Episode 14 Late Kick Off Midlands

Two teams in the play-offs - maybe one more to follow and one fighting

to stay in the league. The season's almost over but there's still so

much to play for. Welcome to Late Kick Off. This programme contains

Coming up, Chris Hughton on the play-offs and what success means to

the blues. It would mean everything to this club, to do it on the first

occasion and the best opportunity to do it is the first opportunity.

Nigel Pearson reflects on a Leicester's season which delivered

frustration. We have fallen short and need to reflect on it in an

honest way and rectify it. No more play-off woes for the shrews.

Terrific reception for the players, the coaching staff and will deserve.

It's been a great season for us. Joining me this evening are two men

passionate about success for Midlands football. Michael Johnson

has twice won promotion to the Premier League - with Birmingham 10

years ago and with Derby in 2007. He also played with great

distinction for Notts County. And Richard O'Kelly scored goals for

Walsall and Port Vale, enjoyed success as a coach at Doncaster and

took over as Hereford manager at the beginning of last month. First

tonight, it's one of the most remarkable transformations of the

season. Since relegation from the Premier League a year ago, no fewer

than 15 players have left Birmingham City. Some were on loan,

others were sold as a cost cutting measure. Alex McLeish and his

coaching team also left and the club's owner Carsen Yeung was

arrested and charged with money laundering. Hardly the most

promising set of circumstances for the club's new manager Chris

Hughton who was appointed last June. And yet his new Blues team is three

games away from an immediate return to the elite. So how has he done

it? We sent Laura May McMullan to Birmingham City have exceeded

expectations, on paper they have no right to be in this position after

losing a whole squad last summer. group of players together that is a

new group, some existing players having opportunities to play and

new players coming in. Trying to mould them into a team that can

play together and pull in the right direction, it takes time.

manager is full of praise for the players. He says fostering a

healthy team spirit is one of the elements that helped them get into

the top six. To go to the games we have had it, you need players

pulling in the right direction and team spirit and you need a durable

players. We have a lot of players that have played a lot of the games

this season. But they are a spirited group, they get on well

together and liked each other. does it mean to you personally?

It's always nice on a personal note but it is more for the club and the

players. You are delighted because the efforts may have put in all

season. This group of players deserve to do well. There is the

man who has engineered a promotion for Newcastle.

After previous spells of caretaking management, the start has been the

best in Newcastle's history. In 2010 he helped the Magpies clinch

promotion in record time. And go on to win the championship title.

think everybody is aware of how it ended and that's not something I

need to go over. But I only have fond memories of the club. Are you

a believer in what hurts you makes you stronger? Yes, I am. If

something hurts you or do not go well, if anything, your resolve has

to become more of a desire to improve and that's the only way to

improve. I think any knock back I have had I have tried to look

positive and has spent 15 years as a coach at Tottenham. When I lost

my job there, I only wanted to look forward. Establishing himself as a

manager has been key. For the first time in 50 years, he guided the

blues into the group stages of the Europa League, the FA Cup and many

highlights. Europa League gave 6,000 supporters the opportunity to

watch the club play in Europe. The highlights the need is we have kept

coming back. Every time we have taken a dip we were able to go on a

decent run. Chris is under no illusions about how crucial

promotion is. But how important has this season been, not just for the

club but for his career? With the chance of getting back to the

Premier League is what each of these players strives for. That is

why they have worked so hard. Yes, it's an important season for me but

not as important as it is for the club. So, if they do achieve

promotion, how would Chris rate it to other highlights in his career?

We have tried not to look too far ahead but you have asked the

question. It would mean everything to this football club. We have

difficult play-off games and we will do our very very best.

blues will go to Blackpool for the first leg of the semi-finals on

Friday and if you can't get a ticket, commentary is on BBC Radio

WMD. You are X club, what a job he has done. A magnificent job. When

you look at the restraints, he has galvanised the club, the fans are

buzzing and the team spirit is second to none. He's done a

brilliant job. He has had to getting the team together, how

difficult is it as a manager to mould so quickly? It is to do with

his personality. Whenever I have met him, he is consistent in how he

deals with things. When people have these guidelines and everyone is

not jumping from one scale to the other, Chris is consistent. What he

has done with the players is if you do this for me, I'll look after you.

