Irish Abroad: Promotion, Relegation, and Playoffs

[theworm2345]

Promotion:
Championship:
Newcastle United:
Leon Best (Forward)
Chris Hughton (Manager)

West Brom:
Dean Kiely (Goalkeeper -- Retired from internationals)
NOTE: Steven Reid was on loan from Blackburn

League One:
Norwich:
Wes Hoolahan (Midfielder)
Gary Doherty (Defender/Auxilliary Forward!)
Michael Spillane (Midfielder)
Danny Kelly (Defender)

Leeds United:
N/A

League Two:
Notts County:
John Thompson (Defender)

Bournemouth:
N/A

Rochdale:
N/A

Conference:
Stevenage:
Darren Murphy (Midfielder)

Conference North:
Southport:
N/A

Fleetwood Town: (promoted via playoffs)
N/A

Conference South:
Newport County:
Sam Foley (Forward)

Bath City: (promoted via playoffs)
N/A


Relegation:
Premier League:
Hull City:
Kevin Kilbane (Legend)
Paul McShane (Defender)
Stephen Hunt (Midfielder)
Caleb Folan (Forward)
Jamie Devitt (Midfielder)

Burnley:
Chris McCann (Midfielder)
Kevin Long (Defender)

Portsmouth:
Steve Finnan (Defender -- Retired from internationals)
Marc Wilson (Defender)

Championship:
Sheffield Wednesday:
Darren Potter (Midfielder)
James O'Connor (Midfielder)
Note: Eddie Nolan was on loan with Wednesday from Preston

Plymouth Argyle:
Joe Mason (Forward)

Peterborough:
Lee Frecklington (Midfielder)
James McKeown (Goalkeeper)

League One:
Gillingham:
Kevin Maher (Midfielder)

Wycombe:
N/A
Note: Julian Kelly was on loan with Wycombe from Reading

Southend:
Alan McCormack (Midfielder)
Harry Crawford (Forward)
George Smith (Midfielder)
Kane Ferdinand (Defender)

Stockport County:
Richie Partridge (Midfielder)
Declan Edwards (Forward)
George Disney (Defender)

League Two:
Grimsby Town:
Nick Colgan (Goalkeeper -- Retired from internationals)
NOTE: Jamie Devitt was on loan at Grimsby from Hull

Darlington:
Tadhg Purcell (Forward)
Gary Dempsey (Midfielder)
Simon Madden (Defender)
Richie Byrne (Defender -- Released at season's end)
NOTE: Shane Redmond was on loan from Nottingham Forest

Conference:
Forest Green Rovers:
Conal Platt (Forward)
Gavin Carlin (Goalkeeper)
Joe O'Cearuill (Defender)

Ebbsfleet United:
Paul McCarthy (Defender)

Grays Athletic:
N/A

Playoffs:
Championship:
Nottingham Forest: (lost to Blackpool in semifinals)
Brendan Moloney (Defender)
Mark Byrne (Midfielder) (spent season on loan at Rushden and Diamonds)
Shane Redmond (Goalkeeper) (on loan at Darlington)

Cardiff City:
Mark Kennedy (Defender/Midfielder)
Stephen McPhail (Midfielder)
Darren Dennehy (Defender)

Leicester: (eliminated in semifinals)
Conrad Logan (Goalkeeper)
Alex Bruce (Defender) (on loan from Ipswich)

Blackpool:
Billy Clarke (Forward)
Ben Burgess (Forward)
Séamus Coleman (Defender) (on loan from Everton)

League One:
Millwall:
David Forde (Goalkeeper)
Alan Dunne (Defender)
Pat O'Connor (Defender)

Charlton Athletic:
Robert Elliot (Goalkeeper)
Darren Randolph (Goalkeeper)
Dave Mooney (Forward) (on loan from Reading)

Swindon:
Alan Sheehan (Defender)
Jonathan Douglas (Midfielder)
Michael Timlin (Midfielder)
Alan O'Brien (Midfielder)

Huddersfield:
Michael Collins (Midfielder)
Jim Goodwin (Midfielder)
Anthony Pilkington (Midfielder)
James Berrett (Midfielder)

League Two:
Morecambe:
Barry Roche (Goalkeeper)
Henry McStay (Defender)

Rotherham:
Michael Cummins (Midfielder)
Gavin Gunning (Defender) (on loan from Blackburn)

Aldershot:
N/A

Dagenham and Redbridge:
Damien McCrory (Defender)
Peter Gain (Midfielder)

Conference:
Luton Town: (eliminated in semifinals)
Lewis Emanuel (Defender)
Keith Keane (Midfielder)
Fred Murray (Defender)

Oxford United:
N/A

Rushden and Diamonds: (eliminated in semifinals)
Mark Byrne (Midfielder) (on loan from Nottingham Forest)

York City:
Alan O'Hare (Defender)

Maybe I missed a player or two, sorry if I did. I may do Scotland tomorrow. I also have to give a mention to Jamie Devitt of Hull City. Three of the four teams he turned out for this season (Hull -- made the bench once, Grimsby, Darlington) got relegated, Shrewsbury were the only ones who didn't.

[irishfan86]

Thanks for the info -- had one point about Finnan though -- from my understanding he came out of international retirement and played a couple of games, before getting injured, and has since been excluded by Trap due to the lack of match fitness. Maybe that has changed since, but from my understanding he has not withdrawn himself from selection.

