On the whole a cut and paste;

Albion chiefs have revealed they are likely to be reliant on players sales on top of a controversial £20million loan for the club to continue as a going concern.

Albion accounts for the club, WBA Group and WBA Holdings have been published at Companies House and reveal future going concerns. Albion accounts for the club, WBA Group and WBA Holdings have been published at Companies House and reveal future going concerns.

In financial results lodged at Companies House, Albion directors revealed 'a material uncertainty' over the future of the club if cash cannot be raised.

The new accounts for the club, parent company WBA Group and majority shareholder Guochuan Lai’s WBA Holdings dated to June 2022, revealed WBA Football Club Ltd made a profit of £5.4million before tax in the year to June 30, 2022.

The directors' report section of the results – signed by chief executive Ron Gourlay – lays bare fears for the future of the club.

The report adds: "Should the forecasted player trading not be achieved, the group would need to both maintain existing and find further sources of investment in order to bridge its cashflow position until appropriate player transactions are fulfilled."

However, it starkly states: "Given that such funding player trading is not guaranteed there is a material uncertainty present which may cast significant doubt about the group and company's ability to continue as a going concern."

The report’s contents have been described by minority shareholders to the Express & Star are ‘very worrying’ and at best raise big questions over Albion’s operations moving forward.

While Carlos Corberan’s squad are an outside shot for promotion via a late play-off push, which would go some way to easing financial concerns, the cost of not reaching the Premier League next season could be stark – and affect the head coach’s squad building.

The documents also shed light on the controversial £5m ‘Wisdom Smart loan’, still unpaid by controlling shareholder Lai ,more than two years after it was taken out.

It was revealed WBA Holdings, Lai’s company controlled by Yunyi Guokai (Shanghai) Sports Development – of which Lai is controlling shareholder – has been added as guarantor for if, as expected, Wisdom Smart is unable to repay.

Despite the absentee chairman’s latest assurance the cash would be returned to club coffers, the move was described to the Express & Star as “rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic” or “kicking the can down Halfords Lane”.

The accounts say “at June 30 2022 and at the date of the approval of the financial statement, the company has yet to receive payment and so the full amount totalling £5,059,000 (including interest) has been impaired (or reduced, in this case) to a carrying value of £Nil.”

Evidence of that can be noted on Page 33 of WBA Group accounts, under section 16 titled ‘debtors’ where the loan was, in the previous accounts dated June 2021, highlighted in the ‘other debtors including related party loan section’. But in the 2022 figures, the £5m is missing and in essence written out of the balance sheet.

OH DEAR!!!

LAST TIME OUT



FORM GUIDE

QPR  3 PNE 13

MANAGER/JOY OF EX

Gareth Ainsworth (born 10 May 1973) is an English professional football manager and former player who is the manager of EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers.

A former youth player at Blackburn Rovers, the midfielder, who was known for his crossing ability, moved to Preston North End in 1992 after impressing at non-league Northwich Victoria. He signed for Cambridge United, who in turn loaned him back to Northwich, and returned to Preston in 1993, establishing himself in the first team during his second spell. Sold on to Lincoln City in 1995, his performances earned him a place on the PFA Third Division Team of the Year in 1996–97, resulting in a £500,000 move to Port Vale. After being named as the Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year in 1998, Ainsworth was sold to Premier League club Wimbledon for £2 million. He was dogged by injuries at the club, and following loan spells with Preston and Walsall, he moved to Cardiff City in March 2003. He signed with Queens Park Rangers in June 2003, where he spent seven years. During his time at QPR, he helped the club to promotion from the Second Division in 2003–04, and twice served as caretaker-manager.

He joined Wycombe Wanderers in February 2010, following a short loan period. He was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year in 2010–11, as Wycombe won promotion. He was appointed manager in November 2012, after a short period as caretaker-manager. He retired from regular playing appearances to concentrate on management in April 2013, but remained registered as a player. He led the club to promotion from League Two at the end of the 2017–18 season and then from League One in 2020, securing a place in the Championship for the first time in the club's history. He left in February 2023 to become the manager of QPR





In The Dressing Room

Manager Ryan Lowe will provide an update on the availability of his team in his pre-match press conference.

