Latest news with #relegation
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Supporters Association back major changes to League Two
The Football Supporters Association (FSA) have backed the campaign by the National League to increase the number of relegated teams from League Two. During their annual AGM, the FSA voted on a resolution to support the National League's '3UP' campaign, which looks to change the number of promotion and relegation places between League Two and the National League. Advertisement At present, only two teams go down from League Two, and there is only one automatic promotion spot in the National League, with the second decided via the playoffs between the teams finishing between second and seventh. In February, all 72 National League clubs grouped together in a campaign to see three clubs earn promotion into the EFL every season. The gap between the two leagues is notably small, with no club having ever been relegated back to the fifth tier in their first season in League Two since the introduction of automatic relegation. In a statement when the campaign was launched, the EFL said: 'Recognising the strength of the pyramid, the league has been consistent in its commitment to looking both upwards and down when considering future changes. 'As such, we remain willing to consider changes to the current position on promotion and relegation in the EFL, but these discussions must be part of a broader package of reforms which benefit all levels of the game.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
I won't sell, my love for Saints is growing
During Dragan Solak's reign as Southampton owner he has so far witnessed two relegations, one promotion and now five different permanent while the downs might have outweighed the ups, Solak, in a wide-ranging interview, says he has "no plans" to sell the 60-year-old Serbian's company Sport Republic acquired a majority stake of the Saints in early only now, three and a half years on, has he spoken publicly to BBC Sport for the first time in one of the very few media interviews Solak has the clock a year and Southampton were still celebrating after a thrilling Championship play-off final win over Leeds United at Wembley to secure promotion to the Premier the campaign to follow was a damaging one for the club's reputation as they were relegated back to the second tier after a record number of defeats in a season."We have had some really great highs and enjoyable moments but we have also had devastating and sad periods - but I guess that's the sport," Solak told BBC Radio Solent."But the good thing is that my love, respect and loyalty for Southampton is just growing through all of this."Will Still's appointment makes him the fifth permanent head coach of Solak's tenure after Ralph Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones, Russell Martin and Ivan season, Saints struggled to adjust from the Championship to England's top tier, not helped by director of football Jason Wilcox leaving for Manchester United even before they had been said Saints had "reluctantly" allowed Wilcox to depart after just six months in the role."I really liked working with Jason during his time here but I understand it, if you get the call from Manchester United, you go," Solak added."We suddenly lost a man who [had] started building something, we didn't replace him fast enough so we went into the challenge of the Premier League without a leading figure in our football department and that was very, very costly." No plans to sell but potential room for investors Solak is the lead investor for Sport Republic - a British sports investment firm founded by Rasmus Ankersen and Henrik Kraft. They are also involved with, external Turkish side Goztepe, Valenciennes in France and African team FC Mali recent reports suggested Solak could be looking to sell Southampton but he denied these claims."I have never had any plans of selling the club," Solak said. "We have quite a few very exciting projects."I might invite some partners to join me if and when we are promoted to the Premier League, because I think we'll need maybe more [investment]."But selling was never on my mind, I was thinking much more about this 10-year project of how to develop the club commercially and financially so it is more robust and less dependent on TV rights deals." Sacked Saints boss Martin was 'unlucky' In his wide-ranging interview, Solak said previous head coach Russell Martin was "unlucky" to be sacked despite Southampton being rooted to the bottom of the table at the time. The Scot had led Saints into the top flight but was unable to mix it in the Premier League, winning just one game and suffering 13 39, has now been appointed as head coach of Rangers after six months out of Solak thinks he could have still been in charge at St Mary's if not for bad luck."I really believe he was absolutely, fundamentally behind his idea of football and that is not easy in an environment like the Premier League that is so competitive," Solak said."But to give him credit we were quite unlucky, I don't even know how to characterise some of the VAR decisions that we had - but in my opinion VAR took eight points off Russell's team."If he had those eight points more in December I think he would probably manage the team through