The Long and short of it SEAN MARKS MAD 12 MONTHS
Derby charge for spending breach
DERBY face a possible points deduction after being charged by the EFL over profitability and sustainability rules.
The Championship side are accused of making losses higher than permitted.
The charge is understood to revolve around Derby’s sale of their stadium to club owner Mel Morris, right.
Morris’s companies bought the ground for £80million then leased it back to the club.
Sources at Derby say the club’s shocked financial experts believed the sale had been scrutinised by the footballing authorities. But Championship rivals say the sale price was inflated.
The charge alleges Derby lost more than the £39m permitted over three years to June 2018. A statement by the EFL read: “The club will be referred to an independent disciplinary commission.”
GEORGE PETCHEY, the manager who brought Laurie Cunningham through the ranks at Leyton Orient, has died at the age of 88.
Whitechapel-born Petchey played 400 league games at West Ham, QPR and Crystal Palace.
He was Orient manager between 1971-1977, where Cunningham – who would play for England and Real Madrid – was one of the young talents he helped. Petchey then managed Millwall from 1978 to 1980.
●LEEDS and Nottingham Forest have enquired about Watford striker Andre Gray, who has not started a league game since Nigel Pearson became Hornets manager.
SEAN LONGSTAFF is celebrating 12 months in Newcastle’s first team and says he has ridden an emotional rollercoaster.
The Geordie midfielder, 22, broke through last January with a series of outstanding performances that led to speculation about a big-money move to Manchester United.
But despite being one half of the Premier League’s latest sibling double act with 19-year-old brother Matty, right, Sean has had setbacks too.
A knee injury cut short his campaign last season and he has picked up a red card amid a loss form this time around.
But ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Chelsea, Longstaff believes he is back on track and ready to make his mark again.
He said: “In six months, I had a speeded-up process of making my of debut, scoring my first goal, getting injured, speculation, a manager leaving, getting injured again, then being sent off. I had everything in that short space of time.
“So, I’ll be honest, it’s been tough at times.That’s why you’ve got to have good people around you, and I have that in the dressing room and with my family at home. “They’ve helped me through it all.” Longstaff has shown signs of rediscovering the form that made him one of the most talkedabout youngsters in the country. Despite Jonjo Shelvey being available again, he is hoping to retain his place in the Toon engine room. Longstaff added: “Hopefully I’m through all that now. I’m focusing on trying to play every week and putting in good performances.”