Southampton manager Russell Martin said the scheme could help reintegrate released prisoners into the community
A mentoring scheme run by a Premier League football club is changing the lives of prisoners as they are released, an inmate has said.
Saints Restart is run by Southampton FC’s charity arm – the Saints Foundation – to reduce reoffending rates for prisoners leaving HMP Winchester through advice and physical activity sessions.
On a visit to the prison, Southampton manager Russell Martin said it was helping prisoners “reintegrate into the community”.
One of the 70 inmates involved said: “Without it, there would be a lot of people struggling.”
The Saints Foundation has worked with prisoners at HMP Winchester
Working with other agencies, the Saints Restart initiative involves group workshops, physical activity sessions and one-to-one mentoring aimed at preparing inmates with less than six months of their sentence remaining, for life outside prison.
Since September 2023, a rolling eight-week programme of workshops has focused on issues such as finding accommodation, getting a job, substance misuse, family relationships and mental health.
Government figures from 2022 showed 67% of adults who were homeless when they left prison committed a further offence within a year.
Of those who were in work six weeks after being released from custody, 17% reoffended within a year, compared to 35% of those who were still unemployed.
Russell Martin said such schemes were a “massive responsibility” for the football club.
“I spent a lot of time visiting friends and people in prison growing up,” he said.
“The power of something like this that the club can offer and attach themselves to is way beyond winning or losing a football match on a Saturday.
“Hopefully it can keep impacting lots of people’s lives.”
Steve, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, is 54 and serving an 18-month sentence having been in prison three times before
He said: “I was starting to get depressed and really anxious.
“Restart has made me feel positive, it’s been that bridging voice, between us and what happens next.”
Southampton manager Russell Martin held a coaching session at Winchester Prison’s gym
Another inmate whose name has also been changed, Andy, said: “You’ve got a routine [in prison]. Going back to daily life when you’ve got to stand on your own feet again – its a shock to anyone.
“This gives you some guidance to help you on your way when you out.
“You can ask the questions that are needed – it helps you process things, these emotions and anxieties, that’s all going to help when you’re released.”
He said the element of sport within the scheme was “massive”.
“If you are struggling to deal with anything – you can vent using sport, you can meet other people – it’s like a free medicine, it makes you feel good,” he added.
The mentoring contact continues after release, with departing inmates met at the prison gate before being taken to approved accommodation.
The pull of the football club is then used to keep people on track and help break cycles of reoffending.
Jed Haney of the Saints Foundation said: “The power of the badge is that everyone wants to be involved with a Premier League football team and upon release it’s a big carrot that can be dangled.
“But, also turning up to watch games with their family – especially if they have children – taking them to a game is huge.”
We are often exposed to pollutants and toxins through air and water. Currently, poor air quality in several regions of India, especially Delhi, has raised health concerns. According to the World Health Organization, breathing in pollutants can lead to inflammation, oxidative stress, and immunosuppression throughout the body, impacting the lungs, heart, brain, and other organs. While preventive health measures, such as wearing protective masks and using air purifiers, can help, eating certain foods may also nourish and detoxify your body from within.
Here Are 5 Foods Known For Detoxifying Properties:
1. Eggplants
Photo: iStock
Eggplants are usually purple but can also be found in white. They may vary in size, from large ones to smaller ‘baby eggplants.’ According to Healing Foods by DK Publishing, eggplants contain beneficial amounts of antioxidants, potassium, folate, magnesium, beta-carotene and fibre. Consuming eggplants may help detox your body. Some studies suggest that eggplant can aid in removing harmful chemical substances from the body. It also promotes regular bowel movements and maintains water balance.
2. Garlic
Garlic is known for adding a flavorful kick to savoury dishes. Along with enhancing taste, garlic offers several health benefits. It contains sulfhydryl compounds, which help remove toxic substances, such as heavy metals, from the body and protect against organ damage. A 2012 study involving employees at a car battery plant found that garlic reduced lead levels in their blood by 19%. It also reduced other signs of toxicity, such as headaches and high blood pressure.
3. Mustard Greens
According to the Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, peppery, crispy mustard greens are among the most nutritious leafy vegetables available during the winter season. Fresh mustard greens are an excellent source of antioxidants like flavonoids and also have anti-inflammatory properties. The antioxidant beta-carotene and vitamins C and K help neutralize toxins and remove them from the body.
4. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are widely used in Indian cooking and are a great ingredient for detoxing your body. They are a good source of glutathione, which helps the body remove fat-soluble toxins, as explained in Healing Foods by DK Publishing. Lycopene, found in tomatoes, boosts immunity and lowers cholesterol. Homemade tomato juice and tomato salsa are healthy and delicious ways to include nutritional tomatoes in your diet.
