:00:08. > :00:13.Tonight, an intriguing and potentially explosive interview with
:00:14. > :00:18.the manager who is not talkhng but Willie Davis has made an for Late
:00:19. > :00:27.Kick Off. Plus, the fans ard here. `` Billy Davies. We reflect on 3
:00:28. > :00:37.stories from our 13 teams across the Midlands.
:00:38. > :00:45.Coming up, simply great winning eight. The Wolves set a club record
:00:46. > :00:50.with victory over Walsall. But it is hardly a feast in the east, Derby
:00:51. > :00:55.lose at home to Millwall whhle Forest lose to the championship s
:00:56. > :01:05.bottom club. Billy says no lore interviews but for us a fin`l word.
:01:06. > :01:10.Watch this space. More intrhgue on the way on Late Kick Off. Again we
:01:11. > :01:18.are people who bring the passion to the game, the fans!
:01:19. > :01:23.`` with the people. You can e`mail or tweet us and we will resdrve your
:01:24. > :01:32.place. He is back on a loud and proud and as opinionated as ever,
:01:33. > :01:41.Stan Collymore. Up the Vill`! Up by pop the alert demand, John
:01:42. > :01:45.Champion. `` popular demand. First up, Wolves have produced pldnty of
:01:46. > :01:50.great teams over the years but the current vintage will set a new club
:01:51. > :01:57.record if they win at Swindon tomorrow night. Their eighth victory
:01:58. > :02:01.came at a packed out stadiul, arguably the biggest football
:02:02. > :02:05.occasion of the weekend across the Midlands. Walsall were lookhng for a
:02:06. > :02:08.league double over Wolves, ` sell`out on the sunny day w`s the
:02:09. > :02:11.good news but the game was `nything but.
:02:12. > :02:14.sell`out on the sunny day w`s the good news but It is wide and it is
:02:15. > :02:23.Henry with a chance to send the cross in. Dicko goes in it hs 1`0
:02:24. > :02:30.towards! The right`hand sidd for Henry to send back in. It h`s gone
:02:31. > :02:36.in, Dicko! Very tough game and a difficult
:02:37. > :02:43.place for us to come, with ` feeling between the clubs. The playdrs had a
:02:44. > :02:47.lot of motivation today, as did their crowd, so we did well to
:02:48. > :02:51.overcome that. To clinch the record`breaking win,
:02:52. > :03:00.Wolves were `` will be helphng that Swindon were `` are as unlucky as
:03:01. > :03:06.Walsall in front of goal. They did not deserve that because thdy played
:03:07. > :03:16.really well and for `` but we could not do the double over our rivals.
:03:17. > :03:19.Sako goes for goal and finds it The Wolves will be hoping next weekend
:03:20. > :03:27.to take their winning streak on even longer.
:03:28. > :03:32.Great times to be a Wolves fan, eight wins out of eight, on the
:03:33. > :03:38.verge of a new club record, and on Saturday something caught your eye.
:03:39. > :03:45.They have six back`to`back clean sheets. They have strength hn depth
:03:46. > :03:49.in terms of wanting to defend as a unit, it is not just the
:03:50. > :04:04.goalkeeper, not just the back four. They are making a very diffhcult for
:04:05. > :04:13.Walsall to break them down. `` making it. I noticed that the
:04:14. > :04:17.manager gets the players to applaud the fans before the game, ndver mind
:04:18. > :04:22.at the end, when they have tsually one. There is a reconnection between
:04:23. > :04:26.the team and the supporters. It is like an ocean liner, they are
:04:27. > :04:30.heading in the wrong directhon with a lot of momentum and it takes a
:04:31. > :04:35.long time to turn it around but they have done it and they are rdaping
:04:36. > :04:49.the benefits. There is a local field to the team. , Jimmy McAlinden is at
:04:50. > :04:56.Wolves, his boy is at Wolves. Look at Dicko, 21, Jacobs, 21, J`ck
:04:57. > :04:59.Price, 21. It is good to brhng through a good young side to go
:05:00. > :05:08.under the radar for a coupld of seasons. If you add one or two
:05:09. > :05:09.quality players, who knows? Good, young and local, those other three
:05:10. > :05:19.things. , now the exclusive interview with
:05:20. > :05:27.Billy Davies, who has taken a voluntary vow of silence.
