Episode 13 Late Kick Off Midlands

Two teams in the play-offs and one team relegated. It's all starting

to take shape. Welcome to Late Kick Off. On the show tonight:Joining me

on the sofa tonight two men steeped in Midlands football. Who is to

blame further demise of Coventry and what does the future hold?

any one group of people left to blame, the people running the club.

The owners believe in their investments and they will continue

to invest. Birmingham City could be leading the championship in the

opposite direction after clinching a place in the play-offs and Sean

Barker on a career-threatening injury and why he still counts his

blessings. I will come through this and have a good few injury-free

years at Derby County. I am very lucky to have a healthy family that

I love and adore her and I count myself very lucky. Joining me on

the sofa tonight two men steeped in Midlands football. The Derby

midfielder Ben Davies started his career with Walsall and has also

played for Shrewsbury, Notts County and Kidderminster. David "Ned"

Kelly also started his career with the Saddlers and went on to play

for Leicester and Wolves before working as assistant manager to

Billy Davies at Derby and Forest. Fellas great to see you.

Well, we start tonight at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Almost 50 years

after the Jimmy Hill revolution led Coventry City out of the old third

division, the Sky Blues have returned to that level. Without

money, without a permanent chairman or chief executive, and now without

a place in the Championship, so what's gone wrong at Coventry? For

Late Kick Off, Laura May McMullan reports.

Sky Blues fans have become familiar with the end of season cliff hanger.

But on Saturday - after a defeat at home to Doncaster - there was no

happy ending. Coventry City have dropped into the third tier of

English football for the first time in 48 years. And many of the home

supporters were struggling to control their emotions. Many say

the owners SISU are to blame. have got to get rid of them. It is

a shame it has ended like this I have never experienced anything

like it. �300 free season ticket! I'm not paying that next year axe

back there has no investment happened and you can see by the

fans! Is how it is! Another lifelong celebrity supporter is

also calling on the owners to sell up and move on. Former Coronation

street actor Graeme Hawley is no stranger to the drama at the Ricoh.

I feel very hurt for every one that supports this club and the people

that were fired this club as well. They've made a laughing stock of

the club. I will never forgive them for that. SISU Capital, the club's

owners, turned down another invitation to talk to Late Kick Off

leaving the club's interim chief executive to refute suggestions of

asset stripping. He does admit, though, that last summer's cuts to

the playing staff went too far. There has to be recognition that

mistakes were made. First and foremost, the restructuring that

took place in the summer, I think it is fair to say that these cuts

went too deep. We were not able to replace the players we lost in

terms of the talent and experience. It wasn't to be. We failed. We have

been relegated. Go back 50 years and Jimmy Hill walked in and

breathed new life into the club and started the Sky Blues Revolution on

and off the pitch. During his six years with club, he helped them to

promotion from division three in 1964 and then three years later,

into English football's top division for the first time in the

club's history. Something tells us that Coventry have a brighter

future. Relegation now from the Championship in 2012 is breaking

hearts. Today is going to be a sad day. I will not cried because we

did before, we came out of the Premiership. Coventry's fate was

out of their hands and with rivals Bristol City taking an early lead,

events on the pitch at the Ricoh were to prove academic. By the time

Richard Keogh was sent off for a foul in the 80th minute, Bristol

were winning 2-0 and Coventry were quickly a goal behind. It was

bitterly disappointed, players were devastated as everyone else. Some

thanks things are not meant to be. We need to freshen up and be

stronger. We need to regroup. Sometimes, if you can do that, you

can bring the club back stronger. Coventry city is a club with

significant financial problems. Relegation means a drop in income

putting a further strain on resources but the interim chief

executive says more investment will be found. Going down a route of

chronic cost cutting would not be consistent with putting together a

robust bid to get back to the championship. So, I suspect we

would be looking at refinancing with the owner for next season.

