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      Watch former Premier League bad-boy Nile Ranger’s dramatic extra-time winner as seventh-tier Kettering stun Northampton

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      NILE RANGER headed the extra-time winner as seventh-tier Kettering stunned League One Northampton to make the FA Cup second round.Ranger, 33, once pocketed £10,000-a-week and says he could have been as good as Erling Haaland – but instead ended up unemployed after stints in jail.Nile Ranger headed in against Northampton Town in the FA CupCredit: bbcHis goal gave Kettering Town a huge upset in the historic competitionCredit: bbcHe was handed a career lifeline by Southern League Premier Central side Kettering last month.And he made an instant impact with a towering header to stun their more illustrious local rivals.Cobblers star Connor Johnson had netted in the first-half own goal to hand Kettering the lead before Luca Miller levelled to send the game to extra time.Thrilled Ranger said: “It’s special, especially where we’re coming from.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Obviously our tier of football is quite low, so coming to Northampton, it’s a derby as well. Look what it means to the fans. It’s a lot.”I’m trying to be humble. I’m getting old now.”Obviously, I went down a level to show everyone I’m still hungry. It feels good for myself as well.”Ranger rose highest to head home the winner in the 92nd minute at the Sixfields Stadium.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe is not the only former Premier League star at Kettering with Gary Hooper and Marvin Sordell both also on the books.The result was a huge scalp for Kettering and Northampton are four divisions higher than the Southern League Premier Division Central side.Meet non-league star with longest throw in football who plans to put it to good use in FA Cup giant killingRanger was over the moon after scoringCredit: PAGainsborough will be the lowest-ranked side in tonight’s FA Cup second-round draw after a penalty shoot-out victory following a 4-4 draw with eighth-tier Hesnesford.The Northern Premier League strugglers recovered from 3-0 down to force extra-time with an added time leveller from Will Lancaster.Seventh-tier Trinity fell behind again before levelling — then won 5-4 on penalties to reach the second round for the first time in 72 years.Gainsborough boss Russ Wilcox said: “I’ve never been involved in anything like that. In the penalty shoot-out we had three chances to win it and three chances to lose it.”And National League strugglers Wealdstone pulled off a shock by winning 1-0 at League Two Grimsby with Alex Reid’s 90th-minute strike.The striker said: “The gaffer said show respect but believe in yourselves.”Oldham overcame the one-division gap to League Two Tranmere to beat Rovers 2-1 at Prenton Park.National League Dagenham also beat League Two opposition with Dion Pereira’s second-half penalty clinching a 1-0 win at Crewe.Daggers boss Ben Strevens said: “It’s an amazing day for us. The scenes at the end are what we do it for.”Seventh-tier Harborough are in the second round for the first time after a 4-1 win at National League South Tonbridge.FA Cup first round results Here are all of the results from the FA Cup first round…Notts County 5-1 Alfreton TownTamworth 1-0 HuddersfieldTonbridge 1-4 Harborough Town Worthing 0-2 Morecambe Burton Albion 1-0 Scarborough AthleticSolihull Moors 3-0 Maidstone UnitedGillingham 0-2 BlackpoolReading 2-0 FleetwoodNewport County 2-4 Peterborough Barrow 0-1 DoncasterWoking 0-1 Cambridge UnitedStockport 2-1 Forest Green RoversBristol Rovers 3-1 Weston-super-MareRochdale 3-4 BromleyWalsall 2-1 BoltonPort Vale 1-3 BarnsleyExeter City 5-3 BarnetSwindon Town 2-1 ColchesterWycombe 3-2 York CityChesterfield 3-1 HorshamSouthend 3-4 CharltonMaidenhead 1-2 Crawley TownBrackley Town 0(5)-(4)0 Braintree TownCrewe Alexandre 0-1 Dagenham and RedbridgeBradford City 3-1 Aldershot TownCarlisle 0-2 Wigan AthleticTranmere 1-2 OldhamStevenage 1(5)-(4)1 GuiseleyGrimsby Town 0-1 Wealdstone Salford City 2-1 ShrewsburyRotherham 1-3 CheltenhamRuchall Olympic 0-2 Accrington StanleyHednesford Town 4(4)-(5)4 Gainsborough TrinityNorthampton Town 1-2 Kettering TownStill to playMK Dons v AFC WimbledonSutton United v Birmingham CityCurzon Ashton v Mansfield TownBoreham Wood v Leyton OrientHarrogate Town v WrexhamChesham United v Lincoln CityPaul Malone gave the Southern League Premier Central side the lead before Ben Stephens (two) and Danny Forbes sealed it.Northern Premier League Guiseley gave League One Stevenage a scare before finally going out on penalties.Will Longbottom’s equaliser for the non league outfit made it 1-1 but keeper Murphy Cooper made two saves to help win the shoot-out 5-4.Maidstone’s hopes of another memorable Cup run ended with a 3-0 defeat at Solihull Moors.READ MORE SUN STORIESJosh Magennis scored a hat-trick for Exeter in the League One side’s 5-3 win over National League Barnet.And National League North outfit Rushall Olympic finished with ten men with Luke Benbow sent off for two bookings as they were beaten 2-0 at home by League Two Accrington. More

