These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

James gives Wigan fund boost

Reece James has helped Wigan Athletic meet a crowd-funding target which will keep his former loan club in business for now, the Daily Star reports.

The Chelsea full-back enjoyed a successful spell with the Latics in the 2018/19 season and after learning their supporters were looking to raise £500,000 by Monday in a bid to save the club, he reached out on social media to raise awareness for their cause.

He made a personal donation and posted a link on his Twitter and Instagram accounts to the Crowdfunder site which is looking to boost Wigan's funds.

‘Come on let’s help @laticsofficial out!’ he wrote in the post.

‘To every player out there never forget who played a part in your career to get to where you are today.

‘To everyone who has a fond memory playing against Wigan, they need our help today. I’ve donated to help this wonderful club. The links in my bio, every little helps - Spread the word. Thank you #onceaticalwaysatic.’

James’ post has reportedly been shared by his Chelsea team-mates Christian Pulisic, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi, and appears to have helped the appeal surpass its initial target with a day to spare.

According to the BBC, the Wigan Athletic supporters' club are now looking to reach a new target of £750,000 by Friday.

‘Over the past week we are so pleased to have played a part in galvanising our fellow fans at a time when many of us were at our lowest point,’ it said in a statement.

‘We absolutely believe that our club will be stronger when our supporters work together to safeguard its future.’

Lampard backed to succeed

Former West Ham and Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has told TalkSport about the strong character and determination of Frank Lampard as a player which he believes will serve the Chelsea boss well in the upcoming season.

Lampard led the Blues to a top-four finish in his first season in charge but expectations will be higher in the upcoming season following the addition of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva to his side.

However, Redknapp, who was Lampard’s first manager at West Ham, believes the Chelsea legend has the right qualities to succeed.

‘If you know Frank, nothing fazes him. He really is an incredible character, I’ve said many, many times the way he trained and his determination to become a top player it was incredible really,’ he said.

‘I had never seen anything like it; every day on the training ground he would be out there in the afternoon at about four o’clock in the winter.

‘It was getting dark, but he would still be out there in the training ground; practising, practising.’

FIFA suspends Ivorian election

The BBC reports Didier Drogba's hopes of becoming the next president of Ivory Coast's football federation (FIF) could be restored after it requested the suspension of all activity relating to the elections until it received various documentation.

Drogba was rejected as a candidate by the FIF last week after it suggested he did not have the required support to take part in the polls, which are schedule for 5 September.

However, citing concerns that the electoral process may not be free and fair, football's world governing body requested FIF's electoral commission to send through five files and to delay the election until it had an opportunity to vet them.

‘Pending your documents and information, we invite you to suspend all actions relating to the electoral process until further notice,’ FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura wrote.

‘Some say that the commission has been prevented from exercising its activities in total calm and an independent manner because of outside interference.’

According to the report, FIFA has requested a full list of Electoral Commission members and the minutes from four meetings, including one in July where the new electoral commission president was elected and one in August involving FIF's Executive Committee.