Blackpool reach play-off final

Chelsea beat Manchester United to lift the FA Cup at the new Wembley. Didier Drogba scored the only goal of an excruciatingly awful game after 116 long minutes.

Blackpool beat Lancashire rivals Oldham Athletic 3-1 at Bloomfield Road in the second leg of this League One play off semi final - to triumph 5-2 on aggregate and book a day out at the new Wembley where they will face Yeovil Town.
Blackpool will travel to London on the back of nine consecutive wins and with the aim of returning to the second flight for the first time since 1978. Manager Simon Grayson believes they will not be daunted by their glorious past:

“This club is steeped in history and tradition. You go back to the 1950s with Stanley Matthews and people like that and maybe we’ve lived in the past too long. Now we want to be part of a new era where the club goes forward, and hopefully by next weekend we’ll be back in the Championship where we belong.”

Play-Offs - MK Dons foiled by Shrewsbury

Boston exploit loophole

Yeovil Town have reched the League One play-off final after beating Nottingham Forest 5-2 at the City Ground and 5-4 on aggregate. Manager Russell Slade - a former Notts County boss - reflected on a memorable night for the Somerset club:

“We had a game plan, to be positive, and we did that throughout the match. It was a classic and a fantastic game to be part of it, but it was heart attack material as well.”

Shrewsbury Town have beat Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 at the National Hockey Stadium to reach the League Two play-off final after a goalless draw at Gay Meadow in the first leg.

The Football League have confirmed Boston United’s ten-point Sporting Sanction deduction will be applied to the 2006-07 season and not carried over to next term. The Pilgrims’ actioned a Company Voluntary Arrangement in the closing minutes of their League Two defeat at Wrexham on the final day of the season as soon as their relegation from League Two became inevitable. A League statement explains:

“Boston United have been deducted ten points from their points tally for 2006-07. This Sporting Sanction takes effect from 25 April, the date on which the club effectively obtained the approval of creditors for a Company Voluntary Arrangement.”

With Leeds United also exploiting the loophole that has allowed relegated clubs to avoid carrying the deduction into the following campaign, League rules are to be amended. FL chairman Lord Mawhinney confirms:

“The original intention of Sporting Sanctions was that clubs should suffer a penalty by going into administration, as a spur to better financial management. None of our clubs have done anything wrong but we need to take steps to make these sanctions meaningful.”

Whelan demands resignations

Rosenior back at Torquay

Lincoln City have been beaten in the play-offs for the fifth season in a row as Bristol Rovers produce a superb display at Sincil Bank. Leading 2-1 from the first leg of their semi-final, the Pirates score twice within the first 11 minutes to virtually seal a place at in the Wembley final. Lincoln made a game of it but Rovers eventually won a thrilling game 5-3 on the night and 7-4 on aggregate.

As the Carlos Tevez affair rumbles on, Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan demands that Premier League chairman Dave Richards and chief executive Richard Scudamore consider resigning. In a letter that was addressed to Scudamore and also sent to the other 19 Premier League clubs, the Latics chief says:

“The judgment given by the independent panel ordered that the registration of [Carlos] Tevez could be terminated by the Premier League. You then proceeded to hold a board meeting by telephone between yourself, the chairman and the secretary. I am appalled that the chairman would allow such an important decision to be made on the basis of a telephone call. Surely a decision of this magnitude required an open and full discussion. You had been ordered by the chairman of the commission to seriously consider the termination of this contract. Your failure to do so in my mind is a dereliction of duties of both the chairman and yourself and you should consider resigning.”

Leroy Rosenior returns to relegated Torquay United as head coach. He left Plainmoor in January 2006 by mutual consent having led the Devon club to promotion in the previous season. Torquay’s 80 years in the Football League came to an end earlier this month and are now destined for the Conference. Rosenior replaces Keith Curle whose contract has not been renewed.

Play-Offs - WBA book place in final

Coppell wins award

Three days after their controversial relegation from the Premiership, Neil Warnock resigns as manager of Sheffield United. The life-long Blades supporter said:

“I honestly feel the squad here is the best equipped of the three relegated teams to mount a bid for an immediate return to the Premiership. The fans will give the new manager 100% support at the start of next season, whereas they may not have done the same to me. I am still enthusiastic about managing, am experienced enough to make a fresh start elsewhere and I will relish an opportunity to continue managing for a few more years. It will be strange taking over another club but it will be great for me to start again. I would love to get back into the Premiership in the near future.”

It is also revealed that the South Yorkshire club have launched a legal challenge to the Premier League’s decision not to dock West Ham United points following their commission’s enquiry into the transfer of Carlos Tevez.

West Bromwich Albion beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at The Hawthorns and 4-2 on aggregate to set up a Championship play-off final against Derby County. A second-half goal from Kevin Phillips - Albion’s 100th of the 2006-07 season - was enough for Tony Mowbray’s men.