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      FA Cup second round draw: Date, start time, live stream FREE, ball numbers and TV channel

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      THE FA CUP is rolling on at pace with the first round proper fixtures currently underway.And that means we won’t have long until the second round draw!Kelly Somers will be hosting the second round drawCredit: Instagram @kellyesomersSides from League One and League Two are entering the competition in the first round proper as the road to Wembley begins.Northampton Town are hosting Kettering Town in a huge derby.While MK Dons are taking on AFC Wimbledon.The lowest ranked team in the first round is Hednesford Town, who are currently 14th in the Northern Premier League Division One West.The Pitmen take on Gainsborough Trinity and will be number 12 in the second round draw should they pull off the shock.The second round proper ties will be played between Friday 29 November and Monday 2 December.FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSWhen is the FA Cup second round draw?The FA Cup second round draw is taking place on Sunday, November 3.The draw will be broadcast during BBC’s first round highlights show on BBC Two, and is expected at 7.45pm.Most read in FA CupKelly Somers will be hosting, with Emile Heskey and Leon Osman conducting the draw.How can I watch the FA Cup second round draw?The FA Cup second round draw will be televised on BBC Two during the BBC’s first round highlights show.It will also be available to be live streamed for FREE on the FA Cup’s YouTube page and across the FA Cup’s social channels.Emile Heskey will be conducting the drawCredit: GettyWhat are the ball numbers?1. Rotherham United or Cheltenham Town2. Barrow or Doncaster Rovers3. Worthing or Morecambe4. Boreham Wood or Leyton Orient5. Exeter City or Barnet6. Carlisle United or Wigan Athletic7. Tamworth or Huddersfield Town8. Brackley Town or Braintree Town9. Curzon Ashton or Mansfield Town10. Wycombe Wanderers or York City11. Bradford City or Aldershot Town12. Hednesford Town or Gainsborough Trinity13. Burton Albion or Scarborough Athletic14. Tranmere Rovers or Oldham Athletic15. Rochdale or Bromley16. Walsall or Bolton Wanderers17. Grimsby Town or Wealdstone18. Bristol Rovers or Weston Super Mare19. Milton Keynes Dons or AFC Wimbledon20. Solihull Moors or Maidstone United21. Stockport County or Forest Green Rovers22. Reading or Fleetwood Town23. Stevenage or Guiseley24. Northampton Town or Kettering Town25. Rushall Olympic or Accrington Stanley26. Swindon Town or Colchester United27. Salford City or Shrewsbury Town28. Crewe Alexandra or Dagenham & Redbridge29. Port Vale or Barnsley30. Chesham United or Lincoln City31. Chesterfield or Horsham32. Southend United or Charlton Athletic33. Notts County or Alfreton Town34. Maidenhead United or Crawley Town35. Harrogate Town or Wrexham36. Woking or Cambridge United37. Gillingham or Blackpool38. Tonbridge Angels or Harborough Town39. Sutton United or Birmingham City40. Newport County or Peterborough United More

