League One

PORTSMOUTH have sacked Kenny Jackett less than 24 hours after losing at Wembley.
Jackett, 59, oversaw his side’s defeat on penalties to Salford in the 2020 Papa John’s Trophy Final under the Arch on Saturday.

Kenny Jackett was sacked as Portsmouth manager on Sunday morningCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun

But with his side in dire form in League One and slipping out of the play-off places, the Fratton Park board pulled the trigger on Sunday morning.
In nearly four years in charge, Jackett led Pompey to EFL Trophy glory in 2019.
But back-to-back play-off slip-ups against Sunderland and Oxford ensured the club remained in the third tier with many fans calling for a change.
Chief executive Mark Catlin said: “Portsmouth Football Club would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Kenny for the work he has done during his near four-year spell at the club and we all wish him well for the future.

“It has been an emotional past few weeks for everyone associated with Pompey and we now begin the process – which will be as short as possible – of appointing someone who we believe can give us the best chance of finishing inside the top six. These talks begin today.”
The players were informed about the decision at the training ground this morning.
There is no news regarding a caretaker boss at this stage.
Jackett was forced to step aside from managerial duties for a short period in February to undergo a medical procedure.

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Portsmouth FC can confirm that Kenny Jackett has departed as first team manager#Pompey
— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) March 14, 2021

Portsmouth have lost their last four matches – the Wembley heartache following poor results against Doncaster, Northampton and Sunderland – and six of their last eight.
With 13 games left of the League One campaign, the South Coast club are clearly hoping a change in the dugout can inspire an upturn in form and a play-off charge.
Pompey currently sit seventh on 52 points, just two adrift of Ipswich who occupy the final spot as things stand.
They will be looking to return to winning ways on Tuesday night.
However, Portsmouth know they are in for a tough clash away at Peterborough with the Posh on course for automatic promotion.
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Pompey lost on penalties to Salford in the Papa John’s Trophy final at Wembley on SaturdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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ALAN JUDGE has furiously denied calling Darren Drysdale a ‘cheating bald c***’ after the referee’s explosive claims during his FA hearing on Thursday.
Drysdale has been cleared to return to duty after an FA commission ruled his unofficial suspension meant he had already missed more games than they could ban him for.

Referee Darren Drysdale remarkably squared up to Ipswich’s Alan Judge during the Tractor Boys’ clash against Northampton last monthCredit: � Richard Calver – www.matchdayimages.com

But the written reasons for the commission imposing a back-dated three week ban show Drysdale admitted he had lost his cool after being subjected to a tirade from Judge.
According to Drysdale, Judge responded after being booked for diving.
Drysdale, 50, told the commission: “As I blew my whistle Alan Judge shouted aggressively in a loud voice at me, and from a distance of only five metres, ‘It’s a f*** penalty you cheating bald c***.’
“Reacting completely out of character, I took exception to what I considered to be an offensive comment. 

“I walked towards Alan Judge who then continued his tirade of abuse as he then, what I deemed as, aggressively and provokingly pointed his finger towards my face and shouted, ‘You’re a f***ing cheating c***’.”
Drysdale, who admitted an FA misconduct charge, added: “I accept that I should not have moved my head towards Alan Judge as this only inflamed the situation.
“At no time was there any physical contact between myself and Alan Judge. 
“My action of moving forward was as a posture of authority and with the player being significantly shorter than me, this led to me looking down at him.”

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Drysdale has claimed he reacted to Judge after the player called him a ‘cheating bald c***’Credit: Getty Images – Getty

The commission heard that Judge had declined, on two occasions, to give any evidence to the hearing.
It found that Drysdale, who was immediately taken off the EFL match list, had effectively served a suspension in excess of the ban that would have been imposed and that it would be ‘disproportionate’ to add a further suspension.
Despite his ban having been deemed to be served between February 19 and March 10, Drysdale will not be on duty this weekend or next midweek as the appointments have already been made.
But, Judge has hit back at Drysdale’s claims, angered by the attack on his ‘reputation’ while claiming he has more important things to worry about after his mum passed away last week.

Judge said: “I said the incident was over as far as I was concerned when I walked off the pitch and that I wasn’t looking for an apology.
“I didn’t want to make anything of it because it’s a tough job being a referee but I’m not going to keep quiet when I’ve been accused of calling the referee a cheat and using the C word.
“I’ll admit using the F word but I said to him ‘you have got to be f****ing joking me’ and I said that a couple of times to him.
“I never used the C word. I don’t use that word and I didn’t call him a cheat.
“My mum passed away last week – which is far more important than this – and I don’t need this hassle to be honest.
“Like I said, the matter was closed but I’ve got a decent reputation in the game and I won’t stand by and be accused of saying something I didn’t and not responding.
“Our media team have got some audio and it backs me up.
“Some people have said I should have come out straightaway and explained what I said but I didn’t want to do that.
“I was trying to help Darren. I said the matter was finished and it was but I have to make it clear now that I totally dispute what has been said by the referee.”  

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FORMER Chelsea wonderkid Josh McEachran has sealed a move to MK Dons on his 28th birthday.
The midfielder had been training with the 14th-place League One club since leaving Birmingham in late January.

