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    Maidstone fan wipes out goading Boreham Wood rival with ‘tackle of the season’ after play-off final defeat

    A GOADING fan was wiped out by “the tackle of the season” from a rival supporter at a jam-packed play-off final.And when the clip went viral, viewers made it clear where their sympathies lay.This flying challenge took the man and his beer by surpriseThere was a brief flare-up afterwards but the floored victim looked dazedBoreham Wood were celebrating beating visitors Maidstone United 1-0 to earn a place in the National League.And as fans streamed onto the pitch afterwards, one beer-swilling Wood follower on the turf decided to taunt away supporters in the stand.The man, who was wearing jeans and a hoodie, danced around pointing upwards as he tormented opposition fans.But from 30 yards away on the other half of the pitch, a supporter came hurtling towards the bopping supporter – without him realising it.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL And the sprinting offender finished his surge with a two-footed slide that sent the man and his beer crashing to the ground in opposite directions.The victim got up looking nonplussed, and jumped back as if startled.Supporters in the stand roared their approval at the lunging ‘challenge’.Another man then tried to confront the tackler, only to lose his footing and be guided away by a third fan.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKAnd although the lunger had acted aggressively – to say the least – he won the backing of viewers.One said: “Great tackle, a little late but a phenomenal challenge.”Non-league rising teenage talent at centre of transfer tussle and branded ‘next Jeremy Doku’ shows off skillsAnother posted: “Maidstone fan with tackle of the season on a Boreham Wood fan.”A third wrote: “Totally deserved and good on him, grown men goading the oppo after a huge final win.”A fourth claimed: “He didn’t expect a Maidstone fan to do this in retaliation.”And a fifth observer reckoned the victim paid the price for his mocking behaviour as a counterpart “took matters into his own hands”.Sunday’s match climaxed an incredibly tight season in National League South.Truro were the only side to go up automatically — as champions on goal difference from Torquay.But just three points separated the top two from Dorking in sixth.Maidstone finished seven points further adrift in seventh place – taking the last play-off spot.Read More on The SunCharles Clayden’s brilliant 47th-minute winner in the final sent Wood back to the National League at the first attempt in front of a 3,500 crowd at Meadow Park.Meanwhile, Scunthorpe beat fellow ex-EFL club Chester 2-1 after extra time in the National League North play-off final. More

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    My dad is a former undercover agent and TV star who’ll be cheering me on in Europa League final, says Tottenham star