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      We hosted Arsenal and received compliment from Arsene Wenger, then EFL ordered us to spend £1m tearing up our pitch

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      SUTTON chairman Bruce Elliott believes hosting Arsenal in the FA Cup seven years ago started an incredible journey.That last-16 clash set the wheels in motion for a rise within four years into the EFL for the first time since the team was formed in 1898.Sutton welcomed Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup back in 2017Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdBruce Elliott – Sutton Utd Chairman. Pic Jamie McPhilimey. 16.02.17.Credit: Jamie McPhilimey – The SunAnd although the tiny Surrey club are back in non-league after relegation last season, Elliott hopes knocking Birmingham out of the FA Cup on Sunday at Gander Green Lane can be the prologue to another glorious chapter.Elliott said: “That run to the fifth round was our best in the FA Cup and it set off a chain of events that eventually saw us win EFL status — something we’d never expected or dreamed of.“The FA Cup has been great for this club. Of course, we famously knocked out the defending FA Cup holders Coventry in 1989 but our run in 2017 was special.“We beat Wimbledon after a replay, upset Leeds here and then hosted an Arsenal team who had just played Bayern Munich a few days earlier.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“In The Sun there was a whole page about our small changing rooms and how it was a huge come-down from what they’d experienced!“And a lot was made of our 3G pitch before that match and how Arsenal would cope with playing on it.”Arsene Wenger put out a strong team and beat the plucky part-timers 2-0 with goals from Lucas Perez and Theo Walcott.And Elliott will never forget meeting the legendary former manager after the match.Most read in FA CupCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe Sutton chairman said: “I apologised to him about the size of the dressing rooms.“He replied, ‘It’s fine, people forget I used to manage a small team in France and in any case I rather like the smaller sized ones, you’re nearer the players.’ What a great answer. Another lovely thing was when I asked why with the game in the bag with just 16 minutes left did he bring on Alexis Sanchez?Lincoln’s Ethan Erhahon reveals players STOLE the physio’s car and he was offered a ‘scrap’ with a fan – What the EFL“After all, they had paid £30million for that guy, so why risk him against a non-league team late in a game that is pretty much over.“He replied, ‘I thought it was the right thing to do for such an occasion as this!’“That was absolutely quality and class from him. He understood what a big deal it was for Sutton United.”When Sutton won promotion to the EFL in 2021, they had to rip up their 3G pitch and install a grass one. It is something that still rankles with Elliott and Sutton fans.Already in the three seasons since they lost it, it has cost the club around £1MILLION.Elliott said: “It does seem ridiculous that our 3G pitch was good enough to host Arsenal in the FA Cup — but not for League Two games!“I don’t get why the EFL doesn’t relax the rules. They’re even allowed in European competitions.“There are a lot of people at those higher levels living in the past — thinking back to the days of the inferior plastic pitches at Luton, Oldham and QPR. They are now of the highest quality.”Another bugbear for Elliott is the FA scrapping cup replays — denying them a possible money-spinning replay at St Andrew’s.He said: “There is no logic to getting rid of them until the third round when Premier League sides enter.“I understand it at that point but to lose them from the first round denies clubs at our level the chance to get another TV payday.”The Blues come to Surrey as the biggest spending club outside of the Premier League.No team in League One history has ever splashed the cash quite like the Brummies — with Jay Stansfield arriving for £15million with it set to rise to £20m depending on appearances and promotion.It is a far cry from Sutton who have one of the lowest budgets in the fifth tier.READ MORE SUN STORIESElliott said: “We’re still ambitious but we’ve always spent within our means.“It was an incredible achievement for us to be in the EFL. Now that we’ve tasted it, we most definitely would like to get there again.” More

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      Fans in meltdown over ‘7 seconds of horror’ as Newcastle cult hero’s new job quickly turns into a disaster

