Ferry walking suspension tightrope
Dundee United wide man Will Ferry, 24, is walking a suspension tightrope as the season-defining run-in approaches. (Courier - subscription required), externalRead Saturday's Scottish gossip
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Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
When is Rangers Champions League draw and who could Russell Martin's side face in qualifiers?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSELL MARTIN only started work as the new Rangers head coach this week. But time doesn't wait for anyone - especially not in Scottish football - and particularly when it comes to the Champions League qualifiers this summer. 2 Rangers will be back in the Champions League draw again Credit: Getty 2 Rangers lost in Champions League qualifying to Dynamo Kyiv last year Credit: PA Rangers will enter Uefa's top competition at the second qualifying round stage. Winning that tie is of paramount importance to Gers as it will significantly impact how difficult it could become to secure European group stage football of some sort for the season ahead. The Light Blues made another deep run in Europe last season, reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League before losing to Athletic Bilbao. They'll start a level above for this campaign and will hope to improve on their last showing in the Champions League proper when they finished with the worst record of any team during the 2022-23 season (Gers failed to qualify at all last year). Here's all you need to know for the Champions League draw, when Rangers will find out who they play. When is the Champions League second qualifying round draw? The Champions League second qualifying round draw will be held on Wednesday, June 18 It will be held at the House of European Football in Berne, Switzerland Proceedings will get underway at around 11am UK time Are Rangers seeded for the draw? Yes, Rangers are seeded for the Champions League second qualifying round draw Their club coefficient ensures they will be in the League Path for the qualifying rounds For the second qualifying round, they are seeded alongside Red Bull Salzburg and Viktoria Plzen Who could Rangers face in the Champions League second qualifying round? Rangers will face either Panathinaikos, Servette or Brann in the Champions League second qualifying round All three of those teams are unseeded Like Rangers, all three of those sides finished second in their respective leagues When are the the Champions League second qualifying round fixtures? The first leg of the ties will take place on 22/23 July The second legs will be held on 29/30 July What happens if Rangers lose in the second qualifying round? If Rangers lose in the second qualifying round, they will drop into the Europa League third qualifying round as an UNSEEDED team. Moment Ally McCoist interrupts live radio to congratulate his 'wee pal' on signing for Rangers That would put them at the mercy of some strong sides on the continent. Anderlecht, Braga, Midtjylland and PAOK are all confirmed as seeded sides in the Europa League third qualifying round. Those fixtures are scheduled for 7 and 14 August and there is NO parachute into the Europa Conference League league phase for the losers at this stage. Instead, Gers would face a play-off to reach the group stages. It's hard to say whether the Glasgow side would be seeded here or not as the 26 winners of the Conference League's third qualifying round and the other four would-be losers in the Europa League third qualifying round are obviously yet to be determined. Of the team current in the picture though, only Serie A outfit Fiorentina have a higher club coefficient than Gers. But in the worst case scenario, Rangers would be OUT of Europe by the middle of August. What happens if Rangers win in the Champions League second qualifying round? A win in the the second qualifying round would guarantee group stage football for Russell Martin's Gers. That's because the losers of the Champions League third qualifying round drop into the league phase of the Europa League. And if Rangers win the third qualifying round tie as well then they would of course go into the play-off round. It's straightforward from there: win and it's into the Champions League proper, lose and it's the Europa League league phase once again. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
Josh Doig rekindles Celtic transfer interest as Kristoffer Ajer return route emerges
The former Hibs defender has been a long-term target for the Hoops Kieran Tierney is only just in the door at Celtic Park but Brendan Rodgers is wasting no time targeting another left-back. The Hoops have bolstered their backline by clinching a sensational return for fans' favourite KT from Arsenal on a five-year deal. Tierney, 28, will be one of the first names on Celtic's team sheet as the Scotland international rejoins his boyhood club at his prime. However, the defender's injury record coupled with Greg Taylor's likely exit, means that Celts are in the market for cover. And multiple reports have suggested that the Scottish champions are set to revive their interest in ex- Hibs starlet Josh Doig. Doig, 23, left Easter Road for Serie A side Hellas Verona in a £3million transfer back in 2022 and instantly caught the eye in Italy. After a dream switch to Marseille collapsed at the 11th hour, Doig joined Sassuolo for £5m in January 2024 but couldn't save the club from relegation. However, the full-back was a key figure in helping Sassuolo land promotion from Serie B at the first time of asking, making 31 appearances. Doig has been on Celtic's transfer radar since he first broke through at Hibs and now, it's claimed that the Double-winners are weighing up an offer. Meanwhile former Treble hero Kristoffer Ajer has been told to find another club by Norway manager Stale Solbakken, according to Sky Sports. The towering stopper, 27, endured an injury-hit campaign for Brentford, starting just twice since the March international break. Under contract until 2028, Ajer may feel he'll be given a clean slate by his next boss as Thomas Frank prepares to take over Tottenham. Ajer - who lifted nine major honours at Parkhead - left Celtic for the Bees in a £13.5m switch four years ago. The 43-times capped star made his big career breakthrough under Rodgers and his potential availability has set tongues wagging amongst the green-and-white faithful. Elsewhere, Record Sport understands Celtic are keeping close tabs on Lennon Miller's situation and were in contact with the Motherwell board in the last window. The Scotland new boy has been linked with a list of European clubs including Eintracht Frankfurt and Royal Union St Gilloise and the Steelman have already turfed out bids from Udinese and Gilloise. It's believed Celtic have also scouted Hearts' James Penrice, but won't necessarily pursue a deal for the left-back.
