Episode 3 Late Kick Off North West

Hello and welcome to another 30 minutes of the best possibld

coverage of our 14 Football League teams. Late Kick Off has its own

team of superstars. I know what you're thinking. That is not Robbie

Savage. That is our Jane. Cheeky! Run titles.

Coming up on tonight's Late Kick Off: Something to shout abott. A

Prenton Park positive at last. The chairman Peter Johnson tells us a

takeover is imminent. What this club needs is someone like me 27 years

ago. I made a big differencd here. Less reliance on the owner's wallet

and a Reebok return to the big time. Dougie Freedman talks long`term

plans. We don't have to havd hand`outs from Eddie every xear We

need younger assets in the team which will one day get us to the

Premiership. Crewe Alexandr` have got a goal in stoppage time It is

busy at the bottom. A speci`l look at the battle to beat the Ldague One

drop. Yes, all that to come. A Late Kick

Off first tonight. Our first ever chairman on the sofa. And a man

hoping his goals can ease Oldham's relegation fears. Thank you very

much. More from the boys in a second. In an exclusive intdrview,

Peter Johnson has revealed he is two weeks away from finalising ` deal to

sell Tranmere. It is a welcome piece of news. It has become a troubled

campaign on and off the pitch. Two players accused of spot fixing,

the manager suspended ` alldgations he had broken betting rules.

The collapse of a high`profhle takeover, and a slide into League

One's relegation zone. A se`son to forget for Tranmere Rovers, until

today. News of an impending new er` at

Prenton Park, delivered exclusively to Late Kick Off by chairman Peter

Johnson. What this club needs is someone like me 27 years ago. I made

a big difference here. It now wants to be carried on. Not only do I live

away from here but I think `ge is catching me up. It has been a very

difficult job. Fortunately, the fans have had patience. It is very

important we find the right people. The lower regions of the Football

League are littered with ex`mples of clubs being raped for their

properties. I have had to fhnd someone that loves the club and the

fans can trust him. I think I have done that now. We expect to make an

announcement fairly soon. I say fairly soon, a couple of wedks. So,

there is a deal on the tabld at the moment? I think so but therd are

many a slip between cup and lip so you never know. How confident are

you? I am quite confident. The Supporters Trust are keen to be

involved in a takeover of the club. How realistic is that? I thhnk they

have a part to play. I am not sure they can take it over because it

does need money. Unfortunatdly, it needs a lot of money. We ard one of

the poorer clubs. Our wage bill is quite low compared with othdrs in

our division and the division below. We do need money. They are `n

important part of the club `nd they should be involved. The bid you are

looking at now, is that then somebody with enough money to be

able to take this club forw`rd? Yes, I believe so. A bit younger than I

am. They have got the money and I am satisfied that the fans will be able

to trust him. We are about `n hour and a half away from kick`off in

this game against Notts County. It is a big game today, isn't ht? How

are you feeling? It is a massive game. Every game will be a big game

to the end of the season. I am feeling confident.

The ball is drilled in. He has not got the ball away. It is thd back of

the net and Notts County have got themselves the lead here.

He sets himself with a shot and equalises. Jason Koumas!

Can he get the cross in? He puts it in the back of the net. Ryan Lowe!

He curled the ball in and it is the equaliser. Williams could not keep

it out. An opportunity to make it 3`2. A

good save by the goalkeeper. Jennings! What a goal, Stevd

Jennings! It is Tranmere three, Notts County

two. It means a lot. The celebrations

from a group of players and the spectators. It is a big lift, a big

pick`up. It may be the start of a roll. Some goal that to win it,

wasn't it? Certainly was. This story has been the talk of Merseyside all

day. A young man coming into Tranmere with pots of money

relatively. You did the samd with Bury. Are there a group of people

out there, a new generation, looking for football clubs? A lot of people

are passionate about football. They do not want to see these cltbs die.

We want it to go from strength to strength. Tranmere is in a great

position. The location is stperb. They have land associated whth their

ground. They need someone whth drive and enthusiasm to take it on to the

next level. Based on what you have experienced at Bury, what are the

priorities of a new person coming in? You need to look at where

third`party income can come from. Difficulties are you only gdt income

coming through on match day. In Tranmere's situation, attendances

are as high as they have got. There are clubs like Liverpool and

Everton, which have unbelievable support. Tranmere used to play a lot

of their games on a Friday night and maybe they need to look at going

back to that. They will havd to trust that this guy is what Peter

Johnson says ` someone who will safeguard the club. Without a doubt.

Trust is key. The person coling into Tranmere will have the best

interests at heart for the football club, hopefully, take it on to the

next step. I am sure Peter Johnson will have

chatted to them and he will have done due diligence to make sure he

will make it a success. We broke the story and we will follow it as it

develops. There is a huge whn for Tranmere against Notts County. Not

good news for Crewe and Oldham, who went head`to`head.

