On hold

I’ve stopped posting on this site for the time being while I concentrate on my Olympic Sports blog.

Wigan’s relegation hangover

It must rank as one of the shortest celebrations of all time. The cheers had barely died down after Wigan’s superb victory over Sheffield United on Sunday had kept them in the Premiership, when manager Paul Jewell announced that he was stepping down.

Somewhat bizarrely, Jewell has said that had his side been relegated, he would have stayed.

“If we had gone down at Sheffield United, I would have stayed and tried to get Wigan back up.
“I wouldn’t have walked away from a sinking ship because I love the club.”

Perhaps a deeper truth about the Premier League is revealed in that statement. Might it be that fighting to gain promotion from the Championship is a more attractive prospect than battling away at the bottom of the top division?

Next season the Premier League will be stronger than ever. Not only are two of the promoted clubs, Sunderland and Birmingham City, well backed and well-supported, but a number of other clubs are likely to have new injections of cash. Aston Villa have Randy Lerner’s money to spend. Man City are likely to have new owners keen to make an impact. Newcastle will be writing cheques for Big Sam.

For teams without financial muscle, it’ll be harder than ever to stay up. Fulham and Wigan might have escaped this season, but from the very start of 2007-2008 they’ll be fighting for survival.

Then again, at least they’ll have a minimum of £30m plus two season of £10-£11m parachute payments if they do get relegated. The rewards of even a single season in the Premier League are likely to make yo-yoing between it and the Championship far more common. Who’d bet against at least two out of Sheffield United, Charlton and Watford coming straight back up next year?

The Tevez affair

So much has been said and written about the Tevez affair that it’s worth going back to source: the judgement (text file) of the Independent Commission set up by the Premier League to investigate West Ham’s signings of the players.

It’s a lengthy document, with lots of legalese, but two things seem clear.

Firstly, West Ham were done an extraordinary favour by the Commission. Time and again the report stresses how serious the breach was, including a direct lie told by West Ham’s then chief executive Paul Aldridge to Premier League head, Richard Scudamore. And yet, when it comes to the penalties, while they acknowledge that a points deduction would be normal, they shy away from it. The reasons given – including that it would have condemned the club to almost certain relegation and that the club had changed hands, – seem very flimsy. They’re the sort of allowances you might expect for an amateur club, not in a case regarding the richest football league in the world.

The second thing that comes across when reading the judgement, however, is that it is complicated. No doubt the lawyers for the Gang of Four clubs challenging the decision feel that they could make a good case but, equally, West Ham’s lawyers could get stuck into the main body of the judgement – as they have threatened to do.

Any legal action would take weeks or even months and, therefore, is unlikely to help Sheffield United avoid relegation. Their only hope, experts reckon, is that the Premier League will open an arbitration into the case – but judging by the words of Richard Scudamore that is extremely unlikely.

The danger for Sheffield United is that the subject will come to overshadow the club. Whether they take legal action or not, the manager and players have to move on. They’ll need to be positive about their Championship campaign for 2007-2008. However gutted they feel, perhaps their best interest would be served by quietly letting the case go.

Football League Play-off preview (semi-finals first leg)

Supporters of clubs involved in the play-offs should be viewed with both envy and pity. While the rest of the football world packs its bags and heads for the beach, they are set for the most important games of the season. Their season will end on either a wonderful high, or a terrible low.

Click on the links for match previews from each team’s perspective.

League Two

• Bristol Rovers v Lincoln City (Saturday)
• Shrewsbury Town v MK Dons (Monday)

League One

• Yeovil v Notts Forest (Friday)
• Oldham v Blackpool (Sunday)

Championship

• Southampton v Derby (Friday)
• Wolves v West Brom (Sunday)

Administration farce

The rules on penalties for clubs entering administration have always been controversial. For a club like Rotherham who, after a desperate struggle for survival last season were docked ten points, it can seem like kicking a club when it’s down.

