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BBC News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
How Eustace's 'huge risk' kept Derby in Championship
John Eustace's relegation rescue mission at Derby County was one he took on with Premier League ambitions in freely admitted on his first day in the job that he had taken a "huge risk" by leaving a Blackburn Rovers side that were in the play-off places at the time to instead try to keep the Rams in the looked like a gamble gone wrong when the Rams found themselves bottom of the table after his first three matches ended in defeat and failed to produce a single wins in 10 games after that and a final-day draw with Stoke City on Saturday, was enough to keep the Rams up – finishing three places and a point above relegated Luton Town in 22nd Blackburn falling short of the play-offs and remaining in the same division as Eustace's Rams next season, the 45-year-old was asked if that "risk" he took had been his response he seamlessly moved from talking about how relegation was something he always accepted as a possibility, but that it would not have stopped him from believing in the club's potential."I wasn't here for the next two months, I was here for the next three or four years," he told BBC Sport."So whatever would have happened, would have happened. I was very aware of the situation leaving a great football club in Blackburn to come here."It was my choice to do it, and if we had been relegated I wanted to be part of trying to build this football club to where it should be."And over the next three, four or five years we want to be challenging to get into the Premier League." Acknowledging the threat of relegation, however, was not him say he saw it as an inevitability."Don't get me wrong, I didn't want to get relegated," he stressed."We tried everything possible to try make sure we stayed in this league. What I'm saying is that if we did there was no problems, we would just go again."I'm very proud of the group. Being seven points off being safe in the league a few weeks ago to now finishing 19th is a fantastic achievement."Part of the conversations that Eustace had with Derby when he took the helm in February was about the club's search for fresh September, it was revealed that owner David Clowes had held talks with unnamed potential investors about selling a majority stake in the further has come from the Rams since, and when asked if Eustace knew how important staying in the Championship would be in getting any deal over the line, he said: "I don't know.""The most important thing is that we stayed in this league. And that was through a lot of hard work and dedication from the coaching staff and the players."And now it's over to the club to work on the other side of it." The Rams boss said his preparations for next season will start on Monday, with recruitment a priority for a side that former boss Paul Warne once described as being a "League One team with a bit of sugar on top".It is not a sentiment Eustace has ever shared, as he oversaw a late-season turn-around with that sugar-topped squad that would have had them among the high-flyers on survival has already triggered a one-year contract extension for defender Kane Wilson, while influential Everton loanee Harrison Armstrong has said that he is open to returning to Pride Park next would not be drawn on what Derby could be capable after now staying up, but it was on the final day last season that he also kept Blackburn Rovers in the there, he had them challenging for a place in the play-offs."If you look at the effort we put in the last 11 games, we are third or fourth in the form," Eustace said."It's just important that you get a group of players that are willing to work hard and who are coachable and willing to do their jobs."Coming here with 14 games to go, the player have done that. And now we have to look at players to come in next season to help this group. And then we will see how we start."
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Falkirk's journey from League 1 to Premiership in two seasons
Finally, 15 years of hurt have ended for Falkirk. The Bairns are back where they believe they belong - the Scottish goodness, did they do it the hard way in a dramatic final-day decider after a few wobbles in recent their 3-1 win over Hamilton Academical, John McGlynn's side are, at long last, champions of the is a second successive title and promotion under the stewardship of the man with the cap for the side who dropped down into League 1 six years "Champions 25" t-shirts have been ironed for a few weeks, while the champagne has been on ice too, but it would not have been Falkirk if there had not been one final twist in a tale that seemed storied weeks has been an extensive, and at times arduous, break from the big time, but just how have the Bairns got back there?From invincibles to near-bottlers, BBC Scotland takes a look at Falkirk's fantastic couple of seasons following 13 years of carrying the unfortunate label of Scotland's sleeping giant. 'Favourite moment as a Falkirk fan' When McGlynn was unveiled as the new manager of Falkirk in May 2022 - just one day after leaving Raith Rovers - the club had just slumped to a sixth-place finish in their third season in the third was after being relegated to League 1 - on goal difference - nine years after their demotion from the top McInally, from the Falkirk Daft podcast, told BBC Scotland: "I was just so dumbfounded that Falkirk found themselves in that position and then tumbled into League 1 with a whimper."It was just a sad, sad day for the club. That was the real low moment."It was a downward spiral in League 1 until we got McGlynn. He came in and completely revamped the side."As ever, the former Hearts boss pulled no punches on his arrival and admitted, although it was "a big job", he and his trusty assistant, Paul Smith, were "excited at the prospect of trying to get it back where we think it should belong".Their first attempt fell they finished second only to runaway league winners - and local rivals - Dunfermline Athletic, they were demolished 7-2 by Airdrieonians over the two-legged play-off semi-final. A furious fifth season in League 1 was set to be endured. But fury soon turned to worked his magic in the summer, scooping up free agents Brad Spencer, Calvin Miller, Ross MacIver and Nicky Hogarth, among with shrewd acquisitions from the season prior - the likes of Stephen McGinn, Liam Henderson, Coll Donaldson and Gary Oliver - the Bairns stormed to the title with five games to secured it in fashion with a 7-1 mauling of Montrose, but they were not heading for the sun loungers yet. The Championship was calling, but an invincible league campaign was on the the 84th minute of their last game in League 1 against Alloa Athletic, it appeared the Bairns were going to fall agonisingly short. Then Spencer put away a penalty to etch the team's name into the history books."To eventually get out of League 1 and do it as invincibles was one of my favourite moments as a Falkirk supporter," McInally revealed."Sometimes you reflect and go, was it worth that moment? And sometimes you think, maybe it was." 