The Championship & Smaller Clubs: '13-'14
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And Leeds United manage to slip further into the mire. This stuff is getting beyond belief. I can't consider myself a real fan from over here in North America; I can only guess what it's like to be a supporter going to games.
To recap the past year:
After much back and forth, Gulf Finance House buys the team from Ken Bates, with the promise of financial backing to lift the team's prospects.
They hire Brian McDermott, formerly of Reading, and the team starts the season well enough.
It becomes clear GFH has no money to spend, and wants someone else to cover their monthly losses of £1m.
Enter Massimo Cellino, corn magnate from Sardinia, and shady owner of Cagliari in Serie A, who agrees to buy 75% of the club, and then has his lawyer fire the manager before the deal is finalized. The sacking by phone gets leaked and McDermott is allowed to stay under pressure from the supporters.
Cellino's candidacy to become a Football League owner is denied, at first due to past transgressions, but then assured by his being found guilty of failing to pay taxes on a yacht he bought in the US and brought to Italy.
Meanwhile, the team is sucking away another season, and the players are not getting paid in time or in full.
Now, "Leeds businessman" Mike Farnan, whose past efforts to wrest control of the team have always fallen short financially, is teaming up with Cellino and attempting to resurrect the deal under yet another suspect title, Together Leeds.
McDermott is getting berated on the phone at home by fans, being pressured to resign. To his credit, and no doubt legal advice, he is standing tall, refusing to step down. He actually comes across as the most the most sane and reasonable party in the whole affair. But can he coach this team at this time?
The good news is LUFC probably garnered enough points earlier in the season to avoid relegation, as it's surely where the ship is headed.
But what happens now? Does the club go into administration again, getting docked points in the process. Does the Football League suddenly decide to take Cellino's money under different terms? Does McDermott stay on for more abuse and uncertainty? Is it ever about the game, and the team, and it's fans?
Wait. I think I know the answer to the last question.
To recap the past year:
After much back and forth, Gulf Finance House buys the team from Ken Bates, with the promise of financial backing to lift the team's prospects.
They hire Brian McDermott, formerly of Reading, and the team starts the season well enough.
It becomes clear GFH has no money to spend, and wants someone else to cover their monthly losses of £1m.
Enter Massimo Cellino, corn magnate from Sardinia, and shady owner of Cagliari in Serie A, who agrees to buy 75% of the club, and then has his lawyer fire the manager before the deal is finalized. The sacking by phone gets leaked and McDermott is allowed to stay under pressure from the supporters.
Cellino's candidacy to become a Football League owner is denied, at first due to past transgressions, but then assured by his being found guilty of failing to pay taxes on a yacht he bought in the US and brought to Italy.
Meanwhile, the team is sucking away another season, and the players are not getting paid in time or in full.
Now, "Leeds businessman" Mike Farnan, whose past efforts to wrest control of the team have always fallen short financially, is teaming up with Cellino and attempting to resurrect the deal under yet another suspect title, Together Leeds.
McDermott is getting berated on the phone at home by fans, being pressured to resign. To his credit, and no doubt legal advice, he is standing tall, refusing to step down. He actually comes across as the most the most sane and reasonable party in the whole affair. But can he coach this team at this time?
The good news is LUFC probably garnered enough points earlier in the season to avoid relegation, as it's surely where the ship is headed.
But what happens now? Does the club go into administration again, getting docked points in the process. Does the Football League suddenly decide to take Cellino's money under different terms? Does McDermott stay on for more abuse and uncertainty? Is it ever about the game, and the team, and it's fans?
Wait. I think I know the answer to the last question.
As I've followed the story, Cellino's ban was triggered by the yacht case. If he wins his appeal, which was heard this week, he should be in the clear.
Farnan strikes me as what our British cousins call a chancer, always looking for the angle in. I'd really want to avoid having him around.
Leeds really need control of Elland Road if they're going to be a top 10 club in the Premier League again. The support is there, they just don't have the revenue. It's become a basket case club, kind of like Wednesday.
Farnan strikes me as what our British cousins call a chancer, always looking for the angle in. I'd really want to avoid having him around.
Leeds really need control of Elland Road if they're going to be a top 10 club in the Premier League again. The support is there, they just don't have the revenue. It's become a basket case club, kind of like Wednesday.
Yeah, I think you're right about Elland Road. It's hard to otherwise understand how a relatively well supported club like Leeds should be run at such a loss. I remember when they had to sell the stadium after the Ridsdale fallout, but I'm not sure who owns it now. I keep waiting for some stable investor to right the ship, but it seems their destiny to go from crisis to embarrassing crisis at present.DLew On Roids said:
I'm not sure if this is good news or bad news for United, but Massimo Cellino has had his ability to buy LUFC restored on appeal. It's probably bad news for Brian McDermott, though.