the whole season."I'm not saying we would stay in the league but we would have [had] a much more competitive run and Russell would definitely still be leading the team."All three clubs that came up last season - Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton - went straight back down and failed to put up much of a fight in the gap between 17th and 18th positions was 13 points and bottom side Saints ultimately finished 26 points adrift of safety. "The truth is that the difference is too big that's for sure," Solak said."The gap has to be narrowed somehow or it will create problems for both the Championship and for the Premier League in the future."I think they should redistribute wealth and I don't think the quality of football would go down, this would allow the Championship to catch up and it will be much more meaningful competition between the teams." Listen and subscribe by clicking here for Southampton FC content on BBC Sounds New head coach Still 'a very smart guy' Former Lens boss Will Still became Saints' latest head coach in May, leaving Ligue 1 for his first taste of management in English became the youngest coach in Europe's top five leagues when appointed by Ligue 1 club Reims, aged 30, in October 2022."I spent some time with him and I have to say he's definitely a very smart guy," Solak said."He went from a first-tier team in France to come to the Championship, he thinks it's a right move for him because I think he believes his place is in British football."For him to be willing to basically take the challenge and to try to prove that it is his place, I think it's great so I'm very positive." Saints under Solak so far It was early in 2022 when Solak and Sport Republic purchased previous owner Gao Jisheng's stake in the south coast club, then managed by were mid-table in the Premier League and despite a disappointing end to that campaign with four straight defeats, Saints finished comfortably safe in 15th position with 40 points. But, the following campaign after taking just 12 points from 14 games, in November, Solak's board opted to part ways with the long-term coach who had been at St Mary's for nearly four Selles' brief caretaker stint, they welcomed Luton boss Nathan Jones on a three-and-a-half-year ended up being the club's shortest-serving manager as he was sacked after just 95 days in charge, losing nine of 14 were almost doomed to relegation to the Championship by then and their fate was ultimately sealed in May with a defeat at home by losing some key players in the early stages of the following season, new boss Martin's team quickly established themselves as a top Championship known for Martin's possession-based football, Saints secured a play-off spot and navigated their way to the final where they edged out Leeds at Wembley. But Saints struggled at the higher level, sacking Martin in December after a 5-0 thrashing by Tottenham left them nine points off came in on an 18-month deal but results failed to improve and he left in April, once Saints' relegation had been confirmed - with Still since signing a three-year-deal as his successor.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
🎧 Reaction after Premier League fixture announcement
The latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' 'Don't Go To Bed Just Yet' podcast has team react to the Premier League fixture list and also discuss the type of players the club must sign to avoid to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Serie B chaos and memories of food-poisoning fall-guys
FOOD FOR THOUGHT 'Real Gs move in silence like lasagne' – Lil Wayne, 2011. With the transfer window opening, closing and opening again, it might surprise you to learn that the domestic season in Italy, specifically in Serie B, is not yet over. The relegation playoff to decide who falls into the Italian third tier rages on, with Sampdoria – who originally had been automatically relegated following a dismal season – given a late reprieve after Brescia were docked points for financial irregularities. Samp and playoff opponents Salernitana are now slugging it out for survival, which feels a little too accurate in the latter's case now that the southern side have got a serious case of food poisoning after a 2-0 first-leg defeat in Genoa on Sunday. Twenty-one of Salernitana's players and staff have been struck down with illness, a large part requiring hospital treatment upon disembarking from their flight in Salerno. Salernitana have called for an investigation into the 'causes of this widespread and serious episode'. Advertisement 'We are truly shocked by what happened and by the series of events that risk jeopardising Salernitana's smooth and peaceful approach to the final and crucial minutes of the season,' said club suit Maurizio Milan, putting a smooth and peaceful shine on his side's disastrous first-leg defeat. 'Many players and staff, at the moment, are not even able to show up at the sports centre to resume training.' There is no suggestion of foul play or that it was a dodgy lasagne (no, not Kevin) that was to blame, but it does give us an opportunity to revisit the biggest food-poisoning scandal on English soil in recent years: lasagne-gate. Tottenham, shock, were the fall-guys on that occasion as almost the entire squad fell ill on the eve of their last game of the 2005-06 Premier League season at West Ham. Spurs' depleted and deteriorating squad would lose 2-1 the following day, bitterly handing Big Cup qualification to arch-rivals Arsenal in perhaps the most famous example of St Totteringham's Day. 