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      Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney brutally told ‘stay in England’ after shock plan to have Wrexham playing in Europe

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      WREXHAM’S hopes of playing in Europe have met with an icy response.Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have funded two straight promotions, helped by Disney+ show Welcome to Wrexham.Wrexham co-chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds would surely love a shot at Europe after transforming the club on and off the fieldCredit: PAJack Marriott celebrates scoring vs Northampton, leaving Wrexham second in League One and eyeing a third straight promotionCredit: Instagram / wrexham_afcAnd a U-turn could be looming on Welsh clubs who compete in the English Football League from qualifying for European competitions.Talks are ongoing over allowing Championship clubs Cardiff City and Swansea City, plus Wrexham and Newport County, to enter the Welsh League Cup, with a place in Europe the likely prize for the winners.The last Welsh EFL club to qualify was Swansea back in 2013, thanks to winning the EFL Cup.At the moment, Wales’ “big four” clubs can only make Europe via success in the Premier League, FA Cup or EFL Cup.READ MORE TOP STORIESBut the Cymru Premier’s all-time record scorer has led criticisms of plans to give them a possible “in”.Marc Lloyd Williams, 51, who hit 319 goals in 467 Welsh League games, told BBC Radio Wales: “The four clubs made the decision to play in England, so stay in England. “Don’t try and take those European spots off the Cymru Premier teams. It is their bread and butter, week in, week out.”Swansea, Cardiff, Wrexham and Newport are in the Football League and the FA Cup and EFL Cup. Most read in EFLFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”They have got a chance to play Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal with a home tie and get big crowds in. “Just because TNS have qualified for Europe, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Cardiff or Swansea or Wrexham or Newport would.  Tom Brady in hilarious reaction after getting X-rated welcome from Wrexham fans for Birmingham clash”For me, you can’t be having your cake and eating it. They have made their decision and I would be against them coming in.”Unsurprisingly Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has the opposite view.Jack Marriott Wrexham vs Northampton TownCredit: Instagram / wrexham_afcHe said: “To have that opportunity to get into Europe again for the club would be amazing. Hopefully that comes to fruition.”The Dragons qualifying for Europe would further boost a following growing worldwide, especially in the USA, courtesy of their co-owners – “Deadpool” star Reynolds and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” actor McElhenney.Saturday’s 4-1 home win over Northampton left Wrexham second behind Birmingham in League One – dreaming of a third promotion in a row.And it appears L1 rivals might have mixed views on the Dragons receiving a much bigger opportunity of getting into Europe.Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony told his The Hard Truth podcast: “Wow. I guess it’s a two-sided answer. READ MORE SUN STORIES”One would be no, because they’re in the EFL, but two would be… if I were them, I would want to. “Financial rewards are massive. When I looked at buying Irish clubs recently, one Irish club made millions from being in Europe, from getting through and qualifying to the group stage. The prize money is colossal.” More

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      I was in prison FIVE times before I turned my life around to become an EFL star… now I’m a full-time church pastor