Harkins lined himself up and he takes a shot. Oldham Athlethc have

taken the lead. An 18`yard strike from Gary Harkins.

Harry Davies scored! Crewe @lexandra have got a goal in stoppage time.

Harry Davies has headed a priceless fourth goal of the season.

Let's have a look at what the weekend action has done to the

bottom of the table. It really is too close to call at the bottom of

the table. Charlie, I was expecting yourself to shut your eyes when the

goal went in. What was the dressing room like It

was very flat. The 93rd mintte equaliser. I think the lads had a

perfect away performance. They switched off for the last couple of

minutes and it has cost us. That is pretty much what your managdr said.

Are you going into training every day looking at the table? I do not

think there is any shying away from it. We are aware of it as a team and

the players are aware of it. We have nine games to go.

We need to play the teams in and around us. In training, we focus

more on the positives. He h`d to show the goal that was concdded but,

other than that, take away that goal, it was a great away

performance. Unfortunately, we switched off in the final mhnute.

Are you the kind of player who will scour the websites, looking at your

next fixtures to work out a pattern? I am panicking at the next three.

You have Crawley and then you have Leyton Orient and Brentford to play.

Three of my old employers, to be honest with you. Crawley is a

massive game for us. They h`ve a few games in hand. We need to m`ke sure

we get a good result on homd turf. The next two after that are very

tough. We still have teams hn and around us. We still have Colchester

to play, Carlisle to play. @nd Sheffield United has been rdarranged

towards the end of the season. There are still games we need to play

While there are points on the board, there is no point panicking.

You have a couple of new faces. How are they settling in? Joel played on

Saturday. He had a very good game. He was a calming influence. The

other lad was a young lad from Norwich, who we have yet to see any

of yet. He is a good prospect and hopefully he will add something to

the team that we have been lissing. We have two more familiar f`ces in

action on the buzzers. Just before we leave Crewe, many

congratulations to chairman John Bowler, who joins Danny Ings as

winners at the Football League Awards. John was given the `ward for

contribution to league football There was a game in League One

tonight with Preston at homd to in`form Sheffield United, who

arrived at Deepdale having won their last ten games. Describing the

action, Phil Cunliffe. There is space to deliver a cross.

It was begging to be put in. Here is the delivery. It laid off and it was

struck firmly. They are appdaling flicked Well, here is the top of the

League One table, taking th`t Deepdale result tonight into

account. You can get reaction on BBC Radio Lancashire's breakfast

programme from six o'clock tomorrow morning. We did not see Bolton. They

had a disappointing result on Saturday, losing at home to

Brighton. This was their first defeat in five matches. That result

perhaps sums up the season `s a whole with optimism often bding

replaced by let down. With both the play`offs and lingering reldgation

fears now seemingly off the agenda, we sent Ian to get a late`sdason

progress report from the manager. It has not been a season anx Bolton

fans saw coming. They missed out on the play`offs on the last d`y of

last season and were tipped by many bookmakers to go to the Prelier

League this season. There has been talk of relegation,

the manager losing his job. Dougie Freedman, beleagured, bewildered and

beaten. Only recently have things started to pick up. There w`s a very

difficult start. I think we have pulled through. I learnt a lot about

my squad and the fans and who is supporting us and who is not. I have

learned a lot in terms of that. What would be a satisfying season, given

the start, is a fantastic rtn at the end.

We are always working towards three games. Until there are thred games

left of the season, we alwaxs looking to win games of football. I

do not know where it will t`ke us. I would like to think the belhef we

have in the squad, and in the fans as well, every game is a winnable

game. One thing he cannot control are the finances with Bolton over

160 million in debt and depdndent on a single benefactor owner. H

understand it is frustrating for fans. My responsibility to this

football club is to make sure I work very hard and to make sure the

budget is in place, that it runs itself. We do not need to h`ve

hand`outs every year and we need younger assets in the team which one

day will get us to the Premhership. That one day hopefully will be very

soon. There is a plan put in place and I have to make sure it hs stuck

to that plan.he goes wide. Loans are a necessary part of the

plan with strikers Joe Mason and Lukas Jutkiewicz among five current

loan players. Are there plaxers potentially on the radar for coming

back? It is difficult. It w`s a loan to see if it worked for everybody.

Whether it worked for us in the summer, I am not too sure bdcause

the price might not be the price we expect to pay. My message to Bolton

fans is to have a dozen plaxers who I believe can play at the rhght

price. If it is not Jutkiewhcz, I can reach for that. I need ` certain

profile of a player to play really well. I know they are out there It

is frustrating when you cannot get hold of them because of the

financial situation but that is easing up now. On the rebound! Into

the back of the Wolves' net. It s David Ngog! David Ngog's wage alone

can cover the five players `nd I am trying to be up front and honest

about that. I think that will help as we move through the diffhcult

period and bring everybody closer. That is a bit of a stat, isn't it?!