'While the gaffer [Martin Jol] was giving his team talk before the game, players were being sick in the toilets,' Jermaine Jenas later wrote. Spurs' players had dined in a private room at the five-star London Marriott West India Quay Hotel and sat down to a buffet of steak, chicken and pasta prepared by the hotel chef on the advice of the club's nutritionist. By 5am many were ill with diarrhoea and vomiting, and club officials asked for the police to be called. However, after the hotel's general manager said no other guests were affected and the kitchens and food preparation areas were given the all-clear, fan forums went into overdrive as to the cause of the food poisoning. 'We had 10 players in bed,' sobbed Jol. 'Then we asked the Premier League to postpone the kick-off for three hours until six o'clock and that wasn't possible.' Serie B officials have acted with a little more compassion, granting Salernitana a postponement with Friday's second leg now moved to Sunday after medical documents were produced by the club and a criminal complaint filed with prosecutors. Sure, Football Daily might have a soft spot for Sampdoria and obviously cannot confirm or deny that we were preparing sandwiches for a flight out of Genoa airport on Sunday, but we would absolutely hate to see another important Italian match influenced by off-pitch matters. Here's hoping Salernitana's players and staff make a full recovery. QUOTE OF THE DAY 'There was no way to simply buy water. You could go to a beer-only stand but there were no water stands and no extra water stations' – John Celmins is one of a number of fans in Pasadena recounting their grim experiences of water shortages at Sunday's game between PSG and Atlético, which kicked off at midday in brutally sweltering conditions and featured Fifa's trademark directive on banning bottles with any contents taking precedence over the Rose Bowl's usual rules. FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS Nice contrast regarding football management IQ in yesterday's Football Daily. The Copa Gianni had PSG and Atlético kick off on Sunday at noon under the California sun. Meanwhile, six miles away, the Angel City (AKA Immigrant City) match on Saturday sensibly started at 7pm local time. Much better for the players, the supporters, and the game in general, no?' – Mike Wilner. Just a thought about the ongoing debate around the Club World Cup and player welfare. How about – borrowing from the format of Ryder Cup Sunday – every player has to play a certain amount of time (updated for each round)? It would be fascinating to watch each manager use their entire squad rather than rely on their first team, and ensure some rest for all' – Nick Hewat. I'm surprised that 'Hugh Lloris' is a goalkeeper for LAFC (yesterday's News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition). I would think he'd be a coach, as he is a proven experienced manager. This means that when LAFC faces the Seattle Sounders in MLS, Lloris and the opposing goalkeeper combine to offer A Bit of Frei and Lloris' – Dan Davis. Advertisement Please send your letters to Today's winner of our letter o' the day competition is … Dan Davis, who gets some Football Weekly merch. We'll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. RECOMMENDED LOOKING It's your boy, David Squires, on … the Copa Gianni. IF YOU PULL ENOUGH LEVERS Yes, it's the news you've all been waiting for: Barcelona's credit rating is on the way back, baby. 'The change in trend to 'positive' from 'stable' is supported by FCB's improved financial performance over the last two seasons along with the expectation of further improvement thanks to higher revenues because of the club's return to the Spotify Camp Nou (the stadium), as well as effective cost controls carried by the club and supported by Uefa and La Liga sustainability frameworks,' bugled a statement. You'll never sing that! NEWS, BITS AND BOBS The FA has charged former referee David Coote with an alleged 'aggravated breach' over comments he made about Jürgen Klopp that emerged last November and led to his dismissal by the PGMOL. Advertisement More from the Club World Cup: Chelsea are up and running after beating LAFC 2-0 in front of 22,137 fans at the 75,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; Boca Juniors and Benfica have drawn 2-2 in a half-decent encounter; and Flamengo have beaten Esperance 2-0. The WSL will expand from 12 to 14 teams from the 2026‑27 season – subject to FA approval, along with making the second tier fully professional. Next season the WSL2's top two will be promoted and the team in third will have a deciding playoff against the bottom WSL side. Drogheda United's appeal over their exclusion from Tin Pot by Uefa, due to non-compliance with regulations on multi-club ownership, has been dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The FAI Cup holders are owned by multi-club landlords, Trivela Group, who have a majority stake in Silkeborg, also in next season's Tin Pot and the higher ranked team. Manchester United chief suit Omar Berrada remains confident the club can win the men's and women's league titles by their 150th anniversary in 2028. 