:05:28. > :05:31.As part of the five match b`n Billy Davies has decided he will not be
:05:32. > :05:38.talking to the media either before or after games.
:05:39. > :05:42.Under the advice given to md by my legal team I will be making no
:05:43. > :05:48.comment in relation to any ledia stuff until the 26th of March. He
:05:49. > :05:54.will sit in the stands during a key run of games and will only speak to
:05:55. > :06:00.his team via mobile phone. H think he is able to talk the Billx Davies.
:06:01. > :06:06.So this has nothing to do whth any relationship with journalists, it is
:06:07. > :06:10.about the touchline ban? I `m not prepared to discuss what it is
:06:11. > :06:16.about. All I am saying to you clearly, I am making no comlent
:06:17. > :06:22.about anything. He is serving a five`game ban for using abusive
:06:23. > :06:26.language towards referee during a game against Leicester City. The FA
:06:27. > :06:31.alleged he also deliberatelx made contact with the official at
:06:32. > :06:37.half`time, which he denies. Your adviser on Twitter has hinted
:06:38. > :06:46.there will be legal action. Is this what it is about? No comment.
:06:47. > :06:55.What would you say to those who say this would play up to your hmage as
:06:56. > :06:59.an antagonistic manager? I `m in a position where as a public figure
:07:00. > :07:08.people can open their mouth and talk a lot of nonsense without f`ct.
:07:09. > :07:12.Without knowing what is going on. Never try and put these plaxers
:07:13. > :07:18.down. We are all about doing our job, very
:07:19. > :07:28.professional, we work as hard as we can. With regards to anybodx's
:07:29. > :07:39.portrayal, anybody's opinion, I couldn't care less.
:07:40. > :07:44.Is there a sensitive Glaswegian hiding behind this street fhghting
:07:45. > :07:49.public image that you have? Respect works both ways, I have alw`ys been
:07:50. > :07:55.taught that. When people respect me I give them respect. If people do
:07:56. > :08:00.not respect me, don't respect what I have done and what I do, thdre will
:08:01. > :08:06.be no respect in return. Th`t is the upbringing my parents gave le. None
:08:07. > :08:13.of us in this world are perfect including the media, includhng
:08:14. > :08:18.members of the press. You are the manager, what about the fans? They
:08:19. > :08:28.want to hear from you, what can you say to them? Watch this space. What
:08:29. > :08:32.you mean by that? Watch this space, that is what I mean. I have heard 20
:08:33. > :08:41.of things about me, people have written and said things, trte or
:08:42. > :08:48.false. One thing that always happens is the truth always floats to the
:08:49. > :08:53.surface. Always. The truth is, despite losing 1` at
:08:54. > :09:03.Barnsley and a third successive defeat, Forest are still fit and in
:09:04. > :09:12.the race for the motion. `` fifth. Are you worried about a couple of
:09:13. > :09:15.bad research `` results? We still believe we can get
:09:16. > :09:20.automatic. The key is to get this team over the line and into the
:09:21. > :09:25.Premier League. Despite the politics in football nowadays, do yot have
:09:26. > :09:30.that motivation and will to win I wish I didn't because maybe I would
:09:31. > :09:37.not be looking at a five`dax ban if I didn't care. Maybe that p`ssion is
:09:38. > :09:44.something I should address. I am passionate and committed. I just
:09:45. > :09:51.want the team to get what it should get, I want them to get the success
:09:52. > :10:02.and the club to be successftl for the fans. Now you are here till
:10:03. > :10:17.2017, oh, my goodness! It is a com isn't it? It is a four my friends.
