Episode 5 Late Kick Off London and the South East

The last couple of games have been huge and we need to get the three

points. The fans who own Wycombe and their gaffer on the big decision

looming. It's the perfect thing because the fans stay on but I think

the lack of money does hold teams back. We look at the serious

problems facing the grassroots game. It is getting worse and worse

and worse. And we need to QPR fan more than happy to celebrate a

favourite anniversary. All of that and joining me a man who had many

happy times as a player and manager at Charlton.

It was the greatest 45 minutes of my life. Just a fantastic day for all

my players, my supporters, for our football club.

Welcome to the show. Some fabulous memories for you there. I'm not

wearing the same suit I've got on now but great memories for me.

Obviously three great years there as manager and a number of years as a

player but time moves on. Or your England caps, all five of them, but

three weeks ago it came to an end. How did you find out you had lost a

job? I was actually... I took my son to football training. I just got a

phone call on Monday evening saying it was coming to an end so I had

just realised that it had been a tough time for myself with the

takeover and what was going on so there's not much you can do. You've

just got to dust yourself down and speak to all the relevant people,

especially family. I spoke to my wife's straightaway. And obviously a

number of other people. But it was just one of those things that sadly

came to an end. I really wanted to carry on the good work that I had

done with my staff and the players but it wasn't to be. We will hear

plenty more from Chris on Charlton later and from Mark as well. There's

possibly only one thing worse than playing for a team bottom of the

table and that's not playing for a team bottom of the table. Danny

Shittu has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an Achilles

injury. His team went in search of three much`needed points against

Blackburn. A terrible road. This time last

season, Millwall preparing for a cup semifinal. Fast forward a year and

they are bottom of the Championship. They have it all to do again. To

make matters worse, they are going to have do try to survive without

last season's Captain Marvel. It is one of the hardest things. You

want to play football as a professional footballer, that is why

we are in this game. To not be able to train, it is hard to take. But

I'm here to support my team. Our you doing? `` how are you doing? The

guys are looking forward to the game which is the way they are meant to

be. We are the best. Every game we needed to play, it has been huge.

But today is more important. McDonald weatherhead! `` with the

header. Morrison, running from an onside

position. He needs some physicality. It is still Morrison. Come on! Come

on! It's going to be read. You can't give him a yellow. Yes! Come on!

Blackburn Rovers with the corner. And Blackburn Rovers pull themselves

back on level terms. Jackson goes into the penalty area. Another

penalty. Come on, come on! Please, come on!

Yes! Yes! Into the danger area, King has a chance. It has been poked in

biking. I can't believe it. `` poked in my king. One more chance. The

guys that played out there did well it was `` but it wasn't Jeannette.

`` was unfortunate. I'd have to look forward to the next game but I'm

gutted I did not play. Danny Shittu owes us a microphone. It was a cruel

end for Millwall, so close to a win that they so desperately needed.

Also a difficult day for another team battling to avoid relegation.

Chris's former club, Charlton, lost 3`0 at Derby. Jose Riga APPLAUSE

side went behind in the 18th minute. That was Derby's first meaningful

attack. Then Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford capitalised on Johnnie

Jackson's ever to make it to kneel before the break. `` error. The

third game in six minutes from time. Charlton were unable to follow up

last Tuesday's fine win at Nottingham Forest.

So this is how the bottom of the Championship looked right now.

Millwall's point lifted them from the bottom but they are still only

two points adrift from safety. Charlton, only two places above the

bottom three on board this prince. Charlton's situation looking

precarious. `` on goal difference. A number of players came in from

Standard Liege, another club that Charlton's owners own. And you have

any say in those players being brought in? Are disgusted at the

time. `` I discussed it at the time. A number came in and a new one of

them really well from my time at Leicester. And you know, it was a

balancing act because Kermit Gant and Dale Stephens were sold. ``

Kermorgant. They were coming towards the end of their contracts, and we

could lose them for almost no money, or cash in. So they made the

decision that they would rather financially see the players move

on. But when you are trying to stay up and stay in the division, two

players that know the Championship well and are key to the side, you

really want them to stay. As I have always done, you carry on with your

job and deal with the squad you have. Were you told to play certain

players? Aura you completely allowed to pick whatever side you wanted? I

was not. I'm sure a lot of players are talking about the FA Cup game.

