Button Gives Brawn His Greatest Victory yet

Jenson Button has won the Australian Grand Prix after completing a Brawn GP 1-2 in the opening race of the new season.

It was only Button’s second career victory, his first for three years after a long over due win in Hungary in 2006.

However it’s the team headed by Ross Brawn that will get most of the attention, as they completed an amazing 1-2 finish, with Rubens Barrichello finishing behind the Brit to cap a story that is sure to overshadow the current protests over the diffuser system, used by Brawn car amongst others.

Jarno Trulli finished third after starting from the pit lane, but he could see his podium place taken away from him after surpassing Lewis Hamilton during the final safety car lap at the end of the race.

Hamilton himself drove nobly throughout the race, despite starting at the back of the grid as he saw his attacking strategy pay off, something that could result in an unforeseen six point reward.

In truth grid positions were slightly disjointed after the safety car was deployed twice, once when Kazuki Nakajima went off on lap 16, and again three laps from the end when both Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica crashed out after striking each other in contention for a podium place.

Both teams seemed to be devastated at the crash, with vital points missed out on, and what BMW claim to be a winning position for Kubica with just three laps to go.

It was a bad day for Ferrari however, who saw both Kimi Raikonen and Felipe Massa retire early on, to compound a miserable weekend for the team, and a repeat performance of last years Grand Prix where both men again failed to finish the race.

Button began the race on pole position and after a solid start to the race he started to open a gap on Vettel, who along with many others had surpassed Barrichello.

The Brazilian’s start left a lot to be desired, but he was soon moving up the field, and he was one of a number of drivers who took advantage later in the race.

The superiority of the Brawn car was obvious to see even at this early stage of the season, and if their main competitors, especially the loaner of the car’s engine McLaren don’t change the fortunes of there own car a different Brit could be topping the podium for the rest of this season.

Contrasting Fortunes for the Home Nations

The Home Nations Countries hopes of qualifying for the World Cup were further complicated on Saturday as both Wales and Scotland experienced difficult defeats, while Northern Ireland overcame Poland In Belfast.

Wales knew going into the match with Finland that the winner of the qualifier would be the main challenger to both Russia and Germany at the top of Group Four.

Clearly the enormity of the match affected the Welsh side, as they produced a performance full of nerves, and one that wouldn’t have instilled confidence with Manager John Toshack, whose job after this latest defeat is surely in the balance.

Goals from two players based within the British Isles Jonatan Johansson, formerly of Charlton Athletic, and Shefki Kuqi currently of Crystal Palace scored the goals just minutes before the end of each half to condemn Wales to a 2-0 defeat, a result that looks set to end there bid to reach South Africa in 2010.

Wales rarely threatened in the match, and must be fearing the worst when they host Germany on Wednesday.

The mid-week game against the German’s could be the final game in charge for Toshack, whose ambitious aim of reaching next summers finals seem to have petered out half way through the campaign.

The questionable words of striker Craig Bellamy about the quality of opposition that the home side came up against may be called into question, words he imparted during a hostile post match interview.

Scotland’s fortunes weren’t much better as they travelled to Group leaders Holland, a result that could have been much different had Kenny Miller converted an early chance.

The Rangers forward found himself clean through in the opening minutes, only for a tight angle and a brilliant tackle by Joris Mathijsen denying him getting a shot away.

It was to be one of the few chances the away side would get as Holland took a strange hold of the group match before half time.

Headers by Jan Klass Huntelaar and Robin Van Persie gave Holland a two goal advantage before half time, a lead that reflected their opening period dominance.

Scotland’s hope of getting back into the match was made all the more difficult when Gary Caldwell saw his seemingly legitimate header ruled out for a foul, a decision that bemused the visiting supporters and players.

And in the typical cut and thrust style that is International Football, the Dutch went down the other end and forced a penalty when Christophe Berra tripped Huntelaar.

Dirk Kuyt completed the victory, a defeat that will only take its toil if the Scot’s don’t beat Iceland on Wednesday.