fans have been promised investment before, so you can understand they

might not believe it this time? is disappointing on the back of the

relegation, but he said that they suspect, he did that say they were

going to give. He was cautious with his words. He has done a good job

this season, he has a limited budget and limited squad members

and it is a shame. He is a good character. Ben, you played them

twice, surprised are you to see them relegated? Strangely, they

were very good 20 played them, probably one of the best teams we

have played. They were 2-0. We were impressed with them knocking the

ball around. Possession wise, they battered us on the day, but it did

that despite scoring and could not convert the challengers. They

lacked a goal. Scoring goals was a big problem. How to visit forehand

the two be got the players being relegated? He will dust himself

down and regroup and get the staff together, find out who they want to

keep an today will want to try and get in and from the players' point

of view, they will have time over the summer to contemplate what went

on and try and keep going next year and hopefully they will have the

better players with a realistic option. He has that to keep the

great younger players. Yes, looking at the eclipse, in the last few

months, it has been not so nice to play there. You can see the tension.

It is the fans you feel sorry for, they get affected and you can see

how much they are hurting. It was disappointing for them, they are a

massive club, the ground is fantastic and for them to drop down

to League One is disappointing. Next on Late Kick Off, we move to

the other end of the Championship and later in the programme. All the

permutations in League One and Two, including the goal which put

Shrewsbury within touching distance of automatic promotion.

Now, who'd have put money on Birmingham city making an immediate

return to the Premier League back in August? Relegation a year ago

was followed by a mass exodus of players which meant an unfamiliar

Blues line-up started life back in the Championship. But, Birmingham

are now three play-off games away from winning promotion after

securing a place in the play-offs. The manner in which Chris Hughton

has revived Birmingham's fortunes has been one of the season's

outstanding managerial feats. A blend of free transfers, loans and

youth team players have pushed Blues to the fore and one of the

young brigade played a starring role at Brighton. Nathan Redmond

had already threatened the Seagulls goal when he put Blues ahead after

69 minutes. Brighton - whose own play-off hopes had been

extinguished - equalised with 6 minutes remaining courtesy of

Ashley Barnes but a point was sufficient for Birmingham to

confirm a finish in the top six. That's how the top of the

Championship looks tonight. If those positions remain unaltered

after next Saturday's final round of games, Blues will play Blackpool

- home and away - in the play-off semi-final. The first leg would be

at St Andrews on Friday 4th May with the return at Bloomfield Road

the following Tuesday. So Birmingham come through their

59th game of the season to make the play-off - that is some achievement.

He has played all of those games in the Europa Cup, all of those games

and topped it off with a really small squad and doing so well in

the league, he deserves a lot of credit. Mustn't forget they've been

competitive on both fronts as well with a new team. They have done

really well, they have to put all of that to one side and they have

got to play Blackpool, have very good team, and it will be two very

good games. Another of the real pluses for Blues this season -has

been the emergence of the youngsters, particularly Nathan

Redmond. It is exciting, that is why fans go to watch football, he

is quick on the ball, a great left foot. One for the future,

definitely. A good goal, no backlit, a good back foot strike.

Leicester City's hopes of promotion finally disappeared last weekend

but tonight they had a chance to end their home campaign on a high,

against third placed West Ham - who still had an eye on automatic

promotion. Here are the goals with commentary from Ian Stringer of BBC

Beckford! Leicester take the lead. Leicester are looking to get the

ball in. An own goal. 1-1. From distance, a right-footed kick.

Leicester are 10th in the table, the Rams completed their fixture at

relegated Portsmouth. The Derby manager Nigel Clough says

he knows what is needed to build on the promise of this season with a

the promise of this season with a top 10 finish. Derby hedge just

before half-time and although there was an equaliser with 16 s amazing,

a disputed penalty which was described as a bit soft allowed a

win for the Rams. Nottingham Forest were unfortunately Paul with

nothing after a spirited performance. Forest created many

chances. Boris continued to carry the greater threat to with this

goal deep in injury time providing Tough on Forest after a good

performance. While many are focused on the push

for promotion, the Derby County captain Shaun Barker faces the

biggest battle of his career. A month ago he shattered his knee in

a horrific injury. It is one of the worst his surgeon had ever seen.

Now back at home, Shaun has given his first TV interview.