David Ngog covering five pl`yers with his wage. Dougie Freedlan doing

a good job at the moment. A lot of fans wanted him out not so long ago.

I guess it is trust. He is planning long`term and hoping the ch`irman is

listening. Yes, I think so. The relationship between chairm`n and

manager is key. It is something that as a chairman is the most ilportant

decision you need to make. On that basis, if the fans are callhng for

the manager's head, it is your job to keep a level head, is it? Yes, it

is your job to keep a level head in that situation. It is not that easy

to get rid of a manager. It is quite costly to get rid of a manager and

then you have to find the rhght person to come back in with his own

people. Charlie, they've had a real hangover from last season whth their

play`off disappointment. Yes, they had a late surge last year, but I do

not think that people expected them to get in there when you saw how

they were eight weeks beford the end of the season. Leyton Orient in

league one have done the sale thing and mist out on the last dax of the

last season. So it can work one of two ways. Thank you. Bolton's

Premier League aspirations `re on hold but Wigan and Burnley `re both

in promotion contention. With the weekend's Championship action,

here's Nina. It is 14 Champhonship matches without defeat for Burnley

and this was a hard`fought win against a league side who wdnt ahead

on 27 minutes through Ross LcCormac. With half`time approaching, a slice

of luck came the Clarets' w`y as Jason Pearce diverted Kieran

Trippier's cross into his own net. Both sides had their chances in the

second but Scott Arfield's goal ensured there was daylight between

Burnley and those chasing the automatic promotion places. Victory

at Ipswich was Wigan's eighth. They did go behind at Portman Ro`d after

Tommy Smith scored but were in front by half`time. First through James

Maclean and then Leon Barnett who met a Jordi Gomez free kick. The win

was secured when fortune picked out Maclean at the back post for a tap

in. Promotion via the play`offs is now firmly in their sights.

Blackburn ended their three match losing streak as Jordan Rhodes

scored a hat`trick at Huddersfield. Here is the action from BBC Radio

Lancashire. Hooked on. Rhodds is in the area. He took a little longer

but gets the shot away, 1`0 Blackburn! Conway delivers. Here is

Rhodes, it is in off the post! He has his second goal of the game Now

just checking inside. He has been the architect for Blackburn today.

Goes for goal, and the goalkeeper spilled it! He is deep inside his

own half under pressure. He has given it to Rhodes. Rhodes to kill

off the game. He has done it! Jordan Rhodes with a hat`trick agahnst his

former club! Blackpool took a surprising first half lead `t

leaders Leicester thanks to David Goodwillies' close range effort but

the hosts ran away with it hn the second half. An equaliser and it was

an assist for the second, scored by Wes Morgan. Former Blackpool striker

Kevin Phillips then added a third three minutes from time. Thd top of

a table has a healthy North West glow to it. With ten games to go,

Burnley have a ten point cushion in the automatic promotion places.

Burnley have a ten point cushion in the automatic promotion Wig`n have

won their last six and move up to fifth, and they have games hn hand.

Into the bottom half where we find Bolton and Blackpool. A win over

Millwall eases the pressure on the Seasiders, especially beford that

trip away to runaway leaders Leicester. Wigan play one of those

games in hand tomorrow night and you can hear the full match comlentary

from their match at home to Yeovil on BBC Radio Manchester. Thdre will

also be coverage of Bury's trip to Torquay. More in a second. Rochdale

are at Northampton, and BBC Radio Lancashire is your place for Stanle

against Morecambe. are at Northampton, and BBC Radio

Lancashire is Rochdale are flying the region's flag in league two and

they are at Spotland for thdir clash with Stanley. After taking just one

point from the last six, Rochdale are back to winning ways. They must

feel fortunate to have got the better of Stanley who are in a

precarious position at the opposite end of the table. The visitors went

ahead 18 minutes from time, thanks to a stylish volley from Pidro

Mingoia. Dale's equaliser fhve minutes later was described by the

Stanley boss James Beattie `s one of the luckiest goals he has ever seen.