Smiles around the British Isles were therefore left for Northern Ireland, who dodged a plucky Poland side to record a 3-2 victory at Windsor Park.

Warren Feeney opened the scoring from close range, after Polish keeper Arthur Boruc had misjudged a deep cross by Chris Brunt, which was headed back by Damien Johnson for Feeney to tap into an empty net.

The home side’s dominance wasn’t fully pressed home however, as Ireneusz Jelen broke the offside trap to fire past a despairing Maik Taylor.

The home side had to wait till the second half to regain there lead when defender Jonney Evans met a Grant McCann corner, and then Boruc’s evening went from bad to worse as he missed kicked a back-pass from Michal Zewlakow, which had travelled fully 25 yards before meeting the Celtic keeper.

Marek Saganowski pulled a goal back 12 minutes before then end, but the goal did nothing to affect the final result, as Windsor Park enjoyed a victory that puts Northern Ireland top of Group Three.

Before the game there were plenty of concerns about where the goals would come from for the Irish after injuries to Martin Paterson and Kyle Lafferty, and with David Healy severely lacking form and match fitness.

But an indifferent performance by Boruc all but gifted the win for the home team, as they look set to challenge just as strongly for World Cup qualification, as they did for the European Championships, two years ago.

Maybe a bit more Irish luck will see Nigel Worthington’s men reach South Africa, a major tournament that would be the countries first since 1988.

A quick mention for the forth-home nation side England, who cruised to a friendly victory over Slovakia who after yesterday were usurped at the top of Group Three, with a 4-0 win at Wembley.

Goals by Emile Heskey, two by Wayne Rooney and a Frank Lampard striker ensured the win, ahead of the visit of Ukraine on Wednesday.

Injuries to a host of strikers, including Heskey tarnished the victory, which highlighted Slovakia’s lightweight nature as much as England’s improvement under Italian manager Fabio Capello.

Formula 1 2009 Season Preview

With the drama of last season's drivers championship still very much fresh in the memory, you would fooled into thinking this year's Formula 1 season could never live up to the previous season.

With various rules changes- concentrating on livening up the sport, and the introduction on a new team or two, this new Formula 1 season could prove to be one of the most exciting in living memory.

It's not like the sport needed this radical overhaul though was it?

With the Championship being decided on the 2nd to last corner of the final Grand Prix the sport was hardly in the need of an influx of excitement.

We've had three different champions in the past three years, and with the emergence of the BMW and Williams teams, who were gradually starting to catch up with their Ferrari and McLaren rivals, we had an exciting drivers championship.

This season sees the competition between every team become slightly more interesting, with several changes to the normal format.

With Bernie Eccleston's cost cutting solutions each team will have slightly smaller resources, which are set to boost reliability.

One of the more interesting changes are that information about tire and fuel changes are set to be shared throughout all teams, so everyone has the same information.

On the technical side plenty has been done to develop the sport with the most important being the introduction of KERS or Kinetic Energy Support System.

Basically the system is in place to store any lost energy built up by breaking and then for it to be used at any given time to give the car a slight boost during a race.

Not every team has gone for the idea, and it's unlikely to be used in every race as the teams get used to the new innovation.

The new look of the cars also changes the performance with overtaking set to become easier, and with slick tyres set to re-introduced it's sure to lead to faster laps and a more exciting season on the track.

A track that will no longer see the name of Honda after the team decided to pull out of racing altogether, only for Ross Brawn to come in with an 11th hour bid to save the team.

Brawn GP will bring a new edge to the season, and with a new car and team Jenson Button is sure to be keen to show what he can do.

Unreliability has hindered the progress of the Brit, who is starting to live in the ever-growing shadow of Lewis Hamilton, maybe this is his season to shine at last?

If there was ever a time to usurp Hamilton as the main man in Formula 1 it would be this season, with his team McLaren already admitting they are well off the pace at the beginning of the new season.

This will bring new vigour to his rivals, but with the new point system changed back to the original system Hamilton has been given time to reignite his title challenge.

