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      EFL clash postponed AGAIN as Storm Kathleen batters Britain with strong winds and rain

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      BARROW have announced their clash with Bradford has been called off AGAIN due to a waterlogged pitch.The League Two game was originally scheduled to take place on February 24 but was axed just one hour before kick-off due to the state of the pitch.Barrow have confirmed the fixture has been postponed for a second timeCredit: GettyStorm Kathleen has caused dangerously strong winds and flooding in BritainCredit: The SunIt was rescheduled for 7.45pm on Tuesday evening, but has succumbed to the weather again as Storm Kathleen wreaks havoc. The postponement was confirmed following an 11am pitch inspection.A statement from Barrow read: “Unfortunately following a pitch inspection at the SO Legal Stadium, tonight’s match against Bradford City has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch.”We will update fans as soon as possible about the rearrangement of this fixture.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBradford also revealed referee Ross Joyce had deemed the pitch “unplayable”.Reacting to the latest postponement, one social media user said: “If only the previous fixture hadn’t been abandoned unexpectedly and completely unnecessarily.”Still can’t believe that official is allowed a decision!”While another added: “If only it was played the first time when the pitch was playable…”Most read in EFLCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBarrow, who sit fifth in League Two, are seven points adrift of third-place MK Dons but with two games in hand as they chase an automatic promotion place.Stockport sit top of the table, four points clear of Wrexham having played one game fewer.I’m a storms reporter for the BBC – fans are terrified for my life but there are secret rules that keep me safeMeanwhile, Bradford are languishing down in 14th and look set to finish mid-table. More

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      Iconic former EFL club likely to go PART-TIME as they fight to avoid dropping into seventh tier after points deduction

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      TORQUAY UNITED face the prospect of losing their status as a professional football club.The former EFL stalwarts are fighting to keep their spot in the National League South, England’s sixth tier of football.Torquay United could stop being a professional clubCredit: RexTorquay were in League Two as recently as 2014 before being relegated to the National League.Following Monday’s 3-3 draw with Weston-super-Mare, the club sit just five points above the NLS relegation zone.This happened after the Gulls were handed a ten-point deduction following owner Clarke Osborne’s admission that he could no longer fund the club.The deduction came after his intentions to appoint administrators.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThere are multiple parties keen on buying the club, from local businesses and supporters.However, prospective owner Michael Westcott has insisted that the club may have to take a step back before returning to the Football League.This could also include seeing the club stop having a “full-time professional squad”.He told BBC Radio Devon: “We have to get realistic.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”This is a club that is losing a lot of money and that’s why we’re on the brink of administration.”There isn’t this enormous gulf in class between part-time and full-time football at our level – we’ve sat here in horror all season and seen how we’ve been played off the park by well-organised, well-marshalled part-time teams.Dean Scoggins travels to FC Koln in Germany to find Europe’s best Away Day”Our long-term goal is to get us back into the Football League as a competitive, full-time professional outfit that potentially yo-yo’s between League One and League Two.”But we need to establish a firm and solid foundation from which we can build on a different model.”No options are off the table as far as we’re concerned and if part of that model dictates that in our first year under new fan ownership that we need to take a step back from being a full-time professional squad in total, then we need to consider that.”As we progress we can then move to a hybrid model then ultimately to a full-time professional model that we think is required to get back into the English Football League.”Last season the club reported losses of almost £100,000 as they were relegated from the National League.Former Soccer AM presenter Helen Chamberlain is Torquay’s most well-known supporter and she took every opportunity to mention her beloved team on the classic  Sky Sports show.She even has the club’s crest tattooed on her bum.Helen Chamberlain is a famous fan of the GullsCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      EFL clash POSTPONED just 90 minutes before kick-off as fuming fans rage ‘surely this is an April Fool’s joke’