    MICKY VAN DE VEN is out to crack the case of Tottenham’s trophy drought — with the support of his detective dad.The Dutch defender will have his old man watching him in Bilbao as Spurs look to end 17 years without silverware by beating Manchester United in tomorrow’s Europa League final.Micky van de Ven is out to end Tottenham’s trophy droughtCredit: PAVan De Ven’s dad Marcel is former detective and TV star in the NetherlandsCredit: Twitter @ESPNUKThe Dutchman was written off as a teenager at VolendamCredit: GettyMarcel van de Ven is a former undercover agent who later became famous on the Dutch version of TV show Hunted.Despite Van de Ven Sr’s busy schedule fighting crime, somehow he still had time to go to all of his son’s matches right from youth level.Micky, 24, said: “Every game he was there, even when I was younger. You have to ask him how he managed that!”Midweek, most of the time he was gone because he had a job to do and couldn’t tell us everything about it.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”But at the weekend when we had to play, the most important part, he was always there.”Literally until today, he’s everywhere. Every home game, every away game, he wants to be everywhere. He always tries to be there.”It was my dad, my mum and my sister who were the ones who kept pushing me.”Because even when you’re younger, every year you get a new gaffer.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK”Then the people around you are the ones you are close with.”Even now, these days after a game they help me. They’re like, ‘You could do this better or that better’, they are still the people who help me.”How Europa League final will be decided – four key Man Utd vs Tottenham tactical battlesMarcel may have always backed his son’s foray into football but Micky was not always so well supported by the professionals overseeing his development.In fact, there was a feeling at his first club Volendam that a teenage Van de Ven did not have the ability to make it as a footballer.It was only when former Sheffield Wednesday star Wim Jonk became his manager at the second-tier Dutch club that the young defender got his big break, which led him to Wolfsburg in 2021 then on to Spurs in the summer of 2023.And Van de Ven, also a Netherlands international, still uses being written off in his teens as motivation to succeed today.On those that believed he would not make the grade, he added: “That’s crazy.”At Volendam there were people who didn’t have the trust in me and now I am standing here. I proved them wrong.”We have all been standing behind Ange since day one, since he joined here.Micky van de VenVan de Ven’s Spurs defensive partner Cristian Romero also once revealed he was so miserable at his own first club Belgrano back in Argentina that he considered quitting the game.Romero, nicknamed Cuti, went on to win the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 alongside the iconic Lionel Messi.Tottenham ace Van de Ven continued: “There are a lot of players in their careers who get doubts from multiple people.”It depends a bit on how late in your career you are getting doubts, of course.”I was getting doubts when I was 17, 18 years old.”Then you might have to think about something different. Then it’s all down to yourself and the people around you to keep pushing.”That’s what Cuti probably did and that’s what I did, and now we are both standing here.”And Cuti won a World Cup. I am now in a European final. It’s a beautiful thing.”Coaches at Volendam told van de Ven he wouldn’t make the gradeCredit: GettyNow Van de Ven is determined to change Tottenham’s trophyless ‘Spursy’ tag with victory over the Red Devils.He said: “It would be a big thing, of course.”Everybody knows that when you join Tottenham you get, ‘Ah, you’re not going to win a trophy’, people saying you will be trophyless for the rest of your career.”All the guys that came up here were like, ‘We’re going to change something about this club’.”It was the gaffer and it was the whole squad who said, ‘We’re going to come here and change something’.”For us, it’s the job now to make this happen in Bilbao.”Van de Ven could come up against his compatriot Matthijs De Ligt, 25, in Bilbao — provided the United centre-back is fit to play.De Ligt may only be a year older yet he is a hero to Van de Ven, who used to watch him play for Ajax as a supporter in the stands when both were teenagers.Ironically, it was Tottenham’s unforgettable comeback win against Ajax in the 2019 Champions League semi-final — when Lucas Moura scored a second-half hat-trick and Spurs won on away goals — that stands out most in his memory.Van de Ven explained: “The first thing that pops up in my head is the game against Tottenham.”I was in the stadium. He was playing that game.”These games I can remember are more from the Champions League when Ajax went to the semi-final. He was playing unbelievable.”When you’re a young kid, you’re looking up at him — captain at 18 years old, doing an unbelievable job. Then you think, ‘I want to be like him’.”Spurs have had an awful league campaign, with a record 21 defeats.Even if they beat United, boss Ange Postecoglou is expected to leave the club.Yet Van de Ven reckons the Aussie has proved his worth by taking the club to just its second European final in 41 years.He added: “We have all been standing behind the gaffer since day one, since he joined here.”He showed his quality, he brought us to a European final.Read More on The Sun”Of course, he’s getting a lot of doubt from the media and we see these things.”But I think he proved all you guys wrong and we’re standing in a European final, so hopefully we can lift the trophy. Not only for us but also for him.” More

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    EFL play-off finals to kick off one minute later than scheduled as part of ‘truly groundbreaking’ campaign