Will he get your vote as manager of the season? Definitely. The job is

fantastic. He got my vote at Newcastle. He has shown what a good

manager he is. Birmingham fans will be keeping a close eye on the FA

with Roy Hodgson because it looks like Chris is the bookie's

favourite to take over at the Hawthorns. I do not want him to go,

I have the backing of many people, he has done a tremendous job. He is

an iconic figure. I hope he stays put. What about Birmingham in the

play-offs? Blackpool are a good team. We need to get through first.

The important thing is the second leg. If we can get a result at St

Andrews, bring them back in front of a hostile crowd and have a

Blues prepared with a professional staff. Nathan Redmond set up Adam

Rooney - a first-half substitute for Nicola Zigic - to open the

scoring. Wade Elliott made the game safe with a penalty 15 minutes from

full time after a handball from Jay Tabb. Derby brought their season to

a close with a one-all draw against Peterborough. Theo Robinson puts

the Rams ahead after 21 minutes but they were denied a deserved victory

when David Ball scored with eight minutes remaining for Posh.

Nottingham Forest rounded off a season they'll want to forget with

a victory over relegated Peterborough. Dexter Blackstock

scored both goals to take his tally to eight for a season in which he

was only able to start 16 games because of injury. Coventry City

relegated last Saturday - were no match for Southampton whose 4-0

victory gave them the second automatic promotion place.

Leicester City rounded off their season with a 2-1 victory at Leeds

but it won't disguise what's been a frustrating nine months for Foxes

fans. A slow start brought about the departure of Sven Goran

Eriksson, and although Leicester - under Nigel Pearson - were on the

fringes of the promotion race, they were never completely in the shake-

up. Pearson has been sharing his thoughts on the season and the

Nigel Pearson used his passion for football and a fierce commanding

authority. I did think you should judge opportunities for players

just because they cost a lot of money. -- I do not think. That is

not how I select the team. There's no point pulling the wool over

people's eyes. It does not wash. his first in-depth interview about

his plans for the summer, he says there will be changes. I am not

saying it will be wholesale but I would like to develop the squad.

You have to recognise where we have fallen short this year. Nigel left

school with eight O-levels and joins Shrewsbury and as a player he

cut an impressive figure. It was no surprise when schooled by the FA he

became a manager at Carlisle, Southampton before finding

Leicester in League One and bringing them up to the

championship. For English managers, the reality is if you want to

manage you have a better chance if you take the club on. But the stark

reality. His desire to get Leicester to the Premier League at

the first attempt fell short in the play-offs, he left for Hull the

five months ago the new owners brought him back to Leicester. Do

you have any regrets coming back question mark we haven't achieved

what we wanted this season. But I know we are in better shape now. It

is crucial for this club that we have a longer term view and that

whatever work I do here, is the legacy -- the legacy is the club is

no better position. But the club's new owners have invested over 60

million since they arrived in 2010 so what has gone wrong this season?

I did know if it's right to discuss in the public domain what I feel

about what has gone in the past. -- I do not know. We build squads with

value and we want the right balance. The chemistry has not been right in

it dressing room and big-money signings have not lived up to the

hype. I will not bring plays in because they are high profile. I

will bring the right place in for us and the profile has to fit what

we're trying to achieve. Will there be a swathe of players coming in

like last season? With the financial fair-play regulations

which come into force in the not- too-distant future, we have to plan

with a little more understanding of the financial implications of what

we do. It's about having players who have a desire to be successful.

And are prepared to go the extra We are fortunate, we have owners

who are committed to the long-term future of the club. What about you?

He was smiling a lot more now. the real change, that! I don't want

to sink -- send the right signals out. If people think that, I am

doing something wrong. I fully understand the frustration, but

having said that, I believe that we will get it right here.

The one thing that screams out of that conversation with Nigel

Pearson, there is clearly a new strategy at the stadium. Not the

millions to bid in for those new prayers we saw under Sven Goran

Eriksson, is on about value-for- money -- and efficiency. That is

what he is about, he recruits people who give value for money. He

recruits the same sort of players. He has got to get the whole

infrastructure right. You cannot just throw money at it and inspect

into a success. It is a building process he will develop over the

summer. Next, we are all invited to

Shrewsbury Town's promotion party. Later, Notts County leave it very

late to keep alive their play-off hopes.

