Rotherham have appointed ex-Wigan boss Leam Richardson as their new head coach on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The 44-year-old takes over from Matt Taylor who was sacked last month.

The Millers are second-bottom in the Championship with 13 points from 20 games and are eight points adrift of safety.

Richardson led the Latics to the League One title, ahead of Rotherham, in 2021-22 but was sacked in November of that year after a slow start to the season.

"I've never turned a challenge down that I feel I can't meet head on and give my all," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"We can't guarantee results, but we can guarantee a certain level of performance and level of work ethic.

"When my tenure starts to when it ends, I'd like to think we'll have evolved and I'll have left the club in a better place than I found it."

Rotherham said the decision to appoint Richardson followed a "long and meticulous interview process" featuring "high-calibre candidates" and was driven by "Leam's credentials and vision for the project".

"I think I'm very similar to what Rotherham stands for," Richardson added. "It's about a strong work ethic and a dynamic football team.

"We'll evolve and do it methodically, a process that suits the football club and myself."

Taylor took over as manager at the New York Stadium in October 2022 after long-serving boss Paul Warne left for League One Derby.

The former Exeter boss kept them in the Championship last season but he was sacked in November after just two wins from their first 16 league games - only to be appointed by Bristol Rovers at the start of the month.

Richardson will need to improve Rotherham's wretched away form if they are to avoid a return to the third tier.

The Millers have not won a game on their travels since beating Sheffield United at Bramall Lane 13 months ago.

Gamball:
Bristol City - Sunderland

Others:
Bournemouth - Luton
Burnley - Everton
Hull - Cardiff
Millwall - Huddersfield
Preston - Watford
Sheff W - QPR
Swansea - Middlesbrough
Brentford - Aston Villa
West ham - Wolves

Burton Albion first-team coach Gary Mills has stepped up as caretaker boss as the Brewers search for Dino Maamria's permanent replacement.

Tunisian Maamria, 49, was sacked as manager following Saturday's League One loss against Stevenage.

Mills, 42, a former assistant manager at Wrexham, had joined Maamria's backroom staff in September.

He joined the Brewers from Coventry City, where he worked as lead professional development phase coach.

Burton chairman Ben Robinson issued just a 13-word statement on Saturday to say Maamria's 15-month tenure as boss had come to an end, but elaborated on the decision when naming Mills as his interim replacement.

"It's always a sad time when a manager leaves the club under these circumstances and we are disappointed that it didn't work out as we had hoped with Dino Maamria," Robinson told the club website.

"Dino was with the club for three years as assistant manager and manager and we want to thank him for what he did last season, galvanising the team in January with the signings he made that moved us away from relegation."

Mills, who counts Lincoln City, Mansfield Town and Stevenage among the clubs he played for, has previously also worked as a coach at King's Lynn, Northampton Town and MK Dons.

He will be in charge of Saturday's game at Oxford, with Burton looking to end a six-game winless run in the league that includes five defeats.

THE MATCH

WEDNESDAY 9TH DECEMBER KO 7:45PM

v

LAST MATCH



We made back to back wins as we claimed the points in injury time. The first half was a game of very few chances, Bernard had a header saved while Stoke had a few chances but didn't trouble Dawson. Onto the 2nd half and Stoke pressed a bit more and were given a penalty out of the blue when the ref judged Famewo pushed one of there players, but Dawson saved the day by saving the spot kick. It looked like the points would be shared but Musaba then found himself one on one with the keeper and finished well sending the away end into delirium.

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

THE MATCH



Next up and a trip to Norwich. Norwich have had a so so start to the season and currently lie in 13th place but are only 3 points off the playoffs and I expect them to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. They are currently managed by David Wagner, who was the manager when Huddersfield won promotion to the premier league, after disposing of us in the playoff semi final on penalties There leading scorer is Jonathan Rowe with 8 goals, but he was only a sub at the weekend.

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

ALL TIME H2H

OWLS 24
NORW 19 
DRAWS 16 

CURRENT FORM

OWLS              -                                                                                                

NORW             -                                                             

EFL STOOGES

DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT  

LEIGH DOUGHTY
Nigel Lugg and Shaun Hudson
Fourth Official : Matthew Donohue

THE TEAM

Dawson
Palmer Ihiekwe Bernard Famewo
Windass Bannan Vaulks Byers Johnson
Cadamarteri

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

1-1 Windass

WEDNESDAYS FIRT GOAL TIME

30

ATTENDANCE

N/A

BML LEAGUE

Washington 10
Maddix 6
Imre 5
Owlkev 3
SCO 1

BMPL

Wereham 4
Stateside 3
Pei -9

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Cardiff City v Birmingham City
Coventry City v Southampton
Leicester City v Millwall
Queens Park Rangers v Plymouth Argyle
Middlesbrough v Hull City