In the UEFA Cup final at Hampden Park, Sevilla become only the second club to retain the trophy after beating Espanyol 3-1 on penalties. The game was tied 1-1 after 120 minutes. The only previous consecutive winners are Real Madrid who lifted the trophy in 1985 and 1986.

Steve Coppell is voted Manager of the Season by the LMA for the second year in a row. In an era of hype and headlines, the quiet, unassuming Reading boss has led the Royals to a record-breaking season. In their first top flight campaign, Reading have never been in danger of relegation. To confound the critics, they’ve been in contention for a place in Europe throughout the season but missed out by just one point. The Championship award goes to Sunderland’s Roy Keane in his remarkable first season as a boss. Yeovil Town’s Russell Slade is the League One winner while Danny Wilson’s of Hartlepool United is named the top manager in League Two.

Play-Offs - Rams reach final

It was football’s worst-kept secret as Sam Allardyce is confirmed as Newcastle United’s new manager. 17 days after resigning as boss of Bolton Wanderers, Big Sam moves in to St James’ Park on a three-year contract.
He replaces Glenn Roeder who resigned nine days ago. Having turned down the Newcastle job two years ago, the 52 year-old believes his time has now come:

“I feel like I’m ready to implement what I did at Bolton for seven years. I’m ambitious and I know this club is. It hasn’t had the best success but I feel I can turn it round. I’ve left a football club that is very, very healthy so when my time to leave Newcastle does come I hope I have done the same here.”

In this Championship play-off semi-final second leg, Southampton beat Derby County 2-3 on the night to ties the aggregate score at 4-4 and force penalties, Unfortunately for the Saints their hard work was undone as Inigo Idiakez’s penalty miss sent Derby into the final with a 4-3 shoot-out triumph.

City sack Pearce

Farewell to Gay Meadow

Paul Jewell has reigned as Wigan Athletic manager - less than 24 hours after saving the Premiership club from relegation on the final day of the season. Chris Hutchings is promoted from assistant manager to succeed Jewell.

Stuart Pearce is sacked after two years in charge at Manchester City.

Following their relegation yesterday, Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe reveals that he believes more clubs will support the legal action being threatened against the Premier League. West Ham United were fined £5.5million but not docked points after being found guilty by a Premier League commission of acting improperly and withholding vital documentation over the ownership of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. A deduction of three points would have seen the Hammers relegated in the Blades’ place. Mr McCabe says:

“Most of the clubs support the injustice that has come about this season, I would hope we would get the backing of most. I feel cheated because yesterday’s result was not the root cause of our relegation.”

Shrewsbury played out a tense goalless draw against Milton Keynes Dons in the first leg of this League Two play-off final. The game was also the last to be played at Gay Meadow after 97-years of football at the ground. The club are moving to the New Meadow next season.

West Ham survive

Play-Off action

Sheffield United have been relegated from the Premier League after slumping to a 1-2 defeat against Wigan Athletic at Bramall Lane on this final afternoon of the season. The result means Wigan escape the drop on goal difference and consign the Blades to Championship football next season along with Charlton Athletic and Watford. Paul Scharner opened the scoring for the visitors on 14 minutes but Jon Stead equalised with a 38th minute diving header. On the stroke of half-time though, David Unsworth scored the decisive winning goal for the Latics from the penalty spot.
Wigan had to play the last 15 minutes with 10 men after Lee McCulloch was sent off for a second yellow card.

Meanwhile West Ham United, who were also under threat of relegation before kick-off, surprisingly beat champions Manchester United 0-1 at Old Trafford to finish three points clear of the bottom three in 15th. Carlos Tevez scored West Ham’s goal in first-half injury time.

However, such is the controversy that surrounds the illegal registration of Tevez, I doubt we have heard the last about West Ham’s survival at the expense of Sheffield United. This was indicated by the comments of Wigan chairman Dave Whelan and Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock after the match at Bramall Lane.

Whelan confirms he will back Sheffield United if they proceed with legal action against the Premier League over their handling of the Tevez affair:

“I don’t think justice has been done. I wanted us to win and stay up, so I am happy about that, but for West Ham to stay up is not justice. It was a great win for them, but for Sheffield United to go down isn’t fair and justice hasn’t been done.”

Warnock felt particularly bitter and aggrieved:

“I feel bitter about all the circumstances over the last two weeks really but by Tuesday it will all be fish and chip paper. I have just got to get over that bitterness. It will all be in the bin and there won’t be a big hoo-haa. Sheffield United - so what? West Ham are a big club with big reputations and they’ve obviously got good solicitors.”

Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur Everton and Bolton Wanderers booked their places in next season’s UEFA Cup as Spurs beat Manchester City 2-1 at White Hart Lane. Everton hold Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge and Bolton earn a vital point with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at the Reebok Stadium. In their first-ever season in the top tier, Reading miss out on the UEFA Cup by only one point. The Royals come from behind three times to draw 3-3 at Blackburn Rovers.

Third-placed Liverpool drew 2-2 with relegated Charlton Athletic in Robbie Fowler’s final appearance for the Champions League finalists at Anfield.

Arsenal finish fourth after a goalless draw at Portsmouth while Middlesbrough beat Fulham 3-1 at the Riverside Stadium.

Newcastle United’s 1-1 draw at Watford was marred by England striker Michael Owen’s latest injury. Owen recently returned from 10 months out after knee surgery and is due to play for England’s “B” team against Albania at Burnley on May 25 but was carried off with a mild concussion after colliding with teammate Matthew Pattison in the 67th minute.

In their Championship Play-Off semi-final first leg, West Bromwich Albion record a thrilling 3-2 win in the Black County derby at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Jody Craddock and Seyi Olofinjana net the Wolves goals in between a Kevin Phillips brace before Diomansy Kamara fires home the Baggies’ 73rd minute winner.

In the League One Play-Off semi-final first leg, visitors Blackpool continue their excellent end of season form by recording a 1-2 victory over Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park. Shaun Barker gave the Tangerines the lead but the Latics equalised through a Andy Liddell penalty. Wes Hoolahan grabbed a late winner for the Seasiders.

Play-Offs - Rovers win first leg

Stevenage win first Wembley final

Derby County beat Southampton 1-2 at St Mary’s Stadium in this Championship play-off semi-final. Andrew Surman gives the Saints an early lead before the Rams fought back with a Steve Howard double to take a vital one-goal advantage into the second leg at Pride Park on Tuesday.

Bristol Rovers beat Lincoln City 2-1 at the Memorial Ground in the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final. Craig Disley and Richard Walker are on the mark for Rovers either side of a Jeff Hughes free-kick goal.

In the Scottish Premier League, Dunfermline Athletic are relegated after losing 2-1 at against Inverness Caledonian Thistle while relegation rivals St Mirren beat Motherwell 2-3 at Fir Park. St Mirren are 11th in the 12-team league with 36 points while Dunfermline are bottom with 32 with one match left.

In the first final to be played at the new Wembley Stadium, Stevenage Borough come from two down to beat Kidderminster Harriers 3-2 in the FA Trophy final. James Constable gives Harriers a 2-0 half-time lead but Boro stage a thrilling second-half comeback with goals from Mitchell Cole, Craig Dobson and Steve Morison. The attendance of 53,262 is the highest in the 37-year history of non-league football’s top cup competition. The previous record was 34,842 who saw Wycombe Wanderers beat Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 in the 1991 final.

Play-Offs - Forest beat Yeovil

Chester appoint Williamson

Lawrie Sanchez has been appointed manager of Fulham on a permanent basis and has stepped down as Northern Ireland coach as a result. Sanchez replaced Chris Coleman on a caretaker basis on April 10 and has now signed an “indefinate, rolling contract” after guiding the club to Premier League safety. Sanchez leaves Northern Ireland top of Euro 2008 qualifying group F.

Nottingham Forest scored a penalty in each half to beat Yeovil Town 0-2 in the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final at Huish Park.

A statue of Bobby Moore has been unveiled at the new Wembley Stadium. The 20ft sculpture carries the following inscription:

“Immaculate footballer. Imperial defender. Immortal hero of 1966. First Englishman to raise the World Cup aloft. Favourite son of London’s East End. Finest legend of West Ham. National treasure. Master of Wembley. Lord of the game. Captain extraordinary. Gentleman for all time.”

Former Plymouth Argyle and Hibernian boss Bobby Williamson is named the new manager of Chester City. The 46-year-old replaces Mark Wright who was sacked last month.

Carey confirmed as Dragons boss

Cardiff stadium given green light

Tottenham Hotspur need only one point from their final game of the season, at home versus Manchester City, to confirm their UEFA Cup qualification following a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers at White Hart Lane. It means that Rovers only route to Europe next term is now via the Intertoto Cup.

Having saved the club from relegation from the Football League, Brian Carey is confirmed as the permanent manager of Wrexham. The former Republic of Ireland centre-back was put in temporary charge at the Racecourse following Denis Smith’s dismissal in January.

Cardiff City are given the final go-ahead to build a new 30,000-capacity stadium at Leckwith, adjacent to their current Ninian Park home. The £58million project is partly financed by the £9million sale of Ninian Park for housing.
Bluebirds chairman Peter Ridsdale said:

“This is an historic day in the club’s history and is a new beginning that will hopefully provide the springboard to us also being able to deliver Premiership football to the city of Cardiff.”