Days before the new season was due to start a new system of attaining the winner of the drivers championship was decided, in which the driver with the most wins would take the title, only for it to be scrapped days later.

The change of decision didn't reflect on the Formula 1 too well, as confusion reined as too why the decision was made to change it in the first place, don't change what isn’t broke was the message from the drivers.

Ferrari are sure to want to regain there drivers champions crown, with Felipe Massa agonisingly missing out last year he will be keen to prove a point.

Picking a winner of this season’s drivers championship, is a task not many journalists have warmed to, but unlike any jolly fence sitter I’m going to pick out a few men who might make a break for it this season

The first of which is two-time champion Fernando Alonso, whose form at the back end of last season made plenty sit up and take notice.

His resurgence to form coincided with the car reliability issues, which resolved itself in the final third of the championship, too late for a title serge but enough time to remind the rest of the field he is still a force to be reckoned with.

The second if BMW’s Robert Kubica, who might be short with the media but his effort on the track do much of the talking.

After recording his first win in Canada last year Kubica showed the driving world his natural talent behind the wheel, and plenty of top eight finishes followed.

For me both these guys are contenders for the title, along with Massa of course who undoubtedly has plenty to make up for after last season disappointment.

For me these three have the quality to fight for the title all the way. Now you may ask why am I neglecting the world champion?

Well simply because of the time it may well take for the team to adapt to the new rules, it might be too late in the title race for the Brit to have any impact, but we will see.

It won't always read Hamilton-Massa on the front row, and Nakajima and Barricello on the 10th, things are sure to switch around in 2009.

Excitement and Formula 1 are terms never far apart, and this season especially things are bound to be close.

This Boy's a Bit Special- Steve Morison

This is the first in a series of features highlighting players who apply their trade in the lower leagues, but could easily move up to the higher echelons of the football pyramid.

This week sees us dip down as low as the Blue Square Premier to follow the progress of Stevenage Borough striker Steve Morison, whose currently top scorer of the Conference with 20 goals already this season.

Morison began his career with Northampton Town after failed trials with Leicester City, but his first experience of the football league didn’t quiet work out.

After just 24 appearances for the club a fall out with manager Colin Calderwood spelled the end of his time at the Sixfields, and he moved down to Blue Square South side Bishop’s Stortford.

The move proved as a perfect antidote for Morison’s Northampton heartache as he banged in 28 goals in 55 games for the non-league side.

This impressive goal-scoring record attracted interest from the Conference promotion contenders Stevenage, who duly signed the striker in 2006.

His impact was almost immediate; as he scored the winning goal in his first season in the FA Trophy Final as Stevenage came from two goals down to win 3-2 over Kidderminster Harriers.

He was instantly written into Stevenage folklaw, and he followed up the Wembley winner with 22 goals the next season, installing himself as indispensable to the Stevenage promotion cause, which while Morison was flowering in the division was constantly being hindered by underachievement.

It’s this constant disappointment that has always linked Morison away from the club, something that led to him submitting a transfer request, something that almost resulted in a move to Crewe Alexandra in 2008.

Even with constant rumors of unrest, the striker has been nothing less than professional and his contribution has been fantastic for Graham Westley’s men.

His role within the club’s progress is such that Westley has said time and again he would sell off other players to keep Morison in the squad.

Morison should be commended for his commitment so far, but at the age of 25 it seems that it is finally time for the pivotal player to move on.

Terms in the players contract state he is free to leave if the club aren’t promoted this season, a promotion race that sees Borough outside the play-offs by a single point.

As apprehensive as the home support would be about losing the striker, the development of what is a great talent is surely the most important thing, with the club failing time and time again to be promoted, it would hardly be Morison betraying the club that he’s done so much for.

His performances this season have suggested no signs of unrest on the players part, as he continues to bang in goals left right and centre, helping Stevenage again reach the FA Trophy Final last week, disposing of holders Ebbsfleet United.

If Stevenage can’t gain promotion through the play-offs then Morison’s last act as a Borough player could be to lead the side in the Trophy Final, just like he did in his first season just two years ago.

