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      Joey Barton refuses to accept Bristol Rovers relegation on CV after dropping into League Two despite poor spell as boss

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      JOEY BARTON believes Bristol Rovers’ relegation shouldn’t be pinned on him after the club’s drop into League Two was confirmed over the weekend.The Pirates’ fate was sealed on Saturday following the 1-0 defeat against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
      Joey Barton’s Bristol Rovers side have been relegated to League Two after losing to PortsmouthCredit: Rex
      Rovers – rooted to the bottom of the League One table after 44 games – are now ten points from safety with just two fixtures left to play.
      And former Fleetwood gaffer Barton has refused to accept that relegation will be on his CV after only taking charge at the Memorial Stadium in February.
      The 38-year-old – who took over when Bristol were two points outside of the bottom four – has lost 11 out of his 16 matches, winning on just three occasions.
      Speaking to the Bristol Post, the ex-Manchester City midfielder said: “For me as a coach, it’s a strange one because deep down I don’t think I will ever accept this is a relegation on my CV, albeit it will live there forever.
      “But I’m absolutely convinced that had we had our processes and things in place, this should never happen. It should never happen.
      “It can happen to you in the top divisions if you don’t have quality in the building, but in the lower leagues you just have to be fit and organised, that’s half the battle.
      “We’ve gone down having a scrap. Portsmouth have had one shot on goal and managed to win the game.
      “We could be out here all day, we ain’t going to score a goal with what we’ve got going on at this moment.
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      Before adding: “The sooner this season’s done and dusted, if I could finish it tomorrow and get rid of them all and a report date for pre-season, I would do.
      “But we’ve got fixtures to fulfil and we’ve got to give our all.
      “I’m really, really sad that it’s one of my teams involved in that and hopefully this is the last time this ever happens to me as a coach.” More

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      Rebecca Welch was DELIGHTED to get grief while making ref history in League Two clash between Harrogate and Port Vale

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      REBECCA WELCH revealed players ‘chewed her ear off’ when she made ref history earlier this month.She became the first woman to officiate an EFL match from the start in the League Two clash between Harrogate and Port Vale.
      Rebecca Welch says she was delighted when Harrogate and Port Vale players started ‘chewing her ear off’Credit: Rex
      She became the first woman to officiate an EFL match from the start in the League TwoCredit: Reuters
      And despite the constant clicking of cameras to capture the momentous day, she was delighted when the players started giving her grief.
      Welch, 37, said: “The players didn’t treat me any differently – they were still chewing my ear off as they went past.
      “That was nice because I was a bit afraid of them not being like that.
      “You want players to go, ‘You got that one wrong, ref,’ or ‘It’s gone so well in the last 10 minutes’.
      “You need that and when I got it I felt normal and that I could just referee the game.
      “I was sick of hearing the camera clicking, but it’s the nature of the beast.
      “People say it went really well but, for me, it was just a normal game.”
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      Speaking in a Q&A in aid of North East mental health charity If U Care Share, Welch added: “In 50 years I’ll be in the history books – it’s really nice but, yeah, it’s a game of football.
      “But I understand the bigger picture that it’s not about one game, it’s about inspiring the next generation to come through.
      “The next step is definitely the Football League (permanently).”
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      Tottenham and Man City will be given 2,000 tickets each for Carabao Cup final as EFL plan for 10,000 fans at play-offs

