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      Victor Moses donates £20k to help struggling former club Wigan as Latics fight for survival

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      VICTOR MOSES has donated £20,000 to struggling former side Wigan Athletic.
      The cash-strapped club is in dire straits after administrators were summoned in July, resulting in a 12-point penalty and relegation from the Championship to League One.

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      Victor Moses has donated £20,000 to former club WiganCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun

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      Wigan tweeted their thanks as they look for a buyer to save them from administrationCredit: Twitter @WiganAthSC
      They are desperately looking for new owners to reverse their fortunes.
      But in the meantime, a Supporters’ Club Crowdfunder page has been set up to raise cash and save Wigan from going under.
      Former Lactics favourites including Roberto Martinez, Reece James and James McClean have all stepped forward with donations.
      And now Moses has given £20k to the fundraiser in a touching gesture.

      Wigan tweeted: “Thank you Victor Moses. Victor has pledged a significant donation to Save Our Club!”
      The Chelsea wing-back, 29, starred for Wigan between 2010 and 2012.
      And after making an anonymous donation on Tuesday, the Wigan Athletic Supporters’ Club wanted to make sure he received recognition.
      Chairperson Caroline Molyneux said: “Wow – what can we say?

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      Moses made an anonymous donation before the Supporters’ Club revealed his identityCredit: Twitter @WiganAthSC

      “When Victor got in touch to say he wanted to help by donating such a substantial amount, I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing – it’s such an incredible gesture.
      “Victor wanted to make the donation and remain anonymous but we simply had to make sure he gets the recognition he deserves.
      “Victor’s contribution has taken us past £650,000 and to within £100,000 of our next target of £750,000.
      “We are so thankful to Victor for his support. He is an excellent footballer, a true role model and someone we always enjoyed watching at the DW Stadium – he will always be welcome back here, even more so now!”
      SunSport exclusively revealed last month that American financiers Randy Frankel and Michael Kalt are ready to rescue Wigan with a £5million-plus offer to take them out of administration.
      We told you yesterday that the pair are even willing to move ground to play at Leigh’s Rugby League Stadium.
      And SunSport brought you news today that Simon Grayson is being lined up as Wigan’s next manager.

      Wigan administrator Paul Stanley says there are a dozen investors showing interest in the football club More

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      Simon Grayson set for shock return to management with crisis club Wigan with administrators drafting in experienced boss

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      SIMON GRAYSON is set for a shock return to management with crisis club Wigan Athletic.
      Grayson will be brought in by the administrators to run the side and take the senior role currently filled by caretaker Leam Richardson.

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      Simon Grayson is set for a shock return to management with crisis club Wigan Athletic
      The experienced boss will be drafted in to help the backroom team and should be in the dug-out for the opener at Ipswich on Sunday.
      It is a remarkable move while the admins try to find a buyer but run into massive problems finding anyone to pick up the full £4million bill.
      Grayson is happy to help after being out of work since a brief stint at Blackpool ended a year ago.
      He has also worked at this level with Preston and been a success.

      It will be an open-ended relationship with Grayson on a minimal salary but keen to get back into the game with no idea how long it will last.
      Grayson is known to administrator Gerald Krasner but the idea to bring him in was also from Richardson who succeeded Paul Cook when he quit last month.
      Meanwhile, Wigan’s potential new owners are willing to move GROUND to play at Leigh’s Rugby League stadium.
      The American takeover pair Randy Frankel and Michael Kalt are in talks about the shock switch of ‘home’ as they try to get a deal done to rescue the club from administration.

      The change of address from Wigan’s old DW Stadium ground would need approval by the EFL.
      But it is already used by Manchester United in the WSL as well as Leigh in the rugby world.
      This surprise idea has also been run past supporters groups and the local authorities and is now part of their plans for the future.

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      EFL clubs beg Premier League to save them from ruin after coronavirus nightmare

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      EFL clubs have pleaded with the Premier League to save English football from collapse.
      Despite months of talks, the top flight is yet to agree a package of further financial help for lower league sides facing bankruptcy because of Covid-19.

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      EFL clubs are urging the Premier League to save teams in their divisions at risk of collapse Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      And EFL clubs are warning that the end of Government furlough arrangements after October, combined with huge falls in matchday income even when fans return, will bring the crisis to a head.
      The Premier League has already forwarded its usual solidarity payments but that money will not last most clubs very far into the autumn.
      Phil Wallace, owner and chairman of League Two Stevenage, said: “All we’re doing is kicking the can down the road. Eventually, you run out of road.

      “Without a bailout, I don’t see what the outcome can be other than clubs going into bankruptcy.”

      Even if some fans are allowed back into Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium from October, it’s likely that the maximum crowd will be 1,500 – combined to last season’s average of 3,500.
      That would mean a fall in income of £30,000 to £40,0000 per home game, even before loss of secondary spend at food and drink outlets and other revenue streams was taken into account.
      Simon Hallett, owner of League One Plymouth, recognises that a number of Premier League clubs are also facing significant financial challenges.
      But Hallett said: “Eventually the elastic snaps and clubs run out of cash.

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      Financial aid packages for lower league sides are yet to be agreed on by football chiefsCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      “At that point, if there are still no fans, it’s inevitable some will be very close to going bust.
      “It’s about the preservation of the English football pyramid. I don’t want to get misty-eyed and romantic about it.
      “But the great glory, I think, of English football is the football pyramid.
      “You can still have the dream that you start off playing in the park with a pub team and you end up in the Football League.
      “If you want to preserve that, some kind of financial help to ease us over this crisis is going to be necessary.”