    EFL play-off matches at Wembley this season will all kick off one minute later than originally scheduled.The Home of Football is gearing up to host the Championship, League One and League Two playoff finals later this month. Wembley play-off matches will kick-off one minute later this seasonCredit: GettyLuton Town’s Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest on the field and is now a British Heart Foundation ambassadorCredit: PAEFL bosses have signed up to a new initiative alongside the British Heart Foundation.The Every Minute Matters campaign aims to inspire supporters to learn CPR.More than 270,000 people have already learned the life-saving skill thanks to the campaign, which launched during last season’s play-offs.In a bid to raise awareness, each match at Wembley will now kick off 60 seconds later than billed. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAs a result, Sunderland’s showdown with Sheffield United has now been scheduled for 3.01pm on May 24.Leyton Orient will face Charlton for a place in the Championship on May 25, with the game now underway at 1.01pm.And Walsall’s League Two playoff final against AFC Wimbledon will kick-off at 3.01pm on Monday, May 26.Luton Town’s Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during a Premier League game against Bournemouth in December 2023.Most read in FootballThe 30-year-old is now a British Heart Foundation ambassador and is backing the initiative. Lockyer said: “I was just one of the more than 30,000 people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year in the UK. Tom Lockyer shows defibrillator fitted into his chest after Luton captain suffered cardiac arrest in Bournemouth clash”I am lucky to be alive today, but the reality is that less than 1 in 10 people usually survive, which is why it’s vital that we continue to raise awareness. “The symbolic kick-off times are the perfect way to make our lifesaving message impossible to ignore. “Over the course of the last year, the EFL community – fans, players and the clubs – have come together and united behind the Sky Bet Every Minute Matters campaign to achieve something I never thought possible. “And now, as we approach the business end of the season, the Sky Bet Play-Off Finals provide an incredible platform to continue to spread the word and bring the curtain down on a game-changing year in the fight against cardiac arrest.”Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the BHF, added: “The Every Minute Matters campaign has been truly groundbreaking by encouraging hundreds of thousands of people to start learning vital CPR.  “With millions of eyes on the Play-Off Finals, it’s incredible to get the support of the EFL in our bid to encourage more fans to learn this lifesaving skill. “It only takes 15 minutes to learn with our free online tool RevivR, and knowing it could make the difference between life and death in the event of witnessing a cardiac arrest.” More

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    How Gary Lineker’s BBC exit will spark intense rivalry between Match of the Day hosts to lead BBC’s World Cup coverage

