Gossip: Blackburn captain Travis drawing interest

Derby County and Wrexham are battling for the signature of Blackburn Rovers captain and midfielder Lewis Travis, 27. (Football League World), external
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Daily Mirror

an hour ago

• Daily Mirror

Paul Mullin's Wrexham exit close after Ryan Reynolds warning and frank admission

Paul Mullin looks set to leave Wrexham this summer after being frozen out by manager Phil Parkinson during the second half of their promotion-winning campaign in League One Wrexham star Paul Mullin looks to be on the brink of leaving the club, with discussions about a loan move to Wigan Athletic advancing. Since joining in July 2021, the striker has been a key figure for the Red Dragons, netting an impressive 110 goals over the last four seasons. However, he found himself sidelined during the latter half of their most recent campaign, as manager Phil Parkinson left him out of the squad. After undergoing back surgery last summer, Mullin had a shaky start to the season. ‌ The 30-year-old then quickly lost his place in the team after Parkinson bolstered his attacking options by bringing in Sam Smith and Jay Rodriguez in the January transfer window. The strategy paid off as Wrexham clinched promotion from League One to the Championship in April. ‌ However, it could spell the end of Mullin's tenure at the club, especially following the recent signing of Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie. Wigan have been heavily linked with the Liverpudlian since the season ended, and according to the Mail, talks are now underway regarding a loan deal. Mullin is a fan favourite and well-liked by Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. While he has tried to quash rumours of a falling-out with Parkinson, during a recent episode of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary, he confessed to feeling aggrieved about being left out of the team. "I let that get to me, to be honest, from where I've been to then only being allowed to play four games and finding myself being left out of the team," Mullin said. "I resented it and I carried that for weeks because I felt it was unjust. "I think I'm more annoyed now. It's the annoyance of training every single day, doing everything I can, and looking back on everything I've done. "I feel like I was a main part of why we got into this situation, and then I'm not being allowed the platform to get back there, or the opportunity to go and do it again. It's difficult. I don't know what's caused him (Parkinson) to trust me less, but he clearly does." ‌ In candid moments recorded before the close of the season, he added: "Just to play one game in the Championship with Wrexham would be worth absolutely everything. It would be the icing on the cake for this story and who knows where it could end. "I've enjoyed every minute here, and if we could get to the Championship, then that'd be phenomenal. From a personal perspective, I don't think I'll have any part to play in it going forward." ‌ Ex-Wrexham boss Dean Saunders recently said that he thinks Mullin can muscle his way back into Parkinson's favour. However, the former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker also cautioned Reynolds and McElhenney that the striker may struggle stepping up a level. "I absolutely think Paul Mullin could score goals in the Championship," Saunders told "It wasn't long ago that we were talking about him playing for Wales. "He has always scored goals in every league he's played in, so he is capable of scoring goals in the Championship. But the defenders get better as you go up the leagues, so he will have to be smarter and work harder for every goal. ‌ Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year. "It's all about speed of thought, so if he is aware of that and works hard, I'm sure he can score plenty next year for Wrexham, but it will be tough for him to adapt." Andy Morrell, a former striker and manager of Wrexham, also said he hoped Mullin would stay on and vie for his spot. ‌ "We all know he's got goals in him, he's a finisher, and we've seen him show it against Championship sides in the past," Morrell told BBC Sport Wales this week. "I hope he comes back really fit and goes and smashes pre-season - and perhaps gives the manager a decision to make. His mind may already be made up, he (Mullin) may already have been told, but I'd love to see him give it that shot and make sure Phil Parkinson has got to make that decision." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.