'Can the team win the Premier League title by 2028? Of course. We've just finished 15th and it seems an impossible task. But why not aim for it?' he whooped. Advertisement Brighton have signed Italian international film director defender Diego Coppola from Verona. Plymouth Argyle may have lost Ryan Hardie to new Championship arrivals Wrexham, but they could soon be gaining investment from a US group that is being spearheaded by … Gareth Bale. And fellow League One outfit Cardiff City have settled on Brian Barry-Murphy as their new head coach. 'He brings enthusiasm, vibrancy and an exciting outlook on what today's football is,' trilled owner Vincent Tan. MOVING THE GOALPOSTS The latest edition of our sister email focuses on Sweden's Soft Hooligans. Check it out right here. STILL WANT MORE? Suzanne Wrack explains how the WSL's expansion to 14 teams will reshape the women's football pyramid. Advertisement And the Rumour Mill has all the latest goss, including chatter of Real Madrid plotting a move for Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly. MEMORY LANE America, eff yeah. Coming again to save the mother [Snip – Football Daily Ed] … oh, get a 3-1 beating by England in May 1976 at the USA USA USA Bicentennial Cup. The tournament, also featuring Italy and Brazil, marked the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, while the European pair took part after failing to reach Euro 1976, and the Team America side featured a host of non-Americans (including Pelé). Here, Trevor Cherry lets fly in front of a sparsely populated crowd in Philadelphia and you can watch highlights of what turned out to be classed as an unofficial encounter right here. 'YOU KILLED FIVE ACTORS. GOOD ONES!'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Serie B chaos and memories of food-poisoning fall-guys
'Real Gs move in silence like lasagne' – Lil Wayne, 2011. With the transfer window opening, closing and opening again, it might surprise you to learn that the domestic season in Italy, specifically in Serie B, is not yet over. The relegation playoff to decide who falls into the Italian third tier rages on, with Sampdoria – who originally had been automatically relegated following a dismal season – given a late reprieve after Brescia were docked points for financial irregularities. Samp and playoff opponents Salernitana are now slugging it out for survival, which feels a little too accurate in the latter's case now that the southern side have got a serious case of food poisoning after a 2-0 first-leg defeat in Genoa on Sunday. Twenty-one of Salernitana's players and staff have been struck down with illness, a large part requiring hospital treatment upon disembarking from their flight in Salerno. Salernitana have called for an investigation into the 'causes of this widespread and serious episode'. 'We are truly shocked by what happened and by the series of events that risk jeopardising Salernitana's smooth and peaceful approach to the final and crucial minutes of the season,' said club suit Maurizio Milan, putting a smooth and peaceful shine on his side's disastrous first-leg defeat. 'Many players and staff, at the moment, are not even able to show up at the sports centre to resume training.' There is no suggestion of foul play or that it was a dodgy lasagne (no, not Kevin) that was to blame, but it does give us an opportunity to revisit the biggest food-poisoning scandal on English soil in recent years: lasagne-gate. Tottenham, shock, were the fall-guys on that occasion as almost the entire squad fell ill on the eve of their last game of the 2005-06 Premier League season at West Ham. Spurs' depleted and deteriorating squad would lose 2-1 the following day, bitterly handing Big Cup qualification to arch-rivals Arsenal in perhaps the most famous example of St Totteringham's Day. 'While the gaffer [Martin Jol] was giving his team talk before the game, players were being sick in the toilets,' Jermaine Jenas later wrote. Spurs' players had dined in a private room at the five-star London Marriott West India Quay Hotel and sat down to a buffet of steak, chicken and pasta prepared by the hotel chef on the advice of the club's nutritionist. By 5am many were ill with diarrhoea and vomiting, and club officials asked for the police to be called. However, after the hotel's general manager said no other guests were affected and the kitchens and food preparation areas were given the all-clear, fan forums went into overdrive as to the cause of the food poisoning. 'We had 10 players in bed,' sobbed Jol. 'Then we asked the Premier League to postpone the kick-off for three hours until six o'clock and that wasn't possible.' Serie B officials have acted with a little more compassion, granting Salernitana a postponement with Friday's second leg now moved to Sunday after medical documents were produced by the club and a criminal complaint filed with prosecutors. Sure, Football Daily might have a soft spot for Sampdoria and obviously cannot confirm or deny that we were preparing sandwiches for a flight out of Genoa airport on Sunday, but we would absolutely hate to see another important Italian match influenced by off-pitch matters. Here's hoping Salernitana's players and staff make a full recovery. 