General News | Buzzin Championship Football

Watford FC on brink of administration

Watford Leisure, the owner of Watford Football Club, could fall into administration by close of business today if demands to repay loans of £4.9 million are not met.

Chairman Jim Russo and senior board members Vince Russo and Robin Williams resigned at the club AGM on Tuesday and immediately demanded the repayment of £4.9 million of loans to Valley Grown Salads, a business that the Russo’s have a stake in.

Watford FC will automatically face a ten point penalty if they do go into administration, dropping them from current tenth in the league on 30 points, to second from bottom of the Championship.

Former manager Graham Taylor has taken over as temporary chairman of Watford, but no comment on the financial situation has been made as yet.

Could former owner Elton John help his much loved club out? Well he is planning a concert to help raise funds for the club in May next year, but that may be too little too late for the club.

Have Your Say On The Future Of Football in Supporters Survey 2010

football league

The Football League are inviting fans across the country to take part in its third online supporters consultation, giving supporters the opportunity to influence the future of professional football.

The Football League Supporters Survey 2010 lets fans have their say on a range of important issues that are relevant to the future of the game. The survey covers controversial subjects such as the introduction of goal line technology, sin bins and salary caps to refereeing standards, diving and football on television.

Fans are also invited to give their views about the club they support with a range of topics up for discussion including ticketing, stewarding, communication with supporters and whether they feel valued by their club.

The 2010 Survey follows on from previous supporter consultations in 2006 and 2008, both of which saw more than 40,000 fans contribute their views.

Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney said at the launch of the 2010 survey;

“This is the opportunity for fans to tell us their views on the football they watch.The opinions expressed by supporters in our two previous surveys contributed to our thinking as we developed our Regulations on Agents, our new Home Grown Players rule and our smoke-free policy at matches. They have also given clubs a better understanding of what their fans like and dislike about watching football, which has helped The League identify best practice at club level and improve the supporter experience. I hope fans to take this opportunity to make a difference, once again.”

Take part in The Football League Supporters Survey 2010 here.

By completing the survey, which is being run in conjunction with sports research specialists SportsWise, supporters will have the opportunity to win a ‘money can’t buy’ prize to see their team train and meet the players. There are also 100 Mitre Official Football League balls on offer to lucky winners.

The results of The Football League Supporters’ Survey 2010 will be published in the New Year

Darren Ferguson leaves Peterborough United by mutual consent

darren ferguson

Darren Ferguson has parted company with Peterborough United, the club say that the 37 year old has left by mutual consent following the loss to Newcastle at the weekend which left Peterborough propping up the Championship table.

Ferguson had led Peterborough through back to back promotions since joining the club in 2007, but the magic has deserted him this season as the club have managed just two league wins in what is considered to be the toughest division of all.

Ferguson’s reputation through his achievements at London Road have made him one of the League’s most highly respected young managers, he was refused permission to talk to Reading regarding their vacancy for a manager in the summer and was rewarded with a new four year contract. at Borough.

A statement from Peterborough United said:

“Following a series of meetings with the manager, Peterborough have decided to part company by mutual consent. The football club would like to thank Darren for his magnificent service during his time at London Road and wish him and his family all the best for the future.

Peterborough United Football Club wish to assure all it supporters that the perceived delay in announcing the departure of the manager by mutual consent was entirely due to the confidential terms and conditions that underpinned the agreement which was not approved and finalised until this afternoon.”

It will be interesting to see who is in the frame to fill the vacancy, but I feel sure that Ferguson will get the opportunity to move on to bigger and better things.

Newcastle anger fans over stadium naming rights issue

newcastle united@st james' park!

However you look at it sportsdirect.com@St James’ Park Stadium definitely does not have the same ring about it as Mike Ashley’s business rival Dave Whelan’s JJB Stadium which was renamed earlier this year to the less impressive DW Stadium.

Newcastle United say that they will use the new name as reference to the stadium and also to showcase Ashley’s business empire outside of the game, until the end of this season when they hope to draw in a big name sponsor for the coming season.

Sporting giant Adidas who supply Newcastle’s kit were among the most likely sponsor of the stadium but they have issued a statement saying that they have not been offered the naming rights to the stadium and would not wish to take the rights if they were offered.

The move to rename the stadium has angered many of the Newcastle faithful, but the clubs managing director Derek Llambias is convinced that the fans will soon forget about it if the team can deliver success on the pitch.

Judging by the fans behaviour since Mike Ashley bought the club, I cannot imagine that they will ever forget anything that he has done in the short time he has been in control of the club, and will view the renaming rights as just adding to a string of catastrophes for Newcastle United during his tenure.

Adam Pearson steps down at Derby County

derby county

Derby County chairman Adam Pearson has left the Championship club ‘by mutual consent’ and is free to ‘pursue new challenges’ says a statement from the club, who are currently in 19th place in the division. Pearson will be replace by Tom Glick at County.

Despite the club being relegated during Pearson’s first year as chairman and the current placing of the team in the Championship, the former chairman believes he is leaving the club in good shape.

Pearson spoke of his respect for current Derby manager Nigel Clough in his farewell statement, saying:

“It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work with Nigel Clough over the past 10 months, he is a manager in whom the supporters and board can totally trust with the future of their club. I have no doubt at all that Nigel, supported by his staff, will go on to be a truly great manager for this football club and create his own legacy, in the footsteps of his father.

Under Nigel Clough’s management the wage bill is now under control, the squad size is under control, the Academy structure is solid and we have a management team in place who will take the team forward.”

Pearson has been linked with a move back to Hull City, the club he bought when they went into administration in 2001 and were at the wrong end of what is now League Two. He was responsible for selling Hull City in 2007, to a consortium led by Paul Duffen, who has resigned his post with the club today.