5. Alfalfa Seeds
Alfalfa seeds are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, particularly chlorophyll, which helps remove toxins from the blood. Alfalfa seeds also have natural diuretic properties, which maintain water balance and help lower blood pressure. According to a 2020 study published in BioResearch Open Access, alfalfa seeds also support skin health. You can add these seeds to your diet by incorporating alfalfa sprouts into any meal.
Include these healthy food items in your daily diet. Along with a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and water intake, they can help detox your body and improve your health.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
In recent months Barca president Joan Laporta has regularly boasted that he would secure a deal which would be “the biggest in all of world football”, and the extended contract could now be worth €1.7billion (£1.4bn;$1.8bn) over the next 14 seasons to 2038, bringing a major boost to the club’s troubled and complex financial situation.
Confirmation of the new arrangement ends a year-long saga which hurt relations between the Catalan club and the American sportswear giant. Yet it remains to be seen whether the deal will bring immediate relief to the team’s issues with La Liga’s salary limits — including most pressingly whether last summer’s signings Dani Olmo and Pau Victor can be registered to play for the team over the second half of this season.
The Athletic spoke to figures inside and outside Camp Nou, all of whom wished to remain anonymous to protect relationships, about whether this is a good deal for Barcelona.
What did Barcelona say?
Announcing the contract on Saturday, Barca said in a statement: “This new partnership consolidates Nike as a main partner of the club and official technical partner across all professional and amateur teams, bringing a unique model that strengthens the brand association and fuels the global retail and licensing business growth.”
What are the financial details?
Barca officially told The Athletic that the details of the deal were confidential, but club sources stated a total figure of €1.7bn over the next 14 years.
The new contract will have two phases. The first is from 2024 to 2028, the latter year being when the previous agreement was to expire. Club sources say that for each of the next four years, the income will now be around €108million (£90m;$115m), close to doubling what the club had been earning in recent seasons.
From 2028, that figure will increase to around €120m each campaign over the following decade, according to the club sources.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta (Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
These sources said that Barcelona would also receive a ‘signing bonus’ of €158m which will be divided over the 14 years of the deal, including the current season’s accounts.
Barca consider it to be a big victory for Barca following tough negotiations, guaranteeing that most of the promised annual income will be received, regardless of the team’s performances on the pitch.
When previous president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s board signed the previous deal in 2016, a headline figure of €105m a year was trumpeted. However, under that deal, when the team were not as successful as hoped, for instance dropping out of the Champions League early, the club actually received only €50-60m from Nike.
What are Nike saying?
Nike and Barca have worked together closely since their first deal was signed in 1998. When asked by The Athletic to comment on the new deal extension, Nike said it was delighted to continue this deep and meaningful relationship.
A Nike spokesperson said: “We are excited to progress our work together at all levels, from grassroots football initiatives that inspire and empower young players, to elevating FC Barcelona as a global icon of style and culture. Together, we are particularly passionate about advancing the growth of the women’s game, and our partnership with FC Barcelona’s women’s team is a testament to our shared dedication to equality and inclusivity in sport.”
Nike said they could not confirm details of the financial or business sides of the agreement.
What’s the optimistic view?
The €1.7bn headline figure is huge, even by the standards of multi-million kit deals at the elite level in club football. It would be a huge improvement on Barca’s previous earnings from Nike, a significant boost in revenues which would help improve the club’s financial situation over the coming years.
Importantly for many around Camp Nou, with the signing bonus included it would also mean that Barca have achieved Laporta’s often-stated ambition to top Real Madrid’s €120m-a-year agreement with Adidas, currently accepted as the most lucrative in world football.
This would back the current board’s case that they are working successfully to fix the financial problems they inherited from their predecessors.
Barca need cash to be able to play Dani Olmo in the second half of the season (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
What’s the reality of the situation?
It is not typical in football for a club to renegotiate a kit deal with four years still to run. But the agreement with Nike was identified by Barca’s board as a potential way to increase their revenues by ‘levering’ more money into their annual accounts.
Nike were only going to agree to a new deal if it suited them, and there had been anger within the U.S. multinational at how they had been treated through the whole negotiation process, including the Catalan club trying (unsuccessfully) to find a legal way to exit their previous agreement.
Laporta and his closest executives took charge of the negotiations which finally led to the weekend’s announcement. Full details of the agreement were not even shared with the board before last Friday’s vote to accept.
