Stewart leaves Reds to join Sligo Rovers
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
9 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
'Sometimes it's bigger than basketball': Calls grow for Govt support over Ireland-Israel fixture
Politicians and former players are calling for the Government to support Basketball Ireland while it considers its next steps after being drawn in the same group as Israel for a women's European campaign. James Weldon's side will be in qualifying Group A in the Women's EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers, along with Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Luxembourg. Advertisement Ireland are due to travel to Israel for an away game on November 18th. In a statement, Basketball Ireland highlighted that on commencement of the competition, it would be subject to a fine of up to €80,000 should Ireland fail to fulfil their first fixture with Israel. Meanwhile, failure to play the return game would lead to a fine of up to €100,000 and removal from the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers, as well as the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2029 Qualifiers. Former player, Rebecca O'Keeffe, said the sporting body will need the backing of the government. Advertisement "If there are sanctions, absolutely the Government should be stepping in to help. Basketball is a very underfunded sport in this country, even though it's one of the fastest-growing," she said. The two sides met in a controversial qualifier in the Latvian capital, Riga, in February of 2024, despite public pressure to boycott the game over Israel's bombardment of Gaza. "I appreicate the transparency with Basketball Ireland this time round where they said [they] have been talking to the relevant delegations and sporting bodies and the government can absolutely step in and help," O'Keeffe said. "There is public support for this. They have options. Sometimes it's bigger than basketball, sometimes it's bigger than money." Advertisement Social Democrats sports spokesperson, Sinead Gibney, said other sports need to examine whether they compete in competitions involving Israel. She said Athletics Ireland should consider its participation in the World Athletics Championships in September. "I certainly think Athletics Irleand should be looking at it, absolutely. And I realise what that means, I realise what we're asking of our athletes and I don't want to apply pressure to any individual athelete. "That's why the governing bodies need to be the ones to look at it and take that action." Sinn Féin foreign affairs spokesperson, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, said the responsibility of the situation in Gaza should not be on the players' shoulders. "I think the Irish people, they're not looking towards the likes of the basketball team to make decisions, albeit boycotts are imminently justifiable and I think right," he said. "They're looking at the Irish Government. They want to see the Occupied Territories Bill advanced. They want to see the issue in relation to the war bonds being resolved and they want to see further action and a more vocal approach at a European level."
The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
FA issue England manager warning ahead of Euros final
The Football Association (FA) is determined to retain Sarina Wiegman as England manager, with chief executive Mark Bullingham stating she is "not for sale" at any price. Wiegman has reached five consecutive major tournament finals, including the last three with the Lionesses, and will lead them in the Euro 2025 final against world champions Spain. Her current contract with the FA extends until the end of the 2027 Women's World Cup, and Bullingham expressed confidence in keeping her in charge. Bullingham praised Wiegman as a "special coach" for her exceptional tournament record, work with players, and ability to maintain a cool head in critical moments. He dismissed suggestions that Wiegman should be considered for the England men's job, asserting it is disrespectful to view the men's role as more senior.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Windass' legacy secure despite Wednesday departure
Josh Windass' place in Sheffield Wednesday history should be secure. I suspect his impact is being somewhat overlooked since his recent departure during a calamitous summer at start with the record-breaking statistics. No player has scored more Owls goals since the turn of the century. His tally of 53 will take some beating, given how much Wednesday have struggled over the years to find consistent, regular there were the goals. Windass will be a candidate for a Puskas nomination for his strike against Derby from inside his own half. If you ask the player himself, he thought his wonder goal at Blackburn a season earlier – from a similar distance – was even better. Even so, it's a crime that the Derby goal didn't win the EFL's goal of the season. Windass could produce magical moments and as a commentator, having witnessed many of them, players like that are 'worth the entrance fee alone' as they also the goal he will be most fondly remembered for among Owls fans - the Wembley winner against Barnsley. A promotion-winning goal right at the death, sending the mass of blue-and-white shirts behind the goal into ecstasy. Truth be told Wednesday were poor in that final but nobody ever talks about that. Windass read the play, was in the right place at the right time and gave Wednesday fans their first winner in the national stadium since Mark Bright in 1993.I've interviewed Windass many times and appreciated his unpredictable nature. He could be very honest and open. You also knew when you'd asked a question he wasn't fond of, because it'd get short shrift. It was never a boring conversation and in a world where many interviews are run-of-the-mill, this was a player willing to avoid the predictable answer. On one occasion Joe Crann from the Sheffield Star and I were given an opportunity to interview Windass for a podcast during a training camp in Spain. It was brilliant – and the conversation after even a little bit disappointing to see some – and it's only some – Wednesday fans criticising Windass' decision to leave. He and Michael Smith had their contracts mutually terminated amid a saga that has seen players and non-football staff face delayed payment of wages. It's amazing, really, that anyone is being criticised for wanting to move on. I'm not sure any of us would fancy sticking around given what's happened recently. Wrexham, Windass' new club, are a stark contrast to Wednesday. Beloved owners, ambitions of going further than their rapid rise to the Championship, international attention. They'll be an attractive destination for many this is part of the weirdness of the summer. There's sympathy with players and staff at Hillsborough it seems, with many even saying they'd understand if people want out. Yet the minute someone goes, or tries to go, the criticism not the players' fault, not the manager's fault, nor the coaches or the staff, for the mess Wednesday are in. We're all waiting to see if wages will be paid for July in the coming days. That's no way to live, not knowing month-to-month whether you'll be paid. Meanwhile there's been no warm-weather camp, no public pre-season friendlies, a stadium that might not have use of the North Stand next season and there's a three-transfer window ban on wants to leave Wednesday because of the club or the fans. It's because the club, in its current state, is a shambles - with no clarity on when that's going to change.