HDHHH

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC

2 points for correct result
4 points for correct score
2 points for each correct scorer
Correct joker doubles your score   (correct score on a joker would give you 8 points)
Wrong joker result gives you minus 2
Correct Random Badger gives you 2 points

The random badger is used for any random prediction used once in each matchday sequence. For instance, a scorer at a particular match, the number of red cards in the matches or yellow cards or own goals or owt you want really within reason, I do need to be able to check whether it's correct or not. Please don't put stuff like....."Commentator says...."  
The joker   is played for one match in each sequence and if correct you get double points. So if you've predicted 1-0 and it finishes 2-0, you get 4 pts, but if you've predicted 2-0, that's 8 pts. But if you get it wrong, it's minus 2.
Jokers and badgers are optional. You don't have to play one if you don't want.

The prize for winning the league is one rep point.

Cup games: In the event of a draw, it's half the points if you've predicted a draw when it gets to 90 mins and the full points if it's still a draw after extra time. Half the points will be awarded for correctly predicting the winner of the match if it goes to penalties. Similarly with the badger, if your random prediction is affected by this, it'll be half the points.

Random score generator: I will be using the random score generator again for those who miss predicting, so we shouldn't get some people too far behind that after missing a couple of weeks they lose all interest, because I know it's not easy getting on here every week.
To be fair to everybody, this is going to be like, say if three people in one week miss their predictions, the first one in the table will be given all 0-0, the second one down the line will get 1-0 and the third will get 0-1 and so on, like if there's four missing the 4th will get 1-1, then 5th 2-1, 6th 1-2. and if there are so many missing, might as well pack in.
And if you miss two weeks on the trot, I'll stop until you come back on again. Not doing it for half a season like I did t'other year.  

End of season Play Offs: The one who finishes top of the league will still be champion, but after the season finishes there will be Play Offs between the top 4, with 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd. This will take in stuff like the EFL Play Offs, FA Cup Final, final day of Prima Donna League, European Finals etc. It will be one matchday for the semis and one for the Final. It will be the individual scores for each matchday against the allotted opponent, with some kind of tie breaker for a drawn match.

The prize for winning will be enormous. Another rep point.

1. St Charles Owl = 380 pts
   
2. Baggiebob(BBB) = 366 pts
   
3. jjamez = 334 pts
   
4. themaclad = 313 pts
   
5. theo_luddite = 310 pts
   
6. neonfoxinthebox = 297 pts
   

Saturday 16th December:
Millwall v Town
Town scorers:
Millwall scorers:

Ipswich Town v Norwich City (12:30)
Preston North End v Watford
Sheffield Wednesday v Queens Park Rangers
Swansea City v Middlesbrough

Sunday 17th December:
West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City (12:00)

Monday 18th December:
Birmingham City v Leicester City

Bonus matches:
Premier League:
Friday:
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham Hotspur

Saturday:
Burnley v Everton (17:30)

Sunday:
Brentford v Aston Villa (14:00)

Scottish League Cup Final:
Sunday:
Rangers v Aberdeen (15:00)

Carabooboo Cup quarter finals:
Tuesday:
Chelsea v Newcastle United

Wednesday:
Liverpool v West Ham United


*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

1. Lord Snooty = 349 pts
   
2. ritchiebaby = 313 pts
   
3. WakeyTerrier = 313 pts
   
4. Devongone = 298 pts
   
5. Amelia Chaffinch = 280 pts
   
6. SHEP_HTAFC = 270 pts
   

Saturday 16th December:
Millwall v Town
Town scorers:
Millwall scorers:

Bristol City v Sunderland
Hull City v Cardiff City
Leeds United v Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle v Rotherham United
Southampton v Blackburn Rovers

Bonus matches:
Premier League:
Saturday:
AFC Bournemouth v Luton Town

Sunday:
Liverpool v Manchester United (16:30)

Scottish Premiership:
Saturday:
St Johnstone v Hibernian

National League:
Saturday:
Hartlepool United v Chesterfield

Scottish League Cup Final:
Sunday:
Rangers v Aberdeen (15:00)

Carabooboo Cup quarter finals:
Tuesday:
Everton v Fulham
Port Vale v Middlesbrough


*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

Stoke City have sacked Alex Neil as manager following Saturday's home defeat by Championship bottom club Sheffield Wednesday.

The 42-year-old Scot spent 16 months in charge in the Potteries after leaving fellow Championship side Sunderland to join Stoke in August 2022.

