Episode 6 Late Kick Off North West

I bet you're wondering what a bunch of tulips and a slab of Edal have to

do with Late Kick Off. Stay tuned to find out. Can we do that ag`in? It's

a bit cheesy! Coming up on Late Kick Off tonight.

Bloomfield blues. Why Seasiders supporters are fearing the worst.

Awful. Woeful. Dreadful. All you can say, really. Late Kick Off goes

Dutch. Why a former Wigan f`vourite swapped the pitch for the police.

Like football, it's a team dffort. You hardly ever solve a crile on

your own. And one`on`one`on`one. Just who

gate`crashed our quiz? With me in the studio to help us through the

next half hour, the manager of Oldham Athletic Lee Johnson, and

Nicky Hunt, formally of Bolton Wanderers, now with Accrington

Stanley. More from the boys in a second.

Back in December, Blackpool were flying high, fourth in the

Championship, play`off contdnders, but all that changed one Tudsday

night in the Oval, where thd Seasiders' season simply collapsed.

So much so that Barry Ferguson's boys are now in a relegation rather

than a promotion scrap. A whn on Saturday was crucial. Against, you

guessed it, Yeovil. Alex was at Bloomfield Road Blackpool lost the

plot. That's for sure. They will finish this match with eight men.

After that defeat at Yeovil, Blackpool didn't win again for three

months. After that defeat at Yeovil,

Blackpool didn't win again The chairman spoke to Late Kick Off in

March, and he pinpointed th`t game as the catalyst for their freefall

down the league. Put Yeovil away, three men sent off. Whether that is

the defining moment that thhngs seem, the wheel fell off big style.

A week after that interview, Blackpool won, 1`0 at home to

Millwall. Victory today and the wheels will be back on. It will be

Blackpool's third straight home win, which they haven't achieved since

the start of the season. Seem to be strengthening up a bit.

Hopefully we can keep ourselves up there and, look forward to ` new

season in the Championship next year. I think this game is going to

decide what we will do. Hopdfully we will stay. Up the Pool! That's all I

can say. We will stay up and that's it.

But not all fans are as happy. Two weeks' ago a mock funeral procession

passed by Bloomfield Road, to complain the chairman isn't

investing enough. Before kick off today, a small section of f`ns voted

to form a Supporters' Trust, to try to have more influence on the way

the club is run. A sign of wider unrest among fans. There has been a

terrible lack of funding thhs particular season. There has to be a

lot of improvement for next season. It depends on the chairman. Whether

he puts into the club or not. I think the supporters are frtstrated.

It seems to be short`term. Contracts are given out on a one`year rolling

contract. Today, maybe two players will be contracted to the club next

season. Two players. You nedd commitment at this time of the year

to retain the status at this level. And there are calls for mord

commitments to the manager. Barry Ferguson's in temporary charge after

taking over when Paul Ince was sacked in January. He is trxing to

do his best with Blackpool. Obviously financially, therd is a

lot of restraints on the cltb. He has the knowledge to bring the right

players in. Ferguson has them playing wdll again

and they are making progress, but today is a big game, I think. It's

the classic cliche, six pointer I feel.

Blackpool just about getting out of their box. Penalty given. J`mes

Hayter. In off the inside of the post. And Yeovil know they have to

win today. It is dummied into the box. It is

2`0. Yeovil have it, with 17 minutes to go. And that could be a lortal

blow for Blackpool. What a goal! Are Blackpool fighting

back? Final whistle at Bloomfield Road,

and the bottom club Yeovil have beaten Blackpool, and draggdd them

right in to the relegation lix. Yeovil are bottom of the le`gue

There's two players on that pitch that played. Perkins and Bishop

Awful. Woeful. Dreadful. All you can say, really.

14,500, the fan base is herd, where is the investment, where is the

infrastructure? Very, very sad. Very, very sad day for Blackpool

football club. That wasn't the Blackpool, the boys

I know. Seriously, we have six games to go, I think we need at ldast

three wins out of it. As we chat about Blackpool, let us

look at the table. We can sde where they are, that is six points clear

of the drop zone. Here are the remaining fixtures. And there's real

crucial games in there. Thex are playing Derby, Leeds, Brighton,

Wigan. It's not going to be easy. Are they in a relegation ` `re they

in serious trouble? I really don't think so. I think

they have got three home gales left. I think if they perform well in

them, they will stay up, but like you say, going three months without

a win, in anybody's book is very hard to get back from.

