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Category: Ipswich town

  • Opta predicts the chances of Wolves beating Leicester City and Ipswich Town to Premier League survival

    Opta predicts the chances of Wolves beating Leicester City and Ipswich Town to Premier League survival

    The final stretch of the Premier League season is approaching and there is still a long way to go before Wolves have their fate confirmed.

    It’s building up to be a three-way battle for the final two relegation spots involving Wolves, Leicester City and Ipswich Town, with Southampton marooned to the bottom of the table on nine points.

    Despite Wolves losing 2-1 against Liverpool on Sunday, Vitor Pereira’s men find themselves two points clear of the bottom three ahead of their trip to Bournemouth this weekend.

    Team MP W D L GD Pts
    15
    Man Utd    		 25 8 5 12 -7 29
    16
    West Ham    		 25 7 6 12 -18 27
    17
    Wolves    		 25 5 4 16 -19 19
    18
    Ipswich    		 25 3 8 14 -27 17
    19
    Leicester    		 25 4 5 16 -30 17

    Meanwhile, Leicester host Brentford in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Friday night, whereas Ipswich play Tottenham on Saturday after securing a vital point against Aston Villa last time out.

    It’s impossible to predict which two of the three teams could fall into the Championship, though Opta have now forecasted the probability of each sides chances.

    Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
    Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

    Wolves handed a 17.5% chance of suffering Premier League relegation

    Opta predicted Wolves to finish in 17th place in September 2024, tipping them to narrowly avoid relegation under Gary O’Neil.

    MORE WOLVES STORIES

    In their final league table, they also had Ipswich to end up in 18th place with Leicester City in 19th, and that is how it stands with just 13 matches remaining.

    Meanwhile, in the Opta supercomputer’s latest round of 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season, they’ve given Pereira’s men a 17.5% chance of suffering relegation.

    Unsurprisingly, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester and Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich have a 91.8% and 89.7% probability of returning to the Championship, with Southampton given a 99.9% chance.

    TeamChances of relegationFigures via OptaConsidering how accurate the Supercomputer has been so far, Wolves fans will take confidence from this verdict and their performance against Liverpool at the weekend.

    Wolves January transfer window could save them

    Fosun have often come under scrutiny for leaving previous managers short in the transfer department, most recently Julen Lopetegui and O’Neil.

    But in a desperate attempt to win some brownie points, the owners backed Pereira in the window, as Wolves spent the second most money of any Premier League side, behind only Manchester City.

    The Old Gold totalled just over £40m in signings as centre-backs Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Agbadou were captured along with midfielder Marshall Munetsi.

    Agbadou has settled in well at Molineux, and although he’s currently injured, the Ivorian has significantly improved the defence.

    Munetsi was also excellent on his Premier League debut, coming off the bench in a ferocious attacking midfield role and nearly scoring past Alisson.

    The above signings, along with their upturn in performances since Pereira took charge, suggest Wolves have enough to survive, though anything can happen in football.

  • Felixstowe & Walton: Charlie Warren joins Bolton Wanderers on trial

    Felixstowe & Walton: Charlie Warren joins Bolton Wanderers on trial

     & Walton United star Charlie Warren is on trial at Bolton Wanderers. (Image: Thomas Bradford)

    Felixstowe & Walton United manager Stuart Boardley says he’s surprised Ipswich Town haven’t taken a look at in demand attacker Charlie Warren.

    The 20-year-old – a left-footed right winger – has scored an incredible 27 goals for the Isthmian League Division One North league leaders so far this season and looks set for a move to an EFL club.

    The Chantry-based schemer recently had trials at Championship outfit Stoke City and League One high-fliers Wycombe Wanderers.

    He’s currently at Bolton Wanderers and scored for their B side against Blackburn Rovers’ Under-21s in a Lancashire FA Senior Cup match last night.

    “Charlie’s had a lot of interest from various EFL clubs,” said Boardley.

    “He’s under contract with us, but we won’t stand in the way of him fulfilling his potential.

    “He was in Ipswich Town’s academy when he was younger and also had a spell at Needham before we spotted him at the age of 15/16.0:00

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    Charlie Warren has scored 27 goals for Felixstowe & Walton United this season. (Image: Stefan Peck)

    “He’s really good technically and physically very able. He’s turned into a man over the past couple of years and this season has been his big break out.