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      ON October 28, 1988, Ricky Junior Otto was sentenced to four years in prison aged 20 — the last of his five jail terms.He accepts he was a thug, bully and out-and-out menace to society — a product of a violent culture which ruled with fear growing up in Hackney, East London.EFL hero Ricky Otto is now a church pastorCredit: SuppliedOtto exclusively revealed how two inmates serving a combined 41 years during his time in Wandsworth changed his lifeCredit: AlamyBut following the time he served at Wandsworth, on this occasion for armed robbery, Otto walked out on January 25, 1990 an entirely different person to the one who arrived.And, remarkably, it was two inmates serving lengthy sentences who provided him with a lightbulb moment that changed his life forever.Now 56, Otto revealed: “It was these two guys — one was doing 24 years for murder, the other 17 for manslaughter.“They had watched me playing football in the gym and realised I had a talent and expressed this in the most incredible way.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“They told me something that day I have never forgotten: ‘Don’t serve the time, let the time serve you’.“From that moment I understood what they meant: ‘Don’t just sit in prison doing nothing but rather start preparing yourself now for when you are released’.“After that I became a gym orderly and started to prepare myself mentally and physically for a life after prison. It was just the kick up the backside that I needed.“When I walked out of Wandsworth in 1990, I knew it was a new beginning — with football being my escape into a new world.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe former winger said: “My immediate thought was to re-engage with my old team-mates who were now playing for amateur side Haringey Borough.“After a few games I got injured and I was sent for treatment at non-league Dartford. I ended up playing four games for them.Leicester City Players Under Fire for Harassing Fan “My performances caught the eye of Leyton Orient management duo Frank Clark and Peter Eustace.“They knew of my past and did not judge me but offered me a week’s trial, which was the opportunity of a lifetime that I’d been dreaming of while serving my time.“The trial was successful and I signed my first professional contract ten months after being released and just a couple of weeks before my 23rd birthday. It was the best birthday present ever!”After playing in the reserves and learning the game, Otto eventually got the chance to make his league debut when he was made sub for Orient’s fourth-tier game at Fulham in 1991, just 15 months after his release.He continued: “It was the last game of the season. I played the last 15 minutes, I should have scored too. But I was on the pitch playing and I had this wonderful feeling of achievement.”The following season he played 32 league games for the O’s, scoring his first goal at Hartlepool in September 1991.Otto said: “It was flattering that Barry Fry — then with Barnet — had watched me play against his side in the London Cup final and was clearly impressed.“When Barry joined Southend in April 1993 he signed me for £100,000. I don’t think I played in a better side at the start of the 1993-94 season.They knew of my past and did not judge me but offered me a week’s trial, which was the opportunity of a lifetime that I’d been dreaming of while serving my timeRicky OttoSunSport“Had Barry not been headhunted by Birmingham I genuinely believe we would have gone on to make the play-offs in what was the Championship at the end of that season.“We had such a wonderful camaraderie, with wins against big clubs with multi-million-pound budgets like Sunderland, Derby, Stoke and Middlesbrough. We were flying!”Otto’s next move was to link up with Fry again at Birmingham — this time in an £800,000 switch to St Andrew’s.His greatest football memories include his stunning equaliser against Liverpool at Anfield in the 1995 FA Cup and playing for City in the Football League Trophy final the same year — when his assist provided the extra-time winner for Paul Tait in front of over 76,000 fans at Wembley.Otto said: “I remember travelling on the coach to Wembley with a sea of Birmingham fans walking towards the stadium.“I had that pinch-me moment where I couldn’t believe I was going to be playing at Wembley.”After Birmingham, Otto played at Charlton, Peterborough and Notts County on loan.It was while he was with County, under Sam Allardyce, that he suffered a cruciate ligament injury which ultimately ended his career.I remember travelling on the coach to Wembley with a sea of Birmingham fans walking towards the stadium.I had that pinch-me moment where I couldn’t believe I was going to be playing at WembleyRicky OttoSunSportHe said: “I did manage to play again but I was never the same player. I’d lost that yard of pace and I always had that twinge of pain when I was playing.”After ten years, he knew his career was over.He added: “Having left school with no qualifications this was a period when I had think what I was going to do for the rest of my life.“Of course, I could have slipped back into my old ways before football but I knew I had to build another chapter to my life.”Instead, he trained as a probation officer, later creating his own consultancy working with offenders and those at risk of offending.Ricky said: “My work has enabled me to engage with some of the country’s most prolific offenders.“Being able to relate to their journey, I am able to use the same old adage that was spoken into my life when incarcerated: Don’t serve the time, let the time serve you.“For nearly 20 years I have primarily worked with adults. However, over the last two years I’ve been working with Walsall Youth Justice Service as a Resettlement Disproportionality Officer.”READ MORE SUN STORIESEven more remarkably, father-of-three Ricky is a committed Christian and, after passing his degree in Theology, is Pastor of ARC Birmingham Church. He is currently studying for a Masters degree.Yet in reflection of his extraordinary 56 years, Otto readily admits: “Without a shadow of a doubt, football saved my life.” More

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      EFL icon recalls his wildest stories, including spiked team-mate turning into Spider-Man and hothead boss’ topless rant

