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Ian Appleyard: Yorkshire teams are facing week of nail-biting tension
HOLD on to your hats: this could be one of the most thrilling final weeks of the season for years.
In terms of the Yorkshire football scene, there is so much at stake for so many.
Only Barnsley, Bradford City and Huddersfield Town are able to think about packing the beach towels, the rest are still involved in crucial issues.
Let's start with the Championship.
Hull City, the surprise package of the season, can still win automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Phil Brown's side are third in the table and, although they need the top two to slip up, will go into the final game with a chance.
Even if they fail, they have qualified for the play-offs where they could be joined by resurgent Sheffield United, who have shot up the table since the appointment of manager Kevin Blackwell.
The Blades suffered relegation from the Premier League last season and parted company with Neil Warnock, who is now manager of sixth-placed Crystal Palace.
Warnock needed only one point from the last two Premier League games of last season to keep the Blades up, but lost both. His Palace side will probably miss out on the play-offs if the same thing happens again.
The Blades visit Southampton on the final day of the season and a victory could also help neighbours Sheffield Wednesday avoid the drop.
The Owls' stunning victory over Leicester City at the weekend means they are guaranteed survival if they beat Norwich City in the final game.
Depending on the outcome of tonight's game between Southampton and West Bromwich Albion, however, the Owls could lose against Norwich yet be saved by the Blades.
Off the field, the Owls are also expecting news this week on an imminent takeover deal. Will Geoff Sheard's consortium take control or will former Boston United chairman Jon Sotnick make a late entry into the bidding?
In League One, Leeds United are due to get a decision this week on their appeal against the 15-point penalty imposed by the Football League.
It could have massive implications on the promotion race especially for second-placed Doncaster Rovers.
If Leeds get back the 15 points they will win automatic promotion and Rovers, who have waited 50 years to get back into the second tier of English football, will have to go through the lottery of the play-offs instead.
Although Rotherham United are no longer in the race for promotion from League Two, the club have reached a major turning point in their history after going into administration.
Former chairman Ken Booth is threatening action which could close the club if his demand for 'privileges' is not met, there has been talk of leaving Millmoor, and the administrator is close to announcing the identity of his preferred bidder.
Meanwhile, in the Blue Square Premier League, Halifax Town have avoided relegation, but are still sweating over their future in administration.
There are gripping storylines in every direction. It will certainly be a week to remember.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
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