    “He’s been incredible for us, is a great lad and, even though we’ve not received any concrete offers yet, we’re resigned to losing him.

    “I’ve got no doubt he’ll go on to have a good professional career. My only surprise is that none of the local clubs – Ipswich, Colchester, Norwich, Cambridge – haven’t had a look.”

    The Seasiders are currently involved in a thrilling Step 4 title race with Suffolk rivals Bury Town, the latter managed by former Ipswich Town midfielder Cole Skuse. The two clubs are locked on 68 points, with Essex club Brentwood Town breathing down their necks.

  • Left for £0: Ipswich man who was let go by McKenna is now outscoring Delap

    Left for £0: Ipswich man who was let go by McKenna is now outscoring Delap

    Ipswich Town could buckle under the strain of the battle to stay up in the Premier League over the course of the next few contests, with two tough clashes against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United coming the way of the Tractor Boys in quick succession.

    However, both reverse fixtures did see Kieran McKenna‘s men impressively pick up a stunning away victory at Spurs, whilst also collecting a deserved point during Ruben Amorim’s first clash in the Red Devils dug-out.

    Off the back of a battling draw with Aston Villa too, McKenna’s men won’t go into either encounter riddled with fear, especially if Liam Delap is on top form attempting to cause both inconsistent teams trouble.

    Delap’s red-hot form for Ipswich

    It goes without saying now that the £20m capture of Delap last summer was a masterstroke of a buy on the newly promoted side’s end, with the ex-Manchester City wonderkid turning into a deadly Premier League centre-forward in Suffolk.

    Indeed, as a result of his opener against Unai Emery’s shellshocked Villa, Delap is now up to ten goals for the season in the league, with Sammie Szmodics way behind his bumper total with four as Ipswich’s second top scorer.

    McKenna will be hoping Delap’s continued excellence in front of goal gives his underdogs a fighting chance at survival, because if Ipswich do go down, there will be a whole host of higher-up suitors wanting to win the exceptional 22-year-old’s services.

    But, whilst his bumper goal total is an obvious joy to behold for the Portman Road masses, there is one former Tractor Boys attacker who is actually bettering the 6 foot 1 forward’s electric goalscoring form now all the way down in League Two.

    The unexpected star who’s outscoring Delap

    This ex-Ipswich man did have the unfortunate reality of being in a side that was languishing all the way down in League One, instead of one punching above its weight in the top flight.

    Still, Armando Dobra’s lacklustre output of two goals and four assists from 30 largely forgettable appearances would see the Albanian attacker be moved onto Chesterfield in 2022 on a free transfer, with McKenna the cutthroat manager to finally wave him on his way.

    Ipswich lineup from Dobra’s final ever start

    Burton Albion 2-1 Ipswich, 14th of August 2021

    1. GK -Vaclav Hladky

    2. RB – Kane Vincent-Young

    3. CB – Janoi Donacien

    4. CB – Luke Woolfenden

    5. LB – Matt Penney

    6. RM – Armando Dobra

    7. CM – Rekeem Harper

    8. CM – Lee Evans

    9. LM – Scott Fraser

    10. AM – Louie Barry

    11. ST – Joe Pigott

    Sourced by Transfermarkt

    Whilst Vaclav Hladky and Luke Woolfenden would go on to be key parts of the jigsaw under McKenna – who both lined up alongside Dobra during his final ever Tractor Boys start – the 23-year-old had to go and repair his career with the Spireites and he has done just that based off his superb showings in League Two this campaign.

    Where Are They Now

    In all competitions, the one-time Ipswich reject is amazingly trumping Delap’s weighty ten goals with 11 of his own, alongside also boasting two assists as a constantly creative option for Paul Cook’s lower league side.

    As assistant manager Danny Webb has stated, amid January interest in the forward, he is “a massive player” for the lower league outfit.

    It’s not as if Dobra has suddenly sparked into life for Chesterfield either and become this rejuvenated presence, having now collected a bumper 32 goals and 15 assists from 116 clashes donning a more comfortable shade of blue.

    Cook and Co even have an outside shot of the League Two playoffs in their sights, whilst Dobra’s former club have one simple survival aim etched into their brains all the way up in the Premier League.