'Complete and utter Roy of the Rovers stuff' After five years of rage and ridicule, the Bairns could be forgiven for making the most of their Championship opener on a Friday night back in disco lights to fireworks, they pulled out all the stops - and did not stop off the campaign with a five-game winning run - which included the fist win at Dunfermline's East End Park in five years - they made a seamless transition back to the second in the season - international breaks, first round of games, festive fixture - came and went with little fuss on the pitch but plenty excitement off it as the team remained at the top of the tree exhilaration was taken up yet another notch on 3 February when homegrown hero Scott Arfield, the former Rangers, Burnley and Canada midfielder, made a stunning return, 15 years after his exit."It was complete and utter Roy of the Rovers stuff," McInally said of the academy product's re-signing."There had been murmurings, then I got a couple of messages from people who know Scott saying 'this is happening'. "I was like, shut up, no way. Then it happened and it was such a buzz."With the number 37 on his back - a number that had been, and will be again - retired since the tragic passing of former team-mate Craig Gowans, Arfield marked his magical return with a hat-trick against Partick proved to be the first of an eight-game unbeaten run that had the Bairns heading into the final six games with an 11-point advantage. Get the fancy champagne looked out and the t-shirts sent to the printer. Back-to-back titles started to seem a matter of when, not goods no doubt made the journey down to Somerset Park, where a win over Ayr United in the fourth last game of the season would all-but secure the a 93rd-minute equaliser from Ethan Walker put the champagne on ice. No need to panic, though. Another chance would came and went in similar style against Rovers, who stunned the league leaders with three goals from the 88th-minute onwards. Veering towards the panic unbelievably, it happened again against 10-man Thistle the following Friday at Firhill. Terry Ablade's incredible 97th-minute winner had the panic button being well and truly battered.A matter of weeks ago, a final-day decider appeared impossible. Now, the Championship trophy was lingering midway Linlithgow, ready to head to Livingston, if a bit, that was the destination punched into the satnav. For the first time this season, Livingston topped the were soon displaced, though, when an Ethan Ross free-kick not only sent Falkirk Stadium into a frenzy but set the Bairns on their way to something of a comfortable men did it the hard way, but for scenes such as those at full-time, they will tell you it was worth man with the cap delivered on his promise. Now, he says, the sky is the limit.
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ipswich 'best placed' to bounce straight back up
At the full-time whistle, I made sure I looked straight up to the Ipswich fans to see their reaction to the confirmation that the club were heading back to the was no surprise to see them all on their feet applauding the McKenna was not surprised either. He told me after the Newcastle game that the supporters have always appreciated this incredible journey they have been on together from League One to the Premier League. Now it is back to the Championship but, looking at this squad and their unity, they are, in my opinion, the best placed of all the three relegated teams to bounce straight back. Especially if they can keep McKenna at the one of the other relegated clubs, Leicester, there is a real disconnect right now between fans and players. That could not be much further from the situation at is something that will be a massive positive going into a crucial summer and the start of next season.
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wrexham a club 'like no other', says 'beast' Smith
Sam Smith says Wrexham are a club "like no other" and believes its recent success is unlikely to be Smith scored twice as Phil Parkinson's men beat Charlton Athletic 3-0 at the Stok Cae Ras to secure promotion into the also ensured Wrexham became the first team in history to claim three successive promotions in the English Football League (EFL)."It's history. That's something none of us will ever forget," said Smith."I don't think it'll ever be done again. It's an incredible achievement and it just shows how good the football club is and everyone behind the scenes." Co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney made no secret of their desire to guide Wrexham into the Premier League swiftly after taking control of the club in February just one step away from English football's top-flight, Smith feels "anything can happen" when it comes to the Red asked if the club could reach the Premier League, Smith responded: "Hopefully we can. It's a tough league. I don't think anyone expected us to get promoted out of this league (League One)."This club is like no other, anything can happen. I'd like to hope we could do it and I could be a part of it." Just three minutes after Ollie Rathbone scored the opener against Charlton, Smith doubled Wrexham's lead with a fine volley from Matty James' floated then sent in a late header to cap off a memorable day for the Welsh side as fans poured on to the pitch to celebrate after the Smith revealed what Deadpool star Reynolds said about his first goal when they spoke after the match."He said I was a 'beast' and that it was a 'kung fu finish'," explained the forward."I think he asked if I'd been watching him in his films and he just said he was proud and delighted for me."My dad met him today, he watches all of his films. He was star struck and he's 67 years old, so I think he was more delighted with meeting him than watching me score."It's surreal meeting them [Reynolds and McElhenney], they're both amazing people. They're down to earth, nice guys."Smith's brace against the Addicks took his tally of goals for Wrexham since joining from Reading in January to the 27-year-old says he was "desperate" to join Parkinson's side midway through the campaign, despite carrying the pressure of being the first player signed for more than £1m by the club."There was a lot of pressure coming in and being quite a big signing," he added."It's something I enjoy, pressure is a privilege. When the opportunity came about, I was desperate to get in."I knew at this level I could help any team, I've proven that in the past. To get two goals [against Charlton] is just amazing."
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
🎧 Are Oxford safe after 'seismic' win?
"Take out the disappointment of the midweek defeat against QPR. For us to pick up six points from these three games, for us to beat the team that were top of the league in Sheffield United, for us to then go away from home and win, which we've done so few times this season… it is a seismic win."Those are the thoughts of Oxford United supporter and podcaster George Elek after the U's picked up a crucial 1-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday in the battle to avoid relegation from the was just a second away win in the league this season for Oxford, which helped them move six points clear of the drop zone with four games to appeared on The Dub podcast alongside BBC's Robyn Cowen and Jerome Sale, as well as former defender Ben discuss "the most Oxford United seven days imaginable" and whether or not the win at Hillsborough means they are now "close" to safety in their first season back in the second tier since to the full episode of The Dub podcast on BBC Sounds.