He led Stoke to 16th last season, a fall from the previous two campaigns, when they had each time finished 14th.

But they have struggled this term and currently sit 20th in the table.

Despite an expensive 18-man summer overhaul, the Potters have won just six of their 20 league matches.

Stoke reconstruction still in its 'infancy' - Neil
Assistant Martin Canning has also left the club and Paul Gallagher will take charge of the team for Tuesday's home game against Swansea.

Chairman John Coates told the club website: "Alex is a man of absolute integrity who has given his all for Stoke City and we would like to thank him for his hard work during his time with the club.

"We are grateful for the building blocks he has helped put in place in bringing together a group of players in whom we have a huge amount of faith regarding their ability to turn things around this season, and who can help us achieve longer-term success.

"However, with the way the results have been so far, we have made the difficult decision to seek a new direction for the team at this time.

"Nothing matters to me more than the success of our club and we are now working towards the appointment of Alex's successor."

Neil said after Saturday's 1-0 defeat by the Owls: "When people describe it as a lonely place being a manager, that game probably epitomised it.

"When you're doing well and you're winning games - and I've been fortunate enough to experience that in my career - everybody is with you.

"Everybody's part of it, everybody feels as if they've put something towards it.

"When it's like that, and it has been like that in the last three matches, you're on your own."

Neil's spell at Stoke was his fourth as a Championship manager, following previous jobs with Norwich City, who he led to promotion via the play-offs in 2015, Preston North End and Sunderland,

His first post was in his native Scotland as player-manager with Hamilton Academical from 2013, until joining the Canaries in January 2015.

Potters mission to get back in the Prem
The Potters spent 10 seasons in the top flight from 2008 to 2018, first under Tony Pulis, then Mark Hughes.

But since Hughes' departure in January 2018 when Stoke were already on course for relegation, after Paul Lambert, Gary Rowett, Nathan Jones, Michael O'Neill and Neil, they are now looking for a sixth manager in as many years.

In their time back in the Championship, other than at the start of the 2021-22 season under O'Neill, when they made a flying start to climb to third in the table in early October, their final placings have been an almost symmetrically-perfect modicum of mediocrity - 16th, 15th, 14th, 14th, 16th.

Burton Albion have sacked manager Dino Maamria after the Brewers lost for the fifth time in a six-game winless run in League One.

Saturday's 2-1 loss against high-flying Stevenage was their fourth straight league defeat.

It leaves them just two places and four points above the relegation zone after 20 matches.

The defeat ended a week in which Burton beat Wrexham to advance to the last 16 of the EFL Trophy.

Maamria's dismissal "with immediate effect" was announced in a 13-word club statement attributed to chairman Ben Robinson.

After the loss against Stevenage, 49-year-old Maamria told BBC Radio Derby that he would be meeting with Robinson and spoke openly about how vulnerable his position was.

"If it's my last game today, I want to tell everybody thank you very much - I loved my time here," he said.

"The fans were obviously not happy at the end and I totally understand their frustration. It's a winning business and I haven't won enough games.

"What I have to say is that I work relentlessly hard with very limited resources and I've done my absolute best."

Maamria was in charge for 15 months at the Pirelli Stadium, having stepped up from assistant to replace Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink when Burton were bottom of the third tier last season.

It was on his insistence during a meeting with Robinson that the ex-Stevenage and Oldham boss was handed the job on a permanent basis when taking over from Dutchman Hasselbaink.

He repaid the faith by overseeing a huge turnaround and despite spending just three days outside the drop zone before February, he managed to keep Burton up with three games to spare.

That strong finish to their last campaign, however, was followed by a disastrous start to the season, as they collected just two points from the first 21 that were on offer.

A seven-game unbeaten league run, that included five wins, saw the east Staffordshire side comfortably move themselves up to mid-table before their latest dip in form cost Maamria his job.

Hibs start their 3 pre-Christmas game schedule with a trip to Livingston. Each one is definitely winnable and could get us inching up the table. As it's just along the road, there should be a big turn-out of Hibs fans.

They'll be there to celebrate 3 points gained and a chance to keep Livi down at the bottom of the table. Livi have lost their 6 previous games and haven't scored in the last 5. We must be alert and composed and let our speed merchants strut their stuff.

Monty on the game
“We know it will be a tough game away at Livingston. They are a well-organised, physical side that will be difficult to beat. We expect them to fight for everything. They are on their own pitch at home, which they are used to playing on. For us, there are no excuses - we have trained on the synthetic this week due to the snow earlier in the week. It is a tough game for us, but we know we have a good crowd coming down to support us which we are all really grateful for.”