Episode 9 Late Kick Off South, South West and West

So it is time for the most important people to speak. The managers. They

win promotion. They get sacked. They get relegated. And they all appear

right here. I am Tony Husband. This Coming up... Wayne Bridge has

starred for Southampton, England and now Brighton. In a rare TV

interview, he says he has found football joy again.

The key men at Bristol City will be unveiling their plan for the future

of the club. Promotion dreams hang in the balance

for both Yeovil and Swindon. Their play-off second leg hopes are

assessed. And are Cheltenham Wembley bound?

Their play-off semi-final was guests, the ex-Torquay manager

Martin Ling, and Steve Fletcher. What's to come from you throughout

the programme. -- lots to come. We start with Brighton, who now know

what it will take to make Premier Wembley play-off final arch rivals

Crystal Palace. The first leg is next Friday at Selhurst Park. Before

the return on Monday week at the Amex. And the signed off the regular

season with another commanding performance. Martin, great to see

the club doing so well? Yeah, a great gold. You played with them, a

real transformation? It is. The AMEX looks absolutely wonderful. And a

lovely celebration. That of course going into the play-offs will be

Wayne Bridge. Now 32, he has so much experience as a Premier League

player with Southampton, then Chelsea, Manchester City, and of

course for England. He went to two world cups. In a lake Late Kick Off

exclusive, he spoke to James Beattie, who has been friends with

him for years. I used to say, shut up and let me do the talking. I just

got my head down, what guy with a pat on the back, make sure you play

well at the weekend. Now it isn't Wayne's turn to do the

talking. Newly engaged to The Saturdays singer Frankie Sandford.

Congratulations to them. They are expecting their first baby this

year. But before that, the play-offs beckon.

How come you find yourself playing for bright and? What was the

process? -- Brighton. For me, I was not sure if it would be the right

choice. I have gone back to enjoying it and loving the game. The lads

just welcomed me as well. Remember the first time that I walked into

the gym, they started playing songs by The Saturdays. It was easy for me

to settled there. We have a chance to get into the Premier League. With

the players laying, we can go into the game being positive we can win

it. A lot of people think, you being footballers, you do not appreciate

laying the game, but you do. Yes, you can safely say, playing for

Southampton is probably the highlight of my career. And playing

for England is a massive one, but growing up and supporting

Southampton all my life, and knowing the feeling it gives my dad, who is

a massive Southampton fan, and my family, is just brilliant. I am sure

abroad tears to their eyes when I first ran out. Who has been your

favourite manager? Really difficult. We have the likes of Morinho. He did

great things for the manager. Now we have just yet. What is he like? --

now we have Gus Poyet. He is very positive, wanting you to move on

from the mistake, just do not stop playing football. I thought Glenn

Hoddle did well at the club. But not a lot of people agreed with

everything he did. Gordon Strachan, another favourite. So yes, those are

some of the main ones. Not bad managers there, to be fair.

James Beattie signing of full stop and thanks to his contributions. --

signing off. And what a couple of games in prospect here.

This is what these games are for. Absolutely, a great rivalry. It was

made in the 1970s, but a potentially fantastic game that could go anyway.

Brighton were very strong, and Crystal Palace having some issues.

It is a positive attitude going into it. But once you get into it, the

atmosphere, knowing it is the play-offs, all of the form going

into the game goes out of the window. It is tough to call. What

about the two managers, Holloway against Gus Poyet? It will be

interesting, both love the game, both energetic around players, and

really up for the game. Brighton have had a lot of credit. So who is

your money on? Two huge games. Della macro I will go Brighton. -- I will

go breaking. I will toss a coin, but possibly Brighton.

The whole of that interview is on the Facebook page. There is a lot of

top-flight experience at the AMEX. Such as David Lopez and Tomasz

Kuszcak. And he also spoke about those from the lower leagues.

That is Brighton. So what is next? Quite a finale to our last

programme. Bristol City fans, your key men, the manager and the

managing director, are about to speak.

So is Martin Ling. Hail and healthy after a layoff. But where now after

Torquay dispensed with his services? This is his first TV interview on

the subject. And play-off drama for Swindon and

Yeovil. Their promotion hopes and dreams will be decided with their

play-off second leg semis less than 24 hours away. Plus Cheltenham's

road to Wembley has been decided in the last few hours. A full report

coming up later in the programme. Now we head to the other end of the

Championship. Bristol City were Charlton. Yann Kermorgant scored

twice to put the home side ahead early in the second half. Bobby Reid

scored what turned out to be City's consolation. He has taken it well.

Charlton added a couple more. The last through Johnnie Jackson as City

lost 4-1. The end of a really miserable season.