  • Ipswich Town column: Spurs and Man United clashes important in survival bid

    Ipswich Town column: Spurs and Man United clashes important in survival bid

    It did feel nice to come away with something on Saturday – I’ve missed that feeling! I thought we deserved it too.

    Ipswich Town were always going to be underdogs up against Champions League side Aston Villa, but I thought our management of the game was superb and I was really pleased for the boys that the performance got what it deserved, which hasn’t always been the case this season.

    A big part in that result was of course goalkeeper Alex Palmer – what a start he has made.

    I really like Alex, not just for his outstanding shot-stopping ability, but the fact he seems to organise and communicate with his defence so well. We look a lot more solid with him in the net.

    There’s obviously been a lot said about Aro Muric and some wondering ‘what if’ Palmer had signed instead of him in the summer – well there’s nothing we can do about that now, but I have to admit I do think we’d have more points on the board if he was.

    It’s a good point for Town and I wrote last week how, if we are to stay up, then we have to start picking up these points in matches we aren’t expected to. This was one of those.

    Next up are two big ones – games Ipswich have to get some points out of, ideally four. It does seem crazy that Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are now these matches we see as ‘winnable’ – which would’ve been ridiculous to think not long ago – but now it’s a necessity if we are serious about staying up.

    I’m excited about this weekend. Portman Road on a Saturday at 3pm is my favourite place to be and you can’t help feel with the situation Tottenham are in and the way they like to play, it might just suit us.

    That said, we’ve been here before haven’t we? But I do think we have a chance. Tottenham like to concede and so do we – so this could be anything from 2-2 to 5-4!

    Let’s hope whatever it is, it’s in our favour. Strap yourselves in and come on Ipswich!

  • Brad Holmes reiterates what he knows separates great NFL players from the rest

    Brad Holmes reiterates what he knows separates great NFL players from the rest

    Brad Holmes knows that talent is not what makes the biggest difference in players’ success.

    Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
    Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

    Listen to Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes, and head coach Dan Campbell for that matter, talk about the possibility of adding a player and they’ll use some iteration of the phrase “fits us” a lot. As in, said player has to “fit us” and they are talking about more than sheer talent.

    During his memorable season-ending press conference when the 2023 season was over, Holmes made it very clear where he places talent on the player evaluation spectrum.

    “We have to get past just looking for the most talented player,” Holmes said.” In my opinion, that’s the prerequisite of evaluation. That’s the – who’s the fastest? Who’s the strongest? Who’s got the most height? That’s a very coherent thing to do. No, it’s how do you find the right intangibles in a football player? And that’s what’s made us who we are.”

    The Lions have clearly found a lot of players who fit the intangibles they want. Those players have been the foundation for the team’s progress and success since Holmes and Campbell took over, and many will remain the foundation for the foreseeable future as they “reward their own” with notable contracts.

    Brad Holmes reiterates the difference between average and great players

    Holmes recently did a lengthy interview with Local 4 News in Detroit at the Lions’ facility. A wide range of topics were discussed, including his thoughts on talent evaluation. We’ve heard the notes of that tune before.

    “It’s just the intangibles, the intangible qualities of the players. Talent is easy to identify, it’s easy to find,” Holmes said. “This guy’s big and he’s strong. Okay, I get that, all these other hundreds and thousands are big and strong too. But who has the makeup and drive and determination and competitiveness and passion for the game that we’re looking for?”

    “It’s not just about how much talent you have, it’s about how much determination, how you’re gonna face adversity,” Holmes said. “Are you gonna sink down in a hole? Are you gonna just rise to the occasion? And do you have the mental toughness and mental fortitude to do that? Those intangible qualities, that’s what we look for. In my opinion, that’s the separation between being a great player and being just an average player.”

    It’s not breaking news that it takes having something extra to be a great player, and those intangibles are what separates the great from the average. Every NFL team looks for those things. But few are like the Lions in terms of knowing what those things look like to them, then finding and getting players who fit that template.

    Check out the entire interview with Holmes, about 46 minutes long, below.

  • Son, Richarlison, Solanke: Tottenham Hotspur injury news ahead of Ipswich clash

    Last time out, Spurs, after a nightmare run of form began to resemble something closer to last season’s team as the returning James Maddison inspired the Lillywhites to a significant 1-0 win against an equally injury-hit Manchester United, banking a much-needed pick-me-up following heartbreaking cup exits in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup exits.

