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BBC News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ramsey 'gutted' but backs Cardiff for instant return
An emotional Aaron Ramsey was "gutted" by Cardiff City's relegation to League One, but the caretaker manager believes that, with the right changes to the club's structure, they could make an instant return to the captain Ramsey was taking charge of his second match as Cardiff's relegation was confirmed with a goalless draw at home to West Bromwich Albion on 34-year-old midfielder faces an uncertain future with his Bluebirds contract expiring at the end of this season, and he will not rush to make any decisions."I don't know [about next season]. Now is the time to digest everything over the next few weeks," said Ramsey."I'm gutted. I'm a fan as well. I'm sad to see this club going down. The fans have had a difficult time this season and I really feel for them. I know how they're feeling. "I think if the right structures are in place with coaching staff and things, these players will give you everything. If they can do that and give them the opportunities they deserve, then of course they're more than capable of coming straight back up."There's a lot of quality in that team. They should be competing towards the top end of this league, never mind League One."Relegation had long seemed inevitable for Cardiff, who fell to the bottom of the Championship table, five points adrift of safety, following Saturday's draw which left them with just one win in 14 Bluebirds had only narrowly avoided the drop in two of the previous three seasons, and this campaign was typically turbulent for the Welsh became their third manager of the season when he took the reins for the final three games a week ago, succeeding Omer Riza, whose tenure lasted seven months following the departure of Erol have gone through 16 different managers during owner Vincent Tan's 15-year tenure, with eight of those coming in the past four the final whistle on Saturday, home fans applauded Cardiff's players, but chanted for Tan's departure, having held protests against the club's board earlier this as well as several notable former players, believe the Bluebirds' most significant issues are at board level, where there is an apparent lack of football is no sporting director or director of football, with the running of the club left to Tan, chairman Mehmet Dalman and chief executive Ken Choo, none of whom have a background in the game and are seldom at games or the training ground."Things are a little different to what I've experienced at other clubs. Normally you do have a head of football or a sporting director, things like that, who are overseeing everything, day-to-day operations and they are aligned with the club," said Ramsey."But the biggest thing for me is making sure the right coaching staff is there, because they drive the right habits and create a culture, so that's the most important thing, making the right decision in that and trusting the right person with that to bring in the right people around them, who has the team's best interest at heart."As long as that structure is okay you can get away with a lot of other things and you can give these players an opportunity."At the end of the day, everyone has to look at themselves in the mirror and we have to be big enough to accept that. It's so, so important, because this club has got so much potential, it's just about getting that right and it's about responding to this and getting back quickly."
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Exeter must 'keep feet on the ground' after back-to-back wins
Exeter City boss Gary Caldwell says it is important his side 'keep their feet on the ground' after achieving back-to-back wins for the first time since December. The Grecians impressed in a 2-0 win over Mansfield Town at St James Park - also having a very strong claim for a penalty turned down, while the Stags failed to have a shot on had not won two in-a-row since beating Burton Albion and Bristol Rovers either side of Christmas and are now unbeaten in their last four matches. The win lifted City 10 points clear of the relegation zone in 16th place - they had been just three points clear of the bottom four less than a fortnight ago. They travel to 14th-placed Rotherham on Saturday knowing victory would take them above the Millers in League One."I've said all along in bad runs that there is a lot of points still to play for and I'll say it again, there has been nothing achieved, there's so many points to play for," Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon. "We have so much to fight for this season, so nothing changes when you're winning, in my opinion, or losing, you stick to process, you keep working the way we've always worked and we keep believing that this can be a really successful season."A great manager I worked with, Gordon Strachan, always used to say you're only ever two or three days away from a crisis in football and I think that's a brilliant way to look at it."He added: "We have to focus, we have to be ready for Rotherham, because come 16:45 if we don't do the right things then we'll all be really disappointed if we don't win, so keep our feet on the ground, work hard and go again."