Some industry sources consulted by The Athletic were sceptical about the figures being claimed, with doubt from some in the Spanish capital about whether Barca’s deal really was going to be bigger than Madrid’s.
There were also concerns voiced about the effect of the new arrangement on the Catalan club’s Barca Licensing and Merchandising (BLM) arm, with the statement announcing the deal appearing to suggest a deeper role for Nike in this area of Barca’s business.
Since its launch by Bartomeu in 2018, BLM has been a big success. The €179m that Barca earned from kit and merchandising revenues was the most of any European club according to UEFA.
There are concerns that Nike playing a greater role in the many ‘casual’ ranges of clothing and other merchandise sold in official club shops will mean less of the profits end up in its coffers. Club sources have denied that this will be the case.
GO DEEPER
Barcelona and Nike’s breakdown in relations reveals deeper problems at Catalan club
What’s the latest on Barca’s salary limit?
As so often in recent years, Barca had to work hard this summer to be able to register all their current squad members with La Liga, including Spain international playmaker Olmo, a €60m arrival from RB Leipzig, and young striker Victor, a €2.7m signing from Girona.
Both were only registered at the last minute, using La Liga’s financial rule 77, which allows for the temporary replacement of injured players (in this case Andreas Christensen). That meant they were only registered with La Liga until December 31. For either or both to feature after the winter break, the club must find more money from somewhere.
Victor is another player experiencing uncertainty at Barcelona (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
During a press conference in early September, Laporta said that Barca were “€60million away” from returning to a situation where La Liga would let them sign and register players as normal.
A few weeks later it emerged that Barca’s auditors had required a write-down in its 2023-24 accounts of the value of the club’s troubled ‘Barca Vision’ subsidiary, which holds its current and future media rights and activities.
This meant that Barca now needed to raise an estimated €120m to get back within its allowed salary limit for the current campaign.
GO DEEPER
Reading Barca’s accounts – and why a ‘€12m profit’ is actually a €91m loss
How could the new Nike deal affect the situation?
When Laporta has been asked about the Barca Vision problem, he would often mention the bumper benefits of a new kit deal as at least part of the solution.
One hope was that a ‘bonus’ of €100m-plus could fill most or all of the immediate holes in the club’s accounts caused by the failure of the Barca Studios lever. The agreed deal now divides this bonus over its 14-year term — meaning only an estimated €9m extra in 2024-25 (plus the extra €40m in normal revenues over the course of the season).
Club sources have told The Athletic that the new Nike deal helps but does not resolve the Barca Vision issue. So the search continues for more investors in that project. There is confidence at the highest level at Camp Nou that this will be successful, and player sales will not be required in the winter transfer window. However, as so often under the current regime, it looks likely to go right down the wire.
And over the longer term?
The general impression is that this new Nike deal fits well with Laporta’s policies during his second presidency. The club is gaining upfront money which it can use to fix holes in the accounts and continue to spend on the squad.
A longer-term issue with the new Nike contract flagged in multiple conversations with industry sources is that Barca are now locked into this deal for another 14 years. Given the inflation in the market, €127m a year may not look so good by 2034. “This deal could tie the hands and feet of the next president,” an ex-Blaugrana board member told The Athletic.
However, there is also an understanding that Barca are where they are, and the numbers coming from the club are impressive and necessary. “Financially this new Nike deal is a tremendous boost of oxygen,” said one influential figure in the club’s ‘entorno’ who has not always backed Laporta’s lever policies.
(Additional reporting: Pol Ballús)
(Top photo: Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Lavin signed a new contract with Adidas for the new Olympic cycle a few weeks ago which ensures she can remain as a professional athlete. The 2024 World Indoor finalist will now target her third Olympic Games. Lavin received funding of €25,000 under the 2024 International Carding Scheme from Sport Ireland but she says Olympic dreams can’t be sustained on that level of funding without commercial earnings.
“I have re-signed with Adidas so LA here we come. Often after an Olympic cycle, people ask you are you going again? And sometimes it’s not always your choice.
“I remember as a kid watching Derval [O’Rourke] on The Late Late Show and she was talking about how little funding she got and that was 20 years ago,” said Lavin, who launched the Federation of Irish Sport 2024 Volunteers in Sport Awards.
“The highest level of carding is €40,000 in this country and for finishing fifth at a World Indoors you’re on €25,000. You can’t live off €25,000 a year without the commercial input and sponsors. Olympic dreams just can’t be fulfilled at that level. Some athletes don’t even have that.”