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      EFL legend Darren Pratley has revealed his team-mate once turned into Spider-Man after being spiked on a night out.Pratley helped Swansea up the divisions earlier in his career and played one season in the Premier League for Bolton.Darren Pratley shared a deep dive on his career in ‘What the EFL?’Credit: PA:Empics SportEx-team-mate Rory Fallon acted like Spider-Man after being spikedCredit: GettyBut it is Swansea where he has some of his fondest memories – including his funniest training ground story.He shared some tall tales from his career with SunSport as part of the “What the EFL?” series.From topless manager rants to a moment that still haunts him, Pratley shared all on his 21-year career.WILDEST TRAINING GROUND TALERory Fallon, and we always used to go on a jog. He’d been out the night before, came to training late, he’d been spiked, so he was Spider-Man the night before, apparently jumping around and doing crazy stuff.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBEST EFL PLAYERAdel Taarabt played against him. I played in that game that they keep showing on the EFL where he nutmegs Joe Allen and cuts inside and scores.BEST EFL FANSI’d have to go Swansea, wouldn’t I? Swansea, Swansea, Jacks. Yeah, apart from Leyton Orient, I’d have to go Swansea.DODGIEST EFL FACILITIESAgain, probably be Swansea. We used to train at the David Lloyd gym, so we would be showering after training with the public.If you didn’t have a good result, they would be asking you why when you’re naked in the showers.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSEFL FANS WHO LIVE RENT FREE IN YOUR HEADI’d say Millwall. I’ve scored a few goals against them. Six-, seven-, eight-year-olds who give you a bit of stick when you warm up. It’s an intimidating place to go, so probably I’d say Millwall.EFL star banned for eight matches for biting Liverpool legend Ian Rush’s nephew MOMENT THAT STILL HAUNTS YOUWe played Blackpool in the last game of the season. I think we just had to get a win. So they turned up, Phillips, Ince and all them, and it was 3-0 down after, I think, 15 minutes, and then we ended up missing out on goal difference, I think, on the play-offs.MADDEST DRESSING ROOM TALEIn my first loan at Brentford, at half-time, Martin Allen sits in the centre of the room on a chair with his top off, screaming, shouting at everyone. Didn’t know what was going on.MADDEST TRANSFER STORYAt Charlton, David Cotterill, he was texting me the night before saying that Charlton had offered him a contract, a couple of years and all that, and good money and that, and I was quite shocked, to be fair. And then he turned up the next day at the gates, thinking that he was coming in to sign a contract. Lee Bowyer had come to the gates and was like, show me the emails you’ve been getting, I have a messenger. It wasn’t the manager who he’d been speaking to, someone had pretended to be the manager on an email. He had to go home.WILDEST OWNER ANTICSAt Bolton, Lee Anderson, so he used to come in, we’d be in the changing room, the boys would have discussions whether they were going on a strike, whether they were going to train today.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe wasn’t paying wages for the players. We were in a good time at that time, when he wasn’t paying the players, so I just have to say, Lee Anderson.WILDEST NIGHT OUT”I’ve had a few. Got to say Marbella. We got promoted here, at Leyton Orient. We went to Marbella as a team and staff and had a good time.” More

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      FA Cup prize money dramatically increased as EFL and non-league clubs compensated for scrapping of replays

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      THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION has significantly increased the FA Cup prize money after replays were controversially axed.EFL and non-league clubs were outraged back in April after a joint decision from the Premier League and the FA to scrap rematches in the legendary competition.The Football Association has significantly raised the FA Cup prize moneyCredit: GettyThe FA agreed to put an extra £2.34million into the prize pot for rounds one to threeCredit: PAOfficials announced they would seek compensation for their clubs and branded the initiative as “frustrating and disappointing”.They also claimed they had been sidelined and expressed fears that the new format would deny already cash-strapped sides lucrative fixtures with some of the country’s biggest clubs.The EFL believed the decision occurred as a result of the expansion of Uefa’s calendar with the controversial introduction of the repackaged Club World Cup, which led to furious reaction from players.According to The Mail, however, a compensation has now been agreed following a series of high-level talks.Read More on FootballThe FA agreed to put an extra £2.34million into the prize pot for rounds one to three.That means the total kitty could increase by 38 per cent compared to last season.Therefore, defeated clubs from Round One will make £15,000 compared to nothing from last year.Those who are defeated in the second round will receive a total of £65,000, which is up from £41,000.Most read in FA CupBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnd finally those who make it to Round Three before being knocked out will pocket £145,000.Replays had been a key part of the FA Cup tradition, which is why the new plans received such a furious reaction.My cousin is Man Utd FA Cup hero – now he’s helping me through my injury hell so I can shine for women’s teamWhy FA Cup changes are GOOD NEWSBy Martin LiptonTHE FA and Premier League should have done the deal to scrap FA Cup replays years ago.No doubt traditionalists will moan but it is right that the competition has finally been brought into the 21st century.Ending replays will bring extra sharpness and excitement to the ties, with the knowledge that there will be a winner, whether in 90 minutes, extra-time or penalties.If big guns have a bad day, they are more likely to pay the price. Replays after draws give them a fall-back they do not deserve.Giving the FA Cup total and absolute priority over four weekends – and ensuring there is no competing match on the day of the Final – will enhance the profile of a competition that was in danger of falling out of the spotlight.And as long as the FA ensures a better split of the prize money fund, weighting it more towards the earlier rounds, and potentially a similar move with  TV match money, there should be few losers.Read more on the FA Cup. More