A player of the calibre of Morison shouldn’t be allowed to reside in the Conference for much longer, and a second Wembley appearance could re-invigorate the player onto greater things in a second spell in the Football League.

Ledley King's Selection Surely Doesn't Fit With Capello's Long Term Strategy

Fabio Capello has made the biggest shock of his tenure as England manager by selecting Tottenham Hotsphur captain Ledley King in his latest squad for the friendly against Slovakia and World Cup Qualifier against Ukraine.

King has consistently been hampered by injury problems, mainly to a troublesome knee has which has time and time again ruled King out of crucial league and cup games while at Spurs, but King has some how overcome all those troubles to take his place in this current England squad.

King has had his fair share of International experience, replacing an injured John Terry in the side as England were overcome 2-1 in there opening group game against France in Euro 2004

His performance in that game and in the previous season had established King as one of the countries top defenders ahead of the likes of Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson.

However a crucial injury came in April of 2006 as the centre-back fractured his foot, a setback that kept him out of that years World Cup tournament.

From then on injuries have disrupted the defenders progress, which has seen him slip down the pecking order for the international team.

The last two seasons have seen King in and out of the Tottenham starting eleven, playing barely half of the sides games every season, climaxing in the player being rested for the remainder of last season to rest the persistent injury.

King's plight was confirmed soon after the appointment of Harry Redknapp, when the new manager admitted King couldn't last the pace of an entire Premiership season.

"There's no cure. There's no cartilage, nothing to operate on. It's just bone on bone. So it's just a question of managing it. It swells up after games and it normally takes seven days to recover. He rarely trains, he mostly just goes to the gym to keep himself ticking over. But not running or anything like that. But even if he only plays 20 games a season, he's worth having because he's so good we have a much better chance of winning."

And now after continuous injury problems, King has found himself included in Fabio Capello's most recent England squad having played less than half of his teams games this season.

The inclusion has raised eyebrows across the football world non-more so than King's manager Redknapp, who would have preferred the Spurs skipper could be left to focus on his club career.

Such views that have not been followed by Capello, who has shown that Premiership managers will not sway his personal selection, unlike his predecessors.

The defenders inclusion also creates the question of whether the Spurs player could contend with an international tournament.

With so many games in such a short space of time, King in his current state would surely only be able to manage one if any in such a short space of time.

And with the selection of Ben Foster in one of the three goalkeeping positions Capello is clearly looking to the future, which surely King isn't part of if his injury problems continue, something that has seen sign of letting up.

The consistent trend of looking to the future has been commendable by Capello, but this latest inclusion surely defies all of that previous work.

How King can be looked upon as the future of England is pretty far-fetched, and even at the tender age of 28 his inability to play more than a game per week and his problems with contact training doesn't help his cause either.

Fair play to Capello, he has diversified with his selection, and everyone has been given a fair go but what has the likes of Phil Jagielka done wrong not to warrant a third cap?

King's performances have never been called into question and when fit he is one of the best players in his position, but that when is far to infrequent, and surely to sporadic to deserve international recognition.

West Indian Cricket Tarnished Once Again

West Indian Cricket was thrown into turmoil once again last night as farcical circumstances resulted in them loosing the first one-day international against England in Guyana.

Bad light seemed to have cut short the game with just three overs remaining, and with the Duckworth Lewis System set to be introduced because of the postponement of play, John Dyson, the West Indian coach waved the side in, when in-fact they were still behind the required par score.

Dyson hadn't taken into account the seventh wicket to fall, taken by Stuart Broad just before the batsman were offered the light, meaning the team were behind the required score and in danger of loosing the match.

The coach called the batsman at the crease in, believing his side had won the match, only to discover his awful error moments later.

This is just one in a number of dreadful mistakes that West Indian Cricket have made during England's tour to the country, issues that everyone should have seen coming.

The writing was on the wall for me at the Cricket World Cup staged in 2007 by the West Indies.

The tournament was littered with one-sided matches, all be it not exclusive to that particular tournament, slow pitches and small crowds.