Lavin has become a regular finalist at major championships. At the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March, she finished fifth in the final of the 60m hurdles. She qualified for the final of the 100m hurdles at the European Championships in Rome in June but she hit the second hurdle and finished in seventh place.
At the Paris Olympics, she finished sixth in her semi-final and Lavin (30) believes her best years are still ahead of her.
“I take huge heart that Derval won a major medal at 33. OK, I’ve just turned 30. I also think given the fact that I didn’t have quite a straightforward career transitioning from a junior to senior, I get a lot of enjoyment out of simple things and if I had that perfect transition I might be slightly bored of it. I certainly am not. I relish every opportunity.
“I think just to have that boost [new contract] is really exciting. Obviously, I wanted to run quicker than 12.6 but I did run 12.6 twice and that is pretty quick on the grand scheme of things and [I was] fifth at the World Indoors this year, ran a PB five times indoors.
“I think heading into next year knowing that there’s a European Indoors, a World Indoors and a World Championships again, three majors. I’m determined.”
Lavin believes it would help greatly if her coach was able to work with her on a full-time basis in her bid to get to the next level. Noelle Morrissey receives the annual funding support of €10,000 from Athletics Ireland but Lavin believes it is inadequate.
“€10,000 is not sufficient to work the 20 hours of contact time that’s required to be a coach at the highest level, and that’s not including the planning of programmes, sessions, travelling,” Lavin added. “I know what I can do, Noelle and I, but we’re doing this on literally bare minimum of support for Noelle.
“In an ideal world, the dream would be that Noelle is a full-time coach. That contact time is really beneficial to us. We’re trying to push everything we can do from a training perspective but it comes down to simple things: time together.
“I fully believe we’re getting closer and closer. My consistency has been getting better and better and I just really want to deliver that major medal.”
“We kept trying and trying to engage and just ran against brick walls,” the North End Democrat said in August.
After the two sides reached a compromise on the nearly $4 billion bill, Michlewitz told the Globe the package that emerged was “well worth the effort and the wait.”
He said the package will be a boon to the state’s economy by targeting the industries that “will continue to become very important to the growth of the overall economy [here].”
The bill, dubbed the “Mass Leads Act,” follows months of closed-door talks between leaders in the House and the Senate. The agreement was announced just two days after Election Day, guaranteeing lawmakers would approve it during a lame-duck session, the very situation adecades-old rule governing the chambers wasdesigned to avoid.
House leaders are planning to call representatives back to the State House for a special formal session this week to approve this bill, a necessary step because the bill includes bonding measures, which require roll call votes. The Senate’s approval will likely follow, though the Senate’s rules allow members to participate in roll call votes remotely.
House members had not moved to come back for a special formal session as of Tuesday afternoon.
House and Senate leaders have been negotiating for months over the bill, which was the most high-profile proposal lawmakers failed to finish before they wrapped up formal sessions over the summer. The day after they gaveled out, Governor Maura Healey publicly pressured lawmakers to return to Beacon Hill to finish the bill — a major priority of the governor’s.
The soccer stadium language initially included in the Senate’s version of the bill, had been closely watched in part because this marked the third time project supporters have tried to secure approval to remove the 43-acre stadium site from what’s known as a designated port area, where only industrial uses are allowed. The Kraft Group for years has searched for a property in or near Boston to build a stadium for the Revs and move them out of Gillette Stadium, which the Revs share with the New England Patriots. That hunt, as of late, has zeroed in on a shuttered power plant across the Mystic River from Charlestown, and across the street from the Encore Boston Harbor casino.
Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria has been championing the language, but Boston officials, including Mayor Michelle Wu, chafed at the proposal, lamenting the city was left out of negotiations between the Kraft Group and Everett. The Wu administration is particularly concerned about the potential impact on traffic in Charlestown.
To address this, the latest language to remove the power plant land from the DPA now includes a provision requiring the Krafts to secure a community benefits agreements with Everett and with Boston; if an agreement can’t be reached with Boston, the issue would be resolved by an independent arbitrator. A community benefits agreement would include items to sweeten the deal, such as land for a public park or money for a community center.
“It’s been a long but healthy process,” said Steve Tocco, a lobbyist at ML Strategies who represents Kraft Group and Wynn Resorts, which owns both the casino and the stadium site. “We look forward to having a real chance to put this together.”
In a statement ahead of the bill’s release Tuesday, Wu said she is “grateful to the Legislature for recognizing the need for Boston to be included in discussions of this major proposal.”
“We look forward to learning the details of this proposal and working on behalf of Boston residents to represent community needs at this site,” she said.