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      MANSFIELD’S League Two clash with Accrington Stanley has been postponed.Fans were left furious when the match was called off just 90 minutes before it had been set to go ahead at 3pm.Mansfield’s pitch was deemed unplayableCredit: – pic by : Richard ParkesThe match was postponed 90 minutes before kick-offCredit: PARefs waited until afternoon to call the game offCredit: PAFans had already congregated at Field MillCredit: PATravelling Stanley supporters will have already been well on their way to the game when news filtered through at 1:30pm.Accrington to Mansfield takes a minimum two hours to drive.Confirming the decision, Mansfield wrote on social media: “Mansfield Town expresses its disappointment in announcing that today’s Sky Bet League Two encounter at home to Accrington Stanley has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.”The match referee deemed the pitch unplayable following a routine inspection of the playing surface.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAccrington added in their own statement: “Having conducted a pitch inspection, the match referee has deemed that the One Call Stadium playing surface is unplayable.”One disbelieving Stanley fan wrote on social media: “Good one.. April Fools’ day ends at 12….”Although a second joked: “Oh well… at least we won’t get beaten today!”Other were furious, with a third commenting: “90 mins before kick off? Absolute joke.”Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERAnd a fourth reasonably suggested: “Could have said something this morning about possible pitch inspection and let people make a decision on whether to travel or not…”Another blasted: “Should be deducted points for that.”Mansfield went into the day second in the table, a point behind leaders Stockport.Stanley, meanwhile, are having a miserable campaign, sitting 18th in League Two.The postponement came hours before a non-league clash between Weymouth and Yeovil was abandoned because of a fan emergency in the crowd.An air ambulance landed on the pitch to assist the supporter. More

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      Rivals fans offer EFL club ‘condolences’ after two horror blunders that made supporters ‘squirm’ lead to goals

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      FANS have offered their “condolences” to Notts County after they made two embarrassing blunders leading to goals.It was not a Good Friday for the Magpies as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Swindon.A poor pass back from Scott Robinson hit his own post and set up Swindon for the openerKeeper Sam Slocombe made a horror error and gifted Swindon another goalPaul Glatzel chipped it into an empty net to make it 2-0Notts County gave their League Two rivals the opening goal via a shocking pass back.Scott Robertson tried to give it to No1 Sam Slocombe and his awful ball hit his own post.It rolled out to Aaron Drinan, who converted the easy chance.Trailing by a goal Notts County gave Swindon another Easter gift with Slocombe at fault this time.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAs the goalkeeper tried to play out from the back, he dallied in possession on the edge of his box and was closed down by attackers.He ended up passing the ball straight to Swindon’s Paul Glatzel, who had the simple task of chipping the ball into an empty net.The horror gaffes left fans with their heads in their hands, one said: “If you don’t laugh you’ll cry.”Another added: “My condolences, that’s hard to watch.”Most read in EFLCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSA third commented: “Comical.”Slocombe made an infamous blunder in last season’s play-off final, conceding a penalty for a rash tackle on Andrew Dallas.Biggest football kit fails after controversy over new England shirtNotts County went on to win the game and secure promotion but fans were reminded of the error today.One supporter reacted: “It’s laughable for sure. Reoccurring mistakes. Almost makes me squirm as much as the Wembley final.”The loss to Swindon leaves Notts County 16th in the table amid pressure mounting on manager Stuart Maynard. More

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      Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney owed huge sum by Wrexham as League Two high-flyers announce latest losses

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      WREXHAM owe owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney a huge sum according to their latest financial statement.The League Two high-flyers announced losses of £5.113million for the year ending June 30 2023.Wrexham have announced losses of £5.113million for the previous financial yearCredit: GettyThose losses are an increase from £2.913million the previous year.Meanwhile, The R.R. McReynolds Company, LLC are now owed £8.977million.That figure has increased from £3.714million following promotion to the Football League during the 2022/23 season.Their National League triumph secured a return to League Two after 15 seasons in non-league.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe latest financial statement comes after executive director Humphrey Ker claimed in December that Reynolds and McElhenney were “losing a tonne of money”.The Hollywood actors had recently installed a new £250,000 temporary stand at the Racecourse Ground.Opened just before Christmas, the temporary stand holds 2,289 fans and was added to the Town End.As well as the losses, Wrexham have also announced an increased turnover to £10.478million from £5.972million in 2022.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThis comes after increases in retail, sponsorship and revenue from the club’s 2022/23 FA Cup run.Wrexham reached the fourth round of the competition for the first time since 2000, taking then Championship side Sheffield United to a replay.Prince William visits Wrexham’s The Turf pub made famous by Ryan Reynolds after Palace gives update on Kate’s recoveryThe financial statement also outlined an increase in payroll to just under £7million.A club statement explained: “The financial losses suffered by the Club since the takeover shouldn’t be repeated, with income generated by the Club now sufficient to meet the operational costs of the Club going forward.”Wrexham are currently on course for a second consecutive promotion this season.Phil Parkinson’s side sit third in League Two with seven matches remaining, three points ahead of fourth placed MK Dons.They could even move level on points with league leaders Mansfield when they meet at the Racecourse Ground on Friday.Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElnenney have owned the club since 2020Credit: Getty More

