Vilanova and Brown both back

 

With internationals clogging up the fixture list, it's easy to forget what's going on in the wonderful world of club football. Christian Crowther gives an update...

 

Tito Vilanova to make dugout return for Barcelona

Barcelona fans will be delighted to welcome home manager Tito Vilanova after an enforced absence of two months while he received specialist treatment for cancer in the USA. The Catalan club have not confirmed exactly when the 44-year-old will resume first-team duties, though there is hope that he might be in charge of Barca's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris St-Germain next Tuesday in France. Though stand-in coach Jordi Roura had come in for some criticism in Vilanova's absence, Barcelona's emphatic second-leg demolition of AC Milan was undoubtedly one of the performances of the season. The La Liga title also remains all but wrapped up with a 13-point gap back to Real Madrid.

Barcelona are available at 1.75 to take a lead back from Paris next Tuesday

 

Phil Brown returns to management

Ex-Hull manager Phil Brown is the new boss of League Two side Southend after the seasiders relieved Paul Sturrock of his duties on Sunday. Brown is penned in to be at Roots Hall until 2015, marking his first return to the dugout since parting company with Preston in November 2011. Despite Sturrock leading the Shrimpers to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Wembley next month and getting them to within six points of the play-off places, the club released a statement citing poor league form for the sacking. However, in a bizarre twist, Sturrock will take charge of Southend at Wembley in recognition of his efforts, while Brown assumes charge for the remainder of their league campaign with seven games left to close the gap to Rotherham.

Southend are 2.02 to beat League One team Crewe in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final, while they are priced at 6.3 for a top-seven finish under their new boss

 

Threat of administration still looming for Coventry

The skies are not getting any bluer for Coventry in their financial battle with landlords Arena Coventry Limited, whom they owe £1.3 million in unpaid rent for use of the Ricoh Arena. While Coventry's High Court hearing over the administration order has been adjourned, ACL are still poised to try and push it through the courts which, in the worst-case scenario, would eventually lead to a 10-point deduction. With Coventry currently five points off the play-off pace, any such deduction would seriously harm their chances of an immediate return to the Championship.

Coventry are rated at 2.72 to get an Easter Monday win at fellow top-six hopefuls Walsall

 

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