The Football League featuring the Championship, League One and League Two is the most followed lower division sport in the world, full of teams that some will remember from EPL days of yore, FA Cup winners, and even a Champions League semi finalist. There’s also a bunch if teams that very few outside the most hardened fans would recognise. Given that most football fans don’t care about the Football League until May when they realise three of them will make the EPL, we do the hard work and give you – the discerning football fan – the briefest of weekly catch ups to keep in touch with a minimum of effort. Plus a bunch if tips that win rarely but pay handsomely when successful.
A BUSY WEEK OF MANAGER CHANGES
Not content with the already high number of managerial changes so far in the Football League, another bunch of mutual consents were announced this week, the highest profile was Derby County, and Rotherham are looking for their third manager of the season. They still have at least one more change to beat Watford’s record from last season. Although that ended up all right for the Hornets.
Derby County’s situation is the most surprising given they still sit 5th in the Championship and just six points from the top, a position they had until Christmas before their ordinary run commenced. However is wasn’t the results or the slipping promotion chances that were the main driver, it was the style of football. Head Coach Paul Clement was apparently not playing in the Derby Way, and that, not the poor run in 2016 and the seemingly repeating slump of late 2014-15 were the cause. Never mind, last year’s architect of Disappointment got the Newcastle United gig in the EPL as a reward for mediocrity, and Paul Clement may just end up going back to his trade of coach under Carlo Ancelotti, at Bayern Munich no less.
Elsewhere, Barnsley’s seven game winning streak in League One was enough to persuade Championship side Bristol City to hire Lee Johnson as their new saviour. They are just one place and three points above Rotherham who are the first of the clubs in the relegation zone, who appointed Championship managing doyen Neil Warnock. Lee Johnson’s move from Barnsley has opened up a vacancy there and Craig Hignett has taken over at League Two Hartlepool who have slipped all the way down the table after a start of three straight wins.
OTHER BITS
Bolton moved off the bottom of the Championship for the first time in a long time, ahead of troubled club Charlton whose fans are still battling their Belgian owners from ruining their club. Fan protests by Leeds United fans too, but they won’t do much to remove their Italian owner either. Similar lack of movement too in Blackpool. Any coincidence that the club’s with the unhappiest fans are not doing very well.
Former Stevenage manager and England rep Teddy Sherringham went to the next Stevenage match after his dismissal in disguise, claiming it was for his future study as a football manager. Good practice but given the cut throat nature of the Football League, and his results at Stevenage, he’ll be lucky to get a job in the Football League for a while. Shame, as bigger names down the leagues is great for the Football League.
Elsewhere, the loan market opens up soon, which will provide some more late season interest as clubs go for broke in promotion or try desperately to save their season. It’s usually rich getting richer – see big moves for Hull and Middlesbrough in the Championship – but some shrewd business right now can make a big difference, and with the behemoth of cash awaiting three Championship clubs next year, it might be worth the risk. Or not if you ask fans of Bolton, Fulham and Portsmouth.
“BEST” BETS
As per usual we have our multi tips for the weekend, and one could argue we are due. We can’t disagree, so here’s the latest batch.
CHAMPIONSHIP A
IPSWICH to beat Bristol City
BIRMINGHAM to beat Rotherham
DERBY to beat Milton Keynes
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY to beat Brentford
$1 for $20
CHAMPIONSHIP B
DRAW – Blackburn v Hull
BOLTON to beat Brighton
CHARLTON to beat Cardiff
$1 for $48
LEAGUE ONE
WIGAN to beat Oldham
COVENTRY to beat Bury
PETERBOROUGH to beat Bradford
PORT VALE to beat Fleetwood
MILLWALL to beat Rochdale
$1 for $33
LEAGUE TWO
ACCRINGTON STANLEY to beat Crawley
LUTON to beat Wimbledon
CAMBRIDGE to beat Stevenage
OXFORD to beat Morecambe.
