Championship
Hammers’ Olympic Stadium bid ‘flawed’
5 Apr 2012
Leyton Orient are not local rivals on the pitch, but are fierce competitors when it comes to the Olympic Stadium.
And Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn pulled no punches when he attacked the Hammers’ latest attempt at securing a move...
Hammers getting the Blues
4 Apr 2012
If losing second place in the Championship to Reading then getting thumped 4-2 by the Royals on home soil wasn’t bad enough, West Ham are suddenly facing up to the reality that they might not even be good enough for third spot this season....
Royals win at West Ham and put one foot in the Premier League door
31 Mar 2012
Reading know what it's like to miss out on promotion to the Premier League. Their defeat in last season's play-off final was the second time they have fallen at the final hurdle.
Having finished in second place in the table in the...
Win sees Birmingham move up to fourth
30 Mar 2012
Birmingham City jumped up to fourth spot in the Championship on Friday night with a 3-1 victory at bottom club Doncaster Rovers.
Frederic Piquionne gave the home side a fourth minute lead, but goals from David Murphy and Chris Burke...
Hammers hanging on in
28 Mar 2012
West Ham are not prepared to hand second placed to Reading on a plate.
On Tuesday night they closed the gap on the Royals to a solitary point thanks to a 2-0 win at Peterborough.
The top three sides in the Championship have...
West Ham facing style or substance quandary
26 Mar 2012
West Ham United have recently seen their automatic promotion hopes hampered through a combination of poor form and a resurgence in the performances from the likes of Reading and Birmingham who have joined them in the race for the Premier...
Hammer blow as Saints and Royals step up the pace
26 Mar 2012
West Ham are facing the prospect of an end of season lottery in the play-offs.
The Hammers were sitting pretty for automatic promotion until Reading began their charge up the table.
Now, with Southampton nine points clear of...
Warnock ‘embarrassed’ by 7-3 defeat
21 Mar 2012
Leeds United manager Neil Warnock says he is “embarrassed” by Leeds United’s 7-3 defeat against Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on Tuesday.
Warnock’s side, still hoping to secure a play-off place, took the lead on six minutes...
Saints and Royals head race for Premier League places
17 Mar 2012
Saturday was a big day in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship.
And, on current form, Southampton and Reading are best placed for automatic promotion to next season's Premier League.
West Ham have...
Clinical Roberts spearheads Reading's push to the top
12 Mar 2012
Jason Roberts' dream start to life at the Madejski Stadium continued as he inspired Reading to an eighth consecutive victory, to leave the Royals within striking distance of the Championship summit.
The evergreen striker added Reading's...
Lambert named Football League Player of the Year as Poyet shares the limelight
12 Mar 2012
Southampton's Rickie Lambert has taken all the plaudits after being named Football League Player of the Year at a ceremony in London. Lambert's 25 goals from 39 appearance have spearheaded the Saints' impressive surge towards promotion....
Failed projects: What goes up must come down
12 Mar 2012
Every division has got one – a club who find a Russian oligarch or Saudi prince who starts flinging cash at a bid for quick-fire glory.
Once it was only Chelsea who stood accused of buying success; now opposition fans have a wealth...
Portsmouth receive financial boost from Football League
10 Mar 2012
Portsmouth's fears of liquidation have been allayed for now following an agreement to receive £800,000 from the Football League.
Administrator Trevor Birch said: "Thanks to this and other initiatives, which may include further...
Reading prepare for glory days as Pompey fans show what they’re made of
8 Mar 2012
From the state-of-the-art press room at the Madejski Stadium to the immaculate green pitch I peered down onto, everything about Reading screams Premier League. Having won seven on the bounce and within striking distance of leaders Southampton,...
Leeds' Premier League hopes fading
3 Mar 2012
Leeds United's hopes of a return to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs are fading after a 1-0 defeat against leaders Southampton at Elland Road.
Saints' prolific goalscorer Rickie Lambert's 16th minute strike was enough...
Saints march on towards promotion to the beat of Lambert's drum
27 Feb 2012
Value for money in terms of transfer activity is more or less an alien concept in football. But every once in a while a player comes along who seems worth every bit of money spent to acquire his services. One such player is Southampton's Rickie...
Are Portsmouth about to go under?
26 Feb 2012
Portsmouth are in real danger of not being able to complete their fixtures this season, according to the club's administrator Trevor Birch.
Birch met with fans at Fratton Park on Wednesday and assured them there would be no additional...
Great Expectations of money and spoils to come, or a sacking waiting to happen?
7 Feb 2012
Simon Grayson has been sacked by Leeds United. 165 miles away in Reading, Berkshire, the Russians have arrived. As one manager departs, who on the face of it has done nothing wrong, another one finds himself in the limelight of great...
Russians are coming to Reading
25 Jan 2012
Swiss-based financial planner Chris Samuelson has been confirmed as a new director of Reading Football Club, subject to moves to buy the Royals going ahead.
Russian millionaire Anton Zinagarevich has paid £25 million to buy 51 per...
Madejski closes in on new investment for Royals
21 Jan 2012
Championship promotion hopefuls Reading are close to securing a major new investor.
The man behind the proposed 51% takeover is 29-year-old Russian tycoon Anton Zingarevich, owner of Thames Sports Investment. It is thought that £40m...