:10:18. > :10:25.`` it is a disaster for my friends. I am going nowhere and I am happy to
:10:26. > :10:29.stay here. Thanks to Billy for talking to us
:10:30. > :10:36.because obviously he did not have to do. Former Forest striker, what did
:10:37. > :10:43.you think of that? I had an appearance at an event in J`nuary
:10:44. > :10:50.and I asked them a simple qtestion, is this getting out of hand? To a
:10:51. > :10:55.man and a woman, they said xes. He needs to sit down with ABC radio
:10:56. > :11:08.Nottingham, not heads and move away from this media stuff. `` BBC Radio
:11:09. > :11:16.Jersey. `` knock heads. Let's talk to Mark, a Forest fan. Do you
:11:17. > :11:21.agree? I do. I think this is going to bite us in the backside. You
:11:22. > :11:28.don't want the media on your back, constantly picking at Forest occurs
:11:29. > :11:33.of tit`for`tat. Sort it out, it doesn't need to be happening. Coming
:11:34. > :11:38.up in a few minutes we will be at Barbie, who gave Ian Hollow`y
:11:39. > :11:48.slightly too warm welcome at the weekend. They missed so manx chances
:11:49. > :11:54.but Steve McClaren was perplexed. If we had played another two g`mes we
:11:55. > :11:58.would have scored. Two Midl`nds teams are so mired in money troubles
:11:59. > :12:01.the fans don't know whether they are coming or going. On Friday
:12:02. > :12:05.Birmingham city supporters learned that Carson Yeung was to be sent to
:12:06. > :12:11.prison for six years for money`laundering. The bid to sell ``
:12:12. > :12:15.to sell 12% of the club to ` Chinese media firm had fallen through. One
:12:16. > :12:27.Midlands supporter and passhonate Blues fan, Alistair Frew, is a
:12:28. > :12:33.solicitor. What does all thhs mean for the club? The club is owned by
:12:34. > :12:38.Carson Yeung, who has been sent down for money`laundering. When `
:12:39. > :12:41.criminal takes the profits from his activities and spend them on
:12:42. > :12:44.something legitimate, and hd takes the money out of the legitilate
:12:45. > :12:49.business, then that money h`s been cleaned. He has been sent to prison
:12:50. > :12:54.for that and the Hong Kong government will take Carson Yeung's
:12:55. > :13:00.shares to pay off his tax bhlls but it does not solve the probldm of who
:13:01. > :13:06.owns the rest of the club. Ht is currently held by a holding
:13:07. > :13:10.company, registered in the Cayman Islands. They must have had
:13:11. > :13:15.investments from major crimhnals, who presumably want their money
:13:16. > :13:19.back, so I am not sure wherd this is going. We have sold all of our
:13:20. > :13:24.players, everything we own, we have a team of youngsters who ard trying
:13:25. > :13:31.but they can't win. As I sed it the only way sadly is `` 's
:13:32. > :13:39.administration. The fans ard sick to the back teeth, there was a massive
:13:40. > :13:46.banner that said, all we care about is Birmingham city football club,
:13:47. > :13:51.none of this nonsense. I am a massive campaign for the football
:13:52. > :13:55.Association to have really strict business tests and if they don't
:13:56. > :14:07.come up to the mark get rid of them. That is what should h`ppen to
:14:08. > :14:10.Birmingham City. It is all very well for us as fans and commentators to
:14:11. > :14:19.say we should tighten up thd rules, but how do you do it? They will
:14:20. > :14:23.always find a loophole. That is the problem, because this man allegedly
:14:24. > :14:29.was clean. The only way to stop it is that in some countries you can't
:14:30. > :14:33.buy a football club, or half a club. A criminal wants to buy a whole club
:14:34. > :14:43.will stop otherwise how do xou stop it? We are now in real trouble.
:14:44. > :14:48.Thank you very much. Uncert`inty around the club can't have helped on
:14:49. > :14:56.Saturday. They were playing a club who are still in business ddspite
:14:57. > :14:59.having losses of ?65 million. The Blues of Birmingham are probably
:15:00. > :15:02.safe but with games against Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday awax coming
:15:03. > :15:05.up, they would have hoped for a point at least from this match. They
:15:06. > :15:08.did not get it, though. Forler Birmingham player, Ravel Morrison,
:15:09. > :15:10.scoring twice to condemn his former club to a home defeat.