In April 1979, Art Garfunkel was top of the charts with bright eyes,

Antiques Roadshow had just appeared on BBC One for the first time and

Graham Turner was celebrating promotion with Shrewsbury Town.

Three -- 33 years on, he had done it again, as they have clinched

promotion. This report contains flash photography.

We will do it today, we are going up. The Tamar going up. Unless up -

- the town are going up. Unless I have got it wrong, we are ready.

Shrewsbury Town have been on the verge of promotion three times in

five seasons, but on Saturday there was quiet confidence. I am

reminding one or two of the players they have things that we set out at

the start of the season to do, it has got us where we are now. It

will get us promoted. It was about being responsible for their own

destiny, and not relying on other results. And be crucial goal came

in the 38th minute. Top scorer James Collins headed in a cross

from the key role. So mission accomplished, Shrewsbury are back

in League One for the first time in 15 years. And Graham Turner

achieved his 6th managerial promotion. Everyone at the club was

obviously keen to get the promotion party started to, but not before

thanking the sell-out Helmut -- home Cawte. -- home crowd. Most of

all, I want to thank you, I hope to have enjoyed it. The lads have been

put it -- I hope the lads have been put it -- amazing this season. I

cannot describe it. We have learned from our mistakes and our home form

has been brilliant. We are going to have a great night and celebrate it

well. We have done it today, a great team performance. You look at

the lads, everyone is over the moon. The picture of the supporters say

it will, to have a perception of players and coaching staff and

thoroughly deserved, it has been a great season. It is the spirit of

79 out there, it is the spread to 2012! It seems a long time ago, I

embarrassed when I look at the pictures. For the chairman, it is

the culmination of 16 years' hard work. I was born here, I have lived

here all my life. It has been my mark -- my life's mission. I am

delighted to have the success for the fans. We are going up, we are

going up! So Graham Turner's men stepped up to the big occasion. And

for the man himself, as fan after fan told me, he is a legend.

Richard, you know Graham more than most annual not disagree. He is a

legend. He is, a wonderful man, honest, straight as a die. You know

where you stand with him, and that is what he has done with these

players. If they give him 100%, he will back them. I am puzzled why he

has not been honoured by the New year's list. Four what he has done,

since 1979? It is incredible. promotions, surely he should be

honoured by the Queen for his contribution to football. It is

magnificent. Tell of -- tell us about him being a tactician. It is

his main strength. He is a student of the game. He has still got about

10 more books that he hasn't read! He watches games, he talks tactics,

he has got a wealth of experience around the years from 1979 to get

through here. He is a fantastic character. They will be playing

their likes of Portsmouth, commentary and Doncaster, they will

not be easy games for those sides to go to the greenhouse meadows.

They will study their strings and when it -- they will be studying

their strength and witnesses and be ready for them. It should be a

great season. The Shrewsbury Town fans should be rubbing their hands

and excitement. They have got there through three failed attempts in

five years. It is 15 years since they have been in League One. It is

an incredibly cheap and. Shrewsbury are up, but can

Cheltenham join them? The Robins are sure of a place in the play-

offs after beating Bradford City 3- Cheltenham knew a win over Bradford

would secure a top seven finish but that seemed unlikely in the first

half as bad for dominated. -- Bradford dominated. Burgess,

Spencer on the edge... Goal! Lob the goalkeeper, 3-1. That is it.

That is the play-offs. It was a touch of gallows humour among Serbs

had -- it commentary fans. Yes! Getting! Getting! Get in! Here is

that scorer... Get it in the net! Yes! Here We Go, Here We Go forth

up yes!! Hereford's victory ( -- condemned matters fell to

relegation. Chris Palmer's long punt forward combined with inept

defending to allow Calvin Zola a victory for Burton. The proposed

takeover might herald a bright a feature for Port Vale, but they

will be glad to see the back of this season. They were beaten 5-0

by Swindon, the champions in their final away game.

