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F A launches “Respect” scheme

The FA have introduced a new programme which is designed to promote respect in all levels of football and embodies players officials and fans taking part in matches. Over recent years there has been an influx of cases which seem to suggest that anti social behaviour is infiltrating the game at all levels.

The “Respect” programme aims to address this issue and find a mutually beneficial way in which everybody can keep the passion but lose the abuse and harassment which is commonplace in the game.

It has been suggested that one in three matches last season saw some type of disorder, whether this be on the pitch or from within the terraces and it is thought that this is having a profound affect on attendance levels – particularly within the lower leagues. Families are said to be put off by the foul and abusive language which is common within the stadiums and it is this large section of the country which the FA are targeting to experience live football in the future.

With today’s technological breakthroughs, it is all too easy for people to reject going to watch their local team and switch on the television instead and this new FA initiative hopes to entice more families through the turnstiles.

The main features which are being introduced are making the teams shake hands with each other before the kick off in every match in the Football League, and also restricting the amount of access which the players have to the referee by placing more importance on the captains.

The success which this will have is debatable though – especially on crowd attendances where I would suggest that capping the admission prices per league would yield a much greater reward.

League Two sides face Conference battle

League Two sides Rotherham United and Bournemouth are expected to have their seventeen point deductions confirmed within the next few days which will see the plunge to the foot of the table.

Only Luton Town , who were deducted thirty points before the season started will occupy a lower position in the Football League as all three teams face a fight for their survival.

Rotherham are no strangers to points deductions after they were forced to accept a ten point penalty during the 2006/07 season – which ultimately cost them their place within League One. Bournemouth however can feel slightly more aggrieved at the severity of the deduction due to the fact that although close to it several times, administration had previously been avoided.

For fans of the two clubs, this season is set to be a long crusade against Conference football yet they have Leeds United as role models after fighting back from a fifteen point deduction only to lose the League One play off final to Doncaster Rovers.

My own thoughts are that the thirty point deduction imposed on Luton will send them to the Conference whilst Bournemouth and Rotherham will do just about enough to escape. Time will tell but it is a shame that the leagues are no longer the actual football which is being played.

Luton Town start Thirty Points Down

Luton Town will start the new season in League 2, 30 points down on the rest of the league. This means the Hatters will surely be relegated for a second consecutive season due to imposed points penalties, rather than from action on the pitch.

Luton were only relegated from League 1 last season after receiving a points deductions, and now they’ve been hit with TWO seperate penalties before the new season even starts.

Luton have been deducted 10 points for paying players’ agents via third parties, and they’ve had a 20 point deduction for apparently ‘failing to satisfy the League’s insolvency rules’.

Last season Leeds United started League 1 with a 15 point deduction, and not only managed to escape the drop but made the playoffs. Luton however will have double the disadvantage Leeds had, and don’t have the same quality in the side, so will find it very hard to stay up.

WinningIsEverything believes this is very unfair on Luton, who not so long ago were a top flight side. They’ve been punished for matters off the field, and the fans are the real ones to lose out.

Stockport County Secure place in League One

Stockport County secured a place in League One this afternoon beating Rochdale 3-2 in the League Two Play-Off FInal. The defeat for Rochdale means they’ll play in the bottom league for the 35th straight season while County move back up to the third tier after three years in the fourth.

Rochdale took the lead in the game Rory McArdle headed in at the near post but Nathan Stanton scored in his own goal to even the game up going into half time. Anthony Pilkington header in the second half gave County the lead and Liam Dickinson gave County a bit of breathing space with a third.

Adam Rundle grabbed a goal for Rochdale to make the final 15 minutes tight for County. For Stockport manager Jim Gannon it’s step one of his plan with his sights on the Championship

Kevin Ellison whacks the ball in the Referee’s face

It doesn’t get much better than this, ball + big bald LeagueTwo player + Ref = Ball in the face ref down. You don’t get this in the Premiership!