Edit: The picture of Cellino in that article makes him look like DeNiro in Cape Fear. That can't be a bad thing.
Edit: The picture of Cellino in that article makes him look like DeNiro in Cape Fear. That can't be a bad thing.
There's an interesting matchup brewing in the promotion race from Bundesliga 2. St Pauli are three points off third place. If they can sneak into third over the last few weeks, they'll go into a playoff with the third-bottom club in the Bundesliga. That club is likely to be Hamburg, their local rivals. A Hamburg derby for a spot in the Bundesliga would be spectacular.
Luton Town is back in the Football League.
For those that don't know, they were in the Championship in 2006-07, but thanks to financial mismanagement were relegated 3 consecutive seasons and fell all the way out of the Football League. They made the Conference play-offs a few times but could never win it. This year they clinched the title with 3 games to play.
I've kept an eye on them ever since the epic Luton 3-5 Liverpool game in the FA Cup in 05-06, it's great to see them on their way back.
For those that don't know, they were in the Championship in 2006-07, but thanks to financial mismanagement were relegated 3 consecutive seasons and fell all the way out of the Football League. They made the Conference play-offs a few times but could never win it. This year they clinched the title with 3 games to play.
I've kept an eye on them ever since the epic Luton 3-5 Liverpool game in the FA Cup in 05-06, it's great to see them on their way back.
The mighty Shaymen of Halifax Town drew with Kidderminster to book their place in the Conference playoffs. A successful playoffs would put Halifax back in the Football League for the first time since 2002. Since then Halifax Town AFC have gone bankrupt in 2008 as a Conference club, with the club reforming as FC Halifax Town in the Northern Premier League North. Promotion to the League would be the Shaymen's fourth promotion in six seasons.
For those of you interested in all things Yammer, Aldershot stayed up in the Conference on goal difference. One less point and they'd have been relegated to the Conference South with a positive GD.
For those of you interested in all things Yammer, Aldershot stayed up in the Conference on goal difference. One less point and they'd have been relegated to the Conference South with a positive GD.
Leicester City and Burnley have clinched promotion to the Premier League. Derby, QPR, Wigan, and either Reading or Brighton will make the playoff. Reading leads Brighton by 1 point with one game to go, and they have an identical GD. Barnsley and Yeovil Town are on their way to League One, and Birmingham City trail Doncaster Rovers by 1 point (but have a better GD) with a game to go.
SoxFanInCali said:
Leicester and Burnley were impressive all season.
Hoping QPR can put a couple good games together, but not overly enthusiastic....
The last playoff place is down to Reading (in as it stands) and Brighton on Saturday. If Reading drop points at home to already-promoted Burnley, Brighton can pass them with a win at Forest. If Reading lose and Brighton draw, Brighton sneak in on GD.
ed. sorry, didn't meant to essentially restate the previous post. A bit on edge for for the weekend matches.
ed. sorry, didn't meant to essentially restate the previous post. A bit on edge for for the weekend matches.
Halifax Town 1 - Cambridge United 0
Halifax Town gets closer to its first-ever trip to Wembley. If they win they playoffs, they'll be the first part-time club promoted from the Conference in 15 years.
Halifax Town gets closer to its first-ever trip to Wembley. If they win they playoffs, they'll be the first part-time club promoted from the Conference in 15 years.
dirtynine said:
Congratulations! Brighton storms into the last playoff spot with a 90th minute goal to win 2-1. Derby should be a tough match up, they thrashed Wednesday this year, but maybe that was a bad mix of styles...or maybe Wednesday sucks. Anything goes this time of year though- good luck.
And the worst Northampton Town season in twenty years at least will have a happy ending. 3-1 over Oxford United at Sixfields at the moment, a point will keep the Cobblers up.
Lee Clark celebrates Birmingham staying up. I wish Big Sam had done this after West Ham's place in the Prem next year was confirmed.
I was in London in 1997 when Northampton defeated Swansea in the (now) League Two playoff final. They've had somewhat divergent histories since.Royal Reader said:
Jan Mølby was Swansea's player-manager in that match.
John Frain in the 93rd.DLew On Roids said:
The funny thing is that Swansea were in the position were are now not long after that game. Swansea and Hull are the lower league dream - when you support a team in a decent-sized town - a new ground, a bit of money, some momentum, you can make it into the Championship or beyond. Happens for some teams, some fans die waiting for it to happen.
Here are the Brighton/Forest highlights; I think they'll play but there may be regional restrictions. The second Brighton goal, in front of the traveling supporters, is marvelous. A sea of delirium.