The organisers clearly hadn't taken advantage of what should have been showpiece event, and circumstances weren't helped by the eventual result of the final, for which Australia won after some ridiculous umpiring decisions.

Bad light had halted play, and with Sri Lanka behind the required Duckworth Lewis score Australia should have been declared the winners.

The umpires then told the players the final three overs must be bowled, cutting short the Australian celebrations.

The final 18 balls were bowled in almost total darkness, while Adam Gilchrist’s brilliant knock of 149 prevailed into insignificance.

An awful ending to what had been a pretty forgettable tournament did nothing to re-vitalise West Indian Cricket, definitely a missed opportunity for the West Indies Cricket Board.

With England touring this summer it was a chance for the team on the pitch to continue the re-building process, but yet again it was off the pitch where the questions were being asked.

The first test produced four days of woeful Cricket, while the fifth day gave us some sort of excitement with England being bowled out for just 51 as the home side won the first test.

The rest of the series produced flat pitches and plenty of run as all four remaining tests ending in a draw, with of course that infamous no-result in the 2nd test.

It was that test that brought the most controversy as the match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was abandoned after 10 balls were bowled.

The debate is still raging on how the match was allowed to be started, and how a host of concerns before the match begun were not considered by the Antiguan Cricket Board.

With the remainder of the series resulting in a draw the West Indies did win the series, and clearly showed the side had developed on the pitch, while off it, it had been a pretty dreadful period.

With the one-day series starting yesterday it was a chance for the controversies of the test series to be forgotten, but the first one-day game was jam packed with further problems.

Guyana gave us another painfully slow pitch and another reminder of how the traditional West Indian pitches of yesterday are nothing more than a memory.

The ending was in keeping with the pace of the match, a the West Indian batsman shamefully played for the light, showing very little ambition with the game very much within there reach within the permitted time.

They waited to be offered the light and with the coaching staff beckoning the batsman in they begun the celebrations.

With the way the whole team went about the match I have very little sympathy for how it all worked out, maybe the whole side might learn from this disappointing defeat.

Hosting England was meant to be another way that the West Indies could re-assert themselves on the world cricket stage, and with all due respect the team have taken some giant steps forward, but off the pitch the problems still remain.

We always hear the critical words from the legends of West Indies Cricket such as Richards and Clive Lloyd, but maybe its time these individuals had more of a say on how Cricket is run in this country.

Serious questions have to be asked about the state of Cricket in this country, and if the events of yesterday are anything to go by, there’s plenty of hard work to do.

The Relegation Battle: The Lowdown and Prediction

With just 10 games remaining in the Premiership season it seems the perfect time to access the ongoing relegation battle.

As Manchester United roar away with the title at the top end of the table this season, team such as Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, two sides who have has their own battles with United in the past, scrap for survival.

Newly promoted sides Stoke City and West Brom are fighting at the wrong end, while Gareth Southgate’s Middlesbrough and Paul Hart’s Portsmouth make up the six fighting in the bottom half.

Hull City, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur all look to have survived this season at least, as the bottom six now battle it out for those three relegation spots.

Not since the Premiership season of 2004/2005 has a relegation battle looked so intriguing in England's top flight.

That particular season West Bromich Albion made the great escape on the final day with victory over Portsmouth, as Southampton, Norwich City and Crystal Palace dropped down to the Championship.

Four years on and not much has changed.


West Bromwich Albion

The Baggies, who like in 2004 found themselves bottom at Christmas are attempting the second great escape, this time under the reigns of Tony Mowbray.

The Hawthorns club's attacking style looked a noble move at the start of the season, but with just ten games remaining the lack of a plan B should confirm the clubs relegation to the Championship.

Recent results haven't been kind either with just a single win coming in the league this year, form of a side in desperate trouble.

History tells them that only one side has avoided relegation to the Premiership after being bottom at Christmas, but of course it was themselves who achieved the feat.

They are an entertaining side to watch, but with little protection at the back, it’s going to be back to the drawing board for Mowbray.

Prediction: A battling finish, but relegation none the less.