    GARY Lineker’s BBC exit is set to spark an intense rivalry between his Match Of The Day successors over who will lead the World Cup coverage.Insiders said that Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates will also be competing to take the main presenting job for next year’s FA Cup Final.Gary Lineker’s BBC exit is set to spark rivalry between his MOTD successors over who will lead the 2026 World Cup coverageCredit: Ray CollinsGary, 64, announced he was leaving the BBC early following an anti-Semitism rowCredit: PAThe bookies currently have Kelly Cates, 49, as the frontrunner with odds of 2/1Credit: Getty – ContributorLineker, 64, yesterday confirmed The Sun’s story about his departure — announcing he was leaving the BBC early following an anti-Semitism row.It scuppered plans for Mark, 51, Gabby, 52, and Kelly, 49, to have supporting roles alongside him at his swansong during next summer’s World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.A source said: “Now Gary’s gone there has to be a lead anchor for the World Cup coverage. “Mark, Gabby and Kelly can definitely share the duties between them but it will boil down to who gets the big games.READ MORE ON GARY LINEKER“For example, who will be taking the lead role on the final — which will be the game they all want to be the leading voice on.“Mark, Gabby and Kelly are friends but they will be positioning themselves in the coming months because, naturally, it’s a competitive job and who wouldn’t want to be the frontrunner?“It’s become an inside joke that it’ll be like something out of Game of Thrones — with all of them vying to take the lead.”Insiders said the lead presenter for the FA Cup Final coverage next May, a month before the World Cup, is also up for grabs.Most read in FootballThe bookies currently have Kelly as the frontrunner with odds of 2/1, while Mark and Gabby are both at 3/1. The three will share normal MOTD presenting duties next season.Our source added: “Mark, Gabby and Kelly are all excellent broadcasters so it’s not going to be an easy decision to make. Gary Lineker apologises for antisemitic post and confirms he’s quitting BBC next week”They can do the MOTD job-share fine but when it comes to the prestige of holding up the coverage for those major events, it’s inevitable someone’s nose is going to be put out of joint.”Former England striker Lineker is stepping down after Sunday’s MOTD, ending a 26-year career with the BBC.He sparked fury after sharing an online post criticising Zionism, and illustrated with a rat.Gary repeatedly apologised in a video statement yesterday.Mark Chapman, 51, is also in the lead to host BBC’s World Cup coverageCredit: GettyGabby Logan, 52, will also be competing with the other hosts to take the main presenting job for next year’s FA Cup FinalCredit: PAHe said: “I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. “As I’ve said, I’d never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic — it goes against everything I stand for.“However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”Read More on The SunBBC Director General Tim Davie called him a “defining voice in football coverage”.He added: “Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.”How Gary Lineker became the BBC’s highest paid starGary Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day for more than 25 years but will leave the role earlier than expected following a row over his use of social media.The Leicester-born star, who moved seamlessly from footballer to one of the most famous and highly-paid presenters at the corporation, began his career at Leicester City, the club he had supported since childhood, in 1978.The 64-year-old striker scored 103 goals for the Foxes in all competitions before signing with Everton for £800,000 in 1985.He scored 40 goals in 57 games for the Toffees in his only season with the Liverpool-based side, before his six goals for England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico won him the competition’s golden boot award and attracted the attention of Spanish football giants Barcelona.Moving to the Catalan side in 1986, Lineker went on to become the highest scoring British player in La Liga, Spain’s highest football division, under English manager Terry Venables. His record 42 goals was only beaten by Welsh winger Gareth Bale in 2016.Lineker spent three years in Spain before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in July 1989 for £1.1 million.He played a part in England’s run to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, which resulted in a defeat on penalties against West Germany.After the match, Lineker, who captained the Lions from 1990 to 1992, coined the phrase: “Football is a simple game: 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.”He won the 1991 FA Cup final with Spurs, beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 despite having a goal controversially disallowed for offside and Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley saving a penalty.In 1992, Lineker became the first English footballer to play in Japan’s highest division, the J League, when he joined Nagoya Grampus Eight for £2 million.He retired after an injury-hit two-year spell at the club which saw him play just 23 times.Throughout his career Lineker was renowned for never receiving a yellow or red card booking from the referee.Following his retirement, Lineker joined BBC Radio 5 Live as a football pundit before becoming a team captain on the sports game show They Think It’s All Over from 1995 to 2003.In 1997 he took over as host of Grandstand when then-presenter Desmond Lynam was at Aintree for the Grand National which was abandoned due to a bomb alert.He replaced Lynam as presenter of the BBC’s flagship football highlights programme Match Of The Day in 1999, when Lynam defected to rival ITV.Lineker would later become the corporation’s highest-paid presenter, with the BBC’s annual report for 2023/24 showing his salary to be to around £1.35 million a year.He was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then-government’s new asylum policy.In November 2024 he announced he would be stepping down from presenting Match Of The Day at the end of the season, but would still host World Cup and FA Cup coverage.He exited the broadcaster early, however, after apologising for sharing and then deleting a post on his Instagram account from the group Palestine Lobby, illustrated with a picture of a rat, which prompted calls for him to be sacked from the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA).After this the BBC said Lineker would leave his presenting role following the conclusion of Match Of The Day for the 2024/25 season and added that he would not present its coverage of the 2026 World Cup or next season’s FA Cup.Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman will share the presenting role on the football show from the next Premier League season.The former England striker is also the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, makers of the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money. 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    Ruben Amorim ‘was prepared to RESIGN in January and needed reassurance he would be backed by Man Utd chiefs’

    RUBEN AMORIM was reportedly prepared to RESIGN from Manchester United in January.ESPN claims the Red Devils boss was left hugely disillusioned by his start to life at Old Trafford.Ruben Amorim reportedly considered resigning as Man Utd boss in JanuaryCredit: AlamyUnited had won just one of their previous eight matches at the time in question.Their most recent result had been a disastrous 3-1 home defeat to bogey club Brighton – which saw Amorim smash a TV in the dressing room in frustration. And it’s claimed that after the hammering, Amorim quickly became “disenchanted” with how things were working out.The Portuguese tactician even considered stepping down from the job he had taken just two months earlier.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut associates managed to “talk him out” of quitting.At the same time, chiefs including Omar Berrada reassured Amorim that he had the full backing of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos.United have also told SunSport that although January was a low moment for the club, there was never a discussion about Amorim leaving his post.The gaffer certainly looks set to be backed this summer with several new signings.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThat’s regardless of whether United beat Tottenham in Wednesday’s Europa League final in Bilbao.Wolves star Matheus Cunha is reportedly nearing a deal to join the Red Devils.How Europa League final will be decided – four key Man Utd vs Tottenham tactical battlesIpswich’s Liam Delap has held face-to-face talks with United chiefs amid links with Chelsea.While unwanted men like Marcus Rashford will be flogged for extra transfer funds. More

