Brentford v Fulham: Championship play-off final match preview

Jonny Williams targets another major tournament appearance with Wales

Jonny Williams’ career has mirrored a roller coaster but he is determined toenjoy another high with Wales next summer. The midfielder was unable to stopCharlton going straight back down from the Sky Bet Championship last month – ayear after he helped the Addicks into the second tier with promotion via theLeague One play-offs. Williams featured in the Wembley win against old clubSunderland in May 2019 after he had spent the 2017-18 campaign on loan withthe Black Cats, who went on to suffer relegation. Fit and raring to go for thenext challenge, the 26-year-old has the ultimate long-term goal this season ofappearing at another European Championship with Wales.

Manager Eddie Howe leaves Bournemouth following relegation

Eddie Howe has left his role as Bournemouth manager by mutual consent, the SkyBet Championship club have announced. The 42-year-old was unable to keep theCherries in the Premier League, with relegation confirmed on the final daydespite a 3-1 victory at Everton.

Danny Cowley sacked as Huddersfield manager

Danny Cowley has been sacked as Huddersfield manager, the Championship club have announced.The 41-year-old and assistant, brother Nicky, will leave the Terriers immediately.The pair took over from Jan Siewert in September but have won just 13 of their 40 games, with Huddersfield yet to mathematically secure safety in the Sky Bet Championship.

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth savours ‘amazing’ Wembley win

Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth said taking Wycombe into the Sky Bet Championship for the first time in their history was beyond his “wildest dreams”.The Chairboys secured promotion after a close-fought 2-1 victory over Oxford in the League One play-off final at Wembley.

Drag queen embraces disability

A maths tutor who lost his leg after being hit by a car has revealed how hisdrag queen alter ego has helped him embrace his disability. Ian Lilley, 43,had just moved from his home town in South Wales to London after landing aplace at prestigious drama school Mountview Academy in 2000 when his lifechanged forever. While unloading his possessions from a removal van as hemoved into his new flat, the driver of a passing car blacked out at the wheeland hit him. Airlifted to hospital, Ian came to hours later to find that hisleft leg, which had been smashed into 13 pieces, had been amputated. Foryears, Ian, now a science and maths tutor from Crouch End, north London, hidaway, desperately self-conscious. But now, he has unveiled his drag alter ego,Eileen Eiffell – which sounds like, ‘I lean, I fall', a tongue-in-cheekreference to what he has been through – and he wants to help empower otherdisabled performers.

‘Irv The Swerve’ the 80-year-old water skier

Credit: British Water Ski and Wakeboard Irving Stone, aka ‘Irv the Swerve’ hasmarked his 80th birthday by going water skiing. There was nothing thesolicitor from Hampstead in north London wanted to do more for his milestonebirthday. He is believed to be the oldest water skier in the country, havingstarted skiing in 1962, and is a former British over-55 slalom record holder.Irving travelled up to South Lake near St Neots in Cambridgeshire for theoccasion with family and friends.

HSBC profits drop 65% due to coronavirus

HSBC has suffered a 65% drop in pre-tax profit in the first half of the yearas Europe’s largest bank was struck by a dive in interest rates andcoronavirus disruption. The bank reported profits of 4.3 billion US dollars(£3.2 billion) in the half year to June 30, down from 12.4 billion dollars(£9.5 billion) in the same period in 2019. HSBC has endured a torrid year onthe markets with the London listed shares falling more than 40% from 595p to342p as of June 30. Chief executive Noel Quinn also warned internationaltensions could compound the damaging effects of Covid-19.

Uber teams with Thames Clippers for boat service

Uber has joined up with Thames Clippers for the launch of its new service UberBoat. The service, which commences in London on Monday, will allow users topurchase tickets for Thames Clippers boats in advance through the Uber app andthen use QR technology to board. The payment will be processed using Uberaccount details. Passengers will be able to use the service across a fleet of20 boats on the River Thames, with departures from 23 piers across London.

Mikel Arteta gives update on Mesut Ozil

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed Mesut Ozil has returned to training having missed the last six games but he refused to say whether Arsenal’s highest-earner would feature at Wembley.

Teenager arrested on suspicion of Wembley sister murders

An 18-year-old man has been arrested over the murders of two sisters in a London park, the Metropolitan Police said.The teenager was arrested at an address in south London overnight on suspicion of the murders of both Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, at Fryent Country Park in Wembley, north-west London, in the early hours of June 6.