A Look At Our Hosts


After a very promising start to the season under Michael Beale, it’s been a tricky period at Queens Park Rangers, with the Rs having won just twice in their last 23 Championship fixtures.

Much of that run came under the management of Neil Critchley, but former North End man Gareth Ainsworth is currently in the hotseat, looking to guide his side away from the threat of relegation.

They have been dealt several injury blows over the course of the campaign, but they’ll be hopeful they have enough to get back to picking up points in the end of season run-in to retain their Championship status.

Going Head To Head


Games played: 50
PNE wins: 19
Draws: 17
QPR wins: 14
Last PNE victory: PNE 2-1 QPR, 9th April 2022

One To Watch

The struggling Rs were boosted by the return from injury of Ilias Chair in last weekend’s defeat to Wigan Athletic, with the Moroccan international having been missing since the end of February.

Often their most creative spark, Gareth Ainsworth will be looking for the attacking midfielder to inject some energy and quality into the side who have struggled for goals in recent weeks.

Chair – who featured at the 2022 Qatar World Cup – has five goals and seven assists to his name so far this season, and that’s a tally he’ll be keen to add to between now and May.

Match Officials

Experienced EFL official Geoff Eltringham will be the man in the middle on Friday.

It will be the second occasion which he has refereed PNE so far this season, with the previous fixture being the Boxing Day defeat at home to Huddersfield Town.

In total this season, Eltringham has shown 77 yellow cards and four reds in 22 matches.

MACS VIEW

When Neil Critchley won his first game in charge of the Hoops after taking over fom Beale things looked good for the West London side however since then it's gone massively tits up, Critchley gone, Ainsworth in, fans less than impressed with Gareth's version of the beautiful game led to a rxchange of views between players and supporters at Estadio del Pie last weekend.
Currently plunging into a relegation struggle although may ahve been helped by Reading's ability to spend more than was expected may give them a lifeline.
Out of form there for the taking we will find out Friday afternoon
5.30 am Friday alarm clock, well er no, end of season lethargy is kicking in it will be a cut and paste match report

THE MATCH

FRIDAY 7TH APRIL KO 3:00PM

v

LAST MATCH



Another lack-lustre performance saw our winless run stretch to five as we drew with Lincoln. We got off to the start we needed Smith heading in Vaulks cross. We were on top but Lincoln equalized against the run of play, Stockdale at fault, parrying straight to there forward who finished from close range. Onto the 2nd half and we were having chances but we weren't testing there keeper until injury time. We had a header cleared off the line then there goalie saved the rebound. We did go top of the league but with the 3 teams behind us all having a game in hand, it didn't mean anything.

THE MATCH



Next up Oxford in the first of the Easter fixtures. Oxford have had a poor season and are just 3 points above the relegation zone with just 8 games to go, they also haven't won for 12 games so they will be delighted that we are visiting the Kassam Stadium There leading scorer is Cameron Brannagan with 10 goals, who is a midfielder. They are now managed by Liam Manning, who managed MK Donuts last season, took over on the 11 March, but is still waiting for his first victory

ALL TIME H2H

OWLS 9
OXFORD 12
DRAWS 12

CURRENT FORM

OWLS              -                                                                              

OXFORD          -                                                          

EFL STOOGES

DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT  

THIS MIGHT BE A FIRST FOR US, A FEMALE REFEREE

REBECCA WELCH
Abbas Khan and Ryan Whitaker
Fourth Official : David Harrison

THE TEAM

Dawson
Palmer Famewo Flint
Hunt Bannan Adeniran Vaulks Johnson
Gregory Smith

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

1-2 Gregory

WEDNESDAYS FIRT GOAL TIME

26

BML LEAGUE

Owlskev 25
Stateside 23
SCO 21
Imre 20
Wash 20
Maddix 17
Peiowl 14

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Blackburn v Norwich
Middlesboro v Burnley
Ipswich v Wycombe
Sutton v Stockport
Barnet v Bromley