:15:11. > :15:14.Chaps, Ravel Morrison, showhng what he did, really, in his inithal spell
:15:15. > :15:18.at West Ham before he got moved on. Yeah, it is going to be tough for
:15:19. > :15:21.the Blues, they are not out of the woods completely. I think that they
:15:22. > :15:25.will stay up, but Burnley, `re on fire and infused by a fantastic
:15:26. > :15:27.result for the first time in 35 years against their nearest and
:15:28. > :15:30.dearest, Blackburn Rovers. Sheffield Wednesday, in decent form and
:15:31. > :15:33.Reading, so these next two or three games are going to be vital for
:15:34. > :15:37.Bimingham City. It is a good job there are only 12 games to go, if
:15:38. > :15:40.there were 20 games to go, xou'd really worry about them. Thd
:15:41. > :15:44.signings coming in at just the wrong time, really, isn't it? But as you
:15:45. > :15:47.say, a little earlier, it could have been serious. He's dipped into the
:15:48. > :15:50.loan market, hasn't it? Emlxn Hughes from Manchester City. Who's a great
:15:51. > :15:52.prospect by the way from Manchester City. Absolutely, but it is a
:15:53. > :15:55.difficult situation for those young players to come into.
:15:56. > :15:57.The other Blues, of the West Midlands, Coventry, are far from
:15:58. > :16:00.happy either, they were at Colchester on Saturday. Colchester
:16:01. > :16:03.had not won for seven games ahead of meeting Steven Pressley's shde.
:16:04. > :16:04.Coventry were two down when Callum Wilson pulled one back before
:16:05. > :16:08.half`time. Wilson runs onto it, shoots from the
:16:09. > :16:11.angle and scores, what a brhlliantly taken goal by Callum Wilson And the
:16:12. > :16:15.Sky Blues are back in the g`me right at the end of the first half. It's
:16:16. > :16:19.Colchester United two, Coventry City one.
:16:20. > :16:23.OK, I've been joined now by four Coventry City fans, all members of
:16:24. > :16:33.the supporters trust. We've got Rob, Moz, Yan and Dee. OK, so, fhrst of
:16:34. > :16:36.all, you fellows are on the supporters trust board. Where are
:16:37. > :16:39.we? Are we any closer to an imminent return back to Coventry? I would
:16:40. > :16:42.like to think we were but the signs are that we are not. It is
:16:43. > :16:45.unsustainable, the project `t Sixfields has been a disastdr,
:16:46. > :16:48.crowds of home supporters of less than 1100 for the game against
:16:49. > :16:52.Walsall last week. It just hs very depressing and I think if wd kick
:16:53. > :16:56.off there next season it is going to be a very, very difficult shtuation
:16:57. > :17:00.for the football club. It is such an emotive issue. You are all obviously
:17:01. > :17:04.nodding your heads along with what we have just heard. You all have
:17:05. > :17:09.massive sympathies for Coventry Dee, you are a die`hard Covdntry
:17:10. > :17:13.fan, aren't you? You live rhght by the Ricoh Arena, but obviously they
:17:14. > :17:18.cannot play there. It is absolutely devastating. To look out my bedroom
:17:19. > :17:22.window and see the Ricoh sign, it is soul destroying. It is just terrible
:17:23. > :17:24.what is happening to the cltb. All the fans are beginning to dhvide
:17:25. > :17:27.now. People that support Sisu, people that do not support the
:17:28. > :17:34.council. It is just so destroying, the whole club is just going to pot,
:17:35. > :17:37.that is how I feel. All of ly family used to go, we all had season
:17:38. > :17:42.tickets for years since I w`s young. But they don't go any more, I am the
:17:43. > :17:45.only one that goes. I only go to the away games because as far as I'm
:17:46. > :17:47.concerned Sixfields is not ly home town. It is absolutely soul
:17:48. > :17:51.destroying, I cannot explain how upsetting it is. Let us just take
:17:52. > :17:54.you back to lighter times, just to lighten the mood, I suppose. Your
:17:55. > :17:58.first game because you are Coventry till you die. Tell me more `bout
:17:59. > :18:14.your first game. I was on the shoulders of my father. I w`s very
:18:15. > :18:16.young. Where was your mother at the time?
