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‘Extremely disappointed’ – John Eustace activates shock contract clause to hold talks with Blackburn’s EFL rivals

BLACKBURN have said they are “extremely disappointed” with manager John Eustace.

It comes after he activated a shock release clause in his contract to hold talks with an EFL rival.

John Eustace, manager of Blackburn Rovers.
Getty
Blackburn Rovers have slammed manager John Eustace after he activated a release clause in his contract to allow him to speak to Derby[/caption]
John Eustace of Derby County in action during a soccer match.
Getty
Eustace played for Derby, who sacked manager Paul Warne on Friday, for two full seasons at the end of his career[/caption]

Eustace, 45, has been in charge of Rovers for a year, with the stunning news coming to light one year and one day following his original appointment.

The clause in his deal has allowed him to open negotiations over a possible move to Derby, where he played for two years.

A damning statement from the Championship promotion hopefuls said: “Blackburn Rovers can confirm that head coach John Eustace has requested permission to speak with another Championship club, following the activation of a clause in his contract.

“The club is extremely disappointed by John Eustace’s request to hold discussions with another club at such a crucial stage of the season, but this has now been reluctantly granted.

“With significant investment being made during the January transfer window, with six new additions, several of whom impressed during yesterday’s FA Cup fourth round tie against Wolves, the board and ownership feel the club are in a good position to challenge for one of the play-off places this season.

“With the squad bolstered, key players returning from injury and Rovers currently in a strong position in the Championship, the club and players remain focused on achieving the best possible outcome this season.

“The club will make no further comment at this time.”

According to talkSPORT, Eustace has felt a lack of support from the Ewood Park outfit’s owners, prompting him to seek out a move away.

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This has led him to Pride Park, where Eustace is reported to have already accepted the Derby job, although the Championship side is not named in the club statement.

The release clause in his contract is said to be valued between £500,000 and £700,000.

A win for Derby – who sacked Paul Warne on Friday – in their next match against Oxford United is likely to take them out of the relegation zone.

Eustace had insisted he was “happy” at Blackburn, but admitted he would need to speak to the owners if an official approach had been made.

He said: “I’ve heard rumours that there’s been an official approach, so that’s something I will have to discuss with the owners.

“I’ve been linked with other teams throughout the season so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Blackburn sit in sixth place in the Championship with a two-point cushion to dropping out of the play-offs.

A run of one win in their last five has threatened to derail their season.

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Asda shoppers clear shelves of Coca-Cola drink scanning for just 12p a can

ASDA is flogging cans of Fanta for just 12p a can.

The Supermarket is selling 24 crates of the limited edition fizz for just £3.

Many cans of Fanta on a store shelf.
The cans of Haunted Apple Fanta can be found at various Asda stores

One eagle-eyed shopper flagged the saving on a bargain lovers Facebook page.

“I thought I was reading it wrong but a 24 crate of Fanta for £3 in Asda this afternoon – a great bargain!” they wrote, sharing a photo of the drinks.

The striped ‘Beetlejuice’ cans first hit shelves ahead of Halloween 2024, with Michael Keaton’s face printed on the front.

The Fanta is ‘Haunted Apple’ flavour and is bright green.

Despite the hype, not everyone was sold on the drink – with some calling it ‘shocking’.

“It’s supposedly apple flavour. Though the person who taste tested it and brought it to market clearly either hadn’t tasted an apple in their life, or lost all sense of taste during the multiple rounds of testing,” wrote one.

“It’s not nice at all,” added a second.

But it was a hit with other shoppers, with one writing: “I like it!”

“Well worth a try at that price,” agreed a second.

A third said it was her daughter’s favourite drink.

This comes as Coca-Cola revealed it has made a huge change to Fanta’s recipe.

The fizzy drinks giant used to sweeten its sugar-free Fanta Orange alternative with just two ingredients – acesulfame K and aspartame.

However, the brand’s “new and improved” Fanta Zero Sugar soft drink now contains several different sweeteners which are likely to explain the changing flavour.

The new recipe drink is sweetened with cyclamates, acesulfame-K, sucralose, steviol glycosides and neohesperidine DC and no longer contains aspartame.

However, fans of the drink have been left fuming over the change.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) one Fanta Fan said: “No idea what Coca Cola are up to but the new Fanta Zero is horrible.

“Phenomenal downgrade on the old one.”

Another said: “Coca Cola what have you done to the zero sugar Fanta in the UK?

“I used to love it, the new so called ‘improved’ version tastes like chemicals!”

“The new Fanta Zero is diabolical and is not fit for human consumption.

“Change back immediately,” said a third Fanta fan.

Shoppers can spot the new from the old, where bottles have a “new irresistible taste” splashed on the front.