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      AFC Wimbledon reveal target date to reopen flooded stadium after SINKHOLE pitch KO’d two matches

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      AFC WIMBLEDON are targeting a swift return to action – after a devastating storm created a SINKHOLE at Plough Lane.The League Two side have been forced to postpone their last two matches after the River Wandle burst its banks last Sunday. Wimbledon have been forced to postpone three games after a sinkhole developed on the fieldCredit: GettyThe League Two club are confident they can get the pitch playable soonCredit: GettyThe club have been inundated with donations from EFL clubs and fansCredit: InstagramWimbledon’s games against Accrington Stanley and Crewe have already been called off.The Dons were also forced to postpone their Carabao Cup third-round clash with Newcastle – as the Toon kindly donated £15,000 to the cause.A huge sinkhole formed by one of the corner flags, prompting the fan-owned club to start a fundraiser to pay for the damage.Managing director James Woodroof has described the response – from clubs across the EFL – as “absolutely phenomenal.” READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd he hopes Wimbledon can host football again against Carlisle on October 12. Woodroof told South London Press: “That [Carlisle] game is absolutely our target.”Until the diggers have finished excavating, it’s still too early to say. We’re hopeful that will be possible.“It’s been particularly challenging for the team here and myself. My colleagues and everyone associated with the club have been flat out.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“It’s been an overwhelming 48 hours. We are making significant progress each and every hour. “It’s pleasing to have all of the club staff back on site. Watch AFC Wimbledon begin work fixing sinkhole on pitch after pumping more than 100,000 LITRES of water out of stadium” We’re going to try and open the stadium on Friday, so the shop will open and the comedy night will proceed.”As well as damage to the pitch, much of the Dons’ off-field infrastructure was flooded out by the storm.He continued: “The whole concourse, our offices and everything on ground level, was flooded.”The water wasn’t dissipating. We had the tankers in on Monday night to remove the water.The concourse and offices at the stadium were also floodedCredit: Getty“When we came on in Tuesday, that had a significant impact as we were able to walk around the entire stadium and the offices – we weren’t in standing water anywhere. “It was a remarkable clean-up effort on Monday night. The pitch is now the focus of everyone’s attention.”READ MORE SUN STORIESWimbledon have made a superb start to the new League Two season.They currently sit in sixth, with two games in hand over their rivals. More

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      Former Arsenal and England star, 32, posts four-word message after completing shock League Two transfer

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      A FORGOTTEN Arsenal ace has completed a shock move to a League Two outfit.The versatile full-back amassed a total of 93 Premier League appearances and played in the Champions League 10 times during his 14-year career.Ex-Arsenal ace Carl Jenkison has joined League Two side BromleyCredit: GettyEx-England ace Jenkison is excited with his upcoming challengeCredit: GettyThe ex-Arsenal ace also picked up one England cap after bursting onto the scene with the Gunners in 2012.That is none other than Carl Jenkinson who joined Bromley as a free agent. The defender put pen to paper on a one-year contract with the Ravens.The ex-Nottingham Forest ace shared a pic of him in a Bromley shirt on social media and expressed his excitement for the new challenge lying ahead.Read More on ArsenalJenkinson posted on Instagram: “Another new chapter begins.”Jenkison returns to English football after a two-year stint in Australia that saw him playing for Melbourne City and Newcastle Jets.And the ex-England international will be reuniting with Bromley manager Andy Woodman, with whom he worked at Charlton back in his youth days.Jenkinson said: “How’s it feel? It’s good, I’m glad it is sorted out now with all the international clearance stuff which was dragging on a bit…Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”I know Woody [Woodman] from when I was a kid coming through at Charlton… it’s one of them that when you know someone – he was always so easy to get along with even as a young lad…”That led to me reaching out to Woody a couple of weeks ago and saying can I come in and train because I wanted to be fit and maintain my fitness.Arsenal ratings: Martinelli ends goal drought but Partey struggles against Leicester”We have that relationship where I can ask that question, so it was nice that he said yeah and then that it’s led to this.” More

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      EFL manager cancelled training session after two stars came to blows and couldn’t be in same room together