      It’s a big discussion. But clubs have got to be there to have that discussion. Come 2021, they might not be.
      Phil Wallace

      Stevenage and Plymouth are fortunate that they have multimillionaire benefactors like Wallace and Hallett to support them – for now at least.
      But many other clubs will be teetering on the brink of extinction unless something changes soon.
      Wallace, like Hallett, accepts that lower league clubs are often guilty of financial mismanagement.
      But he insists English football’s proud tradition of having 92 or more professional clubs can be preserved and a wider discussion is needed about the distribution of money across the game.
      Wallace said: “Why can’t we sustain this number of clubs?
      “It’s important to have a healthy pyramid, but you have to balance that and walk that line between clubs wasting money, overspending and doing all the stupid things that clubs do.
      “It’s not as easy as I’m going to give you money. You have to convince me that there’s a good working model that can be adopted.

      “If we change things, and redistribute in a fairer way, it’s not wasted.
      “It’s a big discussion. But clubs have got to be there to have that discussion.
      “Come 2021, they might not be.”

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      Charlton invite Love Island star Dennon Lewis to train with club as Lee Bowyer considers signing non-league striker

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      LEE BOWYER is running the rule over non-league striker Dennon Lewis.
      SunSport revealed Charlton’s interest in the Wealdstone forward back in June.

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      Charlton are running the rule over non-league striker Dennon Lewis

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      SunSport revealed Charlton’s interest in the Wealdstone forward back in June
      Addicks’ fans were alerted to ex-Love Island contestant Lewis’ involvement in training yesterday from pictures sent out by the club online.
      Charlton boss Bowyer knows Lewis from his days helping out Watford‘s Under-21 side and is ready to seal a deal and bring the 23-year-old to the Valley.
      Ipswich, Sunderland, Huddersfield, Oxford and Leyton Orient have all shown interest in the striker, who scored 14 and set up another 11 as Wealdstone won the National League title.
      League One Charlton will hope 2019 reality TV show contestant Lewis can follow in the footsteps of Macauley Bonne, who has shone at Charlton since taking the plunge from non-league.

      Meanwhile Preston are eyeing up a cut-price move for Charlton’s striker Macauley Bonne.
      Alex Neil’s side, who finished four points off the play-off places, could make an opening bid of £500,000 plus add-ons next week.
      Former Leyton Orient striker Bonne jumped three divisions last season but more than held his own in the Championship, scoring 11 goals.

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      Ipswich, Sunderland, Huddersfield, Oxford and Leyton Orient have all shown interest in Lewis

      Preston are waiting to see what happens with crisis club Charlton’s financial situation.

      As SunSport revealed earlier this week, the London club are facing being booted out of the EFL unless current owners ESI sell.
      Preston see 24-year-old former non-League striker Bonne as a rough diamond with bags of potential.

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      Newcastle line up £12m transfer bid for Everton midfielder Tom Davies as Steve Bruce eyes homegrown core

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      NEWCASTLE UNITED have reportedly added Everton’s Tom Davies to their summer transfer target list. 
      Steve Bruce is thought to be a huge fan of the 22-year-old – and the Daily Mail claims the Toon are ready to make a £12million bid for the midfielder. 

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      Newcastle are eyeing a move for Everton star Tom Davies Credit: Rex Features
      Everton, who finished twelfth in the league, are reportedly prepared to allow some of their squad to exit Goodison Park this summer.

      However, boyhood Toffees fan Davies has regularly featured in Carlo Ancelotti’s first-team making 32 appearances across all competitions this season. 
      Davies, born in Liverpool, rose from the ranks of Everton’s youth sides signing his first professional contract at the club in September 2015. 
      And the Toffees midfielder, who was nominated for the Golden Boy prize in 2018-19, has made 105 Premier League appearances. 

      While Bruce, 59, is believed to be keen to swell his ranks of homegrown talent, the Toon boss’ transfer budget is limited. 
      The Tyneside giants are reportedly close to bringing clubless midfielder Jeff Hendrick in on a free transfer. 
      As SunSport revealed, Bruce also hopes to seal a £1.9million deal for Wigan Athletic full-back Antonee Robinson. 
      But it’s thought the North East club could face stiff competition to sign the Lactics player with Sheffield United and Prem new boys Fulham also keen on the defender. 

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      Tottenham’s forgotten man Ryan Sessegnon is reported to be among Steve Bruce’s summer transfer targets Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Newcastle are reportedly eager to boost their firepower in attack with Bournemouth forward Callum Wilson catching Bruce’s eye. 
      And this week SunSport exclusively revealed the club are lining up for Tottenham’s forgotten wingback Ryan Sessegnon.
      Meanwhile, SunSport and the Mail say Chris Smalling has been linked with a possible St James Park switch. 

      However, the Manchester United centre-back is thought to be keen on joining a Champions League club or battling for a place in the Red Devils’ starting line-up. 
      Another defensive option thought to have piqued Bruce’s interest is Oxford United’s skipper Rob Dickie.
      And SunSport exclusively reported the Toons are considering a £2million bid for the 24-year-old defender – a standout League One player last term.

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      Charlton owner Paul Elliott BLOCKED from running club by EFL after failing directors’ test but launches immediate appeal

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      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.

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      Wycombe 2 Oxford 1: Jacobson penalty fires Wanderers into the Championship for first time in their history at Wembley

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      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