:18:17. > :18:20.In Labour! I was very young, on the shoulders of my father and H loved
:18:21. > :18:24.it. I was just taken becausd I had to go with him because therd was no
:18:25. > :18:28.baby`sitter so I went with him and then we went to the hospital and it
:18:29. > :18:31.was just heaven, I loved it. I can't remember much about it, but I
:18:32. > :18:33.remember the Premiership tiles, you know, and we were flying high
:18:34. > :18:36.against fantastic players, watching teams at Highfield Road and the
:18:37. > :18:39.Ricoh Arena could be just lhke that as far as I'm concerned. Absolutely
:18:40. > :18:41.amazing stadium. World`class stadium. Beautiful pitch, absolutely
:18:42. > :18:45.fantastic, used for the Olylpics and other people are using it now but it
:18:46. > :18:48.is just devastating that we are not. Dee, thank you. Guys, thanks for
:18:49. > :18:51.your time. I know it's an elotional issue, but thanks for being with us.
:18:52. > :18:54.OK, let's return to the Chalpionship then as we consider a grim weekend
:18:55. > :18:57.for our promotion chasers, Derby, who were paying the price for a
:18:58. > :18:59.series of misses. Well, this man, Paulo Wanchope,
:19:00. > :19:02.watched as miss... After miss.. After miss...irritated the gaffer.
:19:03. > :19:05.And naturally, Millwall caught Derby out after a quick free kick. Lee
:19:06. > :19:12.Martin's cross picked out the head of Steve Morison, unmarked six yards
:19:13. > :19:16.out. No questions over his finishing.
:19:17. > :19:18.And that is a small blip re`lly for Derby's hopes of automatic
:19:19. > :19:26.promotion, isn't it? Yeah, back`to`back losses now for Derby.
:19:27. > :19:29.It's just going to be maint`ining that place in the top six, `utomatic
:19:30. > :19:32.is virtually finished, thred tough games... Are you referring to our
:19:33. > :19:35.high`tech league table behind you? I am, the high`tech league table board
:19:36. > :19:38.behind you. No expense, spared, of course, by Auntie. Bolton ndxt,
:19:39. > :19:41.three back`to`back wins, before that they'd won one in 11. Dougid
:19:42. > :19:44.Freeman's men are doing verx well. I think they scored two, then four,
:19:45. > :19:47.then five against Leeds. Re`ding and then, of course, a derby ag`inst
:19:48. > :19:50.Forest where anything could happen. It is vitally important that they
:19:51. > :19:53.maintain a position in that top six. It just goes to show, doesn't it,
:19:54. > :19:57.for Nigel Clough, it's all `bout bringing those key players together.
:19:58. > :20:02.Not for Nigel Clough, what `m I talking about? For Steve McClaren.
:20:03. > :20:05.Absolutely, it is. I agree with Stan, the other result that was of
:20:06. > :20:07.significance to Derby was yesterday's lunchtime game hn
:20:08. > :20:10.Lancashire with Burnley going to Blackburn and winning for the first
:20:11. > :20:14.time in 35 years. And I think that is the end. To use an analogy
:20:15. > :20:16.relevant to our league tabld, I think we can chalk Derby off in
:20:17. > :20:20.terms of automatic promotion, circular play`offs though. Lind you,
:20:21. > :20:24.Clough's not doing too bad `t his club, is he? The rest of thd goals
:20:25. > :20:32.from League One, shall we? @nd a win for Port Vale.
:20:33. > :20:36.Port Vale, apart from being out of the promotion play`offs, a win
:20:37. > :20:39.against Carlisle leaves thel needing at least three wins more th`n
:20:40. > :20:42.Peterborough over the season's final furlong. They went behind on
:20:43. > :20:45.Saturday: Ball over the top, can he get there by the corner flag?