The bill also includes language restricting how much state money officials can spend to improve the stadium’s site. Even with the Legislature’s approval, the stadium proposal still needs to undergo extensive state and local permitting, in addition to the mandated negotiations with Boston officials.
The bill would reauthorize a steady stream of state spending for the life sciences sector that began under former governor Deval Patrick’s administration, while the clean-tech funding in the bill would give a significant boost for that sector, including up to $30 million a year in tax credits for climate-tech businesses. Also included: $100 million to stoke the artificial intelligence sector.
State Senator Barry Finegold, the lead negotiator on the Senate side, said the bill is intended to growsectors where Massachusetts is already a leader.
“The areas that we’re winning at, we want to grow that lead,” Finegold said. “Here in Massachusetts, we can’t get comfortable. We have to continue to compete. We have to continue to grow. We have to make this state very attractive for businesses to not only start here but to stay here.”
Brian Johnson, president of the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council, said Tuesday that while “it didn’t happen when we were hoping,” the bill’s expected passage is “timely” and “important.”
The injection of funds into the life sciences sector represents a “generational investment” in up-and-coming areas such as robotic surgery, advanced organ transplants, and neurotechnology — all areas where New England’s “brain belt” thrives, Johnson said.
“We have written the blueprint for other states, and many of the things we have done over the last 15 years have been very good,” he said. “But it’s time to invest in a seasoned product and cement our place.”
Jim Rooney, chief executive of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, agreed. He said he expects the new climate-tech funding to generate a similar reaction to the Legislature’s decision to support the life sciences sector in 2008, which received nationwide attention.
“I think that sends a signal to the rest of the country who are also aiming to compete in that industry that Massachusetts is serious about it,” Rooney said of clean-tech. “I expect that the country will take notice that Massachusetts is getting in the game in a big way.”
The bill included several policy riders and provisions, as well. Among the ones that made it into the final version of the bill were:
Several policies were also axed in the process. Those that did not make the cut include:
A policy change to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction to include 18-year-olds, meaning they would be tried as juveniles instead of adults for certain crimes
Samantha J. Gross can be reached at samantha.gross@globe.com. Follow her @samanthajgross. Jon Chesto can be reached at jon.chesto@globe.com. Follow him @jonchesto.
Kiyan Anthony, the 17-year-old basketball prodigy and son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, is charting his own course in the world of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. Recently, Kiyan signed with WME Sports for exclusive NIL representation, aligning himself with the same agency that represents his mother, La La Anthony. This significant move marks a new chapter in Kiyan’s growing career as he prepares for his college basketball decision.
The highly ranked high school player, who shines as a guard for Long Island Lutheran, is not only building an impressive athletic rsum but also expanding his business portfolio. WME Sports celebrated Kiyan’s signing with a statement highlighting his scoring prowess. As New York’s top-ranked player in the 2025 class, Kiyan made waves at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, leading in scoring with an average of 28.5 points per game. He continued to impress in the Nike EYBL, where he scored 19.6 points, grabbed 4.6 rebounds, and contributed 1.5 assists per game for Team Melo.
Kiyan, Carmelo Anthony’s son, shines with a spectacular dunk at the Bronx tournament
Kiyan has already secured several lucrative NIL partnerships in the past year. His deals with brands like PSD Underwear, Nerf, and the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation have propelled his NIL valuation to an impressive $1.1 million, ranking him 11th among high school basketball players. This robust brand presence, combined with his athletic potential, places Kiyan in a prime position as he approaches his college choice.
College decision approaching for the Four-Star recruit
Kiyan’s path forward in basketball is as anticipated as his business ventures. He has narrowed down his college options to three: USC, Syracuse, and Auburn. The four-star recruit recently hinted at an upcoming announcement, scheduled for Friday, November 15, on his father’s popular podcast, 7PM in Brooklyn. Fans are eagerly awaiting his decision, especially given Carmelo’s legacy at Syracuse, where he won an NCAA championship. However, Carmelo has stated that he won’t pressure Kiyan to follow in his footsteps, allowing him to make his own choice.
With both his parents’ strong influence in sports and entertainment, Kiyan Anthony is well-positioned to navigate the dual worlds of college athletics and business. His recent move to join WME Sports mirrors his mother’s approach to off-court representation, while his decision to announce his college choice on his father’s platform keeps family at the heart of his journey. Whether or not Kiyan follows his father’s legacy at Syracuse, his future in sports and business is undeniably bright.
Wigan Athletic’s finest glory day came in May 2013, when they defeated Manchester City at Wembley Stadium and were crowned FA Cup champions.
