Recently by Rob Tanner

This is truly the business end of the season when the fates of football clubs up and down the land in so many divisions of the football pyramid are decided after a long, hard season.
Wolves are back in the Premier League and Blues are on the cusp of joining them.
Albion's fate was all but sealed last weekend, while Villa still face a fight to maintain their UEFA Cup spot.
But it is further down the pyramid that has grabbed my attention recently. In the spit and sawdust, and real ale realm of non-league football.
Burton Albion are desperately clawing their way to the finish line to book their place in the Football League for the first time in the club's history having picked up a case of the promotion jitters in recent weeks.
If they manage to hang on, what an amazing feat that would be and credit to everyone associated with the club.
Just a few years ago, the Brewers were competing alongside my hometown club of Tamworth in the Conference, but while the Lambs were left behind, the Brewers went from strength to strength, thanks mainly to the move to the Pirelli Stadium.
Their new facility gave them the foundation to build upon, to generate their own off-the-field income and build a club capable of sustaining itself at a higher level.
Tamworth tried to do exactly the same but have been met with barrier after barrier, mainly due to local politics and a lack of support from various entities.
As a result, when Tamworth were surviving in the Conference but looking to push on to secure their future, they were left in limbo and left behind.
They were relegated and have been through a process of rebuilding. Tonight, their recovery could be complete because if they beat Hinckley United at The Lamb, they will be promoted back to the Conference Premier. It would be an achievement on a par with Burton's.
If Burton are promoted what a boost that would be to the town and I am sure everyone would want to share in the celebrations, and deservedly so. Would the name of the town be in the national spotlight more for anything else but football? I doubt it.
If Tamworth do it, on their own terms but with the help of their fantastically loyal band of supporters, I am sure many around the town, including local dignitaries, would also want a taste of the bubbly.
But I wonder how many outside the club truly deserve it.

Hands up who wants promotion to the Premier League? Anyone? What, not one of you?
Crazy as it seems that seems to be the case at the top of the Championship.
Before Christmas it seemed so straight forward. It was supposed to be two from three as Wolves, Blues and Reading dominated proceedings.
Wolves were scoring at will and were as strong defensively as they were the previous season. There were many who were waiting for the bubble to burst but Wolves just kept winning.
Blues were packed with players with Premier League experience and while they never looked as convincing as Wolves, they knew how to grind out the victories.
After a slowish start, the Royals began to rediscover their attacking flair and were moving ominously closer to Wolves and Blues.
Since Christmas and everything has changed. Wolves have won one game in ten, while Reading and Blues have failed to take advantage with just two wins each in the same period. It is relegation form and yet they are still in the top three.
Wanderers are struggling to keep a clean sheet while Blues have are struggling to get out of first gear, and Reading are treading water.
Preston's charge has slowed to a crawl, Burnley had faltered in league as their cup exploits distracted them but are now unbeaten in six, while Bristol City and Cardiff are mounting challenges of sorts.
But despite their attempts, I still feel the top two will come from Blues, Wolves and Reading come the end of the season, and I think that says it all about the Championship.
Albion lost 11 games last season and still won the league. That is nearly a quarter of the season.
No wonder the promoted sides struggle in the Premier League.

So the sack race gathered pace with two heads on the block in the same day.
Tony Adams and Luiz Felipe Scolari became the latest victims in this unrealistic modern football world where results are demanded yesterday.

In all the transfer window madness and the chaotic weather conditions, it may have been very easy to miss the news on Monday that former Aston Villa and Wolves midfielder Paul Birch had finally succumbed to bone cancer at the age of 45.
West Bromwich-born Birch was the type of player fans loved. Energetic and hard working, he gave everything he had to the cause during ten years at Villa Park and five at Molineux.
But he was also an honest player, never involved in any nasty unpleasantness, and as a result he was respected by supporters of rival clubs as well. They all would have gladly welcomed him into their team.
To back up the point, one Blues fan commented on the Evening Mail website: "A proper footballer who always played the game full of heart, passion and desire. There aren't many players these days that you could say they genuinely love playing for the shirt." Spot on.
So while clubs scramble to sign the next superstar from overseas, perhaps the real gems are hidden closer to home.
What price would you pay for another Paul Birch?

