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      EFL to allow five subs in all Championship, League One and League Two clashes for remainder of season

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      THE Football League have informed clubs they are now allowed to make FIVE substitutions in all games for the rest of the 2020-21 season.
      The EFL has revealed they have been locked in talks with Championship, League One and League Two clubs in recent days.

      EFL clubs are now allowed to make five subs for the rest of the 2020-21 seasonCredit: Rex Features

      And now they have agreed to allow managers five subs per game in a bid to limit player injury.
      In the Championship, clubs are now allowed to name NINE players on the bench.
      In Leagues One and Two, bosses are allowed to name just seven subs in their match-day squad.
      An EFL statement read: “Following consultation with clubs, the EFL Board has agreed to increase the permitted number of substitutes to five in all Sky Bet EFL.

      “[The new rule will begin in] fixtures taking place from 12pm on Friday November 20 for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.
      “Regulation 33.4 has been amended to permit:
      Championship Clubs to name up to nine substitutes in their matchday squad, with five permitted to take to the pitch in any fixture.
      League One and League Two Clubs to name up to seven substitutes in their matchday squad, again with five permitted to take to the pitch.”
      In June, the Premier League revealed they would allow clubs to name nine subs on the bench and introduce up to five per game in three groups.
      The rule remained in place until the end of the delayed 2019-20 season.

      But for 2020-21, the Premier League forced clubs to return to the three-sub rule, with just seven named on the bench.
      The Big Six – Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and the Manchester giants – were frustrated in August when they were outvoted.
      All-in-all, 11 clubs voted for just three subs, while nine were in favour of the five-sub rule.
      There has been an outcry from bosses and pundits alike following a spate of injuries in recent weeks, with some teams forced to play up to three times per week.
      Liverpool have been hit the hardest, with nine first-team players – including their entire first-choice back-four – all injured.
      Premier League bosses may now be forced to re-think their strategy.

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      Cristiano Ronaldo was ‘never quiet’ at Sporting Lisbon, says Oldham’s Jombati as he eyes FA Cup reunion with Wolves duo

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      SIDO Jombati hopes to set up an FA Cup reunion with two Portuguese greats – after seeing Cristiano Ronaldo come through the Sporting Lisbon academy.
      But the Oldham defender knows Hampton and Richmond will be looking to dump the League Two Latics out after being on the other side of the fence.

      Sido Jombati hopes to set up an FA Cup reunion with two Portuguese greatsCredit: ALAMY

      Jombati had a bird’s eye view of watching Ronaldo’s development as a youngster in the same Sporting youth set up.
      All he remembers about the kid who would go on to be a legend is he was not quiet – as he puts it, you do not meet a quiet man from Portugal, apart from him.
      However, it is Wolves pair Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho he wants to face after playing in the same side when they were kids.
      And he is in no doubt that goalkeeper Patricio is one of the best after first seeing him as an eight-year-old.

      Jombati, released from Sporting aged 16, recalled: “Cristiano was there but he was two years older – he has never been quiet, ever!

      Jombati has known Wolves’ Rui Patricio since he was nine-years-oldCredit: Reuters
      “I played alongside Rui and Joao and even back then they showed how good they are. Rui is a year younger but used to play a year above, Joao is a year older than me but sometimes I played a year above.
      “He was very skinny but football-wise was great and Patricio, wow. He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world, always has been. He always played one or even two years above his age group.
      “We first played together when I was nine-years-old and he would’ve been eight. So playing Wolves in the cup would be a nice experience!”

      First up for Harry Kewell’s side is a tricky trip to south west London to face National League South Borough.
      But this is not a step into the unknown for Jombati, who ended up playing for Weymouth, Basingstoke and Bath City after being released from Sporting.

      Jombati was in the same Sporting Lisbon youth set up as Cristiano Ronaldo
      And his own taste of pulling off a shock, when Bath won at League Two Grimsby in 2009, will help make sure he is not on the receiving end today.
      The 33-year-old added: “Coming over was very hard. Now I’m almost English but when I first came over, I was trying to get the ball down and play, it was a totally different style.
      “It was physically hard too. I needed to get myself in the gym to make myself stronger but I did learn and I know players use these games to try and get noticed.

      “You’re always going to have young kids who want to move up the divisions and experienced players who played higher up.
      “When teams like Hampton play in the FA Cup, they bring their A game and going away from home, it’s not going to be easy. Non-league teams always have that big striker and big centre back. If those two decide they’re playing, it can be difficult.
      “But we also want to win these games as we want to play big teams too.” More

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      Government and Premier League left EFL for dead but now Rick Parry has chance to show real leadership

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      THE darkest hour is just before the dawn.
      With winter nights, a national lockdown and the future of the oldest league in the world in doubt, the EFL are at crisis point.