Ed. Here are some Sky commentators losing their crap relaying the scoring, with highlights.
http://deadspin.com/reading-fans-mistakenly-think-they-get-into-playoffs-i-1571278997
Ed. Here are some Sky commentators losing their crap relaying the scoring, with highlights.
http://deadspin.com/reading-fans-mistakenly-think-they-get-into-playoffs-i-1571278997
I can't get it to play...too bad. Likely the highlights will be up on youtube later.
Lee Clark said earlier this week that this was the biggest game of his (fairly substantial) career. I think they needed to win and have three teams above them lose to stay up. No wonder he went bananas.
Lee Clark said earlier this week that this was the biggest game of his (fairly substantial) career. I think they needed to win and have three teams above them lose to stay up. No wonder he went bananas.
No. They needed to better Doncaster's result at Leicester. They could also have stayed up with the combination of [Birmingham win and Blackpool loss] or [Birmingham win and Millwall draw/loss]. Three other team's results were relevant, but they only had to (and indeed, did) finish above one of them.
sachmoney said:
Great job that, taking them from the lowly heights of playoff contention all the way to last-minute survival.
Royal Reader said:
I went to Wembley that day thinking I could buy a ticket on the day of the game, since it was the fourth tier final and it wouldn't be a sellout. There wasn't a single ticket booth open.
Championship Playoffs
Times GMT / ET.
Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Derby County
Thursday May 8 - 7:45 p.m. / 2:45 p.m.
Wigan Athletic vs. Queens Park Rangers
Friday May 9 - 7:45 p.m. / 2:45 p.m.
Derby County vs. Brighton and Hove Albion
Sunday May 11 - 5:15 p.m. / 12:15 p.m.
Queens Park Rangers vs. Wigan Athletic
Monday May 12 - 7:45 p.m. / 2:45 p.m.
Final - Wembley Stadium
Saturday May 24 - 3 p.m. / 10 a.m.
Current odds for promotion:
Derby: 2.30:1
Wigan: 2.75:1
QPR: 3.25:1
Brighton: 3.50:1
Times GMT / ET.
Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Derby County
Thursday May 8 - 7:45 p.m. / 2:45 p.m.
Wigan Athletic vs. Queens Park Rangers
Friday May 9 - 7:45 p.m. / 2:45 p.m.
Derby County vs. Brighton and Hove Albion
Sunday May 11 - 5:15 p.m. / 12:15 p.m.
Queens Park Rangers vs. Wigan Athletic
Monday May 12 - 7:45 p.m. / 2:45 p.m.
Final - Wembley Stadium
Saturday May 24 - 3 p.m. / 10 a.m.
Current odds for promotion:
Derby: 2.30:1
Wigan: 2.75:1
QPR: 3.25:1
Brighton: 3.50:1
For anyone who may be interested, the Derby County game will be starting in an hour and televised on beIN Sports US.
Final matchday in the Bundesliga just completed--Eintracht Braunschweig and Nurnberg are relegated, HSV is in the playoff. The 2. Bundesliga doesn't play until tomorrow, but the playoff will almost certainly be against either Paderborn or Greuther Furth. FC Koln is guaranteed promotion.
CL group stage spots go to Bayern, BVB, and Schalke, with Leverkusen taking the qualification spot over Wolfsburg.
CL group stage spots go to Bayern, BVB, and Schalke, with Leverkusen taking the qualification spot over Wolfsburg.
Wigan are 0-1 up at Loftus Road. Good tense match. 'Arry looking worried. Wigan looking solid so far, would love to see them back in the Prem. Tony Fernandez' chin is as long as Lieth Walk. Bugger QPR have a Penalty. Fuckin Donkey Caldwell goes to ground with his tackle on Hoilett right on theedge of the box. And its 1-1 now.
Caldwell is a good pro, not only gives away the penalty but gets injured and subbed too. Now he's choking back the tears and getting some words of comfort from Rosler.
The English Championship playoff final is about to begin between Derby County and QPR on BeIn Sports for anyone who may be interested.
A straight red to QPR for a tackle from behind on a clear goal scoring chance just outside the box gives Derby an extra man with 30 minutes to play.
Unreal. QPR with a 90th minute goal. Poor D by Derby. Had the ball on their foot and couldn't clear it
Classic bit of English commentary about the fans: "QPR fans have been suffering in the sunshine all afternoon..."
I mean, I know thanks to my DNA that British people are pasty and burn easily, but really? No "QPR supporters won't have rickets next week"?
I mean, I know thanks to my DNA that British people are pasty and burn easily, but really? No "QPR supporters won't have rickets next week"?
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