#national-league

#national-league

Hughes' CV is not too shabby - more than 600 appearances as a player for the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona. Then as a manager more than 450 top-flight games at Blackburn, Stoke City, Southampton, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers, as well as an 18-month spell at the Etihad Stadium just as City were coming under their transformative Abu Dhabi ownership.

All National League fixtures on 15 November will kick off three minutes late as part of a campaign to grant fifth-tier clubs a third promotion place to League Two. The English Football League (EFL) has resisted previous calls for an extra promotion spot, but the National League is continuing to push for change and will highlight the issue again next month, with all 12 fixtures on the day kicking off at 15:03 GMT.

Starting with the hosts, watching their extended purple patch come to an end over the weekend as they eventually fell to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Carlisle, Scunthorpe are desperately seeking an immediate response here. Nevertheless, despite only making their National League return this season, Andy Butler's men have enjoyed a stellar start to proceedings. Getting Tuesday's return to Lincolnshire underway sat in the play-off places, the Irons have their sights set on mounting another promotion charge this year.

While Boston might have clinched a much-welcomed 2-0 victory against Braintree last week, Graham Coughlan's men have failed to find any kind of stability so far this season. Opening the midweek fixtures holding just a three-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone, the Lincolnshire-based outfit could find themselves at the heart of another relegation scrap this year. Despite enjoying an impressive National League Cup romp, the Pilgrims have mustered just a single win from any of their previous seven showdowns against fifth-tier opposition.

Despite losing three of their opening four National League appearances, the Lambs have come roaring back in an eye-catching fashion. Last seen over the weekend landing a gritty 1-0 victory at home against Yeovil, the Staffordshire-based outfit find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Continuing to climb up the table, Tamworth are desperate to extend their stay in the play-off places.

The MLB playoffs are just around the corner and shaping up to be a wide-open affair. For the second consecutive season, there is not a single team on pace to win 100 or more games. That means there is plenty of parity across the majors, which is bound to carry over to October.

Josue De Paula hit a three-run homer in a four-run fourth inning leading the National League to a 4-2 victory over the American League in the All-Star Futures Game.

Former Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham striker Andy Carroll has joined sixth-tier Dagenham & Redbridge on a free transfer. Carroll has signed a reported three-year deal with the National League South outfit after leaving Bordeaux last month.

Fleetwood Town has strengthened their squad by signing Will Davies from Sutton United, who was in impressive form last season with 18 goals in 49 appearances.

Kevin Maher emphasizes the significance of the upcoming play-off final, stating that the club's journey reflects the unpredictability of football, highlighting the stability brought by a recent takeover.

"The National League is vastly superior to the American League with a +69 run differential and a better collective performance in multiple metrics, including OPS."