We Are Going Up

Made in Birmingham, Destroyed in Hong Kong. That's the message from Birmingham City fans about the state of their football club, but is there finally some light at the end of the tunnel?

More than two years after his arrest in the Far East following money-laundering allegations, Blues owner Carson Yeung has finally resigned from the board at St Andrew's. Despite the fact he still remains as majority shareholder, acting chairman Peter Pannu has now claimed that the club faces a 'bright' future.

We speak to a man who disagrees - talkSPORT Presenter and Commentator Ian Danter, a huge Birmingham fan who has covered the club for years on both local and national radio. He also tells us about the continued difficulties faced by manager...

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How exactly do Football League clubs go about recruiting and scouting players? How many people are involved? What role do agents play? Are big clubs aware of the best talent at Football League level? Will EPPP hinder the development of young British players?

These are all questions the boys look to examine in a special show this week, as we discover 'the truth behind transfers'. With the January transfer window now closed, our attention turns to what goes on behind the scenes.

We speak to Ross Wilson, Head of Football Operations at Huddersfield Town. As well as being a club director, Ross leads the Terriers' recruitment, scouting, analysis and sports science amongst other things. He explains how a transfer works from start to finish and how the club went about securing the key signing of...

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What kind of manager would leave a promotion chasing side for one six points off safety at the bottom of the Football League? Er, Chris Wilder is the answer. He resigned as Oxford manager on Sunday night after compensation was agreed with Northampton Town, who have appointed him as the new boss at Sixfields on a three and a half year contract. We get the lowdown on one of the Football League's more curious managerial moves from David Pritchard, the chief sports reporter for the Oxford Mail, and Jefferson Lake, football writer for the Northampton Chronicle + Echo.

Elsewhere, the Football League's official charity partner Prostate Cancer UK have launched...

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Bolton Wanderers suffered their worst league defeat since 1981-82 on Saturday, when they were thrashed 7-1 by Reading at the Madejski Stadium. Dougie Freedman's side have only won twice in their last ten games and sit just four points above the Championship relegation zone. With eye watering debts of up to 163.8 million quid also recently revealed, they (needless to say) can't afford relegation to the third tier. The boys get a fans perspective from Chris Parr, host of 'The Men In White' podcast.

Elsewhere, it's a different story for an old Bolton assistant manager. Phil Brown's high flying Southend side beat Chesterfield 3-0 at the weekend to move up to fourth in the League Two table, just one point off the automatic places. With only one defeat in...

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It goes from bad to worse for Leeds United. Following last weekend's FA Cup embarrassment at the hands of Rochdale, they were thrashed 6-0 at Hillsborough by Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday to increase the pressure on boss Brian McDermott. We speak to Phil Hay, chief football writer for the Yorkshire Evening Post, for an in-depth assessment of why things are going wrong at Elland Road.

Elsewhere, Scunthorpe United's charge under new boss Russ Wilcox continues. The Iron won 2-0 at Mansfield on Saturday to make it seven wins and two draws from nine games since the departure of Brian Laws in November. They sit two points clear at the top of League Two. The boys are joined for more by Chris Sumpter, sports editor of the Scunthorpe Telegraph.

There's also big wins for Leicester, Burnley and QPR to discuss - plus another postponement at the Valley, the various transfer window...

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In the first show of 2014, the boys reflect on Rochdale's stunning display against Leeds at Spotland in the FA Cup 3rd Round. Keith Hill's side won 2-0 and now have another winnable tie against either Macclesfield or Sheffield Wednesday to follow. Dale also start the new year just four points off the top of League Two. With another promotion push on the cards, we find out more from Richard Partington, Rochdale reporter for the Rochdale Observer and Manchester Evening News.