I'd never played any of the players. But it was the team I've felt was

right. Sometimes it goes for you and other times it does not. People were

talking about it, saying I was told to do this and that. Of course, I

was trying to build up a new relationship with someone did not

know, and I was trying to speak about the Championship and what it

is like. It is always tough, because it was a tough season. I knew it

would be from the summer. At all the number of fans that we were in for a

tough ride, because we were not able to build on the momentum of the

previous seasons. `` I told a number. At the end of the last

season, you had such a poor start. Why? Because we lost four strikers.

And we did not replace them. And you would know better than anyone, you

need strikers, people to score goals. That was the big problem. If

you take calls out of any team, you're going to struggle. Kermorgant

and a couple of other young players had not played in the Championship

before. It was a big stumbling block for myself. Mixed fortunes for our

other three Championship teams. Here are Emma Jones and Jimmy Reid to run

us through a draw, a defeat and a decent day for Watford. QPR could

only close the gap to Burnley by a point and are now nine points off

the automatic promotion spots. It took Blackpool ten minutes to take

the lead. David Goodwillie got past Robert Green. The coaching staff are

unhappy with the tempo of the side but there was no lack of pace on

junior high let's 78 minute equaliser. Five of the next seven

games are against topsides. If you win against Burnley, it is still

difficult. It will give us a better chance but sure, we have to keep

going and see what happens. Brighton have fallen four points off the

play`off places following a second consecutive 2`0 home defeat. They

were booed off at the break having failed to convert several chances.

Middlesbrough had only one one of their previous 12 matches up to the

break when Danny Graham picked up a loose ball. Oscar Garcia says his

side are punishing their opposition. Evident when this march was brought

down. But the penalty was put over. Graham Roberts of assault in. Right

and left without a win in three ahead of a trip to Brighton. ``

robbed the salt in. Watford go into this match looking for a third away

win. And they got it in style. This

fortunate have been set them on their way after five minutes. The

boss praised the passing and movement of his players but it was

this header on the end of a Route one move that made its two. To my

goals for Troy Deeney in two minutes stole the show. `` two goals. The

second attempt came back off the upright, and was then powered in. A

consolation for Wednesday made it a repeat of the 4`1 scoreline when the

sides met at Hillsborough last season.

Troy Deeney in the goals again. What, specifically, apart from the

goals, is it? 20 goals last year and this year. Half of them away from

home, which is really important. Last year, he got 20, and the

nearest competitor was 23. They are not so good away from home. Well

done to Troy Deeney. A similar setup in the Watford as to Charlton, with

foreign ownership and a man brought in from their own country managing

them. Is that a model that works in English football? Obviously, they

were successful with it last year. Almost to the point where they got

out of the Championship, but it is a new model and people are not used to

it. The supporters and people at home, they are not used to it.

Whether it is something that will be followed, I'm not sure. Talking of

ownership, in Germany nearly every football club is majority owned by

fans. It is a model adopted by Wycombe in 2012 but, as Ian Ramsdell

has been finding out, the structure that has brought success in the

Bundesliga has its challenges in Buckinghamshire.

There is a fan zone club riding high at the top of European football.