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
UFC star Paul Craig promises there will be blood as he fights for his future
Craig from Airdrie will take on Rodolfo Bellato in Atlanta, with a new contract riding on it Paul Craig is determined to prove he has a future in UFC – and expects there to be a lot of blood when he faces Rodolfo Bellato in Atlanta on Saturday. Airdrie fighter Craig, 37, is effectively fighting for a new contract at UFC Atlanta, in his 21st fight, and reckons he's better prepared than ever before as he bids to stop a three-fight losing streak. Craig said: 'Rodolfo is a good jiu-jitsu practitioner, but he's not outstanding, and I do believe ours is far superior to his. 'With regards to striking, he loves to rush forward, loves to fling his straight shots, do this jumping knee. 'I do believe that our game plan and the movements that we've been working are what will help us in this fight, but it's going to be a tough fight for me. It's going to be a lot of blood, sweat and tears. 'I'm going to get right into his face and put it on him. 'I do believe you're going to see a lot of blood in this fight, and I'm excited for it, to see that dog in me coming out.' Craig added: 'This is make or break. I'm at a point in my career where I'm a little bit older, 37 years old, 20 fights in the UFC, coming to the last fight on my contract, and it's 'how much do you really want this?' 'Do I want to continue to be a UFC fighter, or do I want to go back to being just a guy from Airdrie who walks about and has to get a normal job. 'Right now, I want to be a UFC fighter. I want to keep going until the wheels fall off this. 'I want to be remembered as one of the greatest Scottish UFC fighters there ever was, and the only way to do that is by getting victories. 'With a victory in Saturday's fight, I can now be in the mix with the light-heavyweights and become a title contender again. 'We've seen guys in the UFC winning titles at 42, so the game's not over just because you've lost a few fights – the game's only beginning, because you decided it was. 'The fire is there. I've put so much into this camp and I do believe that in every single fight camp I get better. 'As long as I keep getting better, with regards to striking, jiu-jitsu, conditioning, I'll keep fighting. 'The minute I stop getting better, and stop becoming a better version of myself, then I will leave the sport.' Craig and Bellato were due to face off at Vegas 106 in May, only for the Brazilian fighter to be barred from competing due to 'facial herpes' 30 minutes from when they were due in the Octagon. Paul said: 'At that moment you're already switched on to go to war, and then it's about switching back off, so there were all these emotions in my head. 'We had worked so hard for 10 weeks to be ready for a fight, and not to get the outcome is horrible. 'But that's part of this sport, part of being an athlete, and the best thing you can do is make these next four weeks count, and I think I definitely did that. 'I definitely think I'm a much better version of myself. 'I think it's a much harder fight for Rodolfo to be fighting.' Craig believes moving back to light-heavyweight from middleweight has galvanised him. He said: 'I do believe I have so much left to give in this sport. There are only two Scottish fighters in the UFC, and I want to open up the door for more guys to come in. 'There are people who have come and gone in this sport, I'm still here, and I want to keep using my profile to help the sport in Scotland. I do believe I've done that. 'The three [defeats] are in the past, but those three fights that I lost are against some of the best guys in that division. 'Bo Nickal had the US President watching him in New York, Caio Borralho is potentially going to be the next champion in this middleweight division, and Brendan Allen is in the mix. 'These are all top-10 opponents within the UFC, it's not like I'm fighting unnamed opponents, these are the best of the best. I'll take losses from them from a division that isn't mine. 'Going back up to light-heavyweight has given me a boost and I do believe it will reinvigorate my career, now.'