:20:46. > :20:48.He can. Ball into the box to Williamson. He's got Burchall
:20:49. > :20:51.screaming for it. Puts in a shot and it's hit the back of the net! Ben
:20:52. > :20:54.Williamson brings Vale level in the 56th minute of the match!
:20:55. > :20:57.Myrie`Williams from the far side... They went behind on Saturdax but
:20:58. > :21:00.goals from Ben Williamson and Tom Pope saw them home.
:21:01. > :21:04.In it goes, Pope with the hdader! And Vale are in front! Tom Pope s
:21:05. > :21:09.goal on the hour mark here has completely turned this game around.
:21:10. > :21:13.Cracking game at Greenhous Leadow but Shrewsbury needed to win this
:21:14. > :21:18.relegation six`pointer. Thex lost by the odd goal in five. This dqualiser
:21:19. > :21:21.from Paul Parry on the hour looked to have earned them a point, but
:21:22. > :21:23.Bristol City's Joe Bryan scored just a couple of minutes later to win all
:21:24. > :21:32.three points. Contrasting fortunes then for Port
:21:33. > :21:35.Vale and Shrewsbury, there hs a bit of friction behind the scends about
:21:36. > :21:38.Micky Adams's contract situ`tion, are they still in with a snhff of
:21:39. > :21:42.the play`offs, it was a big win What is it, nine points now of the
:21:43. > :21:45.play`off places. I think it's going to be consolidation this ye`r. I
:21:46. > :21:48.hope they keep Micky Adams, I think he's done fantastically well for
:21:49. > :21:52.Port Vale, to keep them on `n even keel, to be able to then go on and
:21:53. > :21:55.build and I think that's thd process that they need to embark on come
:21:56. > :21:58.summertime. They would be ddlighted to see Tom Pope on the scordsheet
:21:59. > :22:02.after his exploits last season. Absolutely, Tom Pope wears Port Vale
:22:03. > :22:05.on his sleeve. The problem hs they concede too many goals, thex've let
:22:06. > :22:08.in more than Shrewsbury who, as we know, are next to bottom. Ydah, and
:22:09. > :22:12.talking of Shrewsbury, what is it, no win in nine at home now? One in
:22:13. > :22:15.ten now. I mean, it is lookhng perilous. They've still got an
:22:16. > :22:19.opportunity to get out of it, but you'd think with that kind of run of
:22:20. > :22:22.form they are going to have to go on... I use the Premier League
:22:23. > :22:27.analogy, Fulham have got to win four or five or six games out of the next
:22:28. > :22:30.12, it is going to be simil`r for Shrewsbury at the bottom of that
:22:31. > :22:33.table. Mike Jackson has adddd to his backroom staff, hasn't he? @ndy
:22:34. > :22:36.Morrell, the former Wrexham boss, he is now his number two. Yes, I know
:22:37. > :22:40.he has been casting around for some experience to bring in and H think
:22:41. > :22:44.you would be surprised at some of the names that have been approached,
:22:45. > :22:47.but in the end he has ended up with Andy Morrell and let's hope they can
:22:48. > :22:49.work what is looking increasingly like a minor miracle. They need
:22:50. > :22:53.goals, that's for certain, xeah Now to a team that I followdd back
:22:54. > :22:56.during my days in local radho. Hinckley were the Midlands football
:22:57. > :22:59.team that died earlier this season. They were wound up but as wd brought
:23:00. > :23:02.you last week, we will alwaxs be looking to celebrate football at all
:23:03. > :23:06.levels, and Hinckley, it sedms, are about to be reborn. Nat Jackson s
:23:07. > :23:08.with us, Natalie, what can xou tell us? Well, Hinckley United dhed last
:23:09. > :23:11.October, Manish, and like the phoenix from the flames, yot guys
:23:12. > :23:15.were reborn, weren't you? This is Steve, he is a real`life genuine
:23:16. > :23:22.hero, isn't he? Come on, a cheer for a hero! Steve, I won't embarrass
:23:23. > :23:28.you. Gary, explain why. Steve has put in an offer to buy the stadium
:23:29. > :23:32.back from the liquidator. Incredible, him and his wifd are
:23:33. > :23:34.buying the stadium, you are a fans group basically, you are thd
:23:35. > :23:38.definition of a fan club, aren't you, explain a bit more, Stdve?
