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Wigan Athletic face a race to find a buyer by the end of the month – or their EFL future is in doubt. The club’s administrators revealed the shock news after their latest bidder pulled out and admitted they would NOT run the club when the season starts. Latics is up for sale and letting […] More
CHARLTON owner Paul Elliott has been blocked from running the club by the EFL.
Manchester-based Elliott was told that he has been disqualified from taking control after a directors test
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Charlton’s proposed takeover looks in doubt after three people failed the English Football League’s Owners and Directors’ Test
Elliott had been quizzed about his takeover of the company and the EFL were unhappy with the answers.
Now Elliott has immediately appealed and plans to go to the High Court to fight the decision.
Romanian Andrei Mihail, a director of East Street Investments who own the club, was also ruled out by the EFL but has now resigned.
And in a further twist Charlton have seen doubts raised about the imminent signings of Conor Washington and Alex Gilbey.
Striker Washington is due to join from Scottish side Hearts while midfielder Gilbey is leaving MK Dons at the end of his contract.
A third player, Aussie starlet Matt Dench, has flown in from Perth to sign but should be allowed to stay on as an academy player.
Charlton notified the EFL at the start of the week that they were planning to sign players under “soft embargo” rules.
However the EFL are now claiming they are under a more strict embargo after notifying former owner Roland Duchatelet about that decision – rather than the club.
That decision is also to be contested by Elliott as he fights to stay in control and get a team on the park next month.
The in-fighting also escalated when Charlton lawyer Chris Farnell was harassed by fans at his offices in Manchester.
Farnell called the police after a group of masked supporters came into his HQ.
Furious first minister Nicola Sturgeon slams eight Aberdeen stars for ‘blatantly breaking rules’ and says they risk Scottish football’s return More
JOE JACOBSON fired Wycombe into the Championship for the first time in their history at Wembley last night.
The defender stepped up to send Oxford keeper Simon Eastwood the wrong way from the penalty spot with 11 minutes left.
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Wycombe are heading to the Championship after a thrilling win over Oxford at WembleyCredit: PA:Press Association
It was a fairytale evening for the Buckingshire club who were the pre-season favourites to be relegated.
And their promotion to English football’s second tier comes just six years after the club went into their final game of the season at Torquay with their League status under threat.
Boss Gareth Ainsworth led the team to safety and then to promotion to League One two years.
Wycombe only got into the play-offs after the EFL promoted them from eighth to third in the final League One table on the points-per-game method.
And they got off to a dream start when Anthony Stewart headed in after nine minutes – but that goal got cancelled out by a fluke mis-hit cross from Mark Sykes in the 57th minute.
Wycombe’s guitar-playing boss Gareth Ainsworth had to skip band practice to lead his team at Wembley.
And his Wanderers proved to be the headline act.
The club’s TV presenter fan Bill Turnbull was in press box and chanted Chairboys in the final 10 minutes – and was virtually in tears when the ref blew his whistle.
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Joe Jacobson kept his cool from the spot to fire Wycombe past OxfordCredit: Rex Features
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Jacobson celebrates his Wembley winner with team-mate Adebayo AkinfenwaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
This really was one hell of a story This was a clash between two different styles. Karl Robinson’s Oxford play fluid possession-based passing football while the Chairboys are direct and up and at them.
And Wycombe took the lead after just nine minutes.
Oxford gave away a cheap corner and Joe Jacobson sent in one of his trademark swirling crosses.
Anthony Stewart headed the ball down at the far post and it deflected off the foot of keeper Simon Eastwood and into the net.
Eastwood’s heart must have been racing when he fumbled Fred Onyedinma 20-yard effort. Fortunately, for him, he was able to gather at the second attempt.
Oxford almost got back on terms but Sam Long fired just wide.
Stewart made a brilliant goal-saving block to stop Matt Sykes squaring the ball to Matt Taylor, who would have had the easy task of finishing from six yards.
Oxford – for all their possession – were struggling to break down Wycombe – and Marcus Browne tried to unlock them with a shot from distance but it flashed high and wide.
Josh Ruffles then headed over from a corner on the stroke of half time.
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Anthony Stewart leapt highest to nod Wycombe into an early leadCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Onyedinma had a chance to double the lead but blasted over from 12 yards.
Alex Pattison replaced Bloomfield at the break while Liam Kelly came on for Alex Gorrin.
Stewart made another superb interception to save Wycombe’s bacon.
Sykes again motored down the right flank and he had Henry lining up to net but the Chairboys defender managed to cut it out for a corner.
Oxford, incredibly, pulled level through a massive 57th-minute fluke.
Sykes was aiming to cross from the right flank – but he scuffed it and the ball looped over keeper Ryan Allsop.
Henry should have put Oxford in front when he had a great shooting chance but elected to pass the ball to Taylor – but Stewart brilliantly intercepted.
Wycombe threw on The Beast that is Adebayo Akinfenwa as the they looked muscle their way into the Championship.
But Oxford were bossing the game at this point and were denied by two great pieces of goalkeeping from Allsop.
First he saved Rob Dickie’s header from a James Henry free-kick.
Then Dickie saw another header brilliantly turned behind by a save at full stretch.
Wycombe were awarded a penalty when an up-and-under saw Oxford keeper Simon Eastwood and Onyedinma racing for the loose ball.
But Eastwood took over the Chairboys ace and ref Robert Jones pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Joe Jacobson to send the keeper the wrong way. More
OXFORD UNITED have confirmed two positive tests for coronavirus were returned on Thursday – just three weeks before their League One play-off semi-final. The Yellows take on Pompey in their crunch semi-final first leg on Friday July 3 – just three weeks from now. ⚠️ Read our Coronavirus in Sport live blog for the latest […] More
THE League One play-off dates have been confirmed by the EFL. Portsmouth face Oxford United on Friday July 3 ahead of Wycombe Wanderers’ trip to Fleetwood Town on the same day. ⚠️ Read our Coronavirus in Sport live blog for the latest news & updates Wembley will host the League One play-off final on Monday […] More
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NIGEL CLOUGH has stepped down as Burton Albion manager. The 14-cap England international, 54, will be replaced at the Pirelli Stadium by Brewers defender Jake Buxton. Nigel Clough will be replaced by Jake Buxton as Burton Albion managerCredit: Twitter @burtonalbionfc Buxton, 35, will take on the role as player-manager within the coming weeks with the […] More
PHIL PARKINSON reckons League One promotion and relegation places should be decided by a mini-tournament. Third-tier clubs are divided on whether to complete the season or to follow League Two and draw a line under it. Sunderland boss Parkinson wants a mini-tournament to work out what should happenCredit: Getty Images – Getty But the Sunderland […] More