But the rules are there for a reason. Administration brings its own penalties in terms of financial credibility, but it can also be a quick fix following an overspend. When Leicester ‘restructured their debts’ in 2002 it seemed to some that they’d found a way to live beyond their means without being punished – that’s why the League introduced the automatic points deduction.

Unfortunately events of the past few weeks have reduced the system to farce. Two clubs, Leeds and Boston, have gone into administration once relegated so that they can take their medicine this season and have no handicap come August.

In Boston’s case, they actually took the action while their final game against Wrexham was in progress. While Leeds Chairman Ken Bates somehow managed to sell the club and buy it back himself.

Neither club seems to have broken any rules, but they have made the rules look stupid. The League are now looking at how to address the problem but don’t currently seem to have any answers.

League chairman Brian Mawhinney said: “Are we going to think about addressing this issue? Yes, we are. “Is it [going into administration] allowed for by our rules? Yes, it is.

“But does it raise a number of questions? Yes, it does.”

The Football Conference will also be considering Boston’s position.

Friday preview

It’s the final weekend of the regular Football League season, and a crucial one for relegation threatened teams in the Premier League

League Two

Boston need to win at Wrexham to avoid the drop. If they manage it, Wrexham will go down themselves if Macclesfield beat Notts County at home.

Swindon are virtually certain of the third automatic promotion place, and Stockport will feel they need to win at Darlington in order to move into the play-off places. A draw will suffice if Bristol Rovers lose at Hartlepool, however. If both win, the pressure will be on Lincoln City and Shrewsbury just above them.

• League Two fixtures and table

League One

Victory for Bristol City at home to Rotherham will see them promoted. A draw will also be enough unless Notts Forest beat Crewe at the City Ground. The final play-off place is a straight fight between Oldham (at home to Chesterfield) and Swansea (behind  at home to Blackpool). They’re level on points but Swansea are two goals worse off, so expect them to look for a big win.

• League One fixtures and table 

The Championship

Even Colchester in ninth have a theoretical chance of making the play-offs, but, in addition to Derby, the teams in possession of the places are West Brom, Wolves and Southampton. Stoke and Preston will be ready to pounce on any slip-ups.

• Championship fixtures and table

Premier League

Both Fulham (at home to Liverpool) and Wigan (at home to Middlesbrough) will be desperate for the win that could well guarantee survival. West Ham know that, with a last-day visit to Old Trafford to come anything less than victory at home to Bolton will probably end their hopes of an unlikely escape. The same goes for Charlton – at home to Spurs on Monday and then at Liverpool.

The UEFA Cup places remain wide open. Even Blackburn in tenth will still fancy their chances.

• Premier League fixtures and table

Premier League promotion worth at least £60m

Promotion to the Premier League is now worth at least £60m, according to a new report from Deloitte.

Sunderland, Birmingham and the play-off winners will get at least £35m next season from their share of the new TV deal, plus an estimated £5m from additional ticket revenue and other commercial activity. Even if they get relegated in 2008, they will then receive parachute payments of £20m over the next two season.

Teams relegated this season will be the first to benefit from these higher parachute payments, giving them a significant advantage over their Championship rivals.

In the papers

The Guardian

• Reading 1 Newcastle 0
• Richard Williams on Leeds
  
• Leeds appeal for investors
• Keane seeks evolution
• How Niall Quinn turned Sunderland around
• Bruce has a victory V-sign for fans
• Scouting report: Matt Sparrow, Scunthorpe United

The Independent

• Reading 1 Newcastle 0
• Keane’s alchemy
• Gartside hails Lee as better than Allardyce
• Thai bid for Man City could bring £50m for players
• Leeds appeal for investors

The Telegraph

• Reading 1 Newcastle 0
• Keane sets his sights high
• Steve Bruce
• Bolton no one-man show
• Sue Mott on Leeds
  

The Times

• Reading 1 Newcastle 0
  
• Ridsdale blames O’Leary for Leeds decline
  
• Pearce under threat as Thai bid for Man City takes shape
• Curbishley accentuates the positives

Wright leaves Chester City

Chester City manager Mark Wright and his assistant, Graham Barrow, have left the club. Here’s how fan site The Onion Bag sees it:

Returning to the Deva last February, Wright guided City away from the relegation zone after taking over from Keith Curle. This season Wright was expected to lead a promotion push, one which looked likely until Christmas.

