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Warnock’s Successor, the Derby Conspiracy and the Player Partying with the Opposition –

  • Sam Greasley-Machin
  • Nov 17, 2019
  • 5 min read

Hillsborough stadium, credit; WikiCommons (Terry Robinson)

As we approach and enter the last international break of the year, thankfully, the EFL has been full of action. Cardiff have appointed a new manager, the EFL show just how much of a joke they have become this year after fining Sheffield Wednesday over the sale of Hillsborough, despite previously being declared of wrong-doing, and is Derby County’s handling of Richard Keogh just another one of Mel Morris’s schemes to avoid Financial Fair Play, all of that in the Championship. Bolton are now on positive points in League One and Southend have suspended a first team player after he disgracefully partied with the opposition after beating his club and 29 days was all it took for one manager to lose his job. All of that to come in this weeks jam packed Talk the Football League column…

#CardiffCity can confirm the appointment of Neil Harris as the Club’s First Team Manager.

Cardiff’s No-Nonsense Neil Warnock Replacement Cardiff City acted swiftly to replace axed manger Neil Warnock. The Bluebirds have opted to replace Warnock with another no-nonsense manager and another Neil, in Neil Harris. The former Millwall boss has been out of work for just over a month after leaving the New Den in October. Cardiff currently sit 16th in the table after only dropping out of the Premier League this summer. The appointment of Neil Harris could well be a shrewd one for the South Wales side with Harris more than over performing with Millwall to regain Championship status. Harris offers a no-nonsense attitude, although no where near Warnock’s level, and is still relatively young at 42-years-old with huge potential ahead of him. Cardiff were no doubt ever going to be thinking in the summer that they would be needing a Warnock replacement so soon, but have done very well in their appointment. Harris has proven to be great at getting the best from a poor side and that is exactly what the Bluebirds need right now. Scandalous Behaviour of the EFL Sheffield Wednesday have somehow been fined by the EFL over their sale of Hillsborough for £80m. This column has been very critical of the whole dealings by the EFL with this situation for the EFL just launching an investigation into Wednesday, Derby and Reading. Now that they have decided to charge the Owls over the sale.

🔵Utterly scandalous, after previously clearing Sheffield Wednesday of wrong doing and approving the original sale, the EFL will now seek to punish the Owls over the sale of Hillsborough.

The EFL are becoming a joke 😂#EFL #TFL #swfc

https://t.co/FnvmhCBYSf — TalktheFootballLeague (@TalktheFL) November 14, 2019

This situation is utterly ridiculous and for more many reasons. First of all the EFL themselves approved the sale, then later on an independent inquiry was launched and cleared all clubs of wrong doing, but months later the league decide to act. Worse still Derby sold Pride Park for the same price to their owner too, but have received no such punishment. Sheffield Wednesday have issued a short, but sweet statement declaring their intent to appeal and rightfully so. If they aren’t successful then larger action needs to be called. The reports suggest it is because of what year Wednesday have declared the financial income although this hasn’t been confirmed. Mel Morris’ World and We’re All Living in it? Richard Keogh’s dismal situation at Derby was discussed last week with complete and utter criticism of Derby and their handing of the situation, but could it just be another Mel Morris scheme to work around FFP. Morris is known for his innovative ways around FFP rules with the selling of Pride Park to the owner rather than Derby to pump funds into the side or signing Wayne Rooney as a player coach to avoid counting his wage contributions towards FFP, could Keogh be the latest scheme. It’s well publicised that Derby wanted Keogh to accept an inferior contract once his long-term injury was announced, but it was obvious the veteran centre-back wouldn’t accept (who would). So did Morris predict this and sack him for improper contact with the expectation Keogh would look to seek legal action, as any reasonable person would, meaning Morris and Derby can settle a pay off fee in court for their conduct instead which wouldn’t go against FFP. Whereas just paying the Irish centre-back off originally would have. It is certainly a conspiracy and a large one at that, is it Mel Morris’s world and we are just all living in it…?


Bolton’s stadium, credit; WikiCommons (David Dixon )

Bolton Enter Positive Points for the First Time In perhaps some more positive news Bolton Wanderers reached the positive point mark today as they inflicted MK Dons to yet another defeat and did so in empathic fashion. Dons were reduced to ten men midway through the second half, but managed to cling on until late. Bolton were awarded a penalty in the dying moments only for Daryl Murphy to miss, but in spectacular fashion the Irish forward redeemed himself in injury time to secure a winner taking Bolton to positive point numbers with one. With the poor quality of the league this season Wanderers could well stay up despite starting on minus 11 they are only four behind Southend and not far off MK Dons in the relegation zone. What a story that could be and what a reflection on the awful quality some teams in the division possess this season. The Player Partying with the Opposition Dover Athletic inflicted a painful 1-0 cup upset on Sol Campbell’s Southend last weekend and one Shrimpers player decided to go and celebrate with opposition. 24-year-old defender Harry Lennon opted to do what no player should ever do, especially in Southend’s situation. The Essex side are on a pathetic five points in the league and now out of the cup and behaviour like this really doesn’t help. At 24 Lennon has no excuses. Sol Campbell rightly expelled the defender to the under-23s but that is generous, he should never be allowed to play for the club again. He should be made to train alone and shipped off as soon as possible. Absolutely shocking behaviour. 29 Day Managerial Job 29 days is all it took for Carl Fletcher to be sacked from Accrington Stanley. The former Plymouth boss oversaw an initial win, but unfortunately that was followed by a five match winless streak which cost him his job. Stanley currently sit 19th in the division, but to dismiss a new manager after a month is questionable but can be appreciated as to why. As the cliché goes the game is gone.



Why not check out last weeks column here with the initial reaction to the Richard Keogh case, the preserver of the Potters Championship survival and Sol Campbell’s unusual ban at Southend. Don’t forget to follow Talk the Football League on Twitter to hear all the latest Football League news and join in on the discussions @TalktheFL.















By Sam Greasley-Machin



 
 
 

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