I cannot really describe how I felt. It was pretty much everything in my

knee that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. Things happen in

football and you have your highs Angelo's and it is how you deal

with the tough times. People cannot understand unless they play

football. Just over a month ago, Shaun Barker's Korea looked all but

over. Your first thought is the severity of the injury is a career-

threatening. A horror collision in a local derby left him with a

ruptured right knee, snapping all the ligaments. I felt the collision,

I felt my legs go the opposite direction. They had to put my whole

me back into place on the pitch. The Derby captain was initially

ruled out for a year, but when the surgeons took a look, it could not

I was devastated. I cannot really describe how I felt. For an hour to,

I was unable to speak to my wife or any family and after that I got on

with it. Schon, who is 29, faces a whole season out, but this is his

second series knee injury in a year. To be out for such a long time

after just finding myself getting back to form, was really

disappointing. I had to come through a tough injury last chair,

I have twice the job now to come back as strong. It is a tough time

So the next three months will be a lonely journey. Up to eight hours a

day on what he calls the machine of death. You have to keep it moving

so what keeps stretching it. I am at 20 degrees at the moment at it

is a way of starting to build up my movement. Ten years ago, players

would have to retire from the century. But surgeons can now do

amazing things. -- this injury. do not think I could be at a better

club or and a better manager in this situation. You worry about

your future but I could not have a better manager to stick by me.

will make a good captain next season. And we will be with him all

the way. It was only two months ago where I was watching myself on

television on this show, talking about the future and taking this

club forward to get to the Premiership. Nothing has changed.

He will have more time to collect his beloved of vinyl records.

have a strong family behind me. I have a healthy family. I love and

adore them. I kept -- account myself very lucky. He is determined

not to let his do the -- his career die. I am determined to get back. I

am expecting to play for Derby County in the future. See you

Good luck to shone in his recovery. He seems very positive. Is he

normally like that? It is emotional watching that because everyone

loves him at the Football Club. He said he has had a couple of days

when he was down but he is the most positive man you'll ever meet and

the Guiseley think the world of him. He has been down before and now

coming back and doing that, we are all absolutely gutted for him.

could break other people. Yeah. He came in on Friday and I was looking

at his knee and the damage she has done... He will come back. If it

had to happen to anyone, it should be him because he is so mentally

strong. He is a leader and a captain. We saw the impact that he

has in Derby. He had been playing brilliantly. He had just got back

to full fitness. He was absolutely immense. The dressing room was

silent because he was in the next room on a stretcher. It is one in

the latest list of casualties. You have had an horrendous season for

injuries. Yes. The physios have been non-stop. Stephen Davies as

well. It has been horrendously bad luck for us. None the less, you and

63 points. Your highest tally in five years. Unit are in with a

shout of finishing in the top ten. But his great credit. Like in --

like it was said in a quite there, we will give them as much time off

as he meets and he is lucky that he has got such a good manager looking

after him. The job that he has done now, to finish 9th or 10th, is

fantastic. David, you're old club Nottingham Forest, he has steadied

the ship now. It is just that there is some uncertainty that they have

to get over now. Where the club goes from here. On the whole, it

has been a disappointing season. He is obviously disappointed.

Unfortunately, with what happened with Nigel, what is going on with

the club, but they will regroup again, like you have to, and sort

out all the problems. Hopefully we will miss its target for next

season. We would love to hear from you on Late Kick Off. We are open

for business on Facebook and Now to League One, both at Leeds

County and Walsall have work to do for to realise their end-of-season

ambitions. The sad loss there still Notts County's destiny is now out

of their own hands after a home defeat by it Bury. The former West

Brom reserve for pud Bury ahead, but Notts were level after half-

time by it -- after an own goal. County always looked the more

last laugh as substitute Alan Carrington gave the last score.

think they had four chances and scored four goals. A Walsall

victory at Exeter would have guaranteed them another season of

League One football, but despite leading twice, first through Alex

nickels and then thanks to this an outstanding goal, they ended up

losing. Andy Smith's sending off for a second booking might have

been the turning point. The manager claimed the decision was laughable.