We must point out a good win for your dad who manages Yeovil. It was

a good weekend. We don't have too many of them perfect weekends, and

it was very important this weekend we both got wins. Just this issue

quickly, about Blackpool with two player in contract. Can that

motivate the dressing room or demotivate. You will find that more

and more, a lot of clubs have not been able to commit the futtre with

the financial fair play to player, so moving forward it will h`ppen

more an more, and it certainly can affect some players that max think

they are going on to bet evdr things but it could motivate peopld who

feel they want to stay at Blackpool. That is what Barry Ferguson will

hope. Let us go from the bottom of the Championship to matters at the

top and usual points four otr teams chasing promotion.

If Burnley's nervy fans needed any further proof this is their season,

they got it at Vicarage Road. Last week's defeat against Leicester

they were losing 1`0 late on but the day ended firmly in their f`vour. Tp

they were behind to Deeney's strike until four minutes from the end But

the resilience earned them ` point when they scored.

Defeats for QPR and Derby mdan the Clarets extend their lead to ten

points and the losses strengthen Wigan's play`off prospect. They got

the better of Leeds. Martyn Waghorn's first half goal enough to

win the game. I find it difficult to find more words to say about him,

other than phenomenal and outstanding. Not my word but those

of Gary Bowyer about Rhodes. It is one defeat in ten now for Bolton who

scored in injury time to ensure a happy trip back across the Pennines

from Huddersfield. Joe Mason got the goal, drilling home from close

range. We can `` just how good a wdekend it

was for Burnley. Their cushhon is ten points with six games to go

Wigan look locked into the play`off places. Blackpool we looked at

earlier. Blackpool can do themselves the world of good with a win against

Derby. Kick off is 8.00. Not they would necessarily want to, but both

the Seasiders and Blackburn could do Burnley favour. The Clarets go to

Barnsley. Wigan could help Blackpool out with the right result. @ll the

build up on your BBC local radio station.

Now, about that cheesy openhng. Late Kick Off has gone Dutch, as a fan's

favourite at Wigan was as h`rd as nail, he was a centre half whose

ability to chase down strikdrs and provide a genuine threat in the

opposition box ensured a top class career in the football and Premier

Leagues. While most players retire to the golf course he swappdd the

pitch for the police force back home in Holland.

I was looking at something dlse than football. I thought I needed to look

at the world are bit more. H tried to get back into my medical

studies, and bumped into a friend of mine who was a detective. This is

the room where I spent most of my time because I am still doing my

studies, so I spend a lot of time there doing research and sttff.

Teams at work here are involved with different kinds of crime. Sdx

crimes, burglaries, robberids, muggings, that kind of stuff. I like

the idea of justice and tryhng to make the world a better place for

everybody, or equal place. H will specialise little bit more hn

forensics. It could be biggdr investigations, murder, bigger

robberies. You get general policing skills, you learn general policing

skills, Euler had issued with a gun, you learn how to interrogatd

people. Is challenging, and a good thing, like football, it is very

much a team effort. You hardly ever solve a crime on your own. Ht's

funny how practising makes xou more confident with the gun, it lakes you

know what it does what it should do. This is their local station s

football team. They are OK, they are very energetic. You have to be

careful for your legs. I did play with the police national te`m. We've

actually qualified for the Duropean Championships in Prague this summer

which is pretty good. I'm l`cking a bit of speed and a bit of touch but

the competitive edge is still there.

It will never leave you. Once I die we wanted to talk to fled

from the scene, and I more or less chased him, and within a minute he

sort of stopped with his hands on his knees, saying, I can't go any

more, you might as well takd me So my training in football defhnitely

came in handy. I had enough pace to keep up, put it that way.

It is a far cry from his daxs in Wigan when he joined after Barnsley

with whom he had played in the Premiership.

I needed a new challenge, and Wigan came around at the last mintte. It

was the way David presented the club. As a business person he is

very tough, he knows what hd wants, and if you want more and he's

decided he won't give it to you he will not give it to you, th`t is the

end of discussion. As the c`ptain of the team trying to negotiatd bonuses

with Dave, it's a nightmare, you get no where. But on a personal level,

he was a different class. Mx dad was a terminal cancer patient and we

were going to the final at Wembley, and Dave came up and said, listen,

does your family want to cole to the game? I said, they can't. And he

sent his private plane to phck them up. On a personal note, if someone

does that for you, you definitely want to put it in for him.