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      NEWCASTLE cult hero Mike Williamson saw his Carlisle team have another nightmare as they sunk further into relegation trouble.Carlisle have been without a win since September 21, with two draws and five defeats in all competitions since then.Newcastle hero Mike Williamson has had a horror run as manager of CarlisleCredit: PAToday’s match against Cheltenham saw them lose 1-0Credit: CUTV via X formerly TwitterA long range shot from Ethon Archer looked like it had initially been dealt with by goalkeeper Harry LewisCredit: CUTV via X formerly TwitterLewis got back up to try and win catch the ballCredit: CUTV via X formerly TwitterBut the ball bounced into the netCredit: CUTV via X formerly TwitterAnd that winless run continued on Saturday at Brunton Park after the Cumbrians fell to a 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham.But it was a disastrous mistake from goalkeeper Harry Lewis that condemned Williamson’s side to their 10th league defeat of the season.A 17th-minute shot from Ethon Archer from the left side of the area initially looked to have been dealt with by Lewis.However, the shot then spun up and behind the 26-year-old.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLewis got to his feet and looked set to catch the ball as it bounced.But the spin of the ball seemed to catch Lewis off guard as he was unable to stop the ball from bouncing into the net.The goal proved to be pivotal as Carlisle were unable to find a goal to cancel it out.The 6,064-strong crowd made their feelings clear at full-time by booing at the end of the game as the team remain second-bottom of League Two.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSReacting on social media, one fan said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, Carlisle United….”A second said: “Christ, that’s unbelievably tragic!” I was earning £10,000 a week at Newcastle before I went to jail and I’d still be in the Premier League now if I’d behaved A third added: “7 seconds of horror.”Another said: “When you think things can’t get any worse -absolute laughing stock. No manager could make this team play any better.”Williamson, 40, was appointed to the job permanently on September 19 after arriving from MK Dons, replacing the sacked Paul Simpson.He spent six years as a player at Newcastle, making 169 appearances.Speaking after the game, he said: “It’s hard to stomach but the boys are giving everything.”He also confirmed that striker Charlie Wyke had been taken to hospital for a scan and his thoughts were with him after he was stretchered off.READ MORE SUN STORIESWilliamson said: “I really hope Charlie Wyke is okay. I don’t like seeing any player stretchered off and I will try and see him quickly now, as will Luke Young. “It was an honest challenge, with no malice. My thoughts are with Charlie and I hope it’s not a long one.” More

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      Karren Brady: Football isn’t broken and Keir Starmer’s plan to fix it will create many more problems than it solves