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    Oxford United’s Sam Long extends legendary career at club until at least 2027 as boss Gary Rowett plots for new season

    SAM LONG has signed a new deal to remain at Oxford.The 30-year-old defender has been at the club all his career. Sam Long has signed a new one-year contract at Oxford UnitedCredit: GettyHis new contract keeps him tied to Oxford until at least 2027.There is also an option for an extra year.Long, who had one year left on his current deal, is known as Mr Oxford because he has never played for another side since joining the club at the age of eight.He has played 272 first-team games for the club having made his U’s debut against Accrington in 2013.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLLong played a big part in Oxford’s season where they avoided relegation and ended up 17th.Boss Gary Rowett has been impressed with Long and was keen for him to commit his future to the club.Rowett took over in December and also admits Oxford will be looking into Europe to sign players this summer.He said: “We always want to find a blend.Most read in ChampionshipBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS“I’ll be very surprised if we don’t sign some players from European leagues this summer.“I think there’s great value there.“I’ve seen it before where not only is there great value to improve your team, but there’s great value to create an asset that maybe you can sell on at some point in the future as well, which is important.”Championship club could be left without a stadium as EFL deadline loomsCan you name the famous fathers? More

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    How Crystal Palace outsmarted Man City in FA Cup final with hokey cokey midfield and Glasner’s tactical masterclass

    CRYSTAL PALACE made history by winning their first major trophy – after a tactical masterclass from Oliver Glasner. The Eagles outsmarted Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to record a deserved 1-0 win at Wembley on Saturday. Eberechi Eze took his chance and proved to be the matchwinner against Man CityCredit: GettyOliver Glasner put together a bold tactical plan – and it workedCredit: GettyGlasner employed similar tactics to his team’s 5-2 loss against City earlier this season. But SunSport’s Dean Scoggins reveals how subtle tweaks to the system paid off for Palace.How did Palace set up? Glasner had an absolutely brilliant plan. It’s great for a club like Palace to win their first trophy.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe Austrian said in his pre-match press conference that if Pep plays the same way again as he did when they beat them 5-2 at the Etihad, he’ll have a plan for it. I’ve got his number. And he did. He had his number. Everyone had to be well drilled, but they were. It’s a setup which we know they play 3-4-3 – but it was more of a 5-2-3.BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKPalace matched up with City to deny their playmakers space in midfieldThey set up with the wing backs very deep, Tyrick Mitchell on one side and Munoz the other side.Most read in FootballMunoz got forward a lot more than Mitchell did, but essentially they were a back five. Bold Oliver Glasner reveals eleven-word football lesson he gave Pep Guardiola on pitch after FA Cup finalAs well as the midfield two in front, it was where Eze and Ismaila Sarr got in the positions to stop City. Manchester City set up in a fairly predictable shape, but it was Nico O’Reilly who went into the inside left positionEze and Sarr dropped in alongside the midfield two, and then Mateta in front created a semicircle around in front of the midfield.Everywhere you looked, it looked like Palace had more players. City were unable to break through the compact Palace defenceWho caught the eye? The work rate of Eze and Sarr was so impressive.It showed how much Glasner trusted his forward players to do a defensive job and then be so compact between the lines. You also have give a hat tip to Adam Wharton, who as a young English midfield player was like the marshal in there.You could see him pointing, the conversations he was having with team-mates.It’s a relief he’s fine after suffering a concussion, which halted his celebrations. But his mind was definitely on it when he was in the game. He was absolutely brilliant.How did Mateta affect the game?He might not have had many chances in front of goal, but Mateta was crucial to Palace’s success.We know he holds the ball up well. We know he makes good runs in behind.Palace have said before the game, we know that City will have a deep-lying midfield player who will sit, who will drop off and recycle possession and go side to side.Mateta did tireless work off the ball for PalaceMateta had a massive job to do – and that was basically to go and mark that player out of possession.As a striker, he was man-marking Bernardo Silva for the majority of the game.City later swapped it round and it was De Bruyne trying to be the playmaker. Mateta did the same thing.It was a thankless role but a crucial one that stopped City getting the ball to their danger men. The Frenchman had the tough job of man-marking Bernando SilvaHow did Palace score?Glasner had a plan with Daniel Munoz where he was looking to exploit gaps left by O’Reilly.When the ball goes into Mateta, Munoz is only thinking one thing – get down the wing.It’s the understanding of the tactic and when to go, when to gamble.Because if you choose the wrong time against Manchester City, you’ve got Jeremy Doku to chase going back the other way.Munoz was on the move as soon as Mateta got the ballThe Colombian raced into the area where Nico O’Reilly should have beenMunoz crossed for Eze to smash in the matchwinnerWhere did City go wrong?Aside from the penalty, Omar Marmoush didn’t get in the game at all.Erling Haaland had one moment early in the first half where I thought, City are going to break them down here.De Bruyne went back into the pocket, and City forced Palace back into their area around the penalty spot.The Belgian hit a lovely cross, which Dean Henderson makes a great save from.De Bruyne linked up early with Haaland for a golden chance – but Palace didn’t let them do it againCity were camped just outside the Palace area all game, with Glasner’s side keeping them at arms lengthAfter that, it wasn’t working – but they didn’t change it up. City didn’t put the full-backs on the touchline and push the wingers inside.They could have put Haaland up the middle to try and push Palace into a 3v3 at the back.But they didn’t. It was the same set-up all the way through.Read More on The SunThey just didn’t have that man in front of the back three or back four to dictate play.Mateta was the key and gave them a problem with the way he was marking. More