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      Justin Allen: Shelf-ish West Ham chief Sullivan shows he doesn’t live in real world with bizarre EFL supermarket analogy

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      DAVID SULLIVAN likened the Premier League to Tesco and the EFL as a small supermarket chain.And the West Ham owner argued that the retail giants don’t pay out a subsidy to the little shops. he questions why should the top flight pour more money into the three lower divisions?David Sullivan does not back the Premier League paying more to the EFLCredit: GettyI don’t know if Sullivan ventures much into our high streets.But if he does, he will see that they have mostly been destroyed by retail giants. He will see boarded-up windows all over the place.Little shops were, and still should be, at the heart of communities… as should our EFL clubs.Sullivan can afford to shop at Harrods and Selfridges while most of us have to scour the shelves for bargains at Aldi or Lidl.READ MORE ON EFLJust like West Ham can afford to pay more than £50million for Brazil international Lucas Paqueta while the EFL’s bottom club Sutton United are a team packed of freebies.The Hammers chief does not seem to live in the real world – or appears at least detached from it.Does he care much about the loss of things such as our independent greengrocers, butchers and bakers?And does he give a damn about what has happened to clubs like Bury and Macclesfield as well as what is unfolding at Reading?Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERIf he does, Sullivan should be front and centre of a Premier League campaign to safeguard the EFL for generations to come.He should be sticking up for the little guys because once upon a time he himself heralded from humble beginnings.Sky Sports Soccer Saturday crew burst out laughing after mascot’s hilarious reaction to being shoved in EFL clashSullivan was brought up in a council house and should understand the value of things.The West Ham owner has rightly been receiving widespread stick for his ridiculous comments and has been accused of being selfish.His remarks smacked of “I’m alright Jack, pull up the ladder”.What Sullivan failed to mention is that EFL clubs, and non-league ones for that matter, are vital to the health of the Premier League.I wonder if it dawned on him in Prague in May when West Ham lifted the Europa Conference League trophy that matchwinner Jarrod Bowen started his career in non-league with Hereford and then honed his skills in the EFL at Hull City.And key frontman Michail Antonio also did the non-league yards with Tooting and Mitcham before touring the EFL with the likes of Reading, Cheltenham, Southampton when they were in League One, Colchester, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest.Without these clubs and lower divisions, neither player would have developed to become Premier League household names.Sullivan’s central argument is against introducing an independent football regulator to clean up our national game – and oversee a fairer distribution of funds across all levels of football.He believes that redistributing more funds out of the Premier League clubs’ ever-expanding coffers would threaten its status as the best football division on the planet.EFL chief executive Rick Parry pointed out clubs dining at English football’s top table pay more than £2BILLION more in wages than the four other major European leagues.Jarrod Bowen with the Conference League Trophy he won with West HamWest Ham’s Jarrod Bowen started in non-league with HerefordMichail Antonio also started his career in non-league and the EFL before West HamSo the notion that the Premier League will somehow be overtaken by other countries is fanciful and for the birds.What peeves me about the likes of Sullivan is his seemingly complete ignorance to the fact that the Premier League do not OWN our national gameThey are simply top of a highly-successful English football pyramid system that has been around for more than a century,Nowhere else in the world do you see a fourth-tier club like Bradford pulling in average gates of almost 18,000, apart from when Rangers were booted down to Scotland’s bottom division in 2012 of course.Or do you see elsewhere a cup competition for third and fourth-division clubs (the EFL Trophy) that in recent years have seen attendances at Wembley finals of 85,021 in 2019 for Charlton v Portsmouth and 79,839 for Bolton v Plymouth last April?Since the Premier League was formed in 1992, West Ham have only spent four seasons of the 32 in the second tier.Sullivan has experienced relegation from the top flight in East London and twice while he co-owned Birmingham with the late David Gold.So he knows first-hand how huge the disparity is between the Championship and Premier League.Sullivan does not want the parachute payment system to stop.Simple solution, David: manage your finances and contracts better then.But something has got to give. It is not right that clubs like Leeds, Leicester and Southampton should this season have received around £55m each while the other Championship clubs, apart from those still getting parachutes, receive just £8.2million. The West Ham owner does not think it is right for clubs like his to help those lower down the food chain who have mismanaged their finances.But then he contradicts himself by saying parachute payments are “not big enough” to help support teams that get relegated. He argues going down to the Championship would be “horrendous”.Well, simple solution, David: manage your finances and contracts better then.All deals should have relegation clauses in them where wages MUST drop as a result. I’m afraid Premier League footballers should also start living in the real world.If you fail, your wages must be cut accordingly.The Premier League right now have an opportunity to avoid a regulator coming in – but they want to play with the ball all to themselves.READ MORE SUN STORIESSo I am afraid it’s time for an adult to enter the room, crack their heads together and tell them to play fairly with the others.That will be the best way to make sure the EFL doesn’t turn into a little shop of horrors.Bury fans during the run-up of the Shakers being booted out of the EFL in 2019Macclesfield supporter protests about his club’s woesThe future of Reading is under threat More