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      TO change, and to change for the better, are two different things.And the Government’s plan to change football is more likely to create many more problems than it solves.Keir Starmer’s Government will introduce the Football Governance Bill this weekCredit: GettySunSport columnist, and West Ham vice chairman, Karren Brady thinks the bill will only cause more problemsCredit: PAI remain wholly unconvinced about the role of regulators, both in and out of football.Just look at some of our leading industries and the way regulators have worked. Or not.Water is the obvious one as our beaches and rivers have been transformed into a toxic dumping ground while the companies rake in millions in wages, bonuses and shareholder dividends — almost always of little or no benefit to the UK.And don’t get me started on the trains. We have the most expensive railway network in the Western world, and best-paid train drivers, yet actually getting trains to run on time has been well-nigh impossible.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSSo, please, when politicians preach about how the Football Governance Bill introduced in the House of Lords this week will make everything rosy in football’s garden, don’t believe the hype.There is no need for another layer of administration and regulation. And I’ll tell you why…The Premier League has been one of this country’s major success stories of the past three decades.It has taken a game which was crumbling and collapsing around our feet to the best and most-watched football league in the world. It is the global Big One.Most read in FootballThere are critics who say the Premier League just looks after the hotshots, the Manchester Uniteds and Arsenals. Rubbish.In the last three years the Premier League has given a world-leading £1.6billion to the EFL, National Leagues, grass-roots football and the women’s game. Nowhere else in the world can even get close to matching that.Jose Mourinho makes cheeky dig at the referee after being sent off against old club Manchester UnitedThe PL give nearly £8m on average to every EFL Championship club, £1.4m to each League One club and £900,000 to each League Two club.Politicians tell you the regulator will make clubs more fan-friendly but it is already being done.The Premier League instigated a Fan Engagement Standard, meaning there has to be a Fan Advisory Board at every single club.An away ticket price cap was introduced years ago, which ensures supporters pay a maximum of £30 when they travel.At the rate we’re going you’ll get about half a bathtub for that from our regulated water companies.What happened to Bury and others like them was terribly sad but you cannot blame the Premier League for their financial mess.Karren BradyI’ll give you some other numbers. The Premier League annually hands over £4.2bn in tax to the Treasury and directly employs 90,000 people, a third of whom are in the North West, an area which sadly has pockets of high deprivation.A total of 51 clubs have reached the Premier League, which surely underlines the fact that the financial distributions do broadly work.And while going into administration is a worrying time for fans, the likes of Crystal Palace, Luton, Bournemouth, Southampton and Leeds all reset and got to the Premier League — with three of them still in it.What happened to Bury and others like them was terribly sad but you cannot blame the Premier League for their financial mess.I’ve heard it said, mainly by ill-informed politicians, that parachute payments are fundamentally wrong. Not so. They allow clubs to remain financially sustainable should they suffer relegation from the top flight.The regulator will have to consider INCREASING parachute payments as that is the only way established relegated clubs can be more sustainable.There are critics who say the Premier League just looks after the hotshots, the Manchester Uniteds and Arsenals. Rubbish.Karren BradyThey give clubs the security to be able to invest in competitive squads, sign players and coaches on multi-year contracts and invest in world-class stadia and fan experience, with the knowledge that there will be some financial protection in the event of relegation.When you are relegated you still have to pay all the staff, including the players, and have all the same overheads, so if you don’t have the parachute payment you are effectively bust.The numbers are what makes the Premier League the world’s leading domestic club competition.Over 15million fans go to games every year and internationally OUR Premier League is watched annually by 1.5bn supporters from 189 countries.In every sense of the word it is a success, with not a regulator in sight.The Bill will change the way football operates, impacting supporters and clubs.READ MORE SUN STORIESA regulator that delivers stronger oversight of fan engagement and club heritage — and prevents breakaway leagues — is welcome.But one that significantly impacts the competitive balance of the league is not. More

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      Ian Holloway lands first manager job in football in four years as he is named boss of EFL club

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      IAN HOLLOWAY has been appointed manager of EFL side Swindon Town.The League Two strugglers parted company with Mark Kennedy following their underwhelming start to the season.Ian Holloway has been appointed Swindon managerCredit: PAThey have wasted little time in appointing his successor with Holloway confirmed just hours after his sacking.Holloway, 61, has signed a deal until the end of the season.He said on joining The Robins: “I’m delighted to be back working in football after a period out of the game as I wanted to get back into it if the right opportunity arose which, with this opportunity, I feel is the perfect fit for me.”Conversations happened very quickly and both sides were very keen to get the deal done and of course, I was delighted to engage with a club like Swindon Town, a club of whom I know a lot about due to my location and knowledge of the local area.”I want to be able to bring everyone together to deliver success and positivity on and off the pitch and I’m delighted to be at The Nigel Eady County Ground tomorrow to meet you all for the first time as Swindon Town Manager and I look forward to a successful time working together.”Holloway has not managed since he was sacked by Grimsby four years ago after winning just 11 out of 38 games in charge.He is just 11 games away from 1000 matches managed in a managerial career that has seen him win promotion three times.Holloway’s first taste of success came at QPR when he won promotion to the Championship in 2004.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe then twice one promotion to the Premier League, first with Blackpool in 2010 and again three years later with Crystal Palace – both of which came via the play-offs.Swindon will hope Holloway can add a bit of inspiration immediately as they have just two wins from 13 games and sit three points above the relegation zone.Worthing FC owner George Dowell describes club’s ambition to reach EFL for first time More