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      MANCHESTER CITY and Tottenham will each be allocated 2,000 tickets for this month’s Carabao Cup Final.EFL chiefs are also planning for crowds of up to 10,000 at the end of season play-offs.
      Manchester City and Tottenham will be allocated 2,000 tickets each for the Carabao Cup finalCredit: PA
      And league bosses believe they can open up the turnstiles at all 72 EFL clubs from the start of next season.
      New chief executive Trevor Birch revealed the upbeat assessment even though the full details of what fans will need to do to be allowed in to games starting with the Wembley showpiece remain unclear.
      Birch said: “The Carabao Cup final will be 2,000 fans for either side.
      “There are a lot of discussions about other measures and fans will have to have either had a vaccination, pass a test or be immune to the virus.
      “Then for the play-off semi-finals and finals, we’re hopefully looking at 10,000 fans, although that’s not confirmed.
      “And our aspiration and goal is that, from August 6, we will be back in full stadia in line with the Government roadmap.”
      Birch added: “It’s vital for the clubs.
      “In rough numbers, clubs have lost about £250m of revenue over 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, so it’s significant in terms of gate receipts, commercial and sponsorship revenues.
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      “Getting back in front of full crowds is vital to the financial wellbeing of the clubs going forward.
      “It’s been offset by a few mitigating factors that have enabled clubs to survive, including the Championship loans and Premier League bail-out of Leagues One and Two.
      “So there were some mitigating aspects but another season behind closed doors would have been unpalatable for most of the clubs.
      “We’re trying to create certainty out of a very uncertain situation to enable the clubs to plan and give them confidence for next season and selling season tickets.”
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      Bolton boss Ian Evatt reveals inspirations behind his desire for success

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      IAN Evatt has revealed Bolton’s remarkable run is being fuelled by an American Football coach, the trainer to the most famous basketball player of all time and an Olympic rowing gold medallist.For their teachings and messages drive him – even when it comes to him walking and training his dog.
      Ian Evatt has revealed what he uses for inspiration as he looks to earn Bolton promotionCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      The Bolton boss has guided his side to 13 games unbeaten, including 11 wins, which has propelled them to the thick of League Two’s promotion race.
      But earlier in the season, many were wondering how long he would have left as Wanderers floundered near the bottom of the Football League.
      And at no time did what he has taken on board from others counted more.
      Evatt said: “I read books on leadership and mentality like The Score Takes Care Of Itself by Bill Walsh, Ben Hunt-Davis’ Will It Make The Boat Go Faster and Relentless by Michael Jordan’s fitness coach, Tim Grover.
      “I’ve learned a lot from them and the messaging from all is about trusting the process and believing in it.
      Bolton is a much happier place than it has been in recent years
      “Unless as a manager you thoroughly believe in your philosophy and style, how would you expect the players to believe in it?
      “The test of that is when things aren’t going right. You can adapt and tweak formations but the philosophy needs to remain the same.
      “It’s no good me coming in saying, ‘We want to be possession-based, we’re going to attack, we’re going to build from the back,’ the  after four bad results we end up smashing it and 4-4-2.
      “What message would that send to the players? It would mean I don’t believe in it myself. When times are good, when times are bad, you stay consistent.
      “I lost six in a row in my first year at Barrow, we had seven points from nine games in my second, I was the first Bolton manager to lose their first five competitive games.
      Evatt revealed one of the books he reads is by Michael Jordan’s fitness coach, Tim Grover
      “But when the players buy into what you’re doing, improvement comes.”
      Bolton may have gone 13 unbeaten but they are still fourth in League Two going into tomorrow’s clash with Colchester.
      But Evatt is adamant the mindset would be no different if they were third and in an automatic promotion place.
      He added: “The players are naturally going to look at the league table and results, they are human beings.
      “But if we can perform for the remainder of the season to our levels and win all nine games remaining, nobody can stop us.
      Bolton are currently 13 games unbeaten
      “People will probably say mentally it’s better to be the chaser than the leader but I don’t see it that way.
      “At Barrow, there was no change and it all comes down to behind the scenes. It’s about repetitive messaging, even though when I said this at the start of the season people probably thought I was an idiot.
      “But unless you believe you’re going to be the best at anything you do, for me there’s no point turning up. I can’t deal with mediocre or being average.
      “I want to be the best in everything I do, whether that’s walking my dog and having it trained better than everybody else’s.
      “The players have to have that same attitude when it comes to football.” More

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      Rebecca Welch makes history as first woman to referee an EFL game after being handed Harrogate Town v Port Vale tie