We continued our trial of on-line match day live blogging on Saturday where we sports writers were able to interact with the readers during the matches, giving fans a chance to ask us a question or voice an opinion as the action took place in front of us and it has been a great success so far.
However, last Saturday's exchange was dominated by one set of disgruntled supporters and one re-occurring theme. Blues fans bombarded the live blog with a relentless stream of posts calling for the head of manager Alex McLeish. Whether they are a true reflection of the feelings of the majority of Blues fans, it is hard to say but it was concerning none the less.
They may have ranged from those who were Big Eck fans before and now conceded he must go, to the supporters who said they were never convinced all along, but the strength of feeling was pretty unanimous.
Although, when on the face of it, it is easy to understand the Blues fans' disenchantment. After all, McLeish was unable to address Blues' slide into the Championship and despite a good start to this season in terms of results, his side has failed to convince and is currently on a run of one win from the last seven games.
However, I was still taken aback by the ferocity and depth of the Blues fans' views and can't help but feel it is not McLeish himself that is the cause of their discontent but their general frustration with a lack of progress being made at St Andrew's.
Big Eck may be getting it in the neck and the recent run has fuelled the fire but even when his side were top of the league, ticket sales were down and there was a general apathy amongst the Blue Noses. The ferocity of support at St Andrew's had dwindled and away sides didn't seem to fear coming to Blues like they did before.
I don't think that had much to do with McLeish and more the current Board. It is hard to explain to many Blues fans that the club is being run within its means and last week's announcement of pre-tax profits of over £4 million proved that the club is a sensibly run business.
However, many fans feel there is a lack of serious investment and ambition from the Board; a failure to commit to taking the next step and establishing the Blues as a major player in the Premier League. Gaffs like the shambolic takeover which blighted last season may also influence the perception the fans have about the Board.
David Sullivan's regular criticism of the supporters in the match-day magazine will not have helped either.
Over the past 18 months there has been a situation where the fans have been having a go at the Board, the majority shareholder has criticised fans, and now the fans have turned on the manager and players.
And yet, despite all this, the team is still third in the Championship and in with a real chance of promotion, and the club is still profitable.
Just imagine what Blues could achieve if everyone pulled together!
To join our live Blog on match days, go to www.coveritlive.com and look for Sports Argus Live.

The Beatles sung 'Money Can't Buy Me Love' and that is certainly the case for moneybags Manchester City.
The Blue Mooners were certainly feeling blue after their incredible and obscene world record bid for Kaka failed and, to rub salt into the wounds, at the same time their other 'minor' signing in comparison, £32 million capture Robinho, was sat on a plane heading for Brazil to deal with a 'family matter'. His timing could not have been worse.
When the Arab billionaires took over the club it was seen as the dawning of a new era for City but recent developments raise the question 'are City ready to become a world player?'
It is comparable to a teenager winning the lottery; he may have the cash but doesn't know how to spend it wisely and isn't taken seriously.
Kaka's rejection of the move to Eastlands because 'City weren't prepared' with a personal offer will only add to that belief that City are a club trying to run on the world stage before they have learned to walk.
Signing Craig Bellamy for a ridiculously over-inflated price tag will not help their credibility either.
In time, there is no doubt City could become the force their new owners wish them to be but a club cannot be thrust from a side that is content merely to remain in the Premier League to a major player on the domestic and international stage over night.
Perhaps they should refer to another Beatles track - The Long and Winding Road.

For the first time since he became manager of West Bromwich Albion, Tony Mowbray is coming under pressure.
After a dismal return of two points from nine games, some are questioning his position as Baggies boss. In fact, one national newspaper included him in a list of Premier League managers who could be the next to leave their clubs in an X Factor-style phone vote.
When you consider the bare facts, there is a question to be asked but in my humble opinion, Albion even considering sacking Mowbray is madness. Even if the worst does happen and the Baggies boing back to the Championship, I can think of no one better qualified or suited to leading the club.
To put it simply, Mowbray and Albion are made for each other. Mowbray's football philosophy matches Albion's proud tradition of playing attractive, attacking football. That is proved by the unquestionable patience of the supporters. The Albion fans have not even murmured any discontent during this recent run because they appreciate the style their team has adopted.
Anyone lucky enough to sit down and listen to Mowbray in relaxed mode talking about his football beliefs, his inspirations and his commitment to playing football in an entertaining fashion cannot help but be fascinated. What also comes across is his unswerving belief that his team will be rewarded for their bravery in playing in such a fashion. I hope he is right.
The one area I can see the Baggies and Mowbray having a difference of opinion, and the one way I can see 'Mogga' leaving The Hawthorns, is over ambition. Are Albion prepared to fund Mowbray's campaign to make Albion a decent Premier League side? Will chairman Jeremy Peace find the cash to give Mowbray the tools that would allow him to do more than just fire fight? Are those funds even available?
Albion were actively looking for a new investor during the summer and no one came forward. For Albion's and Mowbray's sake, I hope someone can be found to give the Baggies the backing to fund their ambitions and give them the rewards for their commitment to making the Beautiful Game beautiful once more.