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      Swindon SACK manager Mark Kennedy after less than five months as they release brief 90-word statement

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      SWINDON have sacked boss Mark Kennedy after just five months in charge.The League Two side have confirmed that first team coaches Marcus Bignot, Steve Mildenhall and Gavin Gunning will remain in place to take charge of this weekend’s clash with Gillingham.Swindon have sacked manager Mark KennedyCredit: GettyKennedy, 48, signed a two-year deal with Swindon back in May.But following a poor start to the season, the Irishman has been relieved of his duties.In a 90-word statement, the fourth-tier side confirmed: “Swindon Town Football Club have parted company with head coach Mark Kennedy.”Marcus Bignot, Steve Mildenhall and Gavin Gunning will continue in their current positions, with all three first-team coaches in place to oversee this weekend’s game against Gillingham.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Everyone at Swindon Town Football Club would like to express their appreciation to Mark for his commitment and hard work during his time with the Club and wish him all the best in the future.”A further update on the club’s new head coach will be provided at the earliest opportunity.”The former Ireland international won three of his 16 games in charge of Swindon in all competitions.In his final game in charge they were beaten 2-1 by Salford on Tuesday night.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSFollowing the match, Kennedy went on to blame his players’ decision making.He told the BBC: “Unfortunately we found a way to lose the game.Former Watford and Gillingham hero Andy Hessenthaler shares crazy EFL story after being attacked by the owner I What the EFL?!”Our decision making leaves me scratching my head a little bit. The games we’ve lost, I don’t feel this season, with the exception of Walsall, anybody’s come and beat us.”Kennedy went on to add: “When I look at Darren [Moore] at Port Vale, Grant [McCann] on Saturday, Karl [Robinson] tonight (Tuesday), when I look back and reflect and visualise the following day having played my team and what they did to beat us, I keep coming up with the same answer: ‘We were really lucky there, they didn’t half help us’.”We’re handing teams wins – Carlisle, two set-pieces, Port Vale first goal, set-piece.’DIFFICULT FOR ME TO TAKE'”Second goal tonight, clear your lines. We bizarrely think we’re going to take somebody on in the box and go across the goal and put ourselves in difficult situations.”That’s really difficult for me to take as a head coach.”Swindon are 22nd in League Two – three points above the relegation zone and already 10 back from the play-off places.Kennedy previously worked as Macclesfield boss in 2020 amid the club’s financial turmoil.He was then appointed Lincoln manager in May 2022 before leaving in October last year.As a player Kennedy represented the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, before eventually hanging up his boots in 2012 following a spell with Ipswich.Swindon have moved quickly to appoint Ian Holloway as Kennedy’s replacement.The former Crystal Palace, QPR Blackpool and Plymouth Argyle boss will officially begin work on Monday, but will be in attendance as his new side take on Gillingham tomorrow.’SUCCESS AND POSITIVITY’Upon joining the Robins, Holloway said: “I’m delighted to be back working in football after a period out of the game as I wanted to get back into it if the right opportunity arose which, with this opportunity, I feel is the perfect fit for me.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Conversations happened very quickly and both sides were very keen to get the deal done and of course, I was delighted to engage with a club like Swindon Town, a club of whom I know a lot about due to my location and knowledge of the local area.”I want to be able to bring everyone together to deliver success and positivity on and off the pitch and I’m delighted to be at The Nigel Eady County Ground tomorrow to meet you all for the first time as Swindon Town Manager and I look forward to a successful time working together.”Kennedy, 48, previously worked as Lincoln bossCredit: Getty More

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      ‘I nearly joined Man Utd after Sir Alex Ferguson charmed me but I don’t regret it… then I ended my career at Barnet’

