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Darwen FC manager Leighton Mills issues candid statement after surprise resignation
He revealed some behind-the-scenes details.
Local gaffer Leighton Mills has shared a public statement after he reluctantly stepped away from his position as manager of Darwen FC, with many supporters shocked to learn he had resigned from the role effective immediately.
Darwen confirmed that Mills had resigned over the weekend following their most recent fixture in the First Division North of the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL), but now Leighton himself has come out to clarify some crucial factors behind the decision.
The Bolton-based manager recently celebrated his first anniversary in post at the Lancashire club, with their social media having only just written, “What a year it has been. Memorable ‘El Hotpot’ home win. Eight wins in a row. Made the Anchor a fortress”, and adding “This is only the beginning” on 30 August.
However, while there was clearly a keenness from both the administration and the fans for him to continue in the role, the former Daisy Hill FC boss felt compelled to part ways only half a dozen games into the season. Much to the “regret” of Darwen FC, here’s why…
Detailing an “unexpected meeting with the owner/chairman” following their 1-1 draw against Fulwood AFC, Mills revealed that he was informed the club were “no longer able to offer the 25/26 player budget as agreed to in pre-season due to sponsor issues.”
He explained that this would have left him with “less than half of the initially agreed budget and a squad of players meeting said budget”, before being given two options: either inform the team that their weekly wages were being halved, or release these players and start from scratch.
An ex-player around Greater Manchester himself – going to work in scouting for Preston and even serving as Director of Football at Prestwich Heys amidst management roles – he stated that “neither of these proposed options sat right with [him]…
“I have too much respect for my lads to ask them to play for a wage that does not match their abilities on the pitch. Over the last 12 months, myself, Connor [Hughes, assistant coach] and the management team, have put our hearts and souls into developing a squad who can compete in the top five of the league.
“I strongly believe the squad we had had the ability to go far in NW Counties, and we were all so excited to see what we could achieve this season, but unfortunately, this has now come to an end.
His winning streak and record at home, in particular, certainly gave ‘The Salmoners’ plenty to cheer about over the past year.
Mills went on to add: “I would like to thank everyone at Darwen FC for welcoming me, my management team and my ideas to the club little over 12 months ago. I wish the club and the new manager nothing but success for the rest of the 25/26 campaign.”
“Lastly, THE FANS.. you’ve got us through the tough times – thank you for welcoming me, supporting me and trusting in my vision over the last 12 months. You are a credit to the football club!
“As much as I am devastated to of left an incredible club like Darwen, I know it’s the right decision for me. This chapter is now closed, it’s time to open a new one…”
With other projects outside of sport, such as being the founder and director of Open Air Bounce in Over Hulton back in BL5, we’re sure he’ll be plenty busy in his time away from football – however long or short that may be.
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Featured Images — Darwen FC (via Facebook/X)
News
ITV to be bought out by Sky in transformational British broadcasting deal worth £1.6 billion
Danny Jones
In a watershed moment for British broadcasting, Sky has reached a transformational agreement worth more than £1.6 billion to buy out ITV in a landmark takeover deal.
With Sky already owned by US telecommunications corporation Comcast, this is set to be one of the biggest shakeups in TV and streaming for some time.
Talks actually started last November, but the process to complete a buyout like this has obviously taken a significant amount of time and money already.
It’s also worth noting that the deal is still pending full approval from the relevant regulators; nevertheless, it’s fair to say that it could change the face of the British media giants – who are based here in Greater Manchester over at MediaCity – but might signal a significant overhaul of our media landscape.
The Sky Group have assured there will be no immediate change to popular shows and will not be put behind a paywall at present (for now, anyway), with ITV still under a free-to-air service until 2034 as part of its public licensing contract.
Aquisitons/mergers of this size like this don’t come around very often, at least not across this side of the pond, with the growing Disney’s growing multinational monopolisation being one of the biggest examples of conglomerates mopping up major networks and huge brands over the past decade.
Writing in a statement, Sky said: “The UK media market is undergoing a profound and rapid transformation, and as competition for audiences intensifies, scale matters more than ever in order to compete with global streaming giants and YouTube in the UK.
“Viewers will continue to enjoy the shows they know and love, such as Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Love Island, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, This Morning, Loose Women, Lorraine and News at Ten – alongside major live sporting events.”
That lattermost example feels particularly poignant at the moment, as this also means that the likes of ITV’s impressive World Cup coverage will come under the Sky umbrella in the near future.
It’s being seen as an ambitious attempt to shake up traditional terrestrial telly and digital platforms, with the ‘old guard’, as it were, having to move forward and fast to keep up with the mercurial market becoming evermore dominated by streaming services.
Of course, there are plenty raising questions and concerns over yet another domestic institution becoming deeper and deeper entwined with big American business; on the other hand, former ITV chairman Sir Peter Bazalgette, who still owns shares, says the deal was “essential” for its survival.
ITV will also receive £1.2bn in cash and Sky’s Love Productions business in return for ownership of their media and entertainment arm, whose shows include the Great British Bake Off.
Moving forward, ITV will also get a further £200m in 2028 if they meet revenue targets when it comes to advertising, with Sky promising to spend over £2.1bn on content from ITV Studios over a five-year period. You can read the full update from ITV right HERE.
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Featured Images — James West (via Flickr)/Publicity picture
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Wayne Rooney ‘agrees’ to bizarre bet ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals
Danny Jones
England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has seemingly roped himself into a bizarre bet of his own making after yet more teams booked their place in the quarter-final stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
It’s not quite Gary Lineker doing Match of the Day in his underpants after Leicester won the league, level, but we’d still pay to see it.
However, after the bedlam following England booking their spot in the quarter-finals this morning (feels odd to say and we’re still not quite sure what day it is), you might be surprised to learn it has nothing to do with the Three Lions’ historic victory.
It does have to do with who they’ll be facing in their next game, though: Norway, as Rooney seemed confident enough in his prediction that the Scandinavian side wouldn’t make it into the final eight that he wagered he’d row down the River Mersey. Well, they did…
Yes, in case you missed it, the Norwegians did make it past Brazil with a 2-1 win – and, of course, more goals for Erling Haaland – before Thomas Tuchel’s side had barely even woken up for their very long day at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico.
While no one was quite sure why ‘Wazza’ was quite so confident that the ‘Seleção’ were going to go through, especially since Norway had shown just as much star power in spells in the opening four rounds, he still decided to throw down the gauntlet on himself.
As you can see in the clip above, he says he’s a “man of [his] word” and looks to have even roped in the likes of fellow former pros turned punditry colleagues on the night, Micah Richards and Joe Hart.
That being said, he did make the caveat that perhaps it would be better if the BBC could somehow sort them to sail down the Hudson River in New York instead, simply for the sake of ‘time’.
Now that would be quite some sight, wouldn’t it?
We’re not sure exactly how easy it is for the British broadcasters to simply secure permission to take a rowboat down one of the busiest and most famous waterways in the world, but you never know.
Here’s hoping they at least try to make something happen, anyway.
There’s been plenty of curious and comedic moments already this tournament, but for anyone who hasn’t yet watched Harry Kane’s post-match following the tense 3-2 thriller against Mexico, you really need to.
He was given the chance to chat to the media once again after his voice recovered, but let’s just say the memes that have already come from THAT interview are almost as memorable as the match itself.
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Featured Images — BBC Sport (screenshots)
Danny Jones -
9th September 2025 