After leaving Wigan Arjan h`d a successful spell, even earnhng

plaudits from the PM. Your surprise package, Arjan de

Zeeuw. The thing I like about him, he is

really strong, he never givds up at all.

Wigan finished 10th and even reach the Carling cup final, but

Manchester United were too strong on the day.

They went into that final nod or by the occasion, and we were looking at

everything going, this is great We were one day zero behind before we

began. But it was good experience. Who knows, maybe it has helped a

little bit. On Saturday Wigan return to Wembley

to face Arsenal in the semifinal with a Premier League return still

possible. Into very welcome distraction but

also very big discretion, bdcause I think getting back into the

Premiership is a bigger isste for them than the FA Cup. The whn last

year will help, most of the players are still there. Who knows? I am

pretty sure they can cause `n upset, but it will be tougher than last

year. Nikki, you have played against

Arjan. Candidiasis? `` what kind of guy you see?

He's a gentle giant, he had a presence on the pitch, and they

could do with that to get them into the Premier League.

It is quite a turnaround. The Premier League to the policd force.

Do you have anything in mind when you give up?

I am hoping to get into coaching after football. It's nice to have

people you know in football, chairman, managers that can keep a

close eye on you. We're looking for a chef in the new

stand. I get my CV in.

Back to domestic league acthon. Preston had an opportunity on

Saturday to put a turbulent week behind them and Bristol Citx. All

five of the players arrested last week in connection with match fixing

were in the team. Amid all the goings`on of l`st week,

promotion is the on field priority for Preston. In that respect, this

was two points dropped. Joe Garner was not his usual sharp self missing

first`half opportunities. Btt Jack King give the visitors a le`d with a

deflection. The lead did not last long. Wade Elliott's effort took a

deflection on its way past the keeper. After the game it w`s back

to those arrests for the manager. The players know they are gtilty

consequences will follow, btt I am 100 present behind them bec`use I

have a really good group. The battle to beat the drop in

League One remains intense, but there were welcome wins for our two

teams involved. 25 yards from goal, he scoffed at,

it is 1`0. Crawly looking to get back on equal terms, 30 yards from

goal, hits the top of the ndt. Can he get in their? He has scored!

Crewe Alexander celebrate to their away travelling support.

There was also an away win to Tranmere who did the women over

Colchester. The goalkeeper had a fine game but was beaten on the

stroke of half`time with thhs equaliser. Rovers got the

all`important third goal after the bridge. `` after the break.

Here's what those results h`ve done to the table.

Lee, it was a big weekend for the Johnson family. Let's have ` look at

your three goals against Br`dford at the weekend. Can you talk us through

it? It was a great knock`down, `nd he's

always a good finisher. This one was a bit of genius from Harkins, not

makes the opponent. This was a good ball from the right fit, he gets

away and a really tidy finish in front of an army of support.

It looks like a good followhng. Fantastic, I think 1300 fans went

and never stopped singing. @nd the lads provided the performance

required to keep them livelx. You were not too happy with the

goals you conceded, talk us through them.

I thought we defended excellent but he just and get a touch on hts. To

be honest, he was let insidd, but he was struggling a little with his

groin, and not too bad a go`l considering.

It is all was difficult to win at Bradford. You are four points clear

of relegation, but are you hn a relegation battle?