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      REFEREE Rebecca Welch is set to make history by becoming the first woman to be appointed an EFL game.The highest ranked female official in England has been allocated Monday night’s game between Harrogate Town and Port Vale in League Two.
      Welch is a trailblazer for other female officials in the gameCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Breaking News: Rebecca Welch becomes the first female referee to be appointed to an @EFL game as she takes charge of Harrogate Town v Port Vale on Monday 5th April. Congratulations, Rebecca! pic.twitter.com/1GO5ZKNS3v— The Referees’ Association (@RefsAssociation) March 30, 2021

      In 2010, Amy Fearn became the first woman to take charge of a Football League match when she took over from injured Tony Bates in a Championship match between Coventry and Nottingham Forest.
      But Easter Monday’s game is the first time a female has been appointed beforehand to take charge in the EFL.
      Welch is on the Uefa’s elite list of referees and has taken charge of the women’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
      The Referees’ Association announced the news on Twitter, posting: “Rebecca Welch becomes the first female referee to be appointed to an @EFL game as she takes charge of Harrogate Town v Port Vale on Monday 5th April. Congratulations, Rebecca!”
      “I’m still trying to let it sink in,” Welch told Sky Sports. “I got the news on Saturday and haven’t come back down to earth yet. I’m very fortunate to have been given this opportunity and I’m really excited about it.
      “My dad is probably my biggest fan, so he’s over the moon. My mum doesn’t know a lot about football. She’s excited, but I don’t think she knows why! They’re really proud.
      “It’s not something I thought that, when I decided to be a referee 11 years ago, I would be in the Football League doing a game. That didn’t even register on my radar.
      “It seems to have been a whirlwind over the past 11 years and now we’re a week away from one of the biggest games of my career.
      “I’ve always said, through all my promotions, I want to be appointed because I am in the top 10 match officials on that list. I never want to be appointed based on anything else. I’ve got faith in the system, and I’ve been rewarded.”
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      The appointment of Welch to the League Two match comes just two days after Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to take charge of a men’s World Cup qualifier.
      And with the increased number of female officials beginning to succeed in the men’s game, Welch highlighted pioneering English official Sian Massey-Ellis as a huge inspiration to her.
      “Sian’s an absolute icon in refereeing and has paved the way for females, not just in England but all over Europe, to think about taking up the whistle,” she added.
      “To have her around a dressing room, as one of my friends, is really important. The experience that Sian has is invaluable.
      “I’ve grown so much as a person, being around the professional football environment, and learning from things I do wrong, something I probably didn’t do as much of before I was a referee.
      “I’ve got a big support network, and nobody understands you better than another referee. But it’s really important to have a support network not connected to football too.”
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      Forest Green Rovers’ Jamille Matt’s fingers bent out of shape in horror injury before distraught striker stretchered off

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      FOREST GREEN star Jamille Matt suffered a gruesome hand injury just six minutes into his side’s clash with Bolton this afternoon.His fingers were bent at a horrible angle with the striker visibly in agonising pain.
      Matt’s fingers were left sticking out at horrifying angles
      Jamille Matt required extensive treatment on the gruesome injuryCredit: PA
      Matt, 31, was stretchered off just minutes into the gameCredit: Rex
      The Jamaican started up top for Rovers in their televised League Two clash with the Trotters.
      But it ended in nightmarish, premature fashion just a few minutes into the game.
      Following an accidental collision with Bolton’s MJ Williams, the 31-year-old’s fingers appeared to be bent at all kinds of sickening angles.
      And the clearly distressed front-man was subsequently stretchered off.
      It was all a bit much for one fan on social media, who wrote: “Jamille Matt of Forest Green Rovers putting me off my scrambled egg on toast with this horrific injury to his hand against Bolton.”
      While another added: “Jamille Matt’s hand looks vile – looks like he has broken all finger.”
      Matt went into the game enjoying the most prolific season of his career.
      The former Plymouth Argyle, Fleetwood and Blackpool star has scored 15 goals this term, already surpassing the 14 he managed for Newport two seasons ago.
      Both Forest Green and Bolton are chasing automatic promotion into League One.
      Matt clashed innocuously with MJ Williams
      The Jamaican was in agony while receiving treatmentCredit: Sky Sports

