Ownership race hots up at Sheffield Wednesday with England great touted for managerial role with Portsmouth rivals
It may be the international break, but there’s still plenty happening in the Championship among Pompey’s rivals. Here’s the latest.
Pompey head into the latest international break on a run of just one point from their last five Championship matches.
It’s a sequence that’s seen Pompey slide to 20th in the table, just four points clear of the relegation zone. And it’s undoubtedly been fuelled by a lack of firepower, with John Mousinho’s side failing to score in three of those five matches, while their 12 goals scored is the second-lowest in the division.
Mousinho himself has defended his forwards, but couldn’t help admitting he’d be glad to see more firepower arrive at Fratton Park during the upcoming January transfer window.
For now, Portsmouth will have to carry on with what they have. But what sort of shape is the rest of the Championship in? Here are all the latest headlines from up and down the league.
US billionaire tours Sheffield Wednesday amid takeover talks
It’s been a tumultuous season so far for Sheffield Wednesday, but the mood has lifted significantly since the club entered administration, pulling further away from the grip of Dejphon Chansiri - even if results haven’t followed.
With a 12-point deduction leaving them on -4 points, Wednesday have little hope of avoiding relegation to League One, but what about life after that?
The Star has revealed that no fewer than 11 interested parties have offered proof of funds necessary to purchase Sheffield Wednesday. Among them is US billionaire John McEvoy, who is believed to have been given a tour of the club on Wednesday.
Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has also been mentioned, although he would be a much more controversial option.
Steven Gerrard backed as Middlesbrough manager hunt begins
Middlesbrough’s search for a new manager is underway after Rob Edwards was confirmed as Wolves boss, just four months after taking the job at the Riverside.
All manner of candidates are being linked with Boro, who beat Birmingham City 2-1 at the weekend under interim manager Adi Viveash to climb back into second in the Championship table.
Steven Gerrard has been backed by pundits to take the role, but he’s just one name on a shortlist that also includes Michael Carrick, Mark Robins, Alex Neil and Gary O’Neil.
Boro - who lost 1-0 at Fratton Park back in early October - will hope to have a new boss in place by the time they return from the international break, when they travel to Portsmouth’s relegation rivals, Oxford United.
Millwall duo up for Championship awards
Millwall are Portsmouth’s next opponents following the international break, and while they’re winless in their last three, they’ve lost just one of their last seven - taking 14 points along the way.
It’s a run that’s seen the Lions climb to sixth in the table, just four points adrift of the automatic promotion spots.
And as a result, manager Alex Neil and forward Femi Azeez have been nominated for the respective Championship Manager and Player of the Month awards.
The latter scored in all four of his appearances during October, as well as providing an assist, guiding Millwall to consecutive victories against West Brom, QPR, Stoke and Leicester in the process.
The London side started the month with a 4-0 thrashing at home to Coventry, but were perfect thereafter.
Frank Lampard looking to bolster Coventry City’s promotion bid
Coventry City have undoubtedly been the standout team in the Championship this season, sitting top of the table with 34 points - at least five clear of any other team - and just one defeat. What’s more, their record of 40 goals scored is at least 14 better than any of their rivals.
And yet, manager Frank Lampard still believes there’s plenty of improvements to be made, eyeing the January transfer window as a chance to consolidate the Sky Blues’ promotion chances further.
“We have a real togetherness with good players that are developing all the time, but I never want to rest on that,” said Lampard. “I’m ambitious to say, can we help and improve because I think there absolutely is improvement for this squad.
“We’re nowhere near what we would want to be in a finished article, and the minute you think you are near it, the game will kick you in the backside. So yeah, it’s something for January, but we have to start preparing right now.”
Conor Coady approached over shock Wolves switch
As mentioned, Rob Edwards is now in the Molineux dugout, with focus turning to building his coaching staff.
A shock name has been thrown into the mix by the Telegraph, who claim that Wolves are looking to bring Conor Coady on board in a purely coaching capacity.
Such a deal would be difficult to strike, given Coady still has 18 months left on his deal as a player for Wrexham and is still only 32 years old.
However, the former England international - who is a product of the Liverpool youth system, played 317 times for Wolves and has also represented Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town, Leicester City and Everton - has not proven as important as expected with Wrexham, making just five Championship appearances so far this season.
The Telegraph have labelled a coaching switch for Coady at this stage as ‘unlikely’, but the possibility has been explored.