'There was no way to simply buy water. You could go to a beer-only stand but there were no water stands and no extra water stations' – John Celmins is one of a number of fans in Pasadena recounting their grim experiences of water shortages at Sunday's game between PSG and Atlético, which kicked off at midday in brutally sweltering conditions and featured Fifa's trademark directive on banning bottles with any contents taking precedence over the Rose Bowl's usual rules. Nice contrast regarding football management IQ in yesterday's Football Daily. The Copa Gianni had PSG and Atlético kick off on Sunday at noon under the California sun. Meanwhile, six miles away, the Angel City (AKA Immigrant City) match on Saturday sensibly started at 7pm local time. Much better for the players, the supporters, and the game in general, no?' – Mike Wilner. Just a thought about the ongoing debate around the Club World Cup and player welfare. How about – borrowing from the format of Ryder Cup Sunday – every player has to play a certain amount of time (updated for each round)? It would be fascinating to watch each manager use their entire squad rather than rely on their first team, and ensure some rest for all' – Nick Hewat. I'm surprised that 'Hugh Lloris' is a goalkeeper for LAFC (yesterday's News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition). I would think he'd be a coach, as he is a proven experienced manager. This means that when LAFC faces the Seattle Sounders in MLS, Lloris and the opposing goalkeeper combine to offer A Bit of Frei and Lloris' – Dan Davis. Please send your letters to Today's winner of our letter o' the day competition is … Dan Davis, who gets some Football Weekly merch. We'll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. It's your boy, David Squires, on … the Copa Gianni. Yes, it's the news you've all been waiting for: Barcelona's credit rating is on the way back, baby. 'The change in trend to 'positive' from 'stable' is supported by FCB's improved financial performance over the last two seasons along with the expectation of further improvement thanks to higher revenues because of the club's return to the Spotify Camp Nou (the stadium), as well as effective cost controls carried by the club and supported by Uefa and La Liga sustainability frameworks,' bugled a statement. You'll never sing that! The FA has charged former referee David Coote with an alleged 'aggravated breach' over comments he made about Jürgen Klopp that emerged last November and led to his dismissal by the PGMOL. More from the Club World Cup: Chelsea are up and running after beating LAFC 2-0 in front of 22,137 fans at the 75,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; Boca Juniors and Benfica have drawn 2-2 in a half-decent encounter; and Flamengo have beaten Esperance 2-0. The WSL will expand from 12 to 14 teams from the 2026‑27 season – subject to FA approval, along with making the second tier fully professional. Next season the WSL2's top two will be promoted and the team in third will have a deciding playoff against the bottom WSL side. Drogheda United's appeal over their exclusion from Tin Pot by Uefa, due to non-compliance with regulations on multi-club ownership, has been dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The FAI Cup holders are owned by multi-club landlords, Trivela Group, who have a majority stake in Silkeborg, also in next season's Tin Pot and the higher ranked team. Manchester United chief suit Omar Berrada remains confident the club can win the men's and women's league titles by their 150th anniversary in 2028. 'Can the team win the Premier League title by 2028? Of course. We've just finished 15th and it seems an impossible task. But why not aim for it?' he whooped. Brighton have signed Italian international film director defender Diego Coppola from Verona. Plymouth Argyle may have lost Ryan Hardie to new Championship arrivals Wrexham, but they could soon be gaining investment from a US group that is being spearheaded by … Gareth Bale. And fellow League One outfit Cardiff City have settled on Brian Barry-Murphy as their new head coach. 'He brings enthusiasm, vibrancy and an exciting outlook on what today's football is,' trilled owner Vincent Tan. The latest edition of our sister email focuses on Sweden's Soft Hooligans. Check it out right here. Suzanne Wrack explains how the WSL's expansion to 14 teams will reshape the women's football pyramid. And the Rumour Mill has all the latest goss, including chatter of Real Madrid plotting a move for Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly. America, eff yeah. Coming again to save the mother [Snip – Football Daily Ed] … oh, get a 3-1 beating by England in May 1976 at the USA USA USA Bicentennial Cup. The tournament, also featuring Italy and Brazil, marked the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, while the European pair took part after failing to reach Euro 1976, and the Team America side featured a host of non-Americans (including Pelé). Here, Trevor Cherry lets fly in front of a sparsely populated crowd in Philadelphia and you can watch highlights of what turned out to be classed as an unofficial encounter right here.