HAHDH

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE

WEREHAM




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC

Gamball:
Wolves - Chelsea

Others
Brentford - Newcastle
Spurs - Brighton
Leeds - Crystal Palace
Liverpool - Arsenal
Huddersfield - Blackburn
Coventry - Watford
Hull - Millwall
Cardiff - Sunderland
Birmingham - Stoke

Reading have been deducted six points by the English Football League for breaching the terms of an agreed business plan for a previous profit and sustainability rule breach.

It marks the first decision handed down by the independent club financial reporting unit (CFRU).

The deduction leaves Reading 20th in the Championship, with 40 points, one above the relegation zone.

Manager Paul Ince said last week he thought the punishment was coming.

In addition, Reading have agreed a new budget with the CFRU, which will be finalised once the club's full profit and sustainability review has been completed for the current season.

The club accepted they had not "sufficiently satisfied" elements of the planned budget.

"Despite radical changes implemented at first team level and right across the structure of the business to its very core - and a rigid adherence to a strict league-monitored wage structure and transfer embargo, the club accepts that it has not sufficiently satisfied certain elements of the planned budget," their statement said.

"As a result, the independent club financial review panel has been unable to ratify that the club has met its forecast for compliance."

The club's transfer embargo, which has been in place since the summer of 2021, will "effectively end" this summer, they added.

Reading were also given a six-point deduction in 2021, for losing £57.8m between 2017 and 2021 - the EFL's limit for that period was £39m. A further deduction was suspended until the end of this season, on the basis of targets in the EFL's business plan being hit.

The Championship club said it had made "every reasonable effort" to build a squad without falling to further punishment.

"Every single professional contract proposed has been scrutinised and ratified by the EFL before it has been offered and we have operated under a mutually-agreed capped wage bill," Reading added.

However, they accepted that despite "substantial progress" the situation was not going to be easily fixed.

Director of the CFRU, John Potterill-Tilney, said: "I would like to thank the club for its transparency and cooperation during this process and the club financial review panel for helping us deliver an agreed sanction in just over one month since submissions were provided.

"This decision and sanction, as confirmed by the club financial review panel in a short time frame, within the relevant season, will now give the club clarity to plan for the period ahead, on and off the pitch.

"The EFL's regulations establish the CFRP as an independent panel with the responsibility of reviewing the financial performance of EFL clubs."

Aldershot 0-0 Yeovil
Barnet 2-1 Bromley
Chesterfield 3-0 York
Dorking 1-1 Woking
Halifax 0-5 Wrexham
Gateshead 2-0 Scunthorpe
Notts County 3-1 Wealdstone
Oldham 1-2 Altrincham
Solihull Moors 2-2 Maidenhead United
Southend 2-1 Maidstone United
Torquay 1-0 Eastleigh
Boreham Wood 2-2 Dag & Red

League Table After Matchday 53
SaltergateBorn - 938
Devon - 925
St Charles Owl - 896
Spireitematt - 825
Dancing - 784
Lord Snoots - 772
Amelia - 712

National League strugglers Aldershot Town have replaced interim boss Ross McNeilly with former King's Lynn Town manager Tommy Widdrington.

Widdrington, 51, resigned from the Linnets on Saturday after 15 months in charge at The Walks.

McNeilly took over on a temporary basis until the end of the season after Mark Molesley was sacked last October.

But Shots chairman Shahid Azeem said they "needed to make a change" with the club five points clear of relegation.

McNeilly will return to his former role running the club's academy, with Azeem thanking him for his "huge effort and hard work since stepping up from academy manager back in October."

Widdrington leaves King's Lynn second in National League North, five points behind AFC Fylde in the only automatic promotion place.

With six games to go in the Shots' National League campaign, Widdrington's immediate task is to secure their status in the division, with the two teams immediately below them - Gateshead and Yeovil - having three games and one game in hand on them, respectively.