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      EDGAR DAVIDS revealed he almost joined Manchester United after meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson in 1996.Davids, 51, enjoyed tremendous success playing for the likes of Ajax, where he won the Champions League and the Eredivisie, as well as Juventus, where he won three Serie A titles.Edgar Davids revealed he almost joined Manchester United in 1996Credit: Times Newspapers LtdDavids held talks with Man Utd’s legendary boss Sir Alex FergusonCredit: GettyDavids turned Man Utd down to play for AC Milan as that was where the ‘big boys’ playedCredit: Allsport – GettyHowever, the former midfielder’s career could have looked a lot different if he accepted Ferguson’s offer to join him at United just three years before the legendary Treble triumph.The Dutchman revealed he had a “charming” conversation with Sir Alex but opted for AC Milan as that was there the “big boys” played back in the day.And the Netherlands great insists he has no regrets despite United’s tremendous success under Fergie until 2013.Davids told BetMGM: “When I left Ajax in 1996 there was a good chance of me going to Manchester United.Read More on Football“I had a conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson and it was one of the most unbelievable experiences I had in my whole career. He was funny, charming, intelligent — basically everything you wanted.“The big boys were in Serie A and that’s where I wanted to go at that time of my career. That was the main reason why I chose to go to AC Milan.“I don’t regret not going to Manchester United. I’ve seen Sir Alex since and we had a good laugh about it all and there are still the same good feelings between us.”Davids did ultimately make the move to England nine years later as he played for Tottenham until 2007 before a short stint with Crystal Palace in 2010.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe ex-Barcelona star then turned into an EFL cult hero two years later as he took over as player-manager at Barnet in League Two, where he amassed 38 appearances until his retirement in 2014.Davids is now pursuing a career in management and currently works as Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman’s assistant.Steven Bergwijn gives a finishing masterclass with Edgar Davids in Netherlands training The ex-Inter Milan star revealed he cut his teeth learning under current United boss Erik ten Hag during his time in charge of Utrecht.The Juventus legend insists Ten Hag is a remarkable manager and hinted that the Red Devils’ troubles are caused by a lack of firepower up front.Davids added: “I know him [Ten Hag] very well. I did an internship at FC Utrecht and he was there. “He was very innovative with lots of different things and I was very impressed. He’s very focused and passionate about football.“We all know it hasn’t gone great at Manchester United. They are a club trying to rebuild and that’s never easy — but I do look at their options up front and think there’s not a prolific goalscorer there which makes such a difference.“For me, that’s what they are really missing. Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are good, young strikers and have talent but they don’t have that experience yet.“It’s so hard to say if he’s going to stay but the one thing you do know is, just like Real Madrid, results are what you are judged on and they clearly haven’t been nearly good enough while he’s been in charge.”Ten Hag’s Man Utd signingsThe Dutchman has brought in 21 players since moving to Old Trafford in 20222022-23:Antony, (Ajax) £86mCasemiro, (Real Madrid) £70mLisandro Martinez, (Ajax) £46mTyrell Malacia, (Feyenoord) £13mChristian Eriksen, (Brentford) freeMartin Dubravka, (Newcastle) loanWout Weghorst, (Burnley) loanJack Butland, (Crystal Palace) loanMarcel Sabitzer, (Bayern Munich) loan2023-24:Rasmus Hojlund, (Atalanta) £72mMason Mount, (Chelsea) £60mAndre Onana, (Inter Milan) £47mSofyan Amrabat, (Fiorentina) loanAltay Bayindir, (Fenerbahce) £4.3mJonny Evans, (Leicester) freeSergio Reguilon, (Tottenham) loan2024-25:Leny Yoro, (Lille) £52mManuel Ugarte, (Paris Saint-Germain) £50mMatthijs de Ligt, (Bayern Munich) £45mJoshua Zirkee, (Bologna) £36.5mNoussair Mazraoui, (Bayern Munich) £12.8mDavids ended a successful career at Barnet in League TwoCredit: Getty Images – GettyDavids is now pursuing a career as manager and currently works as assistant boss for the Netherlands’ national teamCredit: Getty Images – Getty More