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      AN EFL manager once had to cancel training after two players had a huge bust-up and could not be left alone together.The shocking incident occurred at Shrewsbury, with then boss Paul Hurst taking no chances as he sent two of his star players to the dressing room.Paul Hurst axed training after his players had a huge bust-upCredit: GettyWycombe’s Jack Grimmer told SunSport about some incredible EFL talesCredit: AlamyWycombe star Jack Grimmer shared some hilarious tales with SunSport as part of the “What the EFL?” series.From an owner’s crazy antics to wild nights out, the Chairboys captain lifted the lid on his maddest footballing experiences.BEST EFL PLAYER?[Bakary] Sako when he was at Wolves.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBEST EFL FANS?Leeds at Elland Road. DODGIEST FACILITIES? Yeovil away. In the changing rooms, the windows were open right next to our fans and we lost the game. We were getting all this abuse in the windows. Most read in EFLFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSEFL FANBASE WHO LIVE RENT FREE IN YOUR HEAD?Sunderland. ‘Fan told me he was ‘****ing my mum’ | Gillngham’s Jack Nolan plays What the EFL?!FUNNIEST FAN ABUSE YOU’VE EVER HEARD?Away at Lincoln. They just kept shouting every time the goalie kicked the ball – it was that old-fashioned, you fat b******. MOMENT THAT HAUNTS YOU?When I was at Coventry and we lost at home to Yeovil 6-2. ICONIC TRAINING GROUND TALE?Our old captain, Joe Jacobson… Marcus Bean put crickets in his car.He couldn’t find the crickets for like weeks. So he would get in his car and then still find the noise of crickets going on. WILDEST OWNER ANTICS?At Wycombe again, our owner Rob Cooig, his nephew Pete Couhig, who was our CFO, Pete was obviously ecstatic that we had one promotion during COVID at Wembley against Oxford.The celebrations were a bit heavy, shall we say. I had a back operation not long before. He proceeded to fall backwards off the team bus onto the street. ICONIC TRAINING GROUND TALE?At Shrewsbury ten years ago, our captain Adam El-Abd and Irish hardcore centre-mid Gary Deegan.Two people you just would not mess with on a football pitch or in life in general, they just kept going at each other all morning and eventually came to blows. The manager at the time, Paul Hurst, basically called an end to training because he did not want those two players going into the changing room on their own. Adam El-Abd had a furious row with a team-mateCredit: Action Images – ReutersThe defender and Gary Deegan could not be left alone in the dressing roomCredit: SportsfileWILDEST NIGHT OUT?After Coventry got promoted, the League Two play-off final against Exeter.READ MORE SUN STORIESBank holiday Monday, all the Sky Blue Army went and there was about 35,000, 40,000 people there. They all went back to Coventry to support us and party. Probably my best night out ever. I remember feeling like almost invincible.Who are these famous footballers? More

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      Former Arsenal and England star, 32, completes League Two free transfer after months unemployed

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      A FORMER ARSENAL and England star has completed a shock free transfer to a League Two club.Newly-promoted Bromley teased fans online by showing the back of the former Premier League star together with his voice.Carl Jenkinson has completed a shock transfer to BromleyCredit: Getty – ContributorIt comes after he spent two months unemployed upon being released by A-League side Newcastle JetsCredit: GettyA social media post with the video said: “Introducing our new number 6.”And it left fans convinced that the club had signed Carl Jenkinson.Bromley confirmed the signing of the 32-year-old on their website shortly after.A statement said: “Bromley Football Club are delighted to announce the permanent signing of full-back and former England international Carl Jenkinson following his departure from Australian side Newcastle Jets.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”The 32-year-old, who worked with Andy Woodman during their time at Charlton, made almost 100 Premier League appearances whilst also racking up a handful of appearances in the Champions League too…”Our newest recruit will wear the number six shirt and supporters can catch him in action tomorrow or Tuesday night as we enter back-to-back home games.”The one-cap England international had been left without a club after leaving A-League side Newcastle Jets in June.Jenkinson made his name after signing for Arsenal from Charlton in 2011 before an impressive 2012/13 season for the Gunners. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe would go on to star for West Ham, Birmingham and Nottingham Forest before departing for football Down Under.Speaking to club media following his signing, Jenkinson said: “How’s it feel? It’s good, I’m glad it is sorted out now with all the international clearance stuff which was dragging on a bit…The forgotten Arsenal wonderkids”I know Woody from when I was a kid coming through at Charlton… it’s one of them that when you know someone – he was always so easy to get along with even as a young lad…”That led to me reaching out to Woody a couple of weeks ago and saying can I come in and train because I wanted to be fit and maintain my fitness.”We have that relationship where I can ask that question, so it was nice that he said yeah and then that it’s led to this.”Jenkinson could make his debut for the Ravens in front of the home crowd at Hayes Lane against MK Dons tomorrow.The south London side currently sit 18th in League Two, having won two games, lost four and drawn one so far in their first ever season in the English Football League. More