Bayern Munich. But the four highest fan owned clubs in England linger at

the lower end of league two. One of them is Wycombe. Having stabilised

the club in the last two years of ownership, they have a big decision

on their hands. With possible new investors on the horizon, they could

gamble that stability and sell up for success. There will be more

money around which would allow investment in the marketing and

infrastructure of the club. Any extra investment will do a world of

good. Money is not always the roots route to successful stop fans around

the company country dream of taking over themselves but realistically,

once that happens, is big`time excess possible? In the romantic

world, it is fantastic but in the crazy world of football, which is

different to any other business, and money talks. And probably the lack

of money will hold a team back. The trust has reduced the debt and

losses under close to breaking even. The choice to take the club further

is to either raise ?2 million themselves or sell up. We do not

have a lot of money and we will not be in a position where we can chase

a dreamy even with a community share scheme. It would be continuing to

survive and do the best that we can at the level we are at. The macro we

are struggling as we were in January, looking for somebody to

bring in. `` we are struggling as we were in January, looking for

somebody to bring in. This is what we're looking to do. Three

interested parties have contacted us, saying that they would be

interested in investing in the club and taking the club forward. We

would own the ground and be debt free. And we would have somebody

investing in the club and being involved. We see that as the perfect

scenario. The fans are sure to ponder it carefully, burned by

previous experience. Any new owner would need the approval of 75% of

the Court trust members. I would like to keep it in the community but

we know that football is an expensive game. The more we get, the

better it will be for us. It would be nice to be able to be really

competitive and have money to get players in. It depends on the on

air. He is somebody who is Wycombe at heart. Otherwise, you could go

backwards. `` it depends on who the owner is. We would like to get a

deal done or no deal done with our own supporters, so that during April

we could say to the manager, right, this is your budget, let's get on

with it. The trust hopes that a preferred bidder will be ready to

present to members soon although the longer the wait goes on, the less

likely the new owner may be. Sounds like potential buyers are

waiting to see if Wycombe stay up. Are they singing for their supper?

Yes. Pressure is all with not to get relegated for Gareth `` Gareth

Ainsworth. Even more so knowing that they could come in, and the ground

debt free with funds available for the manager and that is how every

club wants to be. That's the scenario. They want new investment

but it could come at a cost. What is it like being a manager knowing

there is a question mark over you? That is the difficult thing for any

manager because with takeovers comes change in the managerial... Does

it?! Really?! Who would have thought that! So they would just like to

have some semblance on where the club is going.

There weren't many goals for our teams in Leagues One and Two. In

fact, it was all zeroes and ones. Here are Emma and Jamie again, with

what you might wish to call our first ever binary goals round`up.

After their midweek defeat at Rotherham, Brentford lost more

ground as they were held at Oldham. The hosts had a few first of

chances, including this. At the other end, they came close to

putting the bees ahead. James dating missed a one`on`one opportunity

later on. `` James detente. Now they must focus on Tuesday's trip to

Sheffield United. Leyton Orient are now four points

behind second placed Brentford after a fourth game without a win. The

visitors got the only goal when this was volleyed in from the corner. But

they then had the chance to get back into the match from a penalty shot.

The referee insisted he had blown far time and the situation led to

disagreements on the pitch and off it. The manager and assistant boss

will both into the stands. The results elsewhere no Oriente know at

the very least, their play`off place is secure, with six dates to spare.

`` Leyton Orient. This was crawly's third sets `` successive defeat.

This would also be a third successive match in which John

Gregory's side would fail to score. Mike Jones had a chance to level but

was denied. On Tuesday, six points above the allegations own but still

with games in hand. `` relegation zone. No team has

beaten a Scunthorpe side yet. Wanderers went ahead but then across

hit the bar. The Wycombe boss has thanked everyone who stood by him

with his side just three points above the drop zone.

In a physical encounter, Neil Ardley says his team lacked quality when

they had their chances. Adam Murray took his. 30 yards out with a free

kick. That goal enough to give them the victory, and it means Mansfield

move above the dons and 16th in the table.

It was a bizarre late goal that saw Dagenham play their first victory at

home. This has been credited to Luke but it went in from Matt Bevins.

They finish march unbeaten and are now five points of the play`off

places. `` March. That ridiculous goal has now gone down as an own

goal the Matt Bevins. What a poor chap! Most of your goals

were a bit like that, when they? There's no such thing as a bad goal!

But, listen, that was three points, six points of the play`offs. Doing

ever so well for Dagenham. And in with a good chance. I think they

played four teams. Bottom four in the running. Have you been doing

your homework or something?! What's going on?! What about own goals? I'm

sure you've been on the pitch when a few have been scored! To be fair,

there was an infamous game, really, for Charlton, away at Sunderland and

we won 3`1, and all three were own goals. One of them was mine. I

claimed it. All three goals were own goals. Which is very unusual!

If you want to watch that goal again, or any other parts of the

programme, Late Kick Off is on the iPlayer all week, as are the other

six regional variations of the show. Now to the crisis in grassroots

football. A famous London boys club is struggling to survive, along with

many others. As Kevin Kilbane reports, the fightback has started

with a campaign launched at Woolton FC in the north`west of the country.

