am and then do a full day. If I was an hour late, I’d have to work later or do extra to make up the time.”
      It was a humbling but happy experience for Diaby, who says he has always stayed grounded despite making it as a footballer.
      And during those dark days it was his family, friends and new work colleagues that provided him with much strength to get through two years without football.
      Diaby, who signed for Wednesday from Preston during the summer, said: “They all helped me. It’s thanks to them that I didn’t give up on football.
      “During those low moments where you think your career is done, they are there to say, ‘Hey, you need to come back strong.’
      “They remind you why you started playing football in the first place.
      “And that time was an experience that made me stronger. It’s also something that helps me in the situation we find ourselves in now at the bottom of the Championship.
      “It doesn’t matter how difficult a situation is. You must work, have trust and belief. Then you can do it.”
      If you ever want a car, I can sell you one! I had to sell cars online, over the computer, on the phone, talking to people face-to-face.Bambo Diaby
      Diaby said he got much support from  former team-mates and coaches during his football exile — and that they believed he was not guilty of deliberately taking a banned substance.
      He added: “They know how hard you work and train to be in shape and know me  outside of football. They knew it was  impossible for a player like me to knowingly take banned substances.
      “All of my Barnsley team-mates were texting and helping me through my time in Barcelona — even if it was just a quick message, saying ‘Bambo, your time will come again.’ It meant a lot.”
      His ordeal has given him experience to help others make sure they do not make any  mistake.
      He said: “I always tell young players, like I do with my nephew, to take care of what you eat because sometimes there are risks. You must take responsibility for your body.”
      Rock-bottom Wednesday travel to Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham on Saturday, having only won once all season — a 3-0 win over Rotherham last month.
      But under new boss Danny Rohl, Diaby believes the team are on the right path to turning things around.
      The defender was part of a Barnsley team that were embroiled in a relegation scrap before ultimately staying up.
      He said: “I look at the table to use it as inspiration and to say to myself and the team, ‘Come on, we’ve got to get up’.
      “I don’t look for excuses why we’ve done badly. I only look for excuses to be  motivated. I want to get up the table with this team. I know how hard we’re working and feel we can improve.
      “To successfully beat relegation the most important thing you need is belief.
      “If you go onto the pitch without it, you already have the wrong mentality and have lost before a ball has been kicked.
      “I like to have belief and if you look into the eyes of each player, they believe.”
      Diaby thinks Wednesday can turn their season around under new boss Danny RohlCredit: Rex More

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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
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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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