Stoke City

It may not have been pretty, but one thing Stoke City have done this season is win games.

Their ability to grind out results has been priceless to them this season, something that West Brom especially haven’t been able to grasp.

There home form has been the route of their success with just three defeats all season at the Britannia Stadium, an incredible achievement for a relegation threatened side.

They have a two-point cushion at the moment, and with several of the teams around them to face thing are going to be tricky.

The problem has of course been on the road where not a single win has been recorded all season.

Now to stay up its not absolutely necessary that Stoke record that elusive away win, but their fans will live in knowledge that if they do, safety is all but assured.

The signing of James Beattie for me all but confirmed their safety, he knows the way to goal having made his name in the strips of Southampton, and with a proven goal-scorer in the ranks you always have a chance.

Even without an away win Stoke should grind out enough points, that when it comes to the Emirates Stadium on the final day of the season, they're not sweating on survival.

Prediction: Comfortable safety for the Potters.


Portsmouth

The change of manager at Fratton Park has produced some points in the short term on the south coast, but in terms of the rest of the season things look gloomy for Portsmouth.

The appointment of Paul Hart as the new manager for the rest of the season strikes me as the club desperate for a leader, and in Hart they have a very honest manager, but one whose experience is nothing short of wafer thin.

Spells lower down the leagues and in youth football is all Hart has on his CV, and as crucial as that experience is to his development as a manager and coach the step up to the Premiership is massive comparing to those previous jobs.

They still have to face four of the sides around them in the relegation zone so they have it in their own hands, but with limited attacking options and a hapless defense I can't see anything more than relegation to the Championship.

Prediction: Portsmouth's heart will be beating no longer-Relegation.


Newcastle United

The reputation of one of the most respected clubs in the league has been well an truly tarnished this season, and if thing don’t change relegation could be in the offing, to cap an awful season for the Magpies.

Whether it’s been the sacking of Kevin Keegan, Mike Ashley wanting to sell up or Charles N’Zogbia throwing a strop, Newcastle haven’t been out of the news all season, and things could begin to get worse.

The manner at which the club has been run has finally spilled onto the pitch, and it’s had dire consequences for the club’s league position.

Joe Kineer has had an almost impossible job trying to keep the club afloat, but he had succeeded in his short spell.

Without him however, probably for the rest of the season things look bad at St James' Park.

Chris Hughton has virtually no experience at this level having stood in as Tottenham manager on only a few occasions, hardly enough to keep a club like Newcastle afloat.

The only saving grace might be the return from injury for striker Michael Owen, who was a constant source of goals earlier in the season.

He was even touted with deserving an England recall, as his early season form kept Newcastle in mid-table, but since his injury they've slipped down the league.

It's hard to see them surviving if Owen doesn't come into some sort of form, as the rest of the team is drained of confidence.

It looks as though it will be between themselves, and their other North East rivals for the final relegation spot, and the duo’s meeting in early May is sure to decide both teams fortunes.

Prediction: Final day survival

Blackburn Rovers

I'm almost certain that without Roque Santa Cruz, Blackburn would have been relegated already this season.

He's the difference for the team right now, and although he's not scoring goals as regularly as last season his influence on the side is unrivaled.

Sam Allardyce has come in and got the side grinding out results, something Paul Ince simply couldn't do.

It's a key quality of any team scrapping down at the bottom, to pick up vital wins without playing well, Allardyce did it for years with Bolton, and now he's starting the trend with Rovers.

I have full confidence that they'll climb out of the bottom three, and if they can keep hold of the Paraguay master then they can build for next season.

Even in the precarious position that they are, I don’t think there is many people who think they will still go down, and I'm certainly not one of them

Prediction: Comfortable Safety

Middlesbrough

Just like in 1997 when Boro' were last relegated, they had an impressive cup run to fall back on as their league form disintegrated under Bryan Robson.

This season, although there cup run was ended at Goodison Park on Sunday they've enjoyed a decent run, something that Gareth Southgate admitted it was a positive influence on the team.

Many managers would have argued that the cup run would have been a distraction from the league, in which Boro' find themselves in the bottom three.