Earlier, we talked to manager Sean O'Driscoll and managing director Jon

Lansdown from our Bristol studio. They tell us they need to establish

a new City identity from buying younger players to coaching their

own youngsters. And improving facilities along the way. All this

has to be done under a regime of financial prudence.

When I walked through the door, they said to me, we want to stay in the

championship, but if that was not the case, we shall not change

direction. You do not get that very often from football clubs. The

football clubs at all about players, we need to make sure we recruit Abel

began developed. People with good characters. -- recruit people we can

develop. We wanted bounce back immediately to the championship but

also make sure the next person coming after me all those on the

work we started. �80 million wage bill this season. You now need to

have a salary cap. How much does that give you a problem, or can you

work with that? It is definitely something we can work with. You have

challenges all the time. You have the clauses that Ireland senior

professionals contract. What kind of player do you need? Who will you

back to your boss for the money to buy? Players that can excite people.

We want to produce a brand of food all that obviously wins games. --

Randolph football. And won the supporters can come and enjoy. But

this is not, this is trying to protest at J and vision together

that, when the club eventually returns to the championship, we are

in a far better state. Has he given you a list? There is always a list

of players. It gets interesting when you get down and close to it, but

there is plenty we are looking at, but obviously, it times to put

together. After a tough year, you two are the figure heads that have

to put a smile back on Bristol city fans faces. How much do you take

that job and responsibility on? have the opportunity to join several

clubs, and this one excited he more than anything else, as stable club

as there is. Supporting the club through thick and thin. I think this

is a great opportunity to build something and I am sure the

supporters are sick and tired of hearing me say that and now want

some action stop we have light winds, now we have to come back

fighting. -- we have light injuries. What do you think about this? Under

24s forming the core of the squad? Do City need to bounce straight

back? Or are you prepared for it to take time? You can tweet me your

views. We shall have a look through the best of those.

As Bristol City head down into League One, two of our sides still

have the chance to swap places with them. Swindon and Yeovil are in the

play-off semis. One leg played, the deciding second legs to come. Fletch

has seen all the sides involved at close hand. Here is his assessment

This tie is really up grabs. Yes, a deflection in off the post, what you

need. And should this have been a penalty? Absolutely. He raises his

arm, then blatantly headsets, but maybe the referee did not see it.

Got away with that one. Looking good for Swindon. Yes, a great bit of

skill. Gating it round into the bottom corner. Two talking points in

the penalty area. A great header down, or corner, the defender,

slightly touches down, and the slightest of touches, the referee

did not see it. And at the other end. Brentford, from hero to villain

again. As cool as you like, the bottom corner. Maybe if he had taken

that last week, we would not be in the same position.

So here is confirmation of where the games stand. The second and deciding

Griffin Park. Some advantage with that late penalty. We saw what

happened the last time at Griffin Park, as seen devastation, maybe

the game starts, last week is all forgotten. I fancy Swindon in the

play-offs but toss of the coin. will learn a little bit about him as

a manager. He is a lot cooler in the technical area. He is a different

type and he will have to show his true colours over this game and in

the final. You must demand what we will see from Alan McCormac. We will

will see from Alan McCormac. We will highlight him in a second. There he

is. This is tremendous if you are a manager. That is one piece of great

defending. He has travelled 40 yards to Is the timing right for you fill,

they are only a goal down. He has done a great job there. They have

every chance. They have goals in this team. James Hayter, Paddy

Madden. They have kept a lot of clean sheets this season. Putting

James Hayter and Paddy Madden, if they are on form you will cause the

Sheffield United defence of all kinds of problems. I saw Jermaine

Defoe at Spurs on Saturday but James has been tremendous. He is my

favourite. We are great friends. Still to come we give the floor to

our guests. Martin Ling talks about the events surrounding his sacking

at Torquay and Steve who hangs up his boots after 24 years. Plus the

reporter who saw it all once before when Aldershot went bust before

outlined his fears. A Swindon fan who is loyal to take

some beating. Derek Elston has seen won thousands 709 games

consecutively. He will be back at Brentford four won thousands 710 and

he hopes there will be won thousands 711 before this season ends. This is

the seat where the run started. This is my seed from 1990. I moved into

this seat one season ago. Carlisle away about five years ago I had a

knee operation. I thought that was going to be good. About half past 11

when I came out of surgery, my wife drove me to the football match.

People did not believe I was not going to make it. But fortunately I

did, hence the run still continues. People say you go all that way for

90 minutes, they don't realise it is more than 90 minute minutes. I have

made fantastic friends over the years. Derek does not live local to

that ground, he has a won hundred and 40 mile round trip.