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‘Makes zero sense’ Fans raging as Doncaster vs Crystal Palace NOT on TV as viewers tune in to BBC to find Eastenders on

FOOTBALL fans have been left raging after finding Doncaster Rovers clash against Crystal Palace was not on TV.

The League Two outfit host the Premier League side in the fourth round of the FA Cup tonight.

Doncaster Rovers' Owen Bailey and mascots walk onto the pitch.
Reuters
Doncaster Rovers host Crystal Palace in the FA Cup[/caption]

Many fans were keen to tuned in to the fixture but were left stunned at the BBC.

After flicking on the channel they discovered the football was not on show and instead soap Eastenders was on instead.

They took to social media to vent their frustration at the broadcaster.

One posted: “How is Doncaster vs Palace not on tv?”

A second commented: “Palace ain’t on BBC it’s Eastenders.”

A third wrote: “Moving the Palace vs Doncaster game to Monday just to not show the game on live tv makes zero sense.”

A fourth said: “Monday nights without football are awful.”

Despite complaints, the match was not shown on terrestrial television.

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But it could be watched by those who had access to BBC iPlayer with the game accessible via the red button.

The fourth-round fixture was moved to the Monday night in order to feature on television.

FA Cup fifth round draw in full

Here are all the games from the next round in the FA Cup...

  • Preston North End vs Burnley
  • Aston Villa vs Cardiff City
  • Doncaster/Crystal Palace vs Millwall
  • Manchester United vs Fulham
  • Newcastle vs Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
  • Manchester City vs Plymouth
  • Exeter City/Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich Town

The draw for the FA Cup fifth round has already taken place with fans claiming it was ‘rigged’.

This was down to Manchester City drawing Plymouth Argyle at home in the next stage.

There is still one more game to come in the fourth round as Nottingham Forest face Exeter City tomorrow night.

More to follow…

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The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.

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Kelsey Parker ‘wasn’t really trying’ for a baby but says ‘it’s meant to be’ & calls out Will for ‘not being supportive’

KELSEY Parker has revealed she ‘wasn’t really trying’ for a baby but claimed ‘it’s meant to be’.

Not only this, but the 34-year-old mum-of-two, who recently shared her baby news, also got candid and called out her boyfriend Will Lindsay for not being ‘supportive’.

Kelsey Parker on the Loose Women TV show.
Rex
Kelsey Parker had admitted she ‘wasn’t really trying’ for a baby but is ‘over the moon’ to be pregnant[/caption]
Two women recording a podcast.
YouTube
The mum-of-two got candid on expecting her third child with her podcast co-host Georgia Jones[/caption]
A laughing couple embracing under a tree.
Instagram @being_kelsey
Kelsey has found happiness with tree surgeon Will Lindsay, with the pair expecting their first child together[/caption]
Portrait of Kelsey Parker in a silver blazer.
Mark Hayman Fabulous mag
But Kelsey claimed Will hasn’t been the most supportive boyfriend[/caption]

Speaking on her Mum’s The Word podcast with Georgia Jones, 38, Kelsey announced the happy news that she is expecting her third child with new partner Will.

Clearly thrilled, the blonde beauty beamed: “I’m so happy, we’re over the moon.”

She then confirmed to co-host Georgia: “We weren’t really trying. 

“I just think, what’s meant to be is meant to be. 

“It happened and we’re really happy.”

Kelsey shares two kids, Aurelia, five, and Bodhi, four, with The Wanted star Tom Parker, who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in 2020 before passing away in March 2022.

The busy mum then explained that she discovered she was pregnant after she missed a period, the morning of the Pride of Britain awards.

She admitted: “I lost my head that day. Will cried, he was so happy.”

And whilst the couple haven’t yet decided if they want to find out the gender, Kelsey opened up on her pregnancy struggles so far.

She confessed: “I’m not gonna lie, I don’t particularly like being pregnant. I hate it already. 

“When we were in Dubai, they’re all drinking, having a lovely time.

“Will’s not really being team Kelsey, being the supportive boyfriend. 

“He just had a lovely time. I was like, ‘oh, I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself’.

“But, I’m quite happy with my time frame of being pregnant.”

Not only did Kelsey struggle with everyone drinking alcohol around her whilst she remained sober, but she also said: “Have you not seen my face expand with every episode? 

“Look at my lips. My lips are massive.”