Another big shock saw League One strugglers Stevenage see off Championship opponents with a 3-2 win at Doncaster. The Boro, who also knocked out Newcastle three years ago, will now meet Roberto Martinez's Everton in a fourth round tie at the Lamex. We speak to Alan Scott, sports reporter at the Stevenage Advertiser and Hertfordshire Mercury, about a turbulent twelve months in which the club were statistically

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Happy New Year! The boys are here with their final show of a memorable 2013.

It's fair to say the writing was on the wall for Steve Lomas. He was finally put out of his misery and sacked after Millwall were thrashed 4-0 at Watford on Boxing Day. He leaves the club just above the Championship relegation zone after just five league wins all season. We speak to Nick Hart, co-presenter of The Millwall Hangover Podcast, to find out where the Lions should turn next.

Elsewhere, the issue of safe standing in football is back on the agenda. The Football League has sent a consultation document to all 72 clubs seeking their views. We consider the pros and cons with Joseph Clift, co-editor of the website 'One Foot In The Game', who are backing the FSF campaign for it to be reintroduced.

There's also the January transfer window to discuss. With Nahki Wells rumoured to be on the move, we find out more about him from Dominic Newton-Collinge of the award winning Bantams Banter podcast. Dom also reflects on a stunning year for Bradford, arguably the Football League's team of 2013.

There's all that, a review of the Christmas action and Geoff Hawley on supporting his club AFC Wimbledon.

Keep your emails coming in via wearegoingup.co.uk or tweet @WAGUpodcast. The show is available on Soundcloud and iTunes.

To take advantage of our Audible offer, visit audible.co.uk/goingup.

We're back in 2014. Happy New Year!

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Merry Christmas! It's the most wonderful time of the year - as there's LOTS of football going on.

In a festive special, the boys begin by discussing Cheltenham Town's ten game unbeaten run. The Robins won 2-0 at Fleetwood on Saturday to move back into the top half of League Two, following a disappointing start to the season. Jon Palmer, Cheltenham Town reporter for the Gloucestershire Echo, Citizen and Western Daily Press newspapers, joins us to tell us more.

Elsewhere in League Two, the pressure is increasing on under fire Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox. The Stags managed to concede two late goals and lose 3-2 to Accrington on Saturday and now haven't won for twelve league games. We consider Cox's future with Stephen Thirkhill, sports reporter for the Mansfield and Ashfield Chad.

There's also squirrel news from Loftus...

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Where has it all gone wrong at Watford? The Hornets were ninety minutes away from promotion to the Premier League in May, but now find themselves on their worst home run in 23 years and down in the bottom half of the Championship. With the pressure growing on boss Gianfranco Zola, the boys speak to Frank Smith (Deputy Sports Editor at the Watford Observer) and Lionel Birnie (Journalist, Watford fan and Editor of 'Tales From The Vicarage') about his future.

We also reflect on a busy weekend at the top of the Championship, with Jim joining us on the line to discuss his trip to the KP for Leicester's 1-1 draw with Burnley on Saturday.

There's also Adam Williams (in the studio) on Ipswich's excellent recent run, plus a review of the weekend's big stories including Graham Westley vs referees and THAT Tom Eaves miss. We also look forward to this Monday's FSF Awards in...

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Derby County are on fire under Steve McClaren. The rampant Rams brushed aside the nine men of Blackpool 5-1 at Pride Park on Saturday to make it five straight wins and move up to fourth in the Championship. The boys speak to Steve Nicholson, chief football writer at The Derby Telegraph, to find out about McClaren's impact and preview the upcoming FA Cup tie with Chelsea.

It's also been a weird week to be a Brentford fan. The news that their new stadium at Lionel Road has finally been given the green light was tempered by manager Uwe Rosler's decision to leave the club and join Dave Whelan at Wigan. Nick Bruzon, author of Brentford blog 'The Last Word' gives his verdict (recorded just before Mark Warburton was confirmed as their new manager).

Elsewhere, there's a review of the weekend's big stories including another impressive Brighton showing, the greatest goalmouth...

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