But just three days after their improbable cup triumph, the Latics suffered a 4-1 league defeat to Arsenal, which saw them relegated from the Premier League back to the Championship following a remarkable eight-year stay in the top-flight.
However, after seeing their side win a major trophy, a feat which many Latics fans may never have thought possible, the spirits of the Wigan faithful were not dampened, as they looked forward to a Europa League campaign which came as an apt reward for the club’s cup-winning exploits.
But fast forwards to spring 2015, and the Greater Manchester outfit had suffered a second relegation in three years, and would be plying their trade in League One just over two years after their Wembley glory day.
The drop to the third tier saw then key players such as James McClean and long-serving goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi leave the Brick Community Stadium alongside several other high profile departures.
In fact, by the summer of 2015, the Latics had to begin a rebuild ahead of the 2015/16 League One season.
One signing the club made during this period was that of Michael Jacobs, who arrived in Greater Manchester from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a three-year-deal for an undisclosed fee.
Jacobs went on to become a Latics hero
When the Latics signed Jacobs back in 2015, even they could not have anticipated that the former Northampton Town man would go on to become a modern-day hero, and an arguable club legend.
But by the end of his first season at the Brick Community Stadium, the winger had already helped the club win the League One title, a success which he greatly contributed towards with a strong return of 10 goals and seven assists.
The next chapter of Jacobs’ Latics career would not go so smoothly, as, like his fellow teammates, he struggled to cope with the more testing demands of Championship football.
In fact, the early exchanges of the 2016/17 second tier campaign saw former Wigan boss Gary Caldwell dismissed of his duties, while Jacobs managed just three goals and four assists across the whole season, in which he made 43 appearances.
The Latics were relegated following a woeful 2016/17 term, but the 2017/18 League One season witnessed the wideman produce his best football yet again, as he scored 12 goals as well as creating seven assists in the third tier.
So, just shy of three years on from his arrival, Jacobs was a double League One title winner with the Greater Manchester outfit, whose 2018 success was arguably even more enjoyable than that of 2016, as the Tics won a whopping 98 points and beat local rivals Blackburn Rovers to the prize by just two points.
Remarkably for a third tier side, the Latics also reached the FA Cup quarter-final in 2018, and Jacobs played his part in this impressive cup run as he made six appearances and provided an assist in the process.
And following the success of the 2017/18 season, Wigan would prove to adjust far better to the Championship under the management of Paul Cook than that of Caldwell, landing an 18th place finish in the second tier, and crucially, 12 points above the drop zone.
Jacobs himself also performed much better in the Championship this time around, and scored four goals as well as creating four assists in just 22 appearances.
The subsequent 2019/20 campaign would end in disaster for the Latics, who were plunged into administration by former owner Stanley Choi, an event which saw the winger leave the club in favour of the more stable Portsmouth.
But the wideman still created more positive memories for the Brick Community Stadium faithful that season prior to his unfortunate departure, and scored what many supporters will deem the best goal he ever scored in Wigan colours.
In February 2020, the Greater Manchester outfit hammered Reading 3-0 away from home, and Jacobs sealed the deal with their third goal on 98 minutes, chipping then Royals goalkeeper Rafael from a seemingly impossible angle.
Following his impressive exploits for the Latics, Pompey, then of League One, would not have been unwise for thinking that signing the wideman on a free transfer was a major coup.
However, the former Wolves man never showed the Hampshire outfit the kind of form he had displayed for the Latics, while in his best ever season at Fratton Park he scored six goals and made four assists during the 2021/22 third tier season.
Jacobs left Pompey one summer prior to the club’s 2023/24 League One title winning campaign to join Chesterfield, then of the National League.
And while the Englishman won promotion to the Football League with the Spireites and reunited with his former Wigan boss Cook, his time with the Latics, for whom he won two promotions, will go down as the finest spell of his career.
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If you missed even the last-minute Prime Day deals in July, the good news is that there are more discounts to come from Amazon in its Prime Big Deal Days. The shopping event, which will run October 8 and 9, will include savings for all kinds of products, including power tools, grills, TVs, smart home devices, watches, shoes, cologne — you name it, there’s probably a price cut for it in this year’s Prime Big Deal Days deals.
Even better news is the fact that there are some early offers that you can shop right now, and we’ve rounded up our favorites below so you won’t have to scour Amazon’s website yourself. We’re not entirely sure how long these prices will last though — some may not make it to Prime Big Deal Days — so if something catches your attention, we highly recommend completing your purchase as soon as possible.
