Update on the Serie B farce

A few weeks ago I covered the farcical events surrounding the Italian Second Division (Serie B), when one of the three relegated clubs went to court to be re-instated over some 'technical difficulty' that happened during the season. The outcome was that they (Catania) won the court battle and the League were forced to reinstate them.

After facing the threat that the other two relegated clubs would then also follow the same course of action, the League buckled and promptly re-instated all three teams that had been relegated. Genoa, Salernitana and Catania were retained in the Serie B alongside promoted club Fiorentina, increasing the membership to 24 teams.

Summing up the performance

You would think you'd have heard it all before when it comes down to most football mangers trotting out their post-match verdicts and usually it's the same old drivel. Occasionally a member of this strange breed comes out with some words of wisdom, but this week's verdict from QPR manager Ian Holloway following their lacklustre performance against Chesterfield is surely a classic.

"To put it in gentleman's terms, if you've been out for a night and you're looking for a young lady and you pull one, you've done what you set out to do. We didn't look our best today but we've pulled", Holloway explained.

"Some weeks the lady is good looking and some weeks they're not. Our performance today would have been not the best looking bird but at least we got her in the taxi. She may not have been the best looking lady we ended up taking home but it was still very pleasant and very nice, so thanks very much and let's have coffee."

Isthmian League to challenge restructuring

The Isthmian League (currently sponsored by Ryman) has announced it will be taking legal action to challenge the proposed restructuring of the non-league pyramid, claiming it has the support of the majority of it's clubs.

The current setup allows for the respective champions of each of the Premier Divisions of the three 'feeder leagues' (namely the Isthmian, Northern and Southern Leagues) to be promoted to the Football Conference.

Pedro in action against Leeds Utd

Pedro makes his debut for Kettering Town in the pre-season friendly against Leeds Utd in front of 1,425 supporters under the bright floodlights at Rockingham Road.
		(Click on image to enlarge)

Enjoying the atmosphere .. 'The players were magnificent, entering into the spirit of the occasion' As Pedro said afterwards it was a definitely 'a night to remember' and summed up the experience in one word, 'Brilliant.' (Click on image to enlarge)

Pedro entertains the Leeds Utd fans with some ball juggling tricks ..
(All photos courtesy of Tich)		(Click on image to enlarge)