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'A great opportunity... we didn't take it'
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has acknowledged his side's 2-0 defeat at Reading was a missed would have seen Parkinson's side move above Wycombe Wanderers – who they face on Saturday - into second spot in League One."It was a great opportunity and we haven't taken it," Parkinson said. "That's the harsh reality of it."Preparation was good, we came down here ready to give it our all and we came up short. We move on to Wycombe."Parkinson bemoaned the penalty awarded in the Reading game and says the decision changed the course of the were awarded a penalty early in the second half after Eoghan O'Connell was adjudged to have fouled Jayden Wareham and Harvey Knibbs scored from the Wing scored Reading's second seven minutes later to seal victory and deny Wrexham the chance of moving up to second in League One. "It's one of the softest penalties I've seen for many a year," Parkinson said."How he's given that is absolutely incredible. Honestly you've got to see it to believe it."Of course we can do better and it's not all about the ref – we've had chances to get back into the game and we haven't taken them."But the game changed on that decision."Their second goal, the lad's struck it brilliantly, but we can still do better."Obviously they got their tails us didn't they and it was an extra energy about them which happens obviously when you get quickfire goals."We felt that if we'd have got one we'd get back into the game and we so nearly did.""It just wasn't to be."
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Smith's 'special feeling' with birthday gift to mum
Sam Smith admits it was a "special feeling" to score the matchwinner for Wrexham against Rotherham United on his 27th birthday. Striker Smith bagged his first home goal for Phil Parkinson's side in the 48th minute at the Stok Racecourse as the hosts claimed another crucial three points in their quest for a third successive promotion. And the former Reading frontman dedicated the strike against the Millers to his mother as Wrexham moved level on points with second-placed Wycombe Wanderers in League One. "It's a special feeling, a feeling I won't forget in a long time, especially on my birthday as well, I told my mum I'd get her a goal so she'll be delighted," he explained. "I think there's more to come with that and myself. More goals, more hard work and just helping the team in every way I possibly can. "I try to do everything right throughout the week to give me a platform to play well. "I just rely on the quality of the group that we can create chances, and I back myself to put them away." Smith and Jay Rodriguez both moved to north Wales in January as Wrexham bolstered their forward options for the run-in. Such are the riches Parkinson has at his disposal at present, Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer and Mo Faal all missed out on a place in the matchday squad for the triumph over Rotherham. But Smith - who has started all seven league matches since joining Wrexham - admits his sole focus remains on ensuring his side claim the victories they need to challenge for promotion. "There's competition for places but it also shows the quality we've got in the squad," added Smith. "Everyone's different, everyone can do different things and as long as whoever is playing up front is working hard for the team, it doesn't matter who plays. "The three points are the biggest thing, and if I'm playing, I'll give it everything I've got."
BBC News
09-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Smith's 'special feeling' with birthday gift to mum
Sam Smith admits it was a "special feeling" to score the matchwinner for Wrexham against Rotherham United on his 27th Smith bagged his first home goal for Phil Parkinson's side in the 48th minute at the Stok Racecourse as the hosts claimed another crucial three points in their quest for a third successive the former Reading frontman dedicated the strike against the Millers to his mother as Wrexham moved level on points with second-placed Wycombe Wanderers in League One."It's a special feeling, a feeling I won't forget in a long time, especially on my birthday as well, I told my mum I'd get her a goal so she'll be delighted," he explained."I think there's more to come with that and myself. More goals, more hard work and just helping the team in every way I possibly can."I try to do everything right throughout the week to give me a platform to play well."I just rely on the quality of the group that we can create chances, and I back myself to put them away."Smith and Jay Rodriguez both moved to north Wales in January as Wrexham bolstered their forward options for the are the riches Parkinson has at his disposal at present, Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer and Mo Faal all missed out on a place in the matchday squad for the triumph over Smith - who has started all seven league matches since joining Wrexham - admits his sole focus remains on ensuring his side claim the victories they need to challenge for promotion."There's competition for places but it also shows the quality we've got in the squad," added Smith."Everyone's different, everyone can do different things and as long as whoever is playing up front is working hard for the team, it doesn't matter who plays."The three points are the biggest thing, and if I'm playing, I'll give it everything I've got."