Well, a manager's existence is one of dedication, but of course the

association with a club is as far away from a lifelong bond as you can

get. More than 100 managers and coaches have left their clubs during

this season alone. The latest is Martin Ling. Martin went on a leave

of absence in January with his Torquay side in lower mid-table. The

club stayed in the football league under interim boss Alan Knill. Last

Sunday, as we were showing you the scenes of celebrations at Plainmoor,

Martin was being sacked. Martin, you left on a leave of absence in

January, how are you feeling now? Fine. I left with a stress-related

illness, I have recovered from that and I will be ready to go back to

work. My health is in a one condition. How did you find out that

your services were no longer required? I got a phone call last

Sunday and the woman read out a statement. It said my service was no

longer required. You had a statement read down the telephone? Exactly. I

don't hold it against the woman but there is a certain way of doing

things better. How did you feel?I felt devastated. There was certain

assurances during the illness from the club. They were assurances about

me going back and they were not kept. The club said that your

contract was terminated for football reasons, it is their right to do

that. It must have been a tough week for you. The statement said

everything to me. You only lose your job as a manager due to football

reasons. They chose to suck me, they chose to move on to new pastures.

Only time will tell if it is a right decision but I felt I did a good job

while I was there. Last year I went in there to keep them out of the

bottom two. I got them in the play-offs and this year did not go

so well but after 26 games, 34 points I was in a position where

they should have shacked me down. But you are fit now. The ECB has

been updated and it will be winging its way out as we speak. I want to

get back into management as quickly as I can. And experience you will

move on from hopefully? As a football manager you will get more

ups and downs. You get used to these situations.

Now, last week Aldershot's five year stay in the football league came to

an end. A few days later they failed to pay April's wages. Now they're in

administration with debts climbing. Remember this is a club that went

bust in 1992. It was quite a story, and one which BBC reporter Steve

Humphrey followed. This is all too familiar territory

for all the shot fans. They do have debts of won million pounds. On

Thursday admin was appointed just a few days after the club were

relegated from the football league. Those of us who covered Aldershot's

financial problems in 1992 will remember that then it reached the

ultimate stage when the original club was eventually wound up. I

remember that we have the rather bizarre spectacle of a man being

stabbed sent round change the locks at the grounds. I was there when we

had the sad sight of all the clubs possessions including Birkett,

trophies furniture is being auctioned off. That was not the

end. A new club was set up under the name Aldershot town 1992. It started

life in league three. Eventually they worked their way back up to the

football league. This time round I sense there is a different

atmosphere around the club. Those that want to save Aldershot have

their work cut out. They are facing a race against time to get their

finances in order if they are to be accepted into the conference. If

they do not manage that they could face a difficult tumble down the

nonleague pyramid. You can follow more on that

Aldershot story. Some said the stand named after him

would fall down before he hung up his boots. But yes, the day has

come. He's graced Bournemouth, Crawley and Plymouth and now Steve

Fletcher is calling time on his playing career- unless, like a boxer

craving one last fight- he gets an offer he can't refuse.

Steve, you announced it this week. A tough moment for you. The toughest

decision I have ever had to make. I had long discussions with the

manager, won of my best friends in football. I was devastated. That is

my favourite highlight. The Grimsby gold that kept us in the football

league. I have played at Wembley and I have scored at the millennium

Stadium but for me, that meant so much for the town, supporters.

have seen it all. Administrations... I have. Back then

it was very difficult. Can you remember what it was like when you

left Hartlepool? I had been in to see the manager. I did not know

where Bournemouth was. You saw I did and that was it. Sean O'Driscoll

said this. A pleasure to work with. I am sure he will have many more

plaudits now that he has announced he will not be pulling on his boots

any more, but fully deserved and I wish him well. Can you describe him

in one word? Awesome. He would like that. You have been called Paul

worse! The league two Wembley play off

finalists are now known. Both semifinals were decided today.

Cheltenham went into their second leg decider a goal down after the

first game. Roy O'Donovan giving Northampton a narrow lead. And this

is what happened in the decider this evening. John Roder is the

Tozer should pick up for Northampton on that far side. Here is Russell

Penn. Tozer goes in. That is a penalty kick. Tozer with the foul.

Might have just been outside the area. Marlon Pack. What a save! Lee

Nicholls. Goes the right way, Extraordinary strike! He hit that

well! Here is Hector. Against the bar! Northampton scramble it clear.

Supercross from Hector and Mohamed so close. Shaun Harrad ride. Saved

again by Lee Nicholls. He has had a splendid game tonight, the

Northampton goalkeeper. Cheltenham can't find a way past him. Bradford

can't find a way past him. Bradford will play Northampton. Before we go

what about the rest of the clubs? What will happen at Exeter the

manager will stay. Bristol Rovers. The season as they did this want.

Oxford. They have had consolidation Oxford. They have had consolidation

they have to move on. That's it for this series we hope

you've enjoyed this whirlwind tour around the south and west. Don't