IFR. No teeth. No point.

This is going to be very interesting. I’m grateful to the excellent Martin Ziegler of The Times for his reporting today or I wouldn’t be aware of this story.

The toothless and pointless independent football regulator is about to get its first real test.

Why? Because Morcambe, who’ve been in almost terminal decline for the past 18 months or so, have just gone and dug themselves another huge hole.

They’ve appointed Steve Dewsnip as their new chief operating officer. Steve Who? Dewsnip, a one-time director of the Providence Investment Fund, which Ziegler reports collapsed in 2016, leaving investors £37m out of pocket.

As a result Dewsnip was banned by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission ‘from performing any function on behalf of a regulated entity’. I think we can draw our own conclusions about what they really wanted to say, but legally couldn’t.

So Dewsnip has to step away from the job at Morcambe then? Nope. Not yet - maybe not at all. So far the IFR has failed to open a formal investigation. Why not? Your guess is as good as mine

I was never an advocate of the IFR. What can it really achieve? Who would it stop - could it stop - from owning a football club? And on what basis? But it can stop Dewsnip from getting involved at Morcambe surely? Their fans have been put through the wringer these past few months.

As for the IFR - had it been in existence would it have stopped Dejphon Chansiri from buying Sheff Weds in 2015, when the Thai business turned up at Hillsboro with bucket loads of money, optimism and promise?

Who could’ve predicted how his time at Weds would end? But when it did - and Weds slipped into administration last year, there was uproar, with fans and journo’s alike all of the view if the IFR had been around to stop Chansiri the meltdown would never have happened. What nonsense. They wouldn’t have stopped him.

Crystal balls are in short supply. No-one can predict how these things will turn out. And there are so many sad endings to a lot of promise when new owners come in right across the game. Bury is another that comes instantly to mind. 

The IFR can’t possibly predict where or when things will go wrong, but they’ve got one in front of them right now that looks an open and shut case. Let’s hope they do the right thing, but don’t hold your breath. As for the shambles at Weds - nothing. They’ve done absolutely nothing. Because they can’t.

I’m glad the new extended C’ship play-offs got the nod last week. That league is pure class - a real treat to watch. We know one big reason why - we’ve discussed it before - no VAR.

The play-offs can be cruel, but what a way to go up if you make it - at Wembley, in front of a full house.

Extending the clubs involved keeps the season alive longer - reducing dead rubbers. It also increases valuable broadcasting rights. It also gives more clubs a genuine chance to have a crack at promotion to the PL.

Rick Parry, chairman of the FL, should be applauded again for getting this through. Parry, the first chairman of the PL, remains the games foremost modern day executive.

Quick question. When was the last time you saw a ref blow his whistle to signal a goal kick should be taken? No. Nor me. So why was Fulham’s goal disallowed? Here are the official words covering the incident that happened at The Cottage.

‘If, when a goal kick is taken, any opponents are inside the penalty area because they did not have time to leave, the referee allows play to continue. If an opponent who is in the penalty area when the goal kick is taken, or enters the penalty area before the ball is in play, touches or challenges for the ball before it is in play, the goal kick is retaken’.

Fulham made no attempt to play the ball. The ball wasn’t moving. I’ve checked time and again. I’m afraid Jarred Gillett covered for a goalkeeping error and once again Fulham were denied by poor officiating and technology.

Big congrats to Port Vale. Top work guys. And Nigel Clough’s Mansfield can feel proud of themselves.

Do you remember Guardiola whining about the late Saturday ko v Newcastle a couple of weeks ago? I said then it’ll be interesting to see how many of what might be regarded as his first choice XI would start.

This was his team - Trafford. Nunes Stones Husanov Ake. Gonzalez- Iglesias O’Reilly. Savinho Reijnders Doku. Marmoush. So - three. Maybe four. As I thought - so what was the problem? Stop moaning Guardiola. No other coach has the riches you’ve got. Get on with it.