The sales of Jon Walters and Gregg Blundell plus the departure of Roberto Martinez no doubt harmed City’s chances but the levels of performances still were way below the expected standard.

City legend Barrow returned the club in the summer as assistant to Wright, it is likely that his departure will be met with greater sadness from the fans than that of Wright.

After a successful playing career, including time with Liverpool and 45 appearances for England, Wright’s managerial stints have been dogged by controversy. He’s made a few comebacks in the past, but it’s difficult to see him being given another chance now.

Little Sam replaces Big Sam

Sammy Lee was confirmed as manager of Bolton yesterday, after Sam Allardyce resigned for as yet unexplained reasons on Sunday.

Few managers get to start their career with a team in such a strong position. The bad news for Lee is that he won’t have much of a honeymoon period. Takeover a struggling team and you’ll be given a while to turn it round. Inherit a successful one and even a few losses will bring the vultures in.

In the papers

The Guardian

• Weekend match reports
• Laptop manager with a passion for art (Sam Allardyce)
  

The Independent

• Weekend match reports
• Bolton shock as Allardyce leaves over lack of funds
• Big time beckons for Big Sam
• An email conversation with Jeff Stelling

The Telegraph

• Weekend match reports
• Allardyce quits over lack of funds
  
• Altrincham relegated from Conference

The Times

• Weekend match reports
  
• Newcastle and City favoured destinations for Allardyce
• Damned [Leeds] United’s biggest kicking

Monday round-up: League Two

Defeat at Bristol Rovers means that Swindon will still need a point for automatic promotion next weekend if MK Dons win again (though they also have a plus four goal difference advantage). Rovers win took them above Stockport into the play-off places.

At the bottom with Wrexham and Macclesfield losing and Boston only picking up a point, it will come down to the final match to decide the final relegation place.

• League Two table
• Full list of League Two club links for match reports

Accrington Stanley 3 Macclesfield Town 2

• Reports: Vital Stanley,  Vital Macclesfield

Boston United 1 Torquay United 1

• Reports: Boston Fever, Herald Express

Bristol Rovers 1 Swindon Town 0

• Reports:  BRFC Return, My Only Swindon

Chester City 1 Peterborough United 1

• Reports: The Onion Bag, Talking Posh

Grimsby Town 0 Lincoln City 0

•  Reports: Grimsby Telegraph, Vital Lincoln

Hereford United 0 Shrewsbury Town 1

• Reports: Footymad (Bulls Mad)

Mansfield 2 Barnet 1

• Reports: Footymad (Stags Mad), Official Barnet Website

Notts County 0 Darlington 1

• Reports: NottsCounty.net, Darlo Uncovered

Rochdale 2 Hartlepool United 0

• Reports: Rochdale AFC.com, Vital Hartlepool

Stockport County 0 Bury 0

•  Reports: Hatters Matters, Footymad (Bury Mad)

Walsall 1 Wrexham 0

• Reports: Vital Walsall, Evening Leader

Wycombe Wanderers 0 MK Dons 2

• Reports: Footymad (Wycombe Mad), Milton Keynes Citizen

Monday round-up: League One

Bristol City’s defeat at Millwall means that Notts Forest are only a point behind after their win at Orient and Blackpool are only one further back. City are at home to relegated Rotherham on Saturday but will have an anxious week. Swansea’s win at Carlisle kept them in play-off contention, but Oldham retained the final slot after their win at Brighton.

At the bottom, defeats confirmed Chesterfield hammered Bradford but results elsewhere meant that both clubs were relegated.