The Shots play Yeovil at home in Widdrington's first match in charge on Friday.

"When notified of Tommy's resignation, [we] wanted to act quickly to secure the man that we believe can help us with the final push towards mathematical safety," Azeem said.

Fires-team coach Mark Hughes has been appointed interim manager for the rest of the season by King's Lynn.

Chelsea have sacked manager Graham Potter after less than seven months in charge following Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Aston Villa.

It was the Englishman's 11th defeat in 31 games since replacing Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge on 8 September.

Chelsea have dropped to 11th in the Premier League - 12 points outside the top four - having spent more than £550m on new players this season.

The club's owners said they were "disappointed" to sack Potter.

Chelsea say Potter "has agreed to collaborate with the club to facilitate a smooth transition" and that Bruno Saltor, who worked with Potter at Brighton, will take charge of the team as interim head coach.

In a statement, co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali said: "We have the highest degree of respect for Graham as a coach and as a person.

"He has always conducted himself with professionalism and integrity and we are all disappointed in this outcome."


Watch Potter's final Match of the Day interview
Chelsea host Liverpool in the Premier League on Tuesday and face Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on 12 April.

There have now been 13 managerial changes in the Premier League this season - three more than in any other previous campaign - with Leicester also sacking Brendan Rodgers earlier on Sunday.

'Along with our incredible fans, we will all be getting behind Bruno and the team as we focus on the rest of the season," the Chelsea owners added.

"We have 10 Premier League games remaining and a Champions League quarter-final ahead. We will put every effort and commitment into every one of those games so that we can end the season on a high."

He won 12 of his 31 games in charge in all competitions and managed 1.27 points per game in the Premier League - the joint-lowest of any manager to take charge of 20 or more games for Chelsea in the Premier League, alongside Glen Hoddle.

Former Spanish right-back Bruno, 42, spent seven years as a player at Brighton before retiring in 2019 and moving into coaching.

Potter was Boehly's first managerial appointment since taking over the club in May 2022, with the Englishman impressing in his three years at Brighton.

Speaking to Sky Sports after her Chelsea side's Women's Super League win over Aston Villa on Sunday, boss Emma Hayes said: "Obviously I'm upset for Graham and the club. I know everybody wanted to make it work.

"If the owners feel like they have to go in another direction then of course, as always, I support the decisions and wish Graham the best.

"With 10 games left to play in the Premier League, I'm sure the boys will do everything to get us back on track. I'm a manager and I'm always gutted when managers lose their job."

Potter replaced Tuchel, who won three trophies in 20 months at Stamford Bridge, in September when the Blues were sixth in the top flight, following a summer during which they spent £255m on transfers.

Owner Boehly went on another remarkable spending spree in January, shelling out £288m.

Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez and Ukraine forward Mykhailo Mudryk were among eight mid-season signings - but the new additions have struggled to click on the pitch.

Analysis - Lack of progress was Potter's downfall
BBC Sport's Alex Howell

Things have moved quickly at Stamford Bridge. On Sunday morning, the media plan was sent out for the press conference that Potter was set to be holding on Monday afternoon before the match against Liverpool, but by 8pm that evening he was no longer in charge.

The feeling at Stamford Bridge is that it was not solely the poor results that have led to his dismissal but a lack of progress from the team overall.

The decision to relieve him from his post was led by Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart the co-sporting directors, with backing from chairman Boehly and co-owner Eghbali.

It is understood that Potter will not receive the full five years payment for his contract that he signed in 2022.

It is felt that having Bruno in charge will give the team the best chance of salvaging the season.

The search for a new manager begins now but it is not expected that a replacement will be named in the next few days.

'Some managers are better suited to underdogs'
Graham Potter
Graham Potter had three successful years at Brighton before he was appointed Chelsea manager
Former England striker Alan Shearer told Match of the Day 2 the demand for success at Premier League clubs has led to a "crazy" football environment, where they "press the panic button".