Amazon Echo Pop — $18 $4055% off
Amazon
Among the best ways to access Amazon’s Alexa is through its Echo smart speakers, and the Amazon Echo Pop is small enough to fit anywhere while still offering full sound. The digital assistant performs various tasks based on voice commands, and it’s compatible with all kinds of smart home devices. It’s pretty cheap, but it’s even more affordable after a 55% discount that translates to $22 in savings.
Levi’s Men’s Drive Lo Sneaker — $30 $6050% off
Image used with permission by copyright holder
With extra padding and a cushioned footbed, the Levi’s Men’s Drive Lo Sneakers are extremely comfortable while still providing proper support for your feet. The retro-inspired lace-up design is stylish, the soft mesh fabric lining in the interior provides breathability, and the rubber outsole promises durability. They’re an excellent pair of shoes, especially with the $30 in savings at 50% off.
Versace The Dreamer for Men 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray — $36 $8055% off
Versace
Versace The Dreamer for Men 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray features fragrance notes of mandarin orange, green apple, black currant, guava, and rose petals. Designed by Gianni Versace, this is a spray that you wouldn’t want to miss buying, especially since you can get it at 55% off for a discount of $44.
Adidas Men’s Supernova 2 Running Shoe — $38 $10062% off
Adidas
The Adidas Men’s Supernova 2 Running Shoe gives you the power to keep moving through the energy return feature of Adidas Boost, with durability from the lightweight synthetic fabric and great grip from the rubber outsole. A 62% discount slashes its price by $62, so don’t miss this chance at cheap but amazing rubber shoes.
Amazon Echo Spot (2024) — $45 $8044% off
Amazon
The 2024 release of the Amazon Echo Spot is already on sale at 44% off for $35 in savings, which is a steal considering this smart device’s capabilities. In addition to providing access to Amazon’s Alexa, it’s a smart alarm clock with rich sound that you can customize with different faces. The Amazon Echo Spot shows the time, weather, and song title if you’re playing music through it.
Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker — $60 $10040% off
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The Keurig K-Mini is a simple coffee maker that uses K-Cup Pods of different flavors to brew your beverages. It can brew for cups from 6 ounces to 12 ounces, but you’ll have to refill its one-cup reservoir each time. Your coffee’s done in minutes, and the coffee maker automatically turns off 90 seconds after your last brew. If you think this coffee maker is perfect for you, buy it while it’s 40% off for savings of $40.
Ninja AF101 Air Fryer — $80 $13038% off
Ninja
Enjoy fried food without all the grease with the Ninja AF101 Air Fryer, which is on sale with a 38% discount for savings of $50. Its basket has a capacity of 4 quarts, which is about 2 pounds of French fries, to give you an idea of cooking capacity. It cooks at temperatures of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and in addition to air frying, it can also roast, reheat, and dehydrate.
The North Face Recon Everyday Laptop Backpack — $87 $10920% off
The North Face
The North Face Recon Everyday Laptop Backpack, which you can get a 20% off for savings of $22, is a backpack that you won’t mind using daily. It features the brand’s FlexVent suspension system with its articulated shoulder straps and soft-touch chemise fabric, and there are two external mesh pockets for water bottles and other similar items.
DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill/Driver Kit — $99 $17945% off
DEWALT
The DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill/Driver Kit includes the DeWalt 20V Max cordless drill/driver, which is powered by a high-performance motor that will get the job done quickly. The bundle also comes with two batteries and a charger, so the cordless drill/driver will always be ready for any project. The 45% discount on this bundle will net you savings of $80.
Insignia 50-inch F30 Series 4K TV — $200 $30033% off
Insignia
The 50-inch Insignia F30 Series 4K TV is an affordable TV that’s even cheaper right now, as you can get it with a 33% discount for $100 in savings. You’ll still get 4K Ultra HD resolution, DTS Studio Sound, and access to Alexa and streaming services through Amazon’s Fire TV platform, so it’s a steal at its lowered price.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells — $429 $54922% off
Bowflex
Save space and money — and even more with the 22% discount that translates to $120 in savings — with the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells. Each dumbbell adjusts from 5 pounds to 52.5 pounds, and you can select the weight that you want with the turn of the dial. They’re equivalent to 15 pairs of dumbbells, so anybody in the family can use them.
Amazon 55-inch Fire TV Omni Series QLED 4K TV — $440 $60027% off
Amazon
The 55-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni Series QLED 4K TV is made by Amazon itself, so of course it runs on the Fire TV platform. It’s also a QLED TV with really impressive brightness, and it offers 4K Ultra HD resolution and advanced HDR. A 27% discount on its original price translates to $160 in savings, but only if you hurry with your purchase.
Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill — $519 $63919% off
Weber
The Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill, which is on sale with a $120 discount or 19% off, offers 529 square inches of cooking space, so you’ll be able to grill a meal for a family in one go. It’s equipped with the GS4 grilling system for improved ignition, 30,000 BTU-per-hour main burners, and an open cart design with side shelves and two large wheels.
NordicTrack Commercial VU 29 Exercise Bike — $899 $1,29931% off
NordicTrack
The NordicTrack Commercial VU 29 Exercise Bike is a fantastic way to work out within the confines of your own home. Go through low-impact cardio workouts with 24 levels of resistance, and with the included 30-day iFIT Family Membership, you can stream live and on-demand workouts on its 14-inch HD touchscreen. It’s 31% off, and you wouldn’t want to miss the $400 in savings.
LG 65-inch C4 Series OLED Evo 4K TV — $1,697 $2,70037% off
LG
The 65-inch LG C4 Series OLED Evo 4K TV is a pretty serious investment, even after the 37% discount that gets you savings of $1,003, but it’s worth every single penny. As an OLED TV, it’s capable of creating perfect black levels for immersive viewing, and it also supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for a cinematic experience. You’ll be able to watch streaming shows through LG’s webOS platform.
How to choose Prime Big Deal Days deals
There are so many things on sale for Prime Big Deal Days that you’re probably going to have to stretch your budget. However, if you want to maximize your shopping for the event, you should probably start by buying what you need. Is your home theater setup too boring? Then take a look at Prime Day TV deals. Are you planning to take up running as a regular workout routine? Check out Prime Day running shoe deals. Looking for a new trademark scent? Browse the Prime Day cologne deals. There’s something for everyone in this year’s Prime Big Deal Days deals.
After shopping for the necessities in Prime Big Deal Days deals, we highly recommend searching for offers for products that you think you’ll be able to use often. Getting a certain electronic device for cheap won’t matter if you’ll use it very rarely. If you’re unsure if a product will fit your lifestyle, you should check if we have a review of it. That might help you make up your mind.
How we chose these Prime Big Deal Days deals
Our recommendations above for the best Prime Big Deal Days deals aren’t just the first ones that pop up in search results. We made sure that all of these products are worth buying, beginning with whether they’re made by reputable brands. You wouldn’t want to enjoy a few more dollars of savings on a low-quality item, right? We also chose well-reviewed products so you won’t be wasting your hard-earned cash.
The cheapest prices are still our primary target for you, but we also considered the percentage of the savings. Prime Big Deal Days is the perfect opportunity to buy products that were previously way beyond your budget, and if they’re 50% off or less, the discount may knock their price to a range that you can afford.
Disney and DirecTV reached a crucial deal Saturday, effectively bringing back college football broadcasts for DirecTV customers who lost access to Disney networks like ABC and ESPN after the cable provider and Disney battled over a distribution agreement at the start of the month.
The blackout began Sept. 1. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Key Facts
DirecTV’s 11.3 million customers were hit with a blackout on Sept. 1 after the company and Disney failed to come to a distribution agreement, cutting off their access to ESPN, ABC, FX and Disney Channel broadcasts that included college football and “Monday Night Football” among several other programs.
Disney and DIrecTV announced in a joint statement Saturday an agreement was finally reached and would make for the return of college football for DirecTV users ahead of Saturday’s slate of games.
The new distribution deal will also make Disney streaming services (Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+) and ESPN’s upcoming standalone streaming service available in select DirecTV packages.
The agreement also comes in time for DirecTV customers interested in watching the Emmy Awards, which will be broadcasted by ABC on Sunday night.
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What Is Espn’s New Streaming Service?
The streaming service will debut in 2025 and can be bundled with a Disney+ subscription. It will include fantasy sports features and give users live access to ESPN’s major offerings that will dwarf the content available on ESPN+.
Key Background
The disagreement between DirecTV and Disney resulting in the blackout stemmed from an increase in fees Disney sought for its popular channels and DirecTV’s “desire for more flexibility in how it sells those channels,” according to The Wall Street Journal. Both companies accused each other of stalling the agreement, with DirecTV going so far as to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission last week accusing DIsney of not negotiating in good faith. DirecTV Chief Marketing Officer Vince Torres said this week the number of lost customers during the disagreement was not “immaterial,” CNBC reported. The dispute’s end is a win for both sides, as college football games have the ability to draw in tens of millions of viewers. Last year’s Rose Bowl game between Michigan and Alabama generated viewership of 27.2 million.
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