    However, just as Tottenham’s injury problems showed signs of easing there were three fresh injury blows for Ange Postecoglou to contend with. The former Celtic boss hopes they are not too serious as he aims to pick up another strong result against a struggling Ipswich team that beat them 2-1 in the reverse fixture in North London.

    Ahead of kick-off, we’ve taken a look inside the Spurs camp to assess their current injury situation.

    Tottenham defensive injuries

    Argentine international Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have both been out for a significant portion of the season, but are closing in on a return for early March. Commenting on Romero, Postecoglou said, via Premier Injuries: “We’re just waiting… the healing in his quad is taking longer than we thought. He’s got one more scan to make sure it’s healed properly. Once we get that sign-off, we should be good to go.”

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    Centre back partner Van de Ven did return from a thigh injury, but has since taken a step away from first team duties to manage his recovery. Postecoglou explained: “We decided to take a different strategy with him. We just want to make sure he’s absolutely right… talking to different people, he’s working with different medical teams and rehab staff to make sure he’s right.”

    January signing Kevin Danso arrived to alleviate the problem in the short-term but has since suffered a knock of his own in the run-up to the Ipswich Town clash. However, Postecoglou has confirmed that it is nothing too serious, he said: ‘He got a knock on his knee. I don’t think it is anything significant.”

    The same, however, cannot be said for Radu Dragusin, with the Romanian international sustaining a season-ending ACL injury.

    Tottenham midfielder and striker injuries

    Rodrigo Bentancur picked up a slight knock during the victory against Manchester United and faces a late fitness test to assess his fitness ahead of Ipswich. However, the injury is not thought to be anything too serious. German international Timo Werner is also well on the road to recovery, according to Postecoglou, who explained: “Timo is also training with us and is getting pretty close to being available.”

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    Heung Min Son, who has struggled to live up to his usual high standards is current nursing a knock, but is expected to be available for the Ipswich test. The same, however, cannot be said for Brazilian Richarilson, who is expected to be out until March with a calf injury. The ex-Everton man has struggled for fitness in his third season in the capital.

  • Wolves, Leicester and Ipswich’s relegation fate revealed in latest PL forecast

    Wolves, Leicester and

    The Old Gold were slammed for their first half display by Vitor Pereira, who said he didn’t recognise his team during the first 45. However, the Portuguese coach insisted he was impressed by the response as Matheus Cunha curled in a fine strike from the edge of the box to set up a nervy finish at Anfield.

    Wolves can look ahead to a challenging fixture on the road against high-flying Bournemouth before playing host to a Fulham side that have also had their sights on a European push. It marks a potentially defining period in the season as Pereira’s men push to secure survival in the Premier League.

    Between now and the end of the season, there is likely to be plenty of twists and turns at both the top and bottom of the table, but do the experts at OPTA believe Wolves have enough to beat the drop? Here Birmingham World takes a look at the final predicted table and points tallies of all 20 top-flight clubs.

    The Premier League title race

    Leaders Liverpool are expected to steamroll their way to a second Premier League title and their first since 2020. Arne Slot’s side have been given a 86.49% chance of winning the title and are expected to pick up 87 points, giving them a comfortable seven point cushion on Mikel Arteta’s injury-hit Arsenal side. The Gunners are expected to settle for silver for the third season in a row and have been given just a 13.41% chance of bridging the gap between themselves and Slot’s imperious Liverpool team.

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    Manchester City showed signs of their best performance levels by hammering Newcastle United 4-0 and are expected to secure Champions League qualification despite their lacklustre start. OPTA gives them a 79.18% chance of qualifying for Europe’s elite competition and gives them an estimated points tally of 70.

    Meanwhile, high-flying Nottingham Forest are expected to return to the Champions League for the first time since 1981 when they were managed by Brian Clough. They have a 41% chance of playing in Europe’s elite competition ahead of the likes of Chelsea in fifth, Bournemouth in sixth and Newcastle United who are once again expected to finish seventh.

    Aston Villa have just a 1.16% chance of qualifying for the Champions League, according to OPTA and are expected to drop all the way to 10th following the bombshell departure of Jhon Duran to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.

