League Two

FRASER Horsfall hopes Northampton fans have the same last day woe they and he endured 12 months ago.The defender scored as the Cobblers did their bit to secure promotion from League Two by beating Barrow.
Fraser Horsfall hopes Northampton feel a sens of deja vu after losing out on promotion last seasonCredit: PRESS ASSOCIATION
But they were thrown out of the top three as Bristol Rovers overcame goal difference by battering Scunthorpe 7-0 – they flopped in the play-offs.
Now defender Horsfall hopes for a repeat with County gatecrashing the automatic places by beating already relegated Hartlepool while their rivals fail to win at Tranmere.
“I’d never gone through something like that in my career, I don’t think I ever will again,” said Horsfall.
“You think you’re promoted until the 85th minute, only for someone to shout, ‘Bristol have scored seven, you need another goal!’
“I remember there being 15-20 minutes left and thinking we’re up then my heart sinking when I heard that shout. It wasn’t a good feeling.
“Honestly, you couldn’t write it – especially with Northampton – but I’m hoping it’s a bit smoother today.
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“With the start we had and the way they were going, I thought they’d sail away with it but after the first 10 games, we’ve been really good.
“I’m a Stockport player now and feel like we deserve it. We just need to win to give ourselves a chance, we can’t control anything else.”
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In the wake of Northampton’s flop, Horsfall moved back north to link up with EFL new boys Stockport – with many hints as to why.
Striker Sam Hoskins wrote: “All th£ bЄ$t mate.” Defender Aaron McGowan put: “All the Be$t”. Midfielder Mitchell Pinnock posted: “My $kipp£r.”
But appearances can be deceiving.
Now a Stockport player, Horsfall hopes to kick the Cobblers out of the top threeCredit: PA:Press Association
Horsfall added: “They were having a bit of a joke and they got taken out of turn.
“They’re my friends and it didn’t get to me, I knew they were joking and they meant no harm.
“And moving home, to Huddersfield, was a big thing. When I was at Northampton, I was away from my family.”
Horsfall has already seen what winning promotion at Edgeley Park is like – when Stockport beat Halifax to clinch the National League, he was in the away end watching pal Jack Senior.
But promotion would only put County back towards the pedestal they belong.
After dropping to National League North and going part-time, training at a local secondary school, Mark Stott transformed them after taking over.
Horsfall’s side must beat Hartlepool today and hope Northampton do not win at TranmereCredit: Alamy Live News
Off the field, things are of Championship standard. Now to get one level from it on the field.
If it happens, the nearby Prince Albert pub may be the scene of celebrations, just like it was when an 11-year EFL exile ended.
“Everything’s there for us to get promoted and go again to the Championship – everything’s set for the club to go one way, that’s up,” Horsfall told SunSport.
“Once you play for Stockport, in front of more than 10,000 people, you get the feeling of, ‘This is a proper club.’
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“I was in Halifax’s end last year, so I saw the crowd near the pitch at the end. All I did was look at my mate to see if he’d get off OK when fans ran on!
“And there’s a great opportunity for us – if its not automatic, I fancy us in the play-offs.” More

SWINDON have sacked former Chelsea assistant Jody Morris after just THREE MONTHS in charge of the club.The 44-year-old has been axed by the League Two side with one game remaining this season.
Jody Morris was only appointed Swindon manager in JanuaryCredit: Alamy
Swindon sit 10th in the table but have no chance of making the play-offs on the final day.
Morris’ departure comes after back-to-back defeats at the hands of Stevenage and Crewe.
He won just four of 18 games at the helm.
Coaches Steve Mildenhall and Gavin Gunning will take charge of Swindon’s final game of the season against Crawley on Monday.
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A club statement read: “Swindon Town can today confirm it has parted company with First-Team Head Coach, Jody Morris, and his assistant Ed Brand.
“Morris, 44, was appointed at the end of January in what was his first senior management role in the game, and was later followed to the County Ground by assistant, Ed Brand, in early March.
“We would like to thank both Jody and Ed for their contribution and efforts since joining the football club, and wish them all the very best in the future.
“Our aim when they took over was to push on and finish the second half of the season strongly, but as a club, we haven’t achieved our objectives.
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“With just one more league game remaining before we reach the conclusion of the season, we feel now is the right time to take a fresh approach as we look to bring success back to this great club for 2023/24.
“Work is well underway to find our next manager, with an announcement in due course.”
Morris, who played more than 100 times for Chelsea between 1996 and 2003, was assistant to Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge having previously been his right-hand man at Derby.
He left the Blues in January 2021 following Lampard’s sacking.
Meanwhile, Swindon were promoted to League One in 2020 but suffered immediate relegation back down to the fourth tier.
The club had aspirations of another promotion this season, but they are 17 points adrift of seventh place heading into the final day. More

BRADFORD CITY star Romoney Crichlow has deactivated his social media accounts after claiming to receive death threats from fans.The defender was in action for the Bantams yesterday as they took on Gillingham at Valley Parade.
Romoney Crichlow has played 35 times for Bradford this seasonCredit: Rex
The Huddersfield loanee had his pocket picked by Timothee Dieng in the 12th minute, with the Gills ace going on to score.
After the 2-2 draw, Crichlow revealed on Snapchat that he had deactivated his other social media accounts following a barrage of vile messages.
He wrote: “The way I’m getting death threats in my DMs right now, I had to deactivate my socials. This is going private now.
“I always take accountability for my mistakes but no time to dwell, still got a job to do! Three games left to get the job done.”

Crichlow, 23, is on a season-long loan at Valley Parade from Huddersfield.
He has appeared 35 times in all competitions – helping Mark Hughes’ side in their promotion bid.
After revealing the abuse he had received, fans rallied round the centre-back.
One wrote on Twitter: “This is absolutely disgraceful whoever has sent this to Rom deserves a lifetime ban.”
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Crichlow revealed on Snapchat that he would be deactivating his social media accountsCredit: Snapchat / RC
A second commented: “Find them, ban them, prosecute them.”
While a third Bantam tweeted: “What in the hell 😳 some of our fans are beyond a disgrace.”
Another added: “Disgusting people. No true fan does anything remotely like this, shame on them.”
Bradford rallied after Dieng’s opener.
Andy Cook’s header levelled for Hughes’ men on 48 minutes, and it looked as though League Two’s top scorer had won it for Bradford when he converted an 84th minute penalty.
Gillingham came roaring back, however, with Oliver Hawkins equalising seven minutes into stoppage time.
The draw saw Bradford fall to seventh in the table, four points off the automatic promotion spots and only above the non-playoff positions on goal difference.
They travel to second-placed Northampton on Saturday before a mid-week trip to Crewe.
On the final day Bradford host Leyton Orient, with Richie Wellens’ side having already been crowned champions. More