"You know the rules when you go into a job these days," said Shearer.

"But who on earth pays £20m for their services - Potter and his staff- puts them a on a five- to six-year contract, pays them £10m a year, gives them a ridiculous amount of players for a stupid amount of money and then seven months later sacks him?

"It can only happen in football. Anyone with a football brain will tell you signing that amount of players is not going to work."

Ex-England midfielder Danny Murphy believes Potter's record at Brighton showed he was effective managing a team "punching above their weight" as opposed to Chelsea.

"Most people thought it would be better than it has been," said Murphy. "Potter made a lot of changes and that didn't help.

"From a toxic stadium where they were booing - I don't see how you come back from that. Chelsea's owners thought 'let's do it now.'

"Some managers are better suited to managing the underdogs who have to punch above their weight and I think Potter could be that."

Chelsea abandon 'long-term approach' with Potter
Potter's dismissal is Chelsea's 17th managerial change this century and, of the full-time incumbents of the role, his reign was by far the shortest.

Only Luis Felipe Scolari (36), Andre-Villas Boas (40) and Roberto Di Matteo (42) failed to reach the 50-game mark and even interim manager Rafael Benitez (48) lasted longer than Potter.

Chelsea paid Brighton in excess of £21m in compensation for Potter to bring him to Stamford Bridge. Boehly said at the time that he fitted "our vision" and had "skills and capabilities that extend beyond the pitch which will make Chelsea a more successful club".

That indicated Chelsea were looking to pursue a long-term approach in the dugout after sacking Tuchel.

After a promising start of nine games unbeaten, including five successive victories and comfortable qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League, things began to unravel just before the break for the World Cup.

The slide began with a 4-1 humbling at his former club Brighton, followed by defeats against Arsenal and Newcastle and a Carabao Cup exit at Manchester City.

They returned from the World Cup break with a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth, but won just three of their next 13 league matches.

Potter's side were also thumped 4-0 at Manchester City in the FA Cup third round in January, but overturned a first-leg deficit against Borussia Dortmund last month to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

In February, Potter says his mental health suffered after he and his family received anonymous abuse following the club's poor run of form.

First sacking for manager with previous record of success
Until his brief reign at Chelsea, Potter had enjoyed managerial success at each of the three clubs he had served.

He led Swedish side Ostersunds from the fourth tier into the top flight with three promotions in five seasons and won the 2017 Swedish Cup, earning a spot in the Europa League and reaching the knockout stages of that competition.

In his one subsequent season with Swansea City in 2018-19, they finished 10th in the Championship following relegation from the top flight and reached the FA Cup quarter-finals where they led Manchester City 2-0 before losing 3-2.

Potter was then recruited by Brighton and, after three seasons of steady progress, led them to their highest-ever Premier League finish of ninth last term as well as collecting plenty of praise for their style of play.

They sat fourth in this season's table when he left for Chelsea in September.

Since his departure, Brighton have continued to thrive under new manager Roberto de Zerbi and are pushing for a European place.

The departure of Brendan Rodgers from Leicester City is the culmination of a dramatic fall from grace for both club and manager - with the fear of falling even further the catalyst behind the move.

Rodgers arrived at the Foxes in February 2019 after winning all seven domestic trophies available to him during a successful tenure at Celtic, leaving the adoration he enjoyed at Parkhead to succeed Claude Puel at the King Power Stadium.

For a time, 50-year-old Rodgers enhanced a reputation as one of the most progressive coaches in the game as Leicester produced the attacking football that was his trademark - the high point being the club's first FA Cup victory when Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea were beaten 1-0 at Wembley in May 2021.

It assured Rodgers of his place in Leicester history, but Saturday's last-minute defeat at Crystal Palace - now under the guidance of returning veteran Roy Hodgson - was the final straw for owners who saw the spectre of relegation come into even sharper view and could not wait any longer for Rodgers to show signs of inspiring a revival.