    The relegation battle: can Wolves beat the drop?

    Premier League strugglers Southampton are expected to remain at the bottom of the table, but are expected to comfortably better Derby County’s dismal 11 point tally of 2007/08. The Saints have a predicted points tally of 18 but have been given a 99.3% chance of relegation.

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    Leicester City are expected to pick up 27 points and are likely to drop straight back down to the Championship with a telling 91.26% chance of being relegated for the second time in three seasons.

    Wolves are expected to comfortably beat the drop with 35 points, with OPTA Sport giving them a seven point gap on Ipswich Town, who are expected to return to the second-tier with just 28 points. The Tractor Boys have a 87.81% chance of being relegated compared to Wolves’ 19.82%.

    Meanwhile, Manchester United are expected to finish the season in 14th, which would mark their worst top-flight campaign since 1973/74 when they were relegated.

    Here is the full Premier League table, according to OPTA

    1. Liverpool – 87 pts
    2. Arsenal – 80 pts
    3. Man City – 70 pts
    4. Nottingham Forest – 66 pts
    5. Chelsea – 64 pts
    6. Bournemouth – 63 pts
    7. Newcastle – 62 pts
    8. Brighton – 56 pts
    9. Fulham – 56 pts
    10. Aston Villa – 56 pts
    11. Brentford – 50 pts
    12. Spurs – 49 pts
    13. Crystal Palace – 47 pts
    14. Man Utd – 46 pts
    15. Everton – 45 pts
    16. West Ham – 43 pts
    17. Wolves – 35 pts
    18. Ipswich Town – 28 pts
    19. Leicester City – 28 pts
    20. Southampton 18 pts
  • Ticket details | Ipswich Town (H)

    Ticket details | Ipswich Town (H)

    Ticket details for Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup fifth round fixture against Ipswich Town have been confirmed. 

    The Reds will welcome the Tractor Boys to The City Ground on Monday 3 March (kick-off 7.30pm).

    Tickets for the fixture start at £10 for children, £15 for youth and £20 for adult Season Card holders and MyForest members. Memberships are available for just £30 and give supporters immediate access to these tickets.

    Hospitality packages are also available for this fixture. This is a great opportunity for members to sample our incredible Hospitality experiences with a special discounted price for all members.MyForest memberships

    Secure your membership today.

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SUPPORTERS

    • NFFC Season Card Holders have an exclusive period from 2pm on Tuesday 18th February until 2pm on Friday 21st February to secure their usual seats.
    • For this fixture, Season Card holders that purchase their seat before 2pm on Friday 21st February will have access added onto their Season Card.
    • All tickets purchased after 2pm on Friday 21 February will be issued Digital/Print at Home only.
    • All sales will be online only*, including for Season Card Holders securing their reserved seat.

    Seats will be released on Friday 21 February at 10am if not taken by Season Card Holders.

    From 4pm on Friday 21 February, all MyForest Pro, MyForest Plus and MyForest members will have the opportunity to purchase, with general sales purchasers then having an option to buy, subject to availability. Full information on ticketing and hospitality for this fixture is available below.

     

    • Tuesday 18th February (2pm): On sale to Season Card Holders to secure their seat only (online only)*.
    • Friday 21st February (2pm): Deadline for Season Card Holders to secure their seat.
    • Friday 21st February (4pm): On sale to all MyForest Members to purchase a ticket, subject to availability (online only)*.
    • Monday 24th February (4pm): On general sale to purchase a maximum of 1 seat per supporter, subject to availability (online only)*.

    Make your trip to The City Ground all the more memorable by taking in the action from the best seats in the house. More information on hospitality is available here.

    Supporters with accessibility requirements, who require a disabled companion, or those who require a wheelchair, can call the NFFC Ticket Office on 0115 9824388 for assistance. Disabled supporters can also now purchase online, and you can find more information at tickets.nottinghamforest.co.uk.

    Accessible car parking   

    There are accessible parking spaces available on a first come, first served basis. To book, please email accessibility@nottinghamforest.co.uk from 2pm on Friday 28th February. Applications received before this date and time will be rejected and supporters will be advised to email their request again on the above date and time.