:23:39. > :23:41.Absolutely, we are, it is a club that would be owned by the fans
:23:42. > :23:45.owned by the town. It would be one member, one vote. You pay your
:23:46. > :23:48.pound, that gives you your share and then you can take part in the
:23:49. > :23:51.decision`making process of the club and you can elect to the bo`rd of
:23:52. > :23:54.directors. No one.. We were talking about Birmingham earlier,
:23:55. > :23:59.Coventry... No one will ever get a controlling interest of Hinckley
:24:00. > :24:03.AFC. The stadium is going to cost you a lot of money and you `re doing
:24:04. > :24:06.it yourself out of your own money? Apparently, yes! Are you sure your
:24:07. > :24:14.wife knows about it?! Is it because you have got four sons and xou want
:24:15. > :24:18.them to play in the team? Wdll, yes, we have four lads that play in the
:24:19. > :24:21.youth system for them and wd wanted somewhere for them to play. We
:24:22. > :24:24.wanted to be able to say in the future that if they want to play
:24:25. > :24:28.first team football they can play football for Hinckley and wd came
:24:29. > :24:31.home after a meeting one evdning and we couldn't see anybody buyhng the
:24:32. > :24:34.stadium, so we sat down and said, "Well, we could do that." I have to
:24:35. > :24:38.say that the real heroes, rdally, are these guys that have bedn
:24:39. > :24:42.talking about it and doing ` lot of work behind the scenes to m`ke AFC
:24:43. > :24:45.work. I'm just lucky to be `ble to make an offer for the staditm. He is
:24:46. > :24:50.too modest, isn't it? And this is Russ Abbot, that is your nale, isn't
:24:51. > :24:55.it, Russ? Unfortunately, yes. Now he's sporting the club's colours.
:24:56. > :25:00.Now what do they think about this, purple is the home shirt? It was the
:25:01. > :25:04.only thing I could find that had been ironed! Well, I love the purple
:25:05. > :25:08.and we think you are great. This is a real example of fan power, Manish,
:25:09. > :25:12.a great good news story. Russ, what have you done with Bella Emberg
:25:13. > :25:15.that is what I want to know? ..I would have been able to buy the
:25:16. > :25:19.ground! Guys, great to hear from you, good luck with it all. We have
:25:20. > :25:23.heard from Hinkley there, Coventry and Birmingham before them, Stan,
:25:24. > :25:27.what is it like for the plaxers With all of that going off hn the
:25:28. > :25:35.background because you have been at the club when it's been kicking off.
:25:36. > :25:38.Yeah, I went from Crystal P`lace and really kick started my caredr at
:25:39. > :25:41.Southend United. I went and played in front of a couple of thotsand on
:25:42. > :25:44.a cold Tuesday or Wednesday night against Notts County, funnily
:25:45. > :25:47.enough. And there were banndrs to get the chairman out, there was a
:25:48. > :25:50.real feel bad factor and whdther it's the fans, the tea lady, the
:25:51. > :25:53.players, everybody feels th`t, so it's vitally important that you have
:25:54. > :25:56.people local in the community that know what the fans want, know what
:25:57. > :25:59.the club wants, to take thel forward. I think that out of great
:26:00. > :26:02.adversity, usually comes grdater strength. Look at some of the sides
:26:03. > :26:05.doing really well at the molent Middlesbrough got to a European
:26:06. > :26:09.final, Hull, Swansea, all of them have been to a brink. You know,
:26:10. > :26:12.Swansea had to beat Hull on the last day of the league season to stay in
:26:13. > :26:15.the Football League, not thd Premiership, the Football Ldague, so
:26:16. > :26:17.I think from the dark days comes great hope eventually. Yeah, here,
:26:18. > :26:19.here. Thanks. Well, Cheltenham's 0`0 draw at
:26:20. > :26:23.Portsmouth keeps them in thd hunt for a play`off place in League Two.
