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Futbol

EFL Midweek Preview: Crunch Time

In the footballing world there are often accusations of the overuse of hyperbole but, if you'll excuse us, Tuesday night feels massive in the League Two promotion race. Seven teams are realistically chasing the three automatic places on offer - and the top four face off under the lights. In League One, it is looking more a case of when, rather than if, Birmingham City win the title but the fight for second place is turning into a real arm wrestle between Wrexham and Wycombe. Meanwhile, there will be much play-off manoeuvring and relegation scrapping to be played out up and down the country. Supporters of teams at a certain level of football can be a miserable bunch, take my word for it. While those at the top end of the game will bask in boasting about their team, those who follow a more humble club will always expect them to find a way of turning triumph into failure. So, let's all say hello to Walsall. Nine league wins in a row between December and mid-January had Mat Sadler's side 12 points clear at the top and the bookies perhaps ready to pay out. As we enter April, that gap is down to one point - and, perhaps more pertinently, only five ahead of fourth-placed Doncaster Rovers who they visit on Tuesday. But defiant Walsall boss Sadler told BBC Radio WM: "We know we're a good team - we're at the fun stage of the season and want to be fighting for exactly what we're fighting for." Fighting words, indeed. Doncaster ended a three-game winless run by beating Carlisle at the weekend and head coach Grant McCann still has lofty targets for the season. "Our focus and eyes are firmly on the title and I'm not worried what people may think because that's what we're trying to do," he said With Walsall wobbling, Bradford City and Port Vale are leading the pursuit of the leaders and meet at Vale Park on Tuesday night. When Walsall went 12 points clear in January, Port Vale were third and now the gap at the top is down to one Vale are, well, back up to third - consistency can be key. Bradford have stumbled themselves in recent weeks with their 10-game winning streak at home brought to a halt by struggling Tranmere after a defeat by Gillingham the previous week and they drew at Accrington at the weekend. "We've added to our tally and it might be a different game against Port Vale with them being in the top part of the table but we'll need to improve in the top third of the field if we want to go there and win," said Bradford boss Graham Alexander. Such is the nature of League Two you can make a case for any of the other three teams in the top seven circumnavigating the lottery of the play-offs. Three wins from their past 10 games has dampened AFC Wimbledon's top-three charge as they head to Swindon Town while Notts County take a three-match run without a home victory into their meeting with MK Dons. As if all that was not enough it is ninth against seventh at Gresty Road where last season's beaten play-off finalists, Crewe Alexandra, come up against a Grimsby Town side who have won more points on the road than at their Blundell Park home this season. While Birmingham City plan the open-top bus parade and pick out a spot on the mantelpiece for the League One trophy, the scrap for second place seems likely to go to the wire. When Matt Bloomfield departed Wycombe Wanderers for Luton's Championship relegation battle in January, the Chairboys' promotion challenge could have fallen by the wayside - following in the footsteps of a club legend is never easy. Step forward Mike Dodds who, in his first permanent role as a head coach has overseen 15 points from a possible 27 to stay in the race as they host rock-bottom Shrewsbury Town having squeezed past Lincoln at the weekend. "You can see the players are playing like they've got something to lose - my responsibility at this time is to be really calm and clear in what we're trying to achieve," Dodd told BBC Three Counties Radio. Wrexham hold a three-point advantage over Wycombe going into their trip to second-from-bottom Cambridge United although the Welshmen have played an extra game at this stage and cannot afford to slip up at the Abbey Stadium. "We can't take any team for granted. In this division, if you're not at 100% and you're not closing down, anyone can look a good player," said Wrexham midfielder Ollie Rathbone. Oh, by the way, Birmingham City are at Bristol Rovers. With all the dramas ongoing at Reading, don't be surprised if, in years to come, a doorstep salesman knocks on your door offering you a series of quality bound books detailing the full story which you can pay for in monthly instalments. But, whatever the outcome of the Royals' ownership tale, neither management nor players are using it as an excuse. Saturday's 3-1 victory over Peterborough lifted them into the top six while stretching their unbeaten run to 11 games as they make the long haul up to Blackpool who, with four wins from their past five, are also in the play-off shake up. "Blackpool are a good side with strong players who can hurt you - they have league winners in there who I played with so we've got to go up there and put our best foot forward," head coach Noel Hunt told BBC Radio Berkshire. Stockport and Charlton complete the top six with the Hatters entertaining Stevenage and the Addicks at Mansfield Town. Thirteen years ago, Wigan Athletic against Bolton Wanderers was a Premier League fixture but on Tuesday night it's mid-table League One hosting play-off hopeful. While Shrewsbury and Cambridge United can probably start looking at maps to League Two grounds next season, Crawley Town may have put the atlas away for a while. With Scott Lindsey back in town the king is back on his throne, starting with two wins to reignite hopes of a great escape as they meet Peterborough United. "Football has a habit of kicking you in the teeth so we have to stay grounded, measured and ready to go again," said Lindsey. Rotherham United sacked boss Steve Evans on Sunday following defeat by Crawley and will have Matt Hamshaw in charge for the trip to Northampton Town.