Little to continue at Racecourse

Relegation bound League Two side Wrexham have been boosted by the news that manager Brian Little has signed a two year contract extension.

With just five matches remaining, the Red Dragons are seven points away from safety and were hammered at champions elect MK Dons last Tuesday evening.

Yet, Little has committed his future to the club despite their League status looking very precarious at the least.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Little stated –

“After the last few years, everybody deserves a team on the pitch that wins football matches and that’s exactly what I’ll be looking to try and do next season.”

The move has elicited a mixed response from the Wrexham fans, many of whom would prefer a clear break should they be relegated.

Winning is Everything believes that Brian Little is the right man to lead the Welsh club next season, no matter what league they are playing in. He is a very experienced manager and Wrexham fans should maybe judge him next season when he is essentially fielding his own team.

What do you think about Little’s extended stay at the Racecourse ? Leave us a comment!

Alexander looks to further Silkmen role

Macclesfield Town manager Keith Alexander has stated that he is in negotiations to take control of the Cheshire club into next season.

The former Lincoln and Peterborough boss was brought in by the Silkmen following the sacking of previous boss Ian Brightwell in February. At that point, Macc were the solitary one point clear of the relegation zone with the two sides below them having games in hand.

The Silkmen have recently seen a upturn in fortunes however and are now lying in a fairly comfortable 18th position, with last Saturday’s one all draw at Wrexham almost ensuring their league survival for another year.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Alexander stated –

“We’re not safe yet - I’m hoping the fans will get down to the Moss on Saturday, get behind the team and who knows if we get three points we might be safe with a couple of games to go”

Macclesfield are the perennial strugglers within League Two and it is hoped that then man who guided Lincoln to four consecutive play off positions will have the same effect at Moss Rose.

All the signs look promising at this stage – good luck Keith!

Second rate Wrexham look set for drop

League Two side Wrexham plunged deeper into trouble this afternoon after a lacklustre draw against strugglers Macclesfield Town.

In front of a very quiet and seemingly apathetic Racecourse ground, the hosts rarely got anywhere near second gear and the Silkmen should really have taken all three points.

The visitors took the lead in the 52nd minute when former Shrewsbury Town skipper Jamie Tolley hammered the bar into the far corner of the goal after a poor lapse of concentration by defender Steve Evans.

Yet he was to partially make amends eleven minutes from time when his glancing header rose above Jonny Brain and dipped under the crossbar.

The last ten minutes were not as frantic as one may have expected with Wrexham not unduly worring the visiting keeper.

The match was marred however with a number of away fans being ejected from the ground for alleged racism.

Spireites shelve plans to leave Saltergate

League Two side Chesterfield have edged closer to playing in a new stadium after submitting planning application to the council.

The bid documents plans to completely regenerate the Whittington Moor area of the town, which was formerly used as a glass manufacturing warehouse.

Should the plans be accepted, the club potentially could depart their Saltergate ground towards the end of next year.

The ambitious proposal embodies business premises and a supermarket which will fill the twenty two acre site.

Saltergate, originally named the Recreation ground, has been the home of the Spireites since 1871 and is a ground which I always enjoy going to due to the fact that it has character – which in many cases is missing from newer stadiums.

Wrexham edge closer to relegation

League Two side Wrexham looked destined to be relegated after losing their bottom of the table clash with Mansfield Town at Field Mill this evening.

The Red Dragons are now eight points away from safety yet the picture looks very bleak for Brian Little’s side.

Gareth Evans was penalized for handball five minutes after the interval and Jefferson Louis duly converted the spot kick to give the Stags the lead.

Worse was to follow for the Welshmen just three minutes later when John Mullins combined well with Matty Hamshaw who finished well to double the hosts lead.

Mansfield continued to press yet Stuart Nicholson’s fierce shot was only parried by Carl Muggleton and Marc Williams was on hand to give the vistors a glimmer of hope twelve minutes from time.

Yet Wrexham could not find an equalizer and now face an anxious end to the season.

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