Kelsey Parker and her new partner with her two children on a beach.
Click News and Media
Kelsey has also been targeted by cruel trolls over her incredible news[/caption]
Tom Parker and Kelsey Hardwick at the European premiere of Batman v Superman.
Alamy
Trolls have accused Kelsey of ‘not knowing how to be her on own’ after Tom’s death[/caption]

Just days ago, Kelsey, who is now not far off 20 weeks pregnant and is “good at keeping secrets”, claimed that her late husband Tom’s mother has given her new relationship her “blessing”

During a recent appearance on Loose Women, Kelsey opened up about finding love again, and how Tom’s family “couldn’t be happier” for her.

When asked how her late husband’s mum Noreen reacted to her new relationship with Will, she said she had “given her blessing”.

Kelsey also got candid on how her, Will and her kids often go on trips with her mother-in-law.

Kelsey and Tom's relationship timeline

Kelsey and Tom were together for 13 years and have two children together

2009: Kelsey Hardwick and Tom Parker first met. Tom Parker was a member of the British-Irish boy band The Wanted.

2011: Kelsey and Tom started dating. Their relationship grew stronger as Tom’s career with The Wanted progressed.

2016: Tom proposed to Kelsey in a romantic setting. The couple announced their engagement to the public.

2018: Tom and Kelsey got married on 14th July 2018 in a beautiful ceremony attended by family and friends.

2019: The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Aurelia Rose Parker, in July.

2020: In October, Tom Parker revealed that he had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. Kelsey stood by his side, providing support and strength.

2020: The Parkers welcomed their second child, a son named Bodhi Thomas Parker, in October.

2021-2022: Throughout Tom’s battle with cancer, Kelsey continued to support him and raise awareness about his condition.

2022: Tom Parker sadly passed away on 30th March 2022, after his courageous battle with brain cancer. Kelsey honoured his memory with heartfelt tributes and continued to share their love story with the public.

Kelsey Parker remains dedicated to keeping Tom’s memory alive and continues to be an inspiration to many for her strength and resilience.

Not only this, but when speaking to Fabulous last month about meeting Will, she said: “I met Will on a night out. We were both out with friends.

“He didn’t know who I was and when I told him about Tom, he was so understanding, it didn’t freak him out.”

While Kelsey admitted she was terrified of the reaction from the public after she announced her new relationship, she felt confident it was the right thing to do, having had Tom’s blessing as well as his family’s.

‘Of course I feel guilty too’

“When Tom passed away, his mum Noreen said: ‘Whatever you choose to do, I will support you’,” she revealed.

As well as this, Kelsey also revealed all on the response from trolls since she announced her pregnancy news.

Whilst the majority of people have been pleased to hear Kelsey’s announcement, she has also had to deal with horrific online abuse over her happy news.

Portrait of a woman with blonde hair styled in a bob, wearing a black and white 60s-style outfit.
Mark Hayman
Instead of letting the negativity affect her, Kelsey prefers to focus on their family bubble and those important to her[/caption]

One hater commented: “I’m sorry but it can’t just be me who thinks Kelsey, Tom Parker’s widowed wife, is moving on way too fast.

“Tom hasn’t even been gone three years and yet she’s already got a new partner and is now pregnant?

“I understand we all grieve differently but this is weird to me.”

A second said: “Kelsey Parker pregnant not even three years after Tom passing away makes me sick.”

Whilst a third added: “She has been in such a rush since he died to find a new partner. I’m not sure a new baby is the answer to her problems.”

Following this, in an exclusive interview with The Sun, Kelsey admitted: “I was apprehensive announcing it. Although we are so happy – we are over the moon – of course I feel guilty too.

Everything now will always be bittersweet, even happy things because I’ll wish Tom was part of it. It was the same when I went public with Will, I kept thinking ‘I am afraid to be happy’.

“But I love children and Will always wanted children. I think any child is a blessing.

“And my two kids are so thrilled they are going to have a little brother or sister.

“People online don’t think about the joy it’s brought them. And should they not get to have a sibling because their dad died?”

It’s almost frowned upon that I’m trying to look on the brighter side of life

Kelsey Parker

Following this, Kelsey confessed: “It’s crazy. I knew I would be judged. But people who haven’t lost their partner, I don’t know how you can pass comment on me? I have been in such a dark place from losing Tom.

“I was so lonely and so unhappy. I feel like there are people who want me to always feel like that. I feel like I do deserve to try and find a bit of happiness.

“I think people think I should be sitting at home and dressed in black all day. I have two children (and another one on the way) that I have to get out of bed for. People are shocked I go to Tesco but I need to feed my kids.

“I cannot get my head around why this has happened to me but it has. My life changed the moment Tom was diagnosed. But I have the power and strength to keep going. But I’m judged for that.

“It’s almost frowned upon that I’m trying to look on the brighter side of life.

“But would it be better to be in a dark place or if I was getting drunk or doing drugs or whatever? Either way I can not win.”

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