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News_Naija

Equity Market Loses N207bn Amid Easter Holiday

The Nigerian equity market suffered a setback in a holiday-shortened trading week, shedding N207bn in market capitalisation as investor sentiment remained mixed amid ongoing earnings releases and dividend declarations. Trading on the Nigerian Exchange Limited was limited to four days as the Federal Government declared Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21, 2025, as public holidays to mark the Easter celebration. As a result, the benchmark All-Share Index declined by 0.32 per cent to close at 104,233.81 points, while market capitalisation dropped from N65.706tn in the previous week to N65.499tn, representing a loss of N207bn. The weekly report released by the NGX showed that investors traded a total of 1.525 billion shares worth N43.006bn in 51,156 deals. This represented a decline from the previous week’s 2.094 billion shares valued at N52.967bn in 64,612 deals, reflecting a slowdown in market activity due to the shortened trading period. Sectoral performance showed the financial services industry maintained its dominance, leading the activity chart with 1.122 billion shares valued at N24.015bn traded in 28,818 deals. This accounted for 73.56 per cent and 55.84 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively. The ICT sector followed with 101.252 million shares worth N4.819bn in 2,541 deals, while the services industry recorded a turnover of 99.776 million shares worth N1.230bn in 3,063 deals. Access Holdings Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, and Universal Insurance Plc were the most traded equities during the week by volume, accounting for a combined 448.105 million shares valued at N6.730bn in 6,481 deals. Their contribution represented 29.39 per cent of the total volume and 15.65 per cent of the total market value. Market breadth was relatively positive, with 31 equities appreciating, higher than 27 recorded in the previous week. 44 equities recorded price declines, lower than the 56 that lost value the prior week, while 72 equities closed flat, compared to 64 in the previous week. In the Exchange Traded Products segment, investors traded a total of 19,814 units valued at N3.572m in 62 deals, a significant decline from 111,693 units valued at N6.115m in 83 deals recorded the previous week. In the fixed income segment, the bond market also witnessed a decline in turnover, with 81,759 units worth N84.283m traded in 27 deals, compared to 144,487 units valued at N151.615m transacted in 100 deals the previous week. Despite the broader market decline, some sectoral indices posted gains. The Premium Index rose by 0.57 per cent, Pension gained 0.42 per cent, MERI Growth advanced by 2.67 per cent, Consumer Goods increased by 2.33 per cent, Oil & Gas was up 0.20 per cent, Lotus II rose 0.16 per cent, Growth added 0.26 per cent, Sovereign Bond advanced 0.39 per cent, and Pension Broad appreciated by 0.55 per cent. Meanwhile, the ASeM and Commodity indices closed flat. Meanwhile, trading commenced on Wema Bank Plc’s rights issue of 14.29 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N10.45 per share. The offer, based on two new ordinary shares for every three held as at the close of business on Wednesday, 5 March 2025, opened on Monday, 14 April 2025. The PUNCH reported that the Nigerian equities market closed positively on Thursday, as investors gained N239bn in market capitalisation. This reversed the losses recorded in previous sessions following a four-day trading week caused by the Easter public holidays.

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Worldnews

LIVE: Israel Bombs Gaza School-turned-shelter, Sparking Fire And Killing 10

Israeli air strike hits El Dorra Pediatric Hospital in Gaza City as health officials raise alarm over the suspension of a UN-backed polio vaccination campaign. Israeli blockade on Gaza: Food and aid supplies running out across the strip Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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Futbol

Sheff Wed Players Not Paid Due To Chansiri Cashflow Issues

Sheffield Wednesday have failed to pay their players' wages for March due to cashflow problems suffered by owner Dejphon Chansiri. The club said it was a "temporary issue" due to debts owed to the 56-year-old Thai businessman, whose family control the Thai Union Group, the world's largest producer of canned tuna. Wednesday are 12th in the Championship - five points outside the play-off places - and face Hull City at home on Saturday. "Sheffield Wednesday can confirm a temporary issue with the payment of player salaries for the month of March," said a club statement. "This has occurred as a result of significant sums of money owed to the chairman's businesses which has in turn impacted on the club's immediate cashflow. "The chairman is working hard to resolve this situation at the earliest possible opportunity and in the meantime thanks everyone for their patience and understanding." The Professional Footballers' Association are aware of the Owls' issues and are in touch with the club's players. Chansiri headed up a Thai consortium which bought Wednesday from Milan Mandaric in January 2015, but his time in charge of the club has seen a number of financial challenges. In July 2019, Wednesday sold their Hillsborough stadium to Chansiri for about £60m in ensure they did not breach spending rules. Then in October 2023, Chansiri asked fans to raise £2m to help the club pay an outstanding debt to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and cover wages. Last November, the Owls were placed under a registration embargo by the EFL over amounts owed to HMRC. Chansiri's stewardship of the club has been criticised by fans, who have protested at matches this season, while his relationship with manager Danny Rohl has become strained. A growing number of fans are angry and demanding answers after it emerged that, not for the first time during Chansiri's reign as Sheffield Wednesday owner, the Owls players have not been paid on time. Many are asking why the club sells season tickets in an early-bird window before Christmas yet by March, there isn't enough money to even pay wages? A statement claims it's down to "significant sums of money" being owed to Chansiri's other businesses, "impacting immediate cashflow". However, you get the sense patience for a lot of people has run out. The club was placed under a second registration embargo in 12 months by the EFL last November over amounts owed to HM Revenue and Customs. Now this. How financially sustainable is this club? What exactly is the future of Sheffield Wednesday? These are questions that need to be answered with more than just a statement. Fans are worried and some will feel embarrassed. They deserve answers. This latest admittance will lead to growing calls for Chansiri to sell the club. The Owls might be five points off the play-offs but they lack the solid base that typically accompanies teams challenging for the top flight. Fans dream of a Premier League return after 25 years but it's not realistic in this environment. The club is a long way off in terms of infrastructure and finances. It's the latest reason why a talented young manager in Danny Rohl, the club's greatest asset, may leave amid reported interest from elsewhere.