[Charlie Darwin]

Jamie Devitt was also on loan with Darlington earlier this season, making him the first player ever to be relegated three times in the same season.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Leeds United:
N/A

Michael Doyle on loan from Coventry City played a huge roll in Leeds campaign this season. He couldn't hit a barn from inside but I hope he stays.

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20100513/the-best-year-of-my-life-doyle_2247585_2050464

[Stuttgart88]

Thanks for the info -- had one point about Finnan though -- from my understanding he came out of international retirement and played a couple of games, before getting injured, and has since been excluded by Trap due to the lack of match fitness. Maybe that has changed since, but from my understanding he has not withdrawn himself from selection.

That's my understanding too.

[Lenny82]

Certainly alot more going down than coming up. Stephen Hunt will more than likely get a transfer during the summer. I'd love to see Owen Coyle sign Chris McCann when he's fit again as he always sang his praises.

I'd like to think Portsmouth would be in with a good shout of coming back up but whatever way their season goes I fully expect Wilson to be a stand out player for them in the Championship.

Not overly concerned with Kilbane and Finnan going down as I can't see them featuring too much in Traps plans for the next campaign.

The Championship will suit Jamie Devitt, Kevin Long and Caleb Folan as they should get alot more game time.

As for McShane...........

[Crosby87]

Good post Worm.

I am interested to see how Leon Best does next year. Its hard for me to follow the Championship, does he get a lot of playing time? And will he next season?

[theworm2345]

Good post Worm.

I am interested to see how Leon Best does next year. Its hard for me to follow the Championship, does he get a lot of playing time? And will he next season?
From what I watched he was usually on the bench to start the game, I don't recall him scoring a goal for Newcastle either. My guess is he'll be behind Andy Carroll, Shola Ameobi, and Peter Lovenkrands (as well as anyone else they bring in) to start next year. He could battle it out with young Nile Ranger (who Hughton rates relatively highly) for the fourth striker's spot, Ranger could go out on loan.

[Charlie Darwin]

He started a few games but didn't really impress and was dropped to the bench. He hasn't scored yet.

[Lionel Ritchie]

From what I watched he was usually on the bench to start the game, I don't recall him scoring a goal for Newcastle either. My guess is he'll be behind Andy Carroll, Shola Ameobi, and Peter Lovenkrands (as well as anyone else they bring in) to start next year. He could battle it out with young Nile Ranger (who Hughton rates relatively highly) for the fourth striker's spot, Ranger could go out on loan.

Well Shola Ameobi is believed to be top of Simon Graysons wanted list for Leeds so that'd possibly be one less for him to worry about. As you say -depends on who Hughton brings in -if indeed he can bring anyone in as he's been told he has to sell to buy and may himself have to make do with loan signings.

[theworm2345]

Well Shola Ameobi is believed to be top of Simon Graysons wanted list for Leeds so that'd possibly be one less for him to worry about. As you say -depends on who Hughton brings in -if indeed he can bring anyone in as he's been told he has to sell to buy and may himself have to make do with loan signings.
The only way I could possibly seeing that move happen is a swap move involving Ameobi and Jermaine Beckford. Ameobi isn't necessarily prolific in the EPL, but he's hardly woeful and Beckford isn't tested at that level.

[Colbert Report]

Beckford is a free agent now, and available on a Bosman.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Well Shola Ameobi is believed to be top of Simon Graysons wanted list for Leeds so that'd possibly be one less for him to worry about. As you say -depends on who Hughton brings in -if indeed he can bring anyone in as he's been told he has to sell to buy and may himself have to make do with loan signings.

As Colbert Report says Beckford is out of the equation (on his way to Everton in any event) so it'd have to be either cash, loan or cash + swappsies involving another Leeds player. Long list of clubs thought to be sniffing around Robert Snodgrass for example.

Wherever he ends up Shola Ameobi moving on could only help Leon Best get games unless Newcastle get very lucky in the loan market.

[MuckaTucka]

Michael Doyle on loan from Coventry City played a huge roll in Leeds campaign this season. He couldn't hit a barn from inside but I hope he stays.

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20100513/the-best-year-of-my-life-doyle_2247585_2050464

Alan Sheehan who also plays for Leeds is on loan at Swindon who are in the League One play offs. Set up one in the 1st leg

[Lionel Ritchie]

Just posted in another thread -Sheehans been released by Leeds. Might get a gig at Swindon?

[theworm2345]

As Colbert Report says Beckford is out of the equation (on his way to Everton in any event) so it'd have to be either cash, loan or cash + swappsies involving another Leeds player. Long list of clubs thought to be sniffing around Robert Snodgrass for example.

Wherever he ends up Shola Ameobi moving on could only help Leon Best get games unless Newcastle get very lucky in the loan market.
I wasn't aware Beckford was no longer at Leeds. Anyway I honestly can't see Ameobi moving on before Best. Newcastle supporters are hot and cold on him, but he's been there over a decade while Best has been there only half a year. Never know though, could depend on preseason form.

[tetsujin1979]

Jon Daly and Sean Dillon lift the Scottish Cup with Dundee United

[tetsujin1979]

Dagenham and Redbridge:
Damien McCrory (Defender)

McCrory on playing at Wembley: http://www.limerickleader.ie/sport/McCrory-39To-play-in-Wembley.6321382.jp