But Southgate, maybe naively put plenty of emphasis on the cup run and encouraged his team to press on in the competition.

Now they have the league to focus on, the side need to buck up their ideas, because even though they’re playing some brilliant football the results just aren't following.

The win over Liverpool last weekend would have done wonders for confidence as the side returned to winning ways, but further results have to follow.

It's the team’s firepower I worry about mainly.

Brazilian Alfonso Alves has scored just two goals this year, and since his £12 million move to the Riverside he's hardly adapted well to the frantic pace of the Premiership.

With just 20 goals scored all season they’re the lowest scoring side inside the top five divisions in England, a clear sign of where things need to improve.

Prediction: Heartbreak for the young manager, relegation.

Cheltenham Town on the Brink as Administration Looms Large

Martin Allen's managerial career has been littered with success and failure.

While at his first club, Barnet, he took the side to the top of the league within the first year, after bringing together a squad on nothing more than a shoestring budget.

However, Allen's ambition got the better of him, and, while Barnet lay in a promising position in the Conference, he left for Second Division Brentford.

Now Allen's success at Barnet may well have warranted the move to the football league club, but many Barnet fans would agree the club would surely have completed promotion in the 2003-04 season had Allen stayed till the end.

Barnet crashed out to Shrewsbury Town in the playoffs that season, as Allen saved the Bees from relegation in the last remaining months of the season.

Allen didn't stop there however, and in his next two seasons he turned the relegation candidates into promotion contenders with successive playoff finishes.

Although Allen was denied by first Sheffield Wednesday and then Swansea City he had clearly taken Brentford on as a team, a success that climaxed with him knocking Sunderland out of the FA Cup in the Fourth Round.

Allen's ambition swelled further, and targeted extra funds to finalise that crucial promotion push.

However his ambition couldn't be matched by the clubs board, and he tendered his resignation at the end of the 2005-06 season.

Allen then found a club whose financial ambition could match his own on the pitch, Pete Winkleman's Milton Keynes Dons.

Allen reached the playoffs for the third time in his managerial career, but was yet again denied at the semi-final stage after loosing to Shrewsbury Town.

Leicester City soon came calling for the impressive Allen, who despite his inability to produce instant promotion, could guarantee stability to any club.

However Allen came across trigger-happy Milan Mandaric and started a nightmare at the Walkers Stadium, which lasted just four games.

Arguments over potential transfers involving Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Derek Riordan fueled speculation that Allen was set to leave the Championship club.

After taking a year out of the game Allen joined League One Cheltenham Town, but unlike at previous clubs he hasn't been able to turn the clubs fortunes around.

Cheltenham struggled last season, and staved off relegation on the final day of the season.

Allen hasn't had much luck stemming the flow this season, and the club lie twelve points from safety, routed to the bottom of League One.

And as if Cheltenham's plight couldn't get worse the club have entered huge financial difficulties, and look set to enter administration anytime soon.

The problem is if the club don't concede the inevitable and enter administration before March 10th, the standard 10 point deduction that would normally be enforced this season, would be in place for next season, which would leave the club with a huge uphill struggle and on the brink of successive relegation.

Now the club have insisted that administration would be the final straw and a point that they don't want to get, without admitting that it is a distinct possibility.

To add to the situation, Allen has told that to cut costs players are free to leave the club.

Lloyd Owusu has already gone to Brighton, with a host of players expected to leave before the end of the week.

it is important that the clubs biggest asset, Allen doesn't follow suit.

His departure after what is sure to be certain relegation this season would be dreadful for the club, and administration would make their start in league two execrable.

Would the former Barnet manager cling on to Cheltenham and help them challenge in League Two?

Or would the ambition that has followed the eccentric manager continue as he looks to further his football league career.

Allen hasn't hesitated from leaving clubs whatever extreme the club was in, and he wouldn't defer from moving on from Cheltenham.

Allen's up and down career has taken him all around the football pyramid, but would this impending relegation be too much of a step down for 'Mad Dog'?