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      League Two clash hit by 10-minute delay after linesman suffers nosebleed and undergoes treatment on the pitch

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      ONE League Two clash was delayed by almost 10 minutes after the linesman got a nosebleed during the first half.The Yorkshire derby between Harrogate Town and Bradford City was brought to a halt following the unusual incident.Harrogate Town vs Bradford City was delayed after the linesman suffered a nosebleedCredit: ©MI News & SportThe official could be seen struggling with the bleedThe linesman was treated on the pitch before play continued almost 10 minutes laterFans in the Envirovent Stadium in North Yorkshire had to wait for the linesman to be treated before the game could get underway.The official could be seen with a blooded nose, but appeared to be in good spirits despite the strange situation as he laughed while being seen to by club medics.Harrogate Town’s official X account posted: “A stoppage in play as the Assistant Referee receives treatment for what looks like a nose bleed.” Before adding five minuted later: “Still waiting for play to restart here…”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe stoppage led to an astonishing NINE minutes of additional time being added to the first half.One fan joked that Bradford’s misfiring forward’s may have been the reason for the delay in the game on social media.They wrote: “Saw city have a shot on target and had a nose bleed.”While another added: “More likely a shot that was off target caused the nose bleed.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe delay came just six minutes after Josh March had put the Sulphurites 1-0 up against their Yorkshire rivals Bradford.Both sides are languishing in mid-table in League Two this season and despite ambitions of pushing for play-off places it was the local bragging rights that were the main prize on offer between the two.Firefighters forced to intervene as Europa League Conference match delayed after fans throw fireworks on to pitchAnd it was Harrogate who will be able to boast until their next meeting as they went on to add two more goals to March’s opener.A 3-0 victory for Simon Weaver’s side gives them an outside chance at sneaking into a play-off place in the back end of the season.Harrogate Town won the derby clash 3-0Credit: Rex More

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      Did you spot former Premier League manager bizarrely quoting KUNG FU PANDA in his post-match interview?

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      TRANMERE manager Nigel Adkins went viral after trying to share words of wisdom by quoting Kung Fu Panda.Adkins, 59, currently coaches in League Two after years working in the Premier League for Southampton and Reading.Tranmere manager Nigel Adkins tried to share some words of wisdomBut Adkins accidentally quoted a line from Kung Fu Panda 2Credit: APThe Birkenhead tactician analysed the Rovers’ 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town during his post-match interview on Tuesday.And the ex-Sheffield United boss decided to focus on the present and forget about the past as well as the future.Tranmere shared their manager’s words of wisdom on social media with the following caption: “Some #WednesdayWisdom from the gaffer!”Adkins said: “Well you have to be in the present moment. You can’t turn back time.Read More on Football”The past is history, the future is a mystery! Today’s a gift, that’s why they call it the present.”However, Adkins’ post-match comments were extremely similar with some notable lines from Kung Fu Panda 2.The ex-Hull boss sounded like Grand Master Oogway when he tried to comfort key character Po in the popular movie’s sequel.Oogway told Jack Black’s character: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present!”Most read in FootballCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL Tranmere are currently 16th in the League Two table with 14 wins and 19 defeats in 38 matches so far this season.Adkins took over at Prenton Park in November and has since amassed 11 wins as well as nine losses in 24 games across all competitions.EFL fans demand ‘automatic relegation’ after goalkeeper and defender combine for ‘Sunday league’ own-goalTranmere defeated Mansfield with goals by Regan Hendry and Rob Apter following Will Swan’s equaliser.[embedded content] More