Against ten men, Exeter ran in three goals without reply. After

With two games to go, this is how the lead -- hired a run for six

that goes. At the bottom, a win for Walsall in the next game would

almost certainly be enough to keep them up. If we come lead -- if we

can lose tonight, they will be safe anyway.

Let us talk about Walsall. We are almost at that point in the season

for up one wrong decision could be crucial. That is the thing. It is a

nitty gritty time. It is the point where people are going to lose jobs

if we get relegated. Do you think the referee thinks about things

like that? No. I think they make honest decisions. I do not think

they go out to make wrong decisions. What about their Brannan? Difficult.

Very difficult. I think they will be safe. What about your old club

Notts County? Was it a case of nerves what happened against Bury?

I think it looks like it. On paper, they should have beaten them. It is

a dreadful result but they will still it into the play-offs. They

are doing a fantastic job. What also helps the cause is the fact

that Stevenage have got to go to Sheffield United in the next game.

It looks like they're going to go automatically. They have had a good

season. They have kept up their good work. Do you remember your

time fondly? I had a great time there. It was a laugh every day. It

was a vengeful with people coming and going and wondering whether we

would get paid but I had a great time and the fans were absolutely

fantastic. To one of Ben's are the old clubs, Shrewsbury Town. They

are almost there in League Two. A win over Accrington on Saturday it

would have guaranteed automatic promotion but they had to settle

bit flat throughout the game. The former Blues midfield player Bryan

Hughes brought the party to a halt 12 minutes from time. Given the

healthy goal difference, one more point should be sufficient.

Cheltenham require at four points from their last two games to

qualify for the play-offs after a one-nil defeat at Crewe. Dave

Artell scored the only goal before half-time. For the ten point

deduction before going into it administration at -- for going into

administration, Port Vale would have been in that the lead. The end

of the season cannot come soon enough for Britain. They conceded

seven goals last week and another for a court -- four calls this week.

Hereford have moved off the bottom of the two. They could have done

with more. It means they will probably need to beat either

Crawley or Torquay, both Jews and promotion, to have a chance of

The Hereford manager said after Saturday's dock, that two more

draws might be enough for them. It seems a little optimistic. One

thing is certain, if Hereford lose at Crawley and Barnett when they're

in, Hereford drop out of the league. As Shrewsbury beat Dagenham at home

next Saturday, they will play in League One next season. If Crawley

lose to Hereford, Dewsbury will go up anyway. In the top five, at

Cheltenham's play-off spot will be assured of the clear-up -- Pickup

four points. Then. You were at Shrewsbury for a

couple of seasons. If you think the fans will be glad to bypass that

one? Yes. It is about time they went up. The chairman has put a lot

of money in the last few years. Everything is geared for the next

stage and the need to get through. You are quite confident? Yes. They

will have a great time at home. They deserved to go. The chairman

has bankrolled it. We should have gone up before. They have had a lot

of disappointment over the last three or four seasons. Now they're

going up. It is at home because it is at home where they had been

phenomenal. He is doing a great job. He is a super manager and he has

got a real desire to win. It looks as if they are finally going to get

through. What about Hereford? worst two games for Richard. Very

difficult games. He is the one of the most charismatic and upbeat

optimistic people that you will ever come across. If anyone can get

them round it, he can. Do you think Hereford can get out of trouble?

Hopefully. They seem to be down there every year and hopefully they

have got enough to get up. The fixtures they have got are coming

from the other end and it will be tough. Do you think it plays into

their hands the fact that our that have changed managers? It is an odd

one! But welcome back, Martin! That is football. Nothing surprises us.

A dusty go back to the championship. Whistle Leicester play. They

finished their home camping with a defeat. It almost sums up the

season. They spent an awful lot of money and then Nigel came in and it

looks as if they're going to invest again through the summer. Leicester

need to be a good team. They have fantastic fan-base. But is almost

all for this evening. Do not forget that all seven of the Late Kick Off

shows from around the country will be available on the BBC iPlayer.