      Rick Parry is leading the EFL through a vital period in its historyCredit: Reuters

      This has been created by the Government’s refusal to allow crowds back into stadiums and the unwillingness to provide any state aid to replace the loss of club’s biggest revenue stream — the fans.
      It was then compounded by the Premier League’s reluctance to bail out clubs down the pyramid without big conditions attached.
      We’ve had players refusing pay cuts and the PFA calling salary caps in League One and Two unenforceable and unlawful.
      Meanwhile, broadcasters are ridiculously getting rebates of TV monies, when TV is the only place live football can be seen.

      Despite these incredibly bleak times, the opportunity remains for real leadership.
      Rick Parry the Football League chairman, has the potential to pull the proverbial phoenix from the flame.
      Project Big Picture has actually started a long overdue conversation. When he was in the Premier League, Parry proposed a 20 per cent distribution of money.
      Now, through skill and chance, he’s managed to be offered 25 per cent of revenues being distributed into the EFL, alongside governance on sustainability and salvation.

      Irony pervades that poacher-turned-gamekeeper Parry, who brought in parachute payments for relegated Prem teams, now describes them as “an evil” needing to be eradicated.
      The EFL bailout has taken too long, been badly handled and mismanaged.
      Not securing decent levels of short-term funding is unforgivable.
      The EFL have never valued themselves properly.
      They have allowed the Prem to disappear over the horizon, while dripping down the toxic mix of inflated salaries and over-zealous ambitions to join their ranks.
      Granted it is difficult but the framework of the league is ridiculous and their outlook often warped.

      In 2002 when ITV Digital collapsed and nearly destroyed the EFL, what was the solution suggested for the league’s own incompetence of not getting parent company guarantees for money? March on Parliament!
      In 2008 when the banking system collapsed, rules stated the only banking facilities available to EFL clubs were the High Street ‘big four’ banks. Due to the “banking crisis” they were closed for business.
      I had to convince the then chairman that 72 clubs should focus on changing the rules to allow third-party funders to help.
      The EFL were recently offered £290million for 20 per cent of their media rights by private equity firm TPG.
      That meant the whole thing was valued at £1.5BILLION. The 20 per cent revenue, if put into a floated business, would be worth at least a billion on its own.
      Now Parry has the chance to fix the problem of these leagues being undervalued. On paper, he has the credentials.

      Raising £400m and creating a framework for a better-funded and managed EFL is well within grasp.

      He must be saying we can do that on our own and achieve maximum value for the EFL, without handing that all away to private equity firms.
      Valuations were before new distributions of football money was mooted.
      Now they are three times greater, so raising £400m to bail out short-term problems and creating a framework for a better-funded and managed EFL is well within his grasp.
      So, cometh the hour cometh the man. In Rick we trust?
      Listen to Simon Jordan and Jim White on talkSPORT at 10am Monday to Thursday.

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      Oldham fans stunned as club announce David Wheater has not been playing after injuring himself ‘lifting his DOG’

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      OLDHAM have announced David Wheater has been out of the side after injuring his back while lifting his DOG.
      The 33-year-old – who will become a free agent at the end of the season – is yet to feature for the League Two side this campaign.

      Oldham centre-back David Wheater is yet to make an appearance for the club this seasonCredit: Rex Features

      There has been some uncertainty over why he’s been omitted, with the club previously suggesting the ex-Bolton man was no longer part of the first team plans.
      It was rumoured there was a fall-out over a proposed pay-cut in the summer.
      But the club have now provided an extraordinary update on his fitness, issuing a lengthy statement explaining why Wheater has been out of the side.
      They said: “The club is aware that the player has publicly announced that he wishes to play for Oldham Athletic and in that respect the club needs to make it known the reasons why this has not been possible.

      “1. David was unable to train due to testing positive with Covid-19 in early September prior to the EFL season commencing and was therefore in isolation for a period of 10 days.
      “2. On returning after the illness, he was selected to play in a game during which he came into collision with a team-mate and sustained a concussive head injury requiring him to rest from training or playing for a minimum of two weeks followed by a graded return to training.
      “3. After the initial period of recovery the player reported a back injury which he stated he had sustained when ‘lifting his dog’.
      “He is still currently under treatment by the medical team for this injury.”