BBC News

an hour ago

• BBC News

Ahmed brothers to resume 'backyard rivalry' after T20 clash

The next game of 'backyard cricket' between the Ahmed brothers promises more drama than their first T20 Blast international Rehan Ahmed managed just a single off the bowling of younger brother and Notts Outlaws spinner Farhan in Leicestershire's victory at Grace Road on Thursday was the solitary run scored by the 20-year-old off his sibling on the way to a maiden T20 half-century that helped the Foxes chase down Notts' total of 156 with more than two overs to spare to win by four said facing his 17-year-old brother in a competitive match for the first time was "a great feeling", even though they had practised together earlier in the day."It felt so different out there in the middle," Rehan told BBC Radio Leicester."He has bowled to me a lot, so he knows I will try to run down and stuff, so I was just going to play it safe."The younger Ahmed should not expect similar caution from his big brother the next time they if he would go looking for a six or two off Farhan's bowling when they face each other at Trent Bridge on 6 July, Rehan laughed and promised fireworks much sooner."Maybe it won't be at Trent Bridge, but maybe in the back garden," he said. The fraternal rivalry was intriguing sub-plot in a milestone knock for Leicestershire's Rehan, who freely admitted he has "really underperformed with the bat" in previous 52 from 37 balls, sharing a 69-run fourth-wicket partnership with Foxes skipper Louis Kimber, who made 35 off 15, earned him the player the the match honours and high praise from head coach Alfonso Thomas."I've given him stick over the last couple of months, because he has a lot of bats upstairs and I always say he has more bats than runs," Thomas teased during a post-match interview alongside Rehan."But he has proved me wrong in the last couple of months, where he has come in and done a fantastic job for us. He is a quality performer, he is obviously an international player for us, but that is what you want from your big players - to come in and show the guys how to win games."Leicestershire's fifth win from eight T20 Blast games put them second in the Northern Group and well placed to advance to the knockout stage of the competition for the first time since 2020.

Telegraph

an hour ago

• Telegraph

Hannah Hampton: Doctors told me I couldn't play football – now I'm England No 1

Hannah Hampton says she is striving to live up to the legacy of Mary Earps as the goalkeeper prepares for her first major tournament as England's No 1. Hampton's rise to be England 's first-choice goalkeeper is all the more remarkable for the fact she was born with strabismus, an eye condition which affects depth perception. She underwent multiple operations as a child and was told by doctors that she would not be able to play sport because of that inability to judge distances, but she has continually defied such predictions. She has previously joked that being a goalkeeper, where being aware of the ball's exact location quite an important part of the job, 'doesn't really make a lot of sense', but being told she could not do something 'made me more determined to get to the highest level possible. It was always my passion to do sport and it was my dream'. Yet Hampton has recently opened up about how she considered quitting football after reports emerged of her allegedly being dropped from the England team because of a poor attitude in 2022, which Hampton insisted were inaccurate. Speaking about why she decided to carry on playing, Hampton said: 'I've always gone through life trying to prove people wrong. 'I was told from a young age that I couldn't play football, that it wasn't a profession I could pursue, the doctors told my parents that. 'I'm here right now. You can't let all the scrutiny win. I think if you do that it just adds fuel to the fire and I wasn't willing to accept that. I wanted to show who I am as a person and show that [the stories] weren't always true. So I thought, 'just dig in'. I did that and I'm sat here right now. I think I can say that I've proved people wrong.' She managed to put that turbulent period behind her, joining Chelsea from Aston Villa in 2023 and working her way back into the Lionesses' set-up. Hampton got her chance with England when Earps picked up an injury in May last year and performances against France and Sweden were impressive enough for her to retain her place. The two goalkeepers shared game time as Sarina Wiegman tried to decide who was No 1, with Hampton eventually getting the nod when she started both games against Belgium in April. Earps made the shock decision to retire at the end of May after being told by Wiegman that Hampton was now the Lionesses' first-choice goalkeeper. Hampton, 24, watched on as Earps won the golden glove at the 2022 European Championship and the 2023 World Cup but will now have the chance to replicate her former team-mate's achievements at this summer's Euros in Switzerland. 'It's been difficult for everyone to come to terms with what her decision is, but we have to respect that,' Hampton said. 'I've done everything I need to do. I've sent her a text and I congratulated her on a very successful international career and I think that's all I really can do. 'I'm not expecting anything back, she's been an unbelievable player. We're going to miss her as a person here. She's a big personality in this team and she glued us all together at times when we needed to. 'Now I've got to just go and live up to her legacy. I'll give it my best shot for sure.' Hampton, who helped Chelsea achieve a domestic treble last season and was the joint-winner of the Women's Super League golden boot with 13 clean sheets, admitted knowing her place in the pecking order going into the tournament has been helpful. 'Getting that bit of clarity already helps you prepare for whatever your role is,' she said. 'My role is different this time around compared to the last tournaments but it's not going to change my mindset.