• League One table
• Full list of League One club links for match reports

Blackpool 3 Scunthorpe 1

• Reports: Vital Blackpool, Iron Online

Bournemouth 1 Gillingham 1

• Reports: rednblack.net,  Vital Gillingham

Brentford 4 Port Vale 3

• Reports: Footymad (The Bee Hive),  Port Vale Rivals

Brighton 1 Oldham 2

• Reports: Vital BHA,  Jack and Kate’s Latics site

Carlisle United 1 Swansea 2

• Reports: Footymad (CUFC Online), Vital Swansea

Chesterfield 3 Bradford City 0

• Reports: Spirezine,  Telegraph and Argus

Crewe Alexandra 1 Tranmere Rovers 1

• Reports:  Footymad (Crew Mad), Rovers Rearguard

Leyton Orient 1 Nottingham Forest 3

•  Reports: Vital Orient, Vital Forest

Millwall 1 Bristol City 0

• Reports: Footymad (Millwall Mad), Vital Bristol City

Rotherham 2 Cheltenham 4

• Reports: Vital Rotherham, Electric Robin

Yeovil 1 Doncaster Rovers 0

• Reports: Yeovil Express, Doncaster Rovers – A New Era

Monday round-up: Championship

It’s all over bar the play-offs for Derby County after their loss at Crystal Palace yesterday. With Sunderland and Birmingham promoted, both with big budgets and support, the Premier League could be very tough next season.

Hull’s win at Cardiff meant that a late Ipswich goal relegated Leeds, along with Southend who lost at home to Luton. The play-off places will go to the final day, with six clubs chasing the three remaining places.

• Championship table
• Full list of Championship club links for match reports

Barnsley 0 Leicester 1

• Reports: TotalTykes.com, The Fox

Birmingham 2 Sheffield Wednesday 0

• Reports: Vital Brum,  Vital Sheffield Wednesday

Cardiff City 0 Hull City 1

• Reports: CCFC Sleeping Giant, City Independent

Coventry 0 West Brom 1

• Reports: Gary Mabbutt’s Knee, WBA Unofficial

Crystal Palace 2 Derby County 0

• Reports: The Holmesdale Online, Ram Zone

Leeds United 1 Ipswich Town 1

• Reports: To Ell And Back, Singing The Blues

Norwich City 0 Southampton 1

• Reports: Rick Waghorn,  Saints Forever

Plymouth 2 Preston North End 0

• Reports: RuboftheGreens.com, Who’s That Jumping Off The Pier?

Southend United 1 Luton Town 3

• Reports: Longpier,  Hatternet

Stoke 3 Colchester 1

• Reports: The Oatcake, Vital Us

Sunderland 3 Burnley 2

• Reports: Ready To Go, Vital Burnley

Wolves 2 QPR 0

• Reports: Express And Star,  Loft For Words

Monday round-up: Premier League

Good results for all the UEFA Cup contenders mean that the race stays tight. As does the battle at the bottom: defeats for Charlton, Wigan and Fulham  mean that Sheffield United are now probably safe and West Ham have a lifeline.

• Premier League table
• Full list of Premier League club links for match reports

Arsenal 3 Fulham 1

• Reports: Arseblog, Footymad (Fulham Mad)

Blackburn 4 Charlton 1

• Reports: RoversNet, All Quiet In The East Stand

Chelsea 2 Bolton 2

• Reports: Blue And White Army,  The Bolton News

Everton 2 Man Utd 4

• Reports: When Skies Are Grey, United We Stand

Man City 0 Aston Villa 2

• Reports: Blue View, AVFC blog

Middlesbrough 2 Tottenham 3

• Reports: Fly Me To The Moon,  Footymad (Spurs Mad)

Portsmouth 2 Liverpool 1

• Reports: Fratton Faithful,  LFC Online

Sheffield United 1 Watford 0

• Reports: Footymad (Blades Mad), Footymad (Golden Boys)

Wigan 0 West Ham 3

• Reports: Thas Not A Patch On Harry Lyons, On The Terraces