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    Blackburn release TWENTY players after narrowly missing out on Championship play-offs under Valerien Ismael

    BLACKBURN have released 20 players and sprung a surprise over a midfielder.Rovers acted decisively after missing out on the Championship play-offs by one place and two points.Valerien Ismael has kept the core of a squad who finished seventhCredit: RexAdam Forshaw has been released – but there’s a twistCredit: AlamyBoss Valerien Ismael has kept his main men and reportedly wants around six key signings this summer.But Adam Forshaw’s inclusion in a big batch of departures has raised eyebrows in some quarters.The former Middlesbrough and Leeds star, 33, had been praised by Ismael in recent months.And Forshaw remained in Rovers’ matchday squad until the end of the season as they finished seventh.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL But although the ex-Brentford ace has been freed, Blackburn say they will “keep in close contact” with him over the summer.Rovers admit he is “entitled to explore other options”.But it leaves the door open for an intriguing transfer saga to develop.Blackburn also revealed they are still in talks with three senior players, having offered all of them new contracts.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKThey are Danny Batth and Tyrhys Dolan – who both started Rovers’ season-ending 1-1 draw at Sheffield United – plus Andi Weimann.Rovers said in a statement over their released list: “Batth and Weimann both enjoyed magnificent maiden seasons at Ewood Park last term, bringing vast Championship experience, leadership qualities and high standards to the dressing room and out on the pitch.”Centre-back Danny Batth is in talks over extending his Blackburn stayCredit: RexMeanwhile, Blackburn have activated a one-year option to keep Wales winger Ryan Hedges another year after his 42 league games in 2024-25.Under-21 players Harrison Wood, Zack Stritch and Adam Khan have also had the option of an extra 12 months triggered.Jake Batty and Felix Goddard, who were both loaned out last season, have been offered fresh Ewood Park deals.And teenage midfielder Lorenze Mullarkey-Matthews has been handed the chance to sign his first professional contract.On the way out are: Dilan Markanday, Jack Vale, Zak Gilsenan, Patrick Gamble, Tom Bloxham, Jordan Eastham, Rhys Doherty, Isaac Whitehall, Jalil Saadi, Alex Baker, Adam Caddick, Paul Murphy-Worrell, Lewis Bell, Bradley Taylor, Jackson Shorrocks, Nathan Willis, Stephen Edmondson and Teddy Ramwell.On top of this, Dan Shaw’s registration has been cancelled by mutual consent.Read More on The SunFive loanees have returned to their parent clubs – Owen Beck, Amario Cozier-Duberry, Dion Sanderson, Cauley Woodrow and Emmanuel Dennis.Blackburn said: “Rovers would like to place on record its sincere thanks to all the players who will be leaving the club for their contribution and commitment during their time at Ewood Park, and we wish them all well in their future careers.” More