Josh McEachran has joined MK Dons on a free transfer after leaving BirminghamCredit: Rex Features

And McEachran has now secured a contract until the end of the season after impressing boss Russell Martin.
The 13-time England Uunder-21s ace will wear the No5 shirt for Dons and will be hoping to feature against Gillingham tomorrow night.
McEachran started his career at Stamford Bridge and was the original poster boy for Roman Abramovich’s budding Chelsea academy.
However, he made just 22 appearances for the Blues, mainly as a sub.

And McEachran eventually worked his way through five clubs on loan, taking in spells at Swansea, Middlesbrough, Watford, Wigan and Vitesse.
McEachran finally found a permanent home with Brentford in 2015 and went on to play 101 times before moving to Birmingham in 2019.
However, injuries limited McEachran to just ten games.
And he is now hoping to rediscover his form at Stadium MK.

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McEachran told the Dons’ official site: “I’m thankful for the opportunity that the gaffer has given me and I just can’t wait to get started.
“I came here to keep fit but everyone has been fantastic with me. The way the gaffer wants to play is suited to me. I like to get on the ball as much as possible and dictate play so it felt like a perfect fit.
“I have been out for a little while now but this is the fittest and strongest I’ve felt for a long time. Hopefully I can get back to playing regular football and help the team out.”

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SHREWSBURY boss Steve Cotterill has been re-admitted to hospital due to suffering from Covid-pneumonia.
The 56-year-old returned home from the hospital on February 16 after spending time in an ICU unit.

Steve Cotterill has been re-admitted to hospital due to suffering from Covid-pneumoniaCredit: PA:Press Association

However, he returned to hospital over the weekend as he is suffering from Covid-pneumonia. 
His No2 at Shrewsbury, Aaron Wilbraham, said: “For somebody who has never missed a day’s work in his life, this will hit the manager really hard.
“He’s one of the strongest and toughest people I know, and I know he’ll get through this Covid-pneumonia.”
Wilbraham and David Longwell will continue taking charge of the League One club’s first-team until Cotterill’s return.

It was reported last month that Cotterill was still recovering after a period in intensive care while fighting coronavirus.
Cotterill was one of around 20 positive cases within the club and was later taken ill.
He was then moved into an ICU but appeared to be on the mend and was released home.
Cotterill joined Shrewsbury in November as he replaced Sam Ricketts.

Aaron Wilbrahim was pictured on the phone to Cotterill before Saturday’s game at AccringtonCredit: Getty

After an unbeaten run in December, he received the manager of the month award.
Shrewsbury beat Oxford in the FA Cup second round, but their trip to Southampton was postponed after they were hit with a coronavirus outbreak.
The FA and Premier League made room for the game to go ahead, after initial fears the Saints would get a by.
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IPSWICH boss Paul Lambert has parted company with the club by mutual consent.
Former Portsmouth and Wigan boss Paul Cook, 54, who resigned from the Lactics in July last year, is set to take over.

Paul Lambert and Ipswich Town have parted company by mutual consentCredit: PA:Press Association

Ipswich Town has today parted company with manager Paul Lambert by mutual consent.The Club thanks Paul for his efforts while in charge at Portman Road, and wishes him well for the future.👇 #itfc
— Ipswich Town FC (@IpswichTown) February 28, 2021

Lambert, 51, was appointed in October 2018 and of his 113 games in charge he only won 37.
He took charge with the Tractor Boys bottom of the Championship and despite having 31 games to save them, they remained bottom through to the end of the season.
Last season they looked a good bet to return to the second tier when they were top of the table but a dip in form saw them eventually finish 11th when the programme was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic .
The current campaign has followed a similar path, with Lambert leading his side to the top of the table early on before results again deteriorated.

They recently staged a mini revival and Lambert departs with his team suffering just one defeat in their last seven league games.
But his relationship with supporters deteriorated rapidly in recent months and he leaves with the club at its lowest point in 67 years.
Lambert, who has recovered after contracting coronavirus, admitted on Saturday after the home defeat of Doncaster that he was 99 per cent certain he would not keep his job if a rumoured £30million takeover went through.
Lambert also joked about Cook being sat in his office when he arrived at Portman Road on Saturday morning.

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Paul Cook is set to take charge at Portman RoadCredit: PA:Press Association

Ipswich owner Marcus Evans thanked Lambert for his service in a statement on Sunday night.
He said via the club’s official website: “I would like to put on record my sincere thanks to Paul and Stuart for their services to Ipswich Town over the last two and half years.
“I have enjoyed a healthy working relationship with Paul in our time together and he has brought a lot of positive aspects to the Club.
“I know he has his thoughts on what is needed to take Ipswich Town forward and I respect his opinions but this year has – with the pandemic and no real income for the Club –  been the biggest financial challenge we have faced in my time as owner.
“It has, however, become clear after holding discussions over the last few days that there are significant differences of opinion as to the order of immediate priorities and we agreed it was best for us to part company. 
“I would like to wish both Paul and Stuart the best in the future.”

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