Latest Leicester City news, analysis and fan views
Leicester are in the bottom three after six league games without a win, that fear of the drop forcing the board to act in the manner of fellow strugglers Everton, Leeds United and Southampton by wielding the axe.

Rodgers deserves credit for his FA Cup success but his time at Leicester will also be defined by two devastating final days of Premier League seasons that shaped his and the club's ability to enjoy further success.

On the surface, finishing fifth in both 2019-20 and 2020-21 represented fine achievements but the fact Leicester missed out on Champions League football on the final day both times as they lost 2-0 to Manchester United then 4-2 to Tottenham meant bitter disappointment.

The FA Cup win rightly allowed the 2021 season to be painted in a glorious light - was the club's first FA Cup not better as tangible success than finishing fourth in the league?

However, it could also be suggested with some justification the loss to Spurs the following week was the beginning of the end for Rodgers and Leicester City as operators in the upper echelons, a time which also saw that magnificent against-the-odds title win in 2015-16.

These were savage blows because Leicester not only lost out on the profile of Champions League football but also the riches that came with it, the club's owners and chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha subsequently pulling in the purse strings to ensure they did not fall foul of Financial Fair Play rules.

Leicester City former manager Brendan Rodgers
Leicester's defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday proved the final straw as Brendan Rodgers was sacked
Leicester reached the semi-finals of the inaugural Europa Conference League last season but they faded amid inconsistency in the league, finishing eighth.

The decline has continued this season, with Rodgers unable to revamp his squad, influential title-winning keeper Kasper Schmeichel leaving for Nice and time finally catching up with talismanic 36-year-old striker Jamie Vardy.

There were question marks over the club's recruitment under Rodgers, although they suffered a blow in the summer when one his biggest successes - Wesley Fofana, signed from St. Etienne for £36.5m in October 2020 - moved to Chelsea for an initial £70m fee on the final day of the transfer window after missing much of the previous season with a broken leg.

Leicester's squad was clearly in need of hefty renewal but they did not sign an outfield player until the final day of the summer transfer window.

Harry Souttar, Victor Kristiansen and Tete came in at a cost of £30m in January but Rodgers could not fashion a consistent upturn and the graph has only been heading in one direction lately.

There was also a belief that Rodgers should have been getting more out of a squad still laced with quality in the shape of players such as James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes. He was also unable to solve long-running defensive flaws that saw cheap goals conceded on an infuriatingly regular basis.

Impressive wins at Aston Villa and at home to Spurs, 4-2 and 4-1 respectively, hinted at improvement but they were false dawns and the FA Cup fifth-round loss at home to Championship side Blackburn Rovers was damaging for Rodgers and Leicester.

Now, with 10 league games to go, he has paid the price and the club hierarchy must decide their next move.

It will be a desperate personal setback for Rodgers, who rebuilt his reputation at Celtic after his sacking by Liverpool in October 2015, obtaining hero status with one half of Glasgow before angering many fans by leaving to move back to the Premier League.

For a time he regained his previous status as a sought-after manager, linked with a variety of jobs from Arsenal to Spurs and even - unlikely admittedly given his previous links with Liverpool - Manchester United. He was touted in some quarters as having the credentials to manage at international level, with England mentioned.

Rodgers was exuding positivity even in defeat at Selhurst Park. Instead, this was the end of his time at Leicester.

The personable Rodgers will certainly be an attraction for clubs in the future, including those in the Premier League, but the high-end posts will be out of reach for now after the manner of his end at Leicester.

Rodgers, a Spanish speaker, has talked in the past about being open to working abroad and it easy to see his undoubted coaching skills transitioning into that environment.

He has also seen contemporary Roberto Martinez, who managed across Stanley Park at Everton when Rodgers was at Liverpool and was one of his predecessors at Swansea City, land plum international jobs with Belgium then Portugal

Rodgers will rightly feel he is at least the equal of the Spaniard in terms of stature, ability and successes.

For now, though, Leicester City will attempt to secure their short-term future after taking this emergency action while Rodgers will take stock and ponder his long-term prospects.