What is this current trend all about to try and force referees to apologise publicly for every decision? It is completely ridiculous.
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is the latest Premier League boss to call for an apology from the men in black after a vital decision went against them but I simply can't see the point.
Yes Scolari, Robin van Persie's first goal for Arsenal was a mile off-side and referee Mike Dean and his officials would probably admit it themselves after watching replays but what exactly is the point of making Dean apologise.

So the Hitman has had it has he? Ricky Hatton proved his doubters, who had written off his career, wrong when he convincingly beat Paul Malignaggi in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
At 30 years of age, Hatton may not have the raw power and ferocity he once had, but it is far too premature to say he still can't enjoy at least two more top class international fights.
Okay, he faced an opponent who had the punching power of small child, did more running than Paula Ratcliffe and more holding than you will see in an episode of Strictly Come Dancing, but he was elusive and fast. Just the sort of opponent Hatton needed to face to dispel the myth that he was ponderous, too slow and too predictable.
Hatton probably went into the fight under more pressure than at any stage in his career. After the defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jnr and his unconvincing comeback victory over Juan Lazcano, many believed his powers were on the wane. Added to that Hatton was going into his first fight since splitting with mentor and former trainer Billy Graham.
It was appropriate the fight was held in Las Vegas because it seemed Hatton was having one last turn of the roulette wheel to resurrect his career, and he certainly came up trumps with a rejuvenated performance.
Like Joe Calzaghe, Hatton has fantastic support and can command rock concert-style crowds to his fights, and it looks like he will have another big pay day soon when he faces the winner of the Manny Pacquiao and Oscar de la Hoya fight this weekend.
Whoever is in the other corner, a new-look Hatton fighting in front of a big crowd at Wembley Stadium would be a fantastic occasion and would be a memorable fight.

Diego Armando Maradona. The name conjures up different emotions in so many football fans but whether you love him or hate him, there is no doubt there has never been a more iconic footballer than the diminutive Argentinean.
The debate whether he is the finest footballer ever to have played the game will never end but I don't think anyone can deny he was the best of his generation.
Was Ferenc Puskas or Pele the pick, Best the best, or Cruyff the cream of the crop? Your opinion may depend on how old you are as each generation holds a great player to its heart.
For us English 30 somethings who were transfixed to the 1986 World Cup, begrudgingly we have to admit that Maradona was simply magical.
The Hand of God aside (and even the fact that he managed to get away with that blatant piece of cheating is impressive), the destiny of a football trophy has never before been decided by one man. Pele was electric in 1970 but was a part of the most impressive team ever seen. Even without Pele, Brazil would probably have emerged triumphant in Mexico, but 16 years later, in the same stadium, one man would carry a nation to glory.
The Argentina team of 1986 was average but with Maradona in his pomp, they were unbeatable. He saw off Italy in the group stages, beat England on his own except for some help from God, and then bamboozled the Belgiums in the semi-finals. He even showed the vision to put Jorge Burruchaga through for the winning goal against the Germans.
Talk about timing! He discovered the best form of his career for the biggest sporting occasion in the world. Forget his claim that it was the Hand of God, to Argentineans he was a god after 1986.
Obviously, he proved his human frailties with cocaine and alcohol abuse, and ballooned from a barrel chested footballer into a beer bellied blimp but it still did not affect his status.
Now he is the manager of the Argentinean national team and takes charge of his first game against Scotland at Hampden on Wednesday night and I suspect he would still be considered a God in his homeland even if he fails at that, which I think is inevitable.
He has hardly any experience of coaching. He attempted to work as a coach on two short stints, leading Mandiyú of Corrientes (1994) and Racing Club (1995), but without much success, and his appointment was a shock.
However, his ability to motivate and be a figure head for the side will be his strength but I suspect his tenure will be brief and end in some sort of bust up or controversy.
Maradona; you may love him or loath him but somehow you just can't ignore him.