Furious Blackpool fans pelted the directors’ box at Bloomfield Road with a flare, a smoke bomb, fireworks and eggs before their game with Reading on Tuesday.

The Seasiders’ relegation to League One was sealed by Rotherham’s victory over Brighton on Monday, a result that condemned them to the third tier with six games left.

Chairman Karl Oyston was the target of their criticism as supporters congregated in front of the West Stand to demonstrate against their owner before the directors’ box windows were targeted with eggs.

Wilshere upbeat

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is optimistic he is close to a first-team return after marking his comeback from injury by playing a full match for the U-21s.

Wilshere has had a long spell on the sidelines but on Tuesday he started alongside Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby as the Gunners beat Stoke City 4-1.

Wilshere is now keen to force his way into the first team.

“You can train as much as you like but you can’t get that match fitness unless you play,” Wilshere said.

“When you’re injured you look at your comeback date and the games around that time.”

Roy Keane denies taxi row offence

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has denied committing a public order offence in an alleged road-rage incident with a taxi driver.

Keane, 43, is said to have behaved aggressively towards cabbie Fateh Kerar, 44, on January 30. He did not attend a brief hearing in court yesterday but a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf by his lawyer.

The court heard the prosecution will call two witnesses – understood to be Mr Kerar and a taxi passenger – while the defence will call Keane and an additional witness. Keane will face trial at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on June 19.

Russia awarded 3-0 win over Montenegro

Russia have been awarded a 3-0 victory over Montenegro following their Euro 2016 qualifier in Podgorica last month which was abandoned because of crowd trouble, UEFA said yesterday.

UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) assessed a number of incidents during the match which was abandoned after 67 minutes, including the setting off fireworks and throwing objects on to the pitch.

“The CEDB has decided to declare the above-mentioned match as forfeited,” UEFA said.

“As a consequence, the FA of Montenegro is deemed to have lost the game 3-0.”

Montenegro have also been ordered to play their next two home matches behind closed doors and were fined $50,000.

Moratti rules out Inter swoop

Former Inter owner Massimo Moratti has denied reports he is considering buying back the club. Moratti, 69, sold a majority shareholding in 2013 to Indonesian Erick Thohir.

Reports yesterday claimed Moratti, who kept a 30 per cent stake in Inter, has been considering whether to exercise a buy-back clause that was written in the original deal.

However, Moratti, who owned Inter for 18 years prior to selling the club, said: “There is no possibility that I can buy back Inter.

“There is no truth to it. I support Erick Thohir and I hope he will do well.”

Inter have had a poor season and stand 10th in Serie A with nine wins from their 29 games.

Gomis says will stay at Swansea

Former France international Bafetimbi Gomis said he will stay at Swansea City next season after hinting earlier he could leave the Premier League club.

The 29-year-old striker, who won 12 caps with Les Bleus from 2008-13, said in January that it was “possible” he could leave the club.

“I see myself here next season,” Gomis, now the main striker at Swansea since Wilfried Bony left for Manchester City during the January transfer window, said.

“I play more than in the beginning of the season. I’m now very well in Swansea.”

Gomis, who joined from Lyon during the close season, has scored eight goals for Swansea.

Caldwell takes over at troubled Wigan

Wigan Athletic need a miracle to avoid their second relegation in three seasons but new manager Gary Caldwell is the right long-term appointment for the Championship club, chairman David Sharpe said yesterday.

Wigan, who won the FA Cup and were relegated from the Premier League in 2013, are 23rd in the second tier – eight points from safety with five games remaining.

Caldwell, who played 111 games for Wigan, replaces Malky Mackay as manager following the Scot’s dismissal on Monday after a 2-0 home defeat by Derby County.

“Gary is one of us. As soon as he stepped into coaching we could see how much potential he had, managing our club was something we could always see in him,” Sharpe said.

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