      Wheater was quick to message the club on Twitter that he will be available soon, as he said: “Sounds like I’m free to play then cos (sic) I’ll be fit in a few days.”
      Fans were left stunned that Wheater has been out of action after lifting his dog, as they flooded social media with a number of memes.

      sounds like im free to play then cos ill be fit in a few days
      — David Wheater (@BigWheatz31) November 3, 2020

      One fan commented: “David Wheater’s dog has blood on its paws.”
      Another tweeted: “Am I the only person who is curious as to what breed of dog he has? Need to know what to avoid when dog-hunting!”
      A third added: “This might be one of the greatest statements we’ve ever released. Brilliant stuff.
      “I mean it’s full of lies and utter bull****, not to mention you forgot about your own statement saying he was banished but fair play, I enjoyed this.”
      Meanwhile one stated: “How big is this dog lads?”
      One then messaged: “The dog must be massive #lies.”

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      Premier League chiefs tell cash-strapped lower league clubs ‘we’ll help you survive with or without EFL blessing’

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      PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs have told cash-strapped lower-league clubs: ‘We will help you survive – whether the EFL gives its blessing or not.’
      The top-flight insists the initial £50million bailout offer for League One and Two, which was rejected last month, remains on the table.

      Premier League chiefs have told lower league clubs they are ready to help with or without EFL supportCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Lower-tier clubs have been told they can come to the PL for survival cash, even if the EFL does not give its approval.
      One Premier League source explained: “We would prefer to do this with the EFL’s blessing.
      “But we have made it clear that any club in League One or Two can come to us and ask for funding, as long as they can show they need it because of Covid.”
      And  in a new letter to the EFL, the top flight  promised Championship clubs who face Covid- enforced oblivion they can come to them for  help.

      Premier League bosses confirmed their initial offer to the lower tiers remains in place despite its rejection.
      It added: “We will also support any Championship club suffering from  Covid-19 distress, on a case-by-case basis.”
      The letter comes ahead of the next  EFL board meeting on Thursday — in which chairman Rick Parry will urge his 72 teams to hold the line over the cash issue.
      Parry, who says the EFL needs £250m by the end of the season, last week warned Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden he would “never be forgiven” if clubs went under as a result of the failure of Government to offer cash while grounds are shut.

      Parry also appeared to be backing away from a  conflict with the Premier League but admitted at the weekend that  EFL sides would be “struggling” to pay wages “around Christmas”.
      One club chief said:  “We have made it clear that any team that needs help because of Covid only has to come to us.
      “That applies to the Championship as well.”

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      Ex-Towie star Mark Wright trains with Crawley Town… but Michelle Keegan won’t be League Two’s newest Wag

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      MARK WRIGHT trained with League Two side Crawley Town this week – but insists he’s not about to sign for the club.
      Pictures from the Red Devils’ workout showed the former TOWIE star, 33, getting stuck in with his new team-mates.

      Mark Wright is training with Crawley Town in a bid to maintain his fitnessCredit: BackGrid

      The presenter has enjoyed getting stuck into the workouts under old boss John YemsCredit: BackGrid

      One snap showed Wright head over heels on the turf as he enjoyed a runout under former manager John Yems.
      Yems, 61, coached the reality TV star and presenter during a loan spell at Broadfield Stadium in 2006-07.
      And Wright has stated that the link-up is purely to help spruce up his fitness levels.

      He told the club’s YouTube channel: “I love playing football, it’s my number one passion.
      “Obviously my career went in a different direction. The speculation is that I’m joining the Reds – it’s a bit far-fetched.
      “I’ve just been training with the boys, I know the gaffer, played nine games under the gaffer.
      “I’m just doing it for fitness, I love being around it, the camaraderie, the banter around the dressing room.”

      Wright, whose brother Josh plays for Leyton Orient, played youth football for West Ham and Arsenal before signing for Southend.

      Wright is not expected to sign a playing deal with CrawleyCredit: BackGrid

      Fans hoping to see Michelle Keegan on the Broadfield Stadium touchline will be disappointedCredit: Getty Images
      A career in league football was beyond the defender, however, and he focused his efforts on TOWIE – as an original cast member in the 2010 first series.
      Nowadays, Wright limits himself to exhibition appearances and is a regular in Soccer Aid, meaning Michelle Keegan is not about to become a League Two Wag.
      Yems remarked earlier in the week: “He’s a good player, so never say never.

      “The lads have taken to him and he just wants to play football.
      “Mark has played for us, don’t forget that. I don’t know if he wants to play for us again, you’d have to ask him.
      “I want to be like him and go and live in LA but I don’t think that is going to happen either!”