    How to claim your reserved seat

    Season Card holders are advised to ensure that they have created a new Nottingham Forest club account, as per guidance provided here. Please note, only one login can be created per email address, and only one ticketing account can be linked per club account. Should you require a number of your club accounts to have respective logins, please email tickets@nottinghamforest.co.uk with relevant email addresses and customer numbers, where further instruction will then be provided.

    Please be advised that supporters MyForest network settings remain unchanged, so you will be able to continue to assign tickets/ manage tickets for other eligible individuals in your booking as you have been able to do so before.

    To take-up your seat reservation, please login to your Online Club Account, click Buy Tickets and click on the profile icon in the top right-hand side of the screen, where a blue dot next to it will denote that your reserved seat is waiting for you.

    If you wish to create a fan network and secure reserved seats for other Season Card holders in the same transaction, check out this handy guide, remembering to set their status to “Managed”.

    Please note that all sales for this fixture are restricted to a maximum of one ticket per customer number for Season Card Holders, all MyForest, MyForest Plus and MyForest Pro members, supporters with previous booking history and general sale purchasers as detailed in the sales criteria above. Each eligible customer number must be assigned to each seat at checkout online or quoted when buying over the phone or in person.

    Please refer to the aforementioned guide to ensure your accounts are linked.

  • Ipswich Town: David Stockdale appointed Farsley Celtic manager

    Ipswich Town: David Stockdale appointed Farsley Celtic manager

    Former Ipswich Town loanee David Stockdale has been named the new manager of Farsley Celtic.

    The 39-year-old becomes the National League North side’s fourth new boss of the 2024/25 season, replacing Neil Redfearn, who left his role after just 20 days in charge.

    It has been an eventful year for the West Yorkshire outfit as they have been forced to play their home games at Buxton FC, 64 miles away from their Citadel home, which is unavailable due to issues with its surface.

    This has seen senior players and staff leave the club, with supporters boycotting matches. They have also launched a campaign to raise £25,000.

    The former goalkeeper Stockdale returns to the management for the first time since leaving his role at Blyth Spartans back in October. 0:00

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    <
    >He took charge of his first game for the Celt Army on the weekend as they lost 3-0 at Leamington. They are 22nd in the sixth tier, five points adrift from safety. 

    On his new role, he said: “I’m a local lad and I want to help. I’ve been coming here for a long time.

    “I’ve spoken to the directors and I was impressed with what they are aiming to do with the club. It’s about being competitive. I don’t quit and I always keep going until the end.

    “Football is unpredictable, we’re going to do everything we can to improve. Plans are in place for moving forward and I’m looking forward to helping the club get back to its former self.”

    Stockdale spent the first half of the 2011/12 season with the Blues on loan from Fulham, making 11 appearances during his spell at Portman Road.

  • Ipswich Town: David Stockdale appointed Farsley Celtic manager

    Ipswich Town: David Stockdale appointed Farsley Celtic manager

     

     

    David Stockdale spent time on loan at Ipswich Town in 2011.

    Former Ipswich Town loanee David Stockdale has been named the new manager of Farsley Celtic.

     

    The 39-year-old becomes the National League North side’s fourth new boss of the 2024/25 season, replacing Neil Redfearn, who left his role after just 20 days in charge.

     

    It has been an eventful year for the West Yorkshire outfit as they have been forced to play their home games at Buxton FC, 64 miles away from their Citadel home, which is unavailable due to issues with its surface.

     

    This has seen senior players and staff leave the club, with supporters boycotting matches. They have also launched a campaign to raise £25,000.

     

    The former goalkeeper Stockdale returns to the management for the first time since leaving his role at Blyth Spartans back in October.

     

    He took charge of his first game for the Celt Army on the weekend as they lost 3-0 at Leamington. They are 22nd in the sixth tier, five points adrift from safety.

     

    On his new role, he said: “I’m a local lad and I want to help. I’ve been coming here for a long time.

     

    “I’ve spoken to the directors and I was impressed with what they are aiming to do with the club. It’s about being competitive. I don’t quit and I always keep going until the end.

     

    “Football is unpredictable, we’re going to do everything we can to improve. Plans are in place for moving forward and I’m looking forward to helping the club get back to its former self.”

     

    Stockdale spent the first half of the 2011/12 season with the Blues on loan from Fulham, making 11 appearances during his spell at Portman Road.