Unbelievably, football is no longer the top participating sport in the

country. More people nowadays prefer to run, swim or cycle. Player

numbers are in decline and in many places, facilities are shocking.

Junior football still has an ongoing issue and many question the way we

pressure our young kids. The grassroots game is in big trouble.

Make no mistake. Kenny Saunders is the manager of Walton SC, which has

62 junior teams. He has launched a campaign to save grassroots

football. It is in massive danger of folding in the next five, ten

years. There are massive, massive problems out there, right from

grassroots coaching, respect campaigns, parents. There are many

issues out there. Not everybody else has addressed the issue of pushy

parents on the touchline. That's a yellow card! Yellow card! Ease owl!

Give him a yellow card! He deserves the card! Constantly shouting

instruction is counter`productive. A parent wouldn't shout at their child

during the piano lessons. Black Key, white key! So we're trying to get

the right level of support for those young people. There are similar

concerns around the football club which runs clubs for ages five to 17

in London. We have parents who are abusive. We deal with them. They get

a warning and then the second time we throw them out because we cannot

have them in the club. It is an issue about the standard coaching

but the FA insists that is changing. What we're doing now is providing

the right level of coaching for the right coach in the right

environment, to make sure the coaching they receive is the right

thing for that player's develop and. We are being priced out. We need

grassroots volunteers. We need more coaches and more qualified coaches.

It is a ten year journey and I believe we are well onto the way to

delivering a world`class coaching system and I believe we will see the

fruits of that. Though the culture of the grassroots game may be

playing `` changing, there is still a dark cloud on the horizon `

funding. Amateur clubs need to know who's going to help them survive

with the cutback in funding. We have had to pay money out where we've

been... For the pictures. They have gone up 38% this year. Some are

going up 400%. Everyone is responsible for grassroots football

and can improve it. We need them around the table and we need them

now. Is worrying for those clubs. And we know they have produced some

very good players over the years. How important is them `` is it for

them to provide the league with rich resources? It is a stream of

talent. Sol Campbell, Ledley King, it John Terry, Jermain Defoe, they

all came from those grassroots levels. The academy players. And you

can see they are being priced out. 400% increase! It's frightening,

isn't it? We have had quite a few tweets asking you questions, as

expected. One says, when does Chris think you'll be back in management?

Good question. `` think he will be? I'm just going to relax,

stress`free, watch some games, continue my learning, and then

hopefully in the summer, see where I go from there. Mickey has asked, how

can `` how good can Gus Poyet's son and his team`mate be? Two players

from the Charlton academy who produce players year in, year out,

who I feel will have good careers. What are Charlton's chances of

staying up? Good, not only because of the goal difference, but the

games in hand, they have a really important game tomorrow. I've always

been confident that the club could stay up so I'm sure they will be

fine. Let's hope so. Benjamin says, would you have liked to have the

chance to say goodbye to the fans? Because you didn't get that. I'm

sure I will somewhere along the line. It normally happens. They know

what I think of them and what their support means to me throughout my

career. They have made it three clear what they think of you

tonight. Sir Chris Powell! Not you! Thank you both. 28 years to the day

since QPR met Chelsea in a West London derby and ran out 6` nil

winners. Needless to say, it's a match Rangers fans will never

forget. Good night. I'm Andy Evans and I've been supporting QPR since I

was four years old, which is 40 years worth of support! Is a family

day! Everyone's here. I'm now a Chief Executive of the club's

charitable arm and Trust. I love match day. Going around and having a

chat with everyone, whether it is the guys on the gate, the door, the

programme sellers. Looking smart! The football club is full of people

and that's what I love about it. Today is interesting in that we have

some visitors from Singapore and Malaysia. And today they are our

guests of honour, so they will form the Guard of Honour when the teams

come out just before kick`off and we have some excited young people on

our hands as well. There's a number of memory that stick out. Being a

fan of any club is about rivalries. I'll was end up thinking back to

that 6`0 victory on Easter Monday. `` I always end up thinking. I

remember it clearly and it was in those days when we played on the

Astroturf and the visitors always looked a bit unsure on their feet

and our players always looked so much more confident and comfortable,

and he just wove his way through the players. Great moments.