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      Ex-Towie star Mark Wright trains with side Crawley Town… but Michelle Keegan won’t become League Two’s newest Wag

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      MARK WRIGHT trained with League Two side Crawley Town this week – but insists he is not about to sign for the club.
      Pictures from the Red Devils’ workout showed the former TOWIE star, 33, getting stuck in with his new team-mates.

      Mark Wright is training with Crawley Town in a bid to maintain his fitnessCredit: BackGrid

      The presenter has enjoyed getting stuck into the workouts under old boss John YemsCredit: BackGrid

      One snap showed Wright head over heels on the turf as he enjoyed a runout under former manager John Yems.
      Yems, 61, coached the reality TV star and presenter during a loan spell at Broadfield Stadium in 2006-07.
      And Wright has stated that the link-up is purely to help spruce up his fitness levels.

      He told the club’s YouTube channel: “I love playing football, it’s my number one passion.
      “Obviously my career went in a different direction. The speculation is that I’m joining the Reds – it’s a bit far-fetched.
      “I’ve just been training with the boys, I know the gaffer, played nine games under the gaffer.
      “I’m just doing it for fitness, I love being around it, the camaraderie, the banter around the dressing room.”

      Wright, whose brother Josh plays for Leyton Orient, played youth football for West Ham and Arsenal before signing for Southend.

      Wright is not expected to sign a playing deal with CrawleyCredit: BackGrid

      Fans hoping to see Michelle Keegan on the Broadfield Stadium touchline will be disappointedCredit: Getty Images
      A career in league football was beyond the defender, however, and he focused his efforts on TOWIE – as an original cast member in the 2010 first series.
      Nowadays, Wright limits himself to exhibition appearances and is a regular in Soccer Aid, meaning Michelle Keegan is not about to become a League Two Wag.
      Yems remarked earlier in the week: “He’s a good player, so never say never.

      “The lads have taken to him and he just wants to play football.
      “Mark has played for us, don’t forget that. I don’t know if he wants to play for us again, you’d have to ask him.
      “I want to be like him and go and live in LA but I don’t think that is going to happen either!”

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      Scunthorpe forced to call off next THREE League Two matches after coronavirus outbreak with 18 in isolation

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      SCUNTHORPE have been forced to call off their next THREE League Two matches after a coronavirus outbreak has put 18 players in isolation.
      Eight of their players have tested positive for Covid-19 and another ten will have to self-isolate due to being in close contact with the others.

      Scunthorpe’s next THREE games have been called off due to coronavirus fearsCredit: Rex Features

      That is effectively their whole match day squad, with the remaining players not training for a week.
      The club released a statement on it’s website earlier today detailing the reasons why the games was being postponed.
      The statement reads: “Scunthorpe United can confirm our next three Sky Bet League Two games have been postponed due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases among the playing and coaching staff.
      “Due to these cases, the club has advised the EFL it is unable to safely fulfil the fixtures against Salford City (Tuesday, October 27), Colchester United (Friday, October 30) and Port Vale (Tuesday, November 3) at present.

      “Following testing on Monday, a total of eight players have now tested positive for Covid-19, with a further ten having to self-isolate due to coming into close contact with those particular players, leaving just ten players available. As a precaution, training for the unaffected players and staff will also cease for seven days.
      “The club is following all of Public Health England and the EFL’s Covid-19 protocols and will not name the players in question. We ask that their request for privacy and confidentiality are respected at this time.

      “We wish those affected a swift and safe recovery, and look forward to welcoming them back to the club soon.”
      The three games in question are against Salford on tonight, Colchester on Friday and Port Vale on November 3.

      The EFL has indicated an investigation will be opened into the circumstances of the postponements while new dates for the fixtures will be arranged.
      Scunthorpe’s would-be opponents tonight, Salford, were understanding of the issue and wished the club well on social media.
      On their Twitter they wrote: ‘Tonight’s game at Scunthorpe United has regrettably been postponed due to a number of Covid cases at Scunthorpe.
      “A new date and time will be announced in due course but in the meantime our best wishes for a speedy recovery to those affected at @SUFCOfficial.”
      This is not the first time a club in the lower leagues has had to postpone a fixture due to coronavirus.
      Earlier this month, Crewe’s tie against Oxford was cancelled twice due to Covid-19.

      Salford have wish Scunthorpe players a speedy recovery ahead of tonight’s postponed clashCredit: PA:Press Association
      The League One clash had originally been due to go ahead on October 3, only for Crewe player Omar Beckles to return a positive result for coronavirus on the morning of the game.
      This prompted them to postpone the match just 32 minutes before kick-off, causing outrage and sparking a police investigation.
      Crewe then postponed the match again after two more players tested positive for Covid-19, while a third was already in self-isolation.

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