:26:24. > :26:31.Pride of place goes to Mansfield and Burton and here are their goals
:26:32. > :26:35.Two first`half goals set Burton up for this win. Dominic Knowlds fired
:26:36. > :26:39.them ahead before Zeli Ismahl doubled their lead. A rally from
:26:40. > :26:41.Oxford in the second half w`s not enough to keep Burton away from
:26:42. > :26:43.closing in on automatic prolotion. Meanwhile, Mansfield Town's Ryan
:26:44. > :26:46.Tafazolli's first`half goal against Newport looked like not being enough
:26:47. > :26:49.after Newport equalised. In the 90th minute, Anthony Howell scordd the
:26:50. > :26:56.winner to help Mansfield edge away from the bottom clubs.
:26:57. > :27:01.OK, let's have a look at thd table, shall we, before we sign off for the
:27:02. > :27:05.evening? Starting then with League Two, gents. We saw that big win for
:27:06. > :27:08.Burton and look at them, thdy are there almost. Yeah, I was looking
:27:09. > :27:11.through the stats for this season. They have only scored two or more
:27:12. > :27:15.goals four times this season, once at the beginning and once in the
:27:16. > :27:18.middle ` the last two games they've done it, so it really bodes well for
:27:19. > :27:21.Gary Rowett's team to have done it the back`to`back games as they go
:27:22. > :27:25.into the run`in, essentiallx. And one of my players of the se`son in
:27:26. > :27:28.League Two, Billy Kee, doing great things for Burton. I know when he
:27:29. > :27:32.was at Torquay Paul Buckle tried to get the best out of him, he was
:27:33. > :27:35.really frustrated, but he is a player of genuine talent. Hd has
:27:36. > :27:37.unlocked a few defences, hasn't he, Kee? Mansfield... They didn't get
:27:38. > :27:41.that one, did they? Mansfield, big win for them at the weekend. Yes,
:27:42. > :27:44.needed. I think they've got enough in hand, eight points clear of
:27:45. > :27:47.Northampton now, for all th`t Chris Wilder is trying to rejuven`te them.
:27:48. > :27:50.I think Paul Cox will be delighted if he can say to his chairm`n, John
:27:51. > :27:53.Radford, "Look, here's a second season in the Football Leagte."
:27:54. > :27:57.Let's go to League One, shall we? Only a two`point lead at thd top for
:27:58. > :28:00.Wolves, two games in hand over Leyton Orient. Dare the fans dream,
:28:01. > :28:02.albeit with a two`point lead, that Championship football is allost
:28:03. > :28:05.there? I think so. Great support. They feel infused, Wolves f`ns, we
:28:06. > :28:08.mentioned on that VT about how the team, not just the back four and the
:28:09. > :28:11.goalkeeper are defending, scoring goals, it is a recipe for promotion,
:28:12. > :28:14.it is that simple. Finally, to the Championship. The
:28:15. > :28:17.East Midlands sides are still there, of course. In fact, they were not
:28:18. > :28:21.playing, Leicester, but it has not been a bad weekend for them. No
:28:22. > :28:24.good to be able to put your feet up and strengthen your position without
:28:25. > :28:27.stepping on the pitch. But, of course, they go to Forest's nemesis
:28:28. > :28:30.Barnsley tomorrow, so they need to be on alert for that. And they've
:28:31. > :28:33.shown what they can do against Forest. Absolutely. The thing is for
:28:34. > :28:36.Derby and Forest, particularly for Forest with injuries, stay hn that
:28:37. > :28:38.top six because you've got the likes of Reading, Wigan, Brighton
:28:39. > :28:42.breathing down their necks. All right, we're going to have to leave
:28:43. > :28:45.it there, gents, thanks verx much indeed. So my thanks to Stan and
:28:46. > :28:48.John and to our Late Kick Off supporters crew! Join the ddbate
:28:49. > :28:52.about Midlands football on Twitter and on Facebook, we are back at the
:28:53. > :29:00.same time next week. From all of us here, goodbye.