Hereford need to beat Torquay at -- and hope Torquay do not win at

Burnet -- Matt -- Burton. That commentary was amazing, wasn't

it? Eurovision Song contest with a voice like that! What about that

win. Two a national audience, that was the stand-out result of the

weekend. It was a good performance. We prepared in the correct way, the

players have worked diligently over the last few weeks. Luck has always

gone away. -- hasn't always gone away, but we had some luck this

week. We scored three goals which was nice. You have been battling

against the tide since you were appointed, your first managerial

job. How hard as it to get into a job like that with two months to

go? It was a doddle! 13 seconds into my first game, we scored. 10

minutes later, I went to-0 up and I said, what is the problem? It was

no problem. I have enjoyed my time there. It is good fun. In a weird

sort of way. It what you are looking for day-in day-out is to be

consistent with how you do things, then turn out on Saturday and put a

performance out, and we try to do that. The results went your way on

Saturday, but the only blip was the Barnet and Wimbledon result. It is

a bit disappointing that Wimbledon did not play there for 11. I am not

sure, I have heard stories. I am sure they had their reasons, I do

not criticise, they do what they do at their club. I concentrate on

what I can affect which is Hereford, we Kate -- take care of their shop

-- our shop and they take care of those. You're not doing it easily,

Crawley and Torquay. We watch them more than any other sides, they are

good sides. Does it help that they have something to play for? Yes,

both sides will be focused and have some pressure on them. Certainly

Crawley, their outlook changed when we scored the first goal. Good luck

with it. We are always keen on what you have

to say. You can talk to us on Facebook or Twitter.

Walsall have avoided relegation in League One, they draw combined with

a great result from Notts County mean the Saddlers so wide and Notts

remain in the play-off picture -- survive and Notts County remain in

the play-off picture. Wycombe, fighting for their lives,

made a bright start as Matt Bloomfield corner after a minute.

Notts County responded swiftly and Daniel Bogdanovich joined -- scored

with his first goal since he joined on loan. Grant Basey's penalty

restored fully to Wycombe after 17 minutes. Back came County and five

minutes before half-time Alan Judge levelled the scores. Two-two became

3-22 Wycombe when Stuart Beavon put the home side in front. Dele

Adebola headed his first goal for Notts County. Wycombe were heading

down but a point was not good enough for cat's promotion hopes. A

third minute of injury-time, as it in Wycombe defence meant Alan Judge

could score his second, the winning goal of remarkable game. It might

have looked as if he did not have a care in the world but Dean Smith

had watched his Walsall team lose three in the road. When they

conceded an early goal to Huddersfield's Lee Novak, they were

half -- far from safe. Walsall are level, and could that be the goal

that effectively keeps the Saddlers in League One? It was. A feed for

Wycombe, Exeter and showed us -- Chesterfield meant the Saddlers

could breathe a huge sigh of relief. Here is how things look with one

game to go. Stevenage have a goal difference of plus 22, and Notts

County have plus nine. If Stevenage beat Bury they will be in the play-

offs, unless Carlisle win at Oldham by 15 goals!

The Notts County resort at Wycombe, their play-off hopes were dead and

buried at one point, at 89 minutes. He would have thought so, 3-2 down,

then at three all, it has a screamer to make it four-three.

What a job that Keith Curle has done in a land. -- meadow land.

is a great acquisition to have someone with his experience working

alongside Neil Warnock, he has shown what you can do as the

manager. When you're a manager going into the play-offs, it you

see a performance like that, you just think, maybe it could be your

time. Football is in games, never mind a few. Of games, it is

momentum. If they go into the play- offs with momentum, they will be a

tough cookie. Colchester at home, how do you think the prospects are?

All they can do is look at themselves and considering what

they can do for 90 minutes. The fans will have their radios in the

stands, but as long as they get their three points, hopefully the

result will go with us with Stevenage. Walsall, they must have

been the biggest winners of that division at the bottom. They were

on Saturday. They have been there or thereabouts, I spent a few

months there on her left Doncaster. They are a fantastic group there,

Mick Kearns, Dean Smith, they work 247. -- 24-seven. They deserve

everything they have got. How good is Cuvelier? If I was at a higher

level, I would look at him, he could play at high level. So he has

got a good player on their books. Well, Stoke have, he is on loan!

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