      Rovers went into the game sitting in third, although Bolton knew that they could leapfrog their opponents with a win.
      After today’s match, Forest Green will have just nine games remaining, as they chase promotion to the third tier for the first time in their history.
      And manager Mark Cooper will be desperate not to be without his star striker for too long as the season approaches its conclusion.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      EFL announce first EVER clear round of coronavirus testing out of 5,524 with just two in Prem for seventh week running

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      EFL chiefs have recorded their first Covid-free testing round.A total of 5,524 players and staff from across all 72 EFL clubs gave samples last week.
      There were zero Covid-19 cases in the Football League this weekCredit: PA
      None of those tests came back positive, in a landmark week for the EFL.
      League chief executive Trevor Birch said: “These results are a testament to the hard work and efforts of all EFL clubs during what has been a particularly challenging period.
      “For 12 months we, like the rest of the society, have been dictated to by this virus.
      “However, the stringent protocols implemented across the board have ensured that we are now able to turn our attention to returning to a certain level of normality.
      “Our focus must be on maintaining this low transmission rate and then ensure supporters can return in full as quickly as is safe to do so.
      “Football remains one of the most heavily regulated areas of crowd management, with EFL clubs already demonstrating they can stage matches safely during a successful pilot programme earlier in the season.”
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      Premier League clubs have recorded two positive samples in each of the last seven weeks, with the last clear round of top-flight testing coming in the final week of last season.
      Leeds’ Polish midfielder Mateusz Klich has tested positive for the virus and will miss his country’s three World Cup qualifiers including next week’s match with England at Wembley.
      A solitary positive was recorded from the first round of 1,576 tests between Monday and Thursday last week, with a another positive result from the second round of 1,196 tests between Thursday and Sunday.
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      Ex-Man City star Curle insists he is making progress at Oldham after Latics dent Bradford’s League Two promotion hopes

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      KEITH CURLE insists progress is being made despite still searching for his first Oldham win.The former Manchester City star has overseen three draws out of four since replacing Harry Kewell at the League Two side.
      Keith Curle is still searching for his first win as Oldham bossCredit: Getty
      Oldham’s top scorer Conor McAleny was twice denied in the goalless draw at BradfordCredit: Rex
      Curle, 57, said: “I’ve only been in the job 10 days.
      “If you’re trying to build something and put foundations in place, a clean sheet is a good place to start.
      “I thought we were brave and we controlled the possession. We can still do it a little bit better.”
      Oldham’s top scorer Conor McAleny was twice denied by goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell.
      Connor Wood, Charles Vernam and Gareth Evans all came close for the hosts.
      Latics sub Dylan Bahamboula also fired wide after finding space in the box late on.
      Curle added: “Goals will come. But you are always happy with a clean sheet.”
      The stalemate dealt a blow to Bradford’s play-off hopes.
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      Richard O’Donnell kept a clean sheet on his return in goal for the BantamsCredit: Alamy
      The draw dented Bradford’s play-off hopesCredit: Rex

      Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars’ Bantams are nine points adrift of sixth and winless in four.
      Trueman said: “We’ve lost two in a row so it was important we didn’t do that again.
      “Winning’s a habit but so is losing. It was important we didn’t get beaten.
      “Yes we wanted a better performance but it was important we didn’t lose.
      “We have put ourselves in a good position in the league but we’ve just got to finish as strong as we can.”
      Oldham Athletic’s Carl Piergianni tussles with Bradford striker Danny RoweCredit: Alamy
      Joint bosses Conor Sellars and Mark Trueman were glad to stop Bradford’s two-match losing runCredit: Getty
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