Yes, I think we are. We havd to stay focused because there is an

important five games coming up. That win was important for us because

without a win for 13 days, but we didn't want was to be touchhng in

the relegation zone, next thme we play. We need to pick up pohnts we

need four points to make sure of survival, but the way the l`ds are

playing at the moment, with the fans behind us, I'm confident, if not

complacent, but we can do that. You are supposed to play thhs

weekend, but it was Sheffield United in the FA Cup semifinal, Sylla game

is off. I think generally League Ond is very

tough, and it doesn't matter if your top or bottom, no points ard

guaranteed. It is about who turns up on the day. The good thing hs we

have kept a settled side for the first time in the season for the

last four or five games, and you can see the partnerships within the team

gelling and coming to fruithon. How difficult is it being m`nager of

old? There are always off the field activities, the club could be sold

in the future, you have onlx three sides to the ground. How do you cut

out that noise? It's been unbelievable learning

experience for me. It's been very tough at times, but the gre`t thing

about the club is there is such good people, all the way from thd owner

to the tea lady to the supporters and we all pool in the right

direction together. I am enjoying the job and I see the dream of the

new stand being built, playhng attractive football, compethng at

the top end of the table with an environment and an ethos of players

that will do everything thex can. We have got the players and we need to

continue our brand of footb`ll and make sure we rise up the le`gue

Thanks. A return of the Rochdale Derbys links likely for next

season. It's now five successive cldan sheet

for Rochdale, but the second game in succession for the have`nots

scored. They had chances ag`inst York but could not find the back of

the net. We will at least stay top of the table. Fleetwood are three

points off an automatic prolotion place after Chesterfield were held

by Newport and they coasted to a comfortable win at Oxford. The

second was a classy free kick. Three wins on the trot have ended Bari's

relegation fears and put thdm in the top half of the table.

Accrington still have work to do to beat the drop after losing `t home

to relegation rivals Northalpton. The only goal came after fotr

minutes. The home side had chances to level, James Gray went close with

this effort. Was concern is for Morecambd who

have not won in six and havd lost the last three all by the m`rgin of

1`0. Last week they lost to an injury time header, this tile a

fabulous goal, this first`class free kick.

We can see Barry moving into the top half, Rochdale stay top. Thd bottom

half shows that Morecambe are in some bother, Stanley just one point

better off. better

Let's talk about Stanley, Toulouse to Northampton that brings them

within six points of view. @re you in a relegation battle?

We are so to speak, I think we need three more points to get safe. Are

target has always been 54 points. Satisfied more to get. We h`ve two

more games at home, three g`mes away. We are playing against teams

around us, apart from Saturday which was a massive slip`up, we gdnerally

like doing that. When you are chatting beford you had

an amazing stat, what was it? We have such a poor start of the

season, one of the worst anxone has ever seen. But from that st`ge

onwards, if the table had started from after the first ten gales we

would have been in sixth or seventh place.

You got one point from the first 11 games. The club kept faith with the

manager and obviously the players did.

I think he has taken the job on board. He took what everyond has

said on board and become his own unique manager. He has his own

unique style. He rarely shotts of players. And I think we bendfited.

We have experienced players but we also have younger players, `nd I

think if you are being loaddd a certain individual players because

take it the wrong way, and James has completely taken aback char`cter, he

always says his piece, but doesn't bear with us as players listen and

we show it on the pitch. And is paying off on the pitch. It's

time now for one`on`one and it is the turn of burly. And the clarets

have decided to do something different. Ross Wallace left, Keith

Treacy on the right, and in the middle, the newest star, thd tea

lady, and easy. Who is associated with the puote, "

my horse, my horse, my kingdom for a horse" ?

Michael Duff. Richard the first.

Richard the second. Richard III.

In which English town would you find the railway station is central,

Manchester Road, and RX. London.

Burnley. Well done, Daisy. Which member of

the Royal Family claims to be a Burnley fan.

Prince Charles. Which country will `` which course

will host the 2014 Ryder Cup? Gleneagles.

Holders Sean Dyce? 42.

That is sad that you know that. What hospital was he born in?

According to Burnley team`m`tes which player addresses the worst?

David Jones. Michael Duff.

The answer is Michael Duff. Which player is mostly been?

Jason Shackle. Jason Shackle.

Which player complains the lost Jason Shackle.

Ross Wallace. He an everydax end when Jews about breakfast.

Get it right, then. Who is the player nobody wants to

room with? Keith Tracey.

Your room with me. Let's just say he likes to get

unclothed and walk around the room naked.

This player talks in his sldep. Danny Haynes.

So it is! Won't dance move was made f`mous by

Miley Cyrus? Twerking. I pressed the first.

Daisy has been cheating the whole game.

I didn't. So many injuries, Daisy might be

playing against Barnsley tolorrow night. Nikki, you became a star of

one`on`one after last week H just want a flashback to your molent when

your team`mate was asked wh`t a baby goat was called. Everybody watched

Nicky's face in the backgrotnd. What is a baby goat called?

You. `` a mule. We now know what you look lhke when

you sit in a bath that is too hard. Has he had some stick over that

He has not, because his gendral knowledge is so poor. That's why we

chose those two characters to do that, and it made off for everyone.

Guys, thank you for coming hn today and good luck for the rest of the

season. That is it from us. We are back next week, same time, same

place. Stay tuned and we will see you next