Dean Winnard's attempt to clear the cross hit Lund in the face `nd went

in. A second and more conventional effort came in stoppage timd to

leave Stanley just three pohnts clear of the relegation zond but

keep Dale within automatic promotion places. One place below is Fleetwood

who swept Portsmouth aside. They went ahead early on, and thdy never

looked back after Jamille M`tt's effor. Antoni Sarcevic doubled the

lead after a foul on Josh Morris. Matt scored for a third successive

game after a mix`up in the Pompey defence. Morecambe boss Jim Bentley

was happy with a deserved point down in east London, especially `fter

being aggrieved at a penaltx decision which gave the homd side

the lead. The Shrimps were behind early in the second half but Mark

Hughes ensured justice was done with a minute to go. An unbeaten run of

three games. Look at the top of league two. They look good for

automatic promotion. Seven points from a possible nine strengthens

Fleetwood's position as well. At the bottom, that injury time go`l was a

blow for Stanley who got prdcious little breathing space in a

congested relegation battle. What we did not see was action from Bury's

goalless draw at Southend. Lanager David Flickcroft described his game

as scrappy, scrappy and messy. Let's see the highlights. Let's h`ve a

look. Here we go. Here come the boys, through the tunnel. Down at

Southend, by the seaside. Oh, look, there is the final whistle. That is

just about it. In all seriotsness, here is the action. A coupld of half

chances for your lads. Talk us through it, you were there. Yes a

couple of chances. The ball fell to Danny Mayor. He had it taken away by

the defender there. Reece h`s kicked the ball out and John Lewis had a

strike at goal. I was glad that I took my suntan cream becausd I got a

great tan. Yes, that is all you can say! Yes, it was not the best. Not a

great day at the office. Let's talk about this. You have taken over at

Bury, you are 31, not the bhggest league attendance in the world, you

have had a financial nightm`re, most people are asking what you have in

store. What have you got in store? Hopefully, to get the club out of

league two and progress. We want to get into the Championship whthin a

five`year period. This year was about stability. There was so much

that needed to be put right off the pitch. We probably took our eye off

the ball with things on the pitch in the first ten weeks. We let the

recruitment go to the coachhng staff at the time. We wanted to bring in

players because if we had not focused our energies off thd pitch,

it would not have made much difference. Your reign so f`r, you

have had three managers and 43 players. That will calm down, won't

it? Yes, certainly. David Flitcroft, he was the person I wanted to go

out. Kevin Blackwell, we inherited when we took over. You know, when

Kevin departed we put Ronnid in temporary charge until we could

assess things properly. Picking a manager is the most important thing

you can do and we wanted to get the right man. I am sure we did do that.

you can do and we wanted to get the right man. I am sure we Trust is the

word of the day on the programme this week and the fans have to trust

you, don't they? There were rumours that you would drive a JCB `nd

demolish Giggs Lane. What are you conjuring up? Pop concerts? We want

to turn the football club around so it can be self sustainable. We want

to have third`party revenue in the stadium. We're not looking to move.

We have plans to redevelop the stadium which will become ptblic

knowledge in the next few months. We are working on the concerts. We are

speaking to artists and agents to get that in place. There ard a lot

of exciting things to come. The way we wanted to take this was by taking

it as high as we possibly c`n. There is a lot of hard work that goes into

it. It is things like, todax, the lads have flown to Torquay because

we want to prepare in the rhght way. You have paid for that? Yes, yes! We

wish you the best. Thank yot. Goodbye. So far this season,

Morecambe and Rochdale have battled with the most famous buzzers in

football. Tonight is the term of Charlie's team`mate at Boundary

Park. It is Gary Harkins ag`inst David Worrall. It is One`on`One

Roger Palmer is the record goal scorer for which English football

league club? QPR? Tranmere? Swindon? Oldham? Yes! What is the nale of the

van used by Scooby Doo and his friends? What is it called? He knows

it, what is it? It is not rdal competition, just tell us what it

is. We can win. Mystery machine Who watches Scooby Doo? Which n`tional

team did Lee Johnson's dad Gary once manage? Latvia. Did he? I al right

on with my Latvian football, mate! Name Hans Solo's companion from Star

Wars? I know this one, too! Chewbacca. Do your impression again.

No, it is a once`in`a`lifethme thing. Complete this famous Elvis

song. Suspicious... Minds. That was a hard one. I was not even born

then. You do not need to be born to know that. I am not going to listen

to that, am I. Who plays at the iPro Stadium? They are in the

Championship. They are in the top half. Why you pointing at md? I just

wanted to point. They play hn Derby. Derby? What feature does a larsupial

have that other animals do not? A kangaroo has one. A baby? A pouch?

An Australian accent?! I do not know what to make of that, Charlhe `

Gary's impression of Chewbacca sounded like he had a finger trapped

in the door! He is a funny lad. He always has something to say. He is

always making everybody laugh in the changing room and it shows the good

team spirit we have at Boundary Park, even though we are whdre we

are in the table. It stands us in good stead. The DVD of that has been

going around the dressing room, has he got some stick? No, we w`tched it

in the dressing room and thdre were a few laughs and a few eyebrows

raised at some of the questhons as well! All right, listen, th`nk you,

guys for coming into night. That is it for Late Kick Off tonight but we

are back same time and same place next week when Burnley manager Sean

Dyche will be here. Until then, from Charlie, Stuart and the whole Late

Kick Off team, including "Not Robbie Savage", good night.