Having shone for me at Ballymena United, I know exactly why Sunderland will need Trai Hume in their Premier League fight
The Northern Ireland international was the club's best performer in the 2024/25 season, playing a key role in their promotion back to the Premier League via the Championship Play-Offs.
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Daily Mirror
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Thomas Frank's stance on leaving Brentford as Spurs make him top manager target
Thomas Frank is among the frontrunners to become the next Tottenham manager after they sacked Ange Postecoglou - and the Brentford boss has made his feelings clear about moving on Brentford boss Thomas Frank has previously claimed he has "one of the best jobs in football" with Tottenham considering an approach to make the Dane their new manager. The north London side sacked Ange Postecoglou on Friday despite the Australian ending their 17-year wait for a trophy. Europa League success though wasn't enough to see him keep his job and Daniel Levy showed him the door after a poor Premier League season. Attention has turned to his successor - which could well be Frank with Tottenham bosses keen. He has two years left on his contract however as well as a big buy-out clause written into the deal which he signed back in December 2022. Since Frank was appointed at the Bees he's led them to promotion from the Championship and been able to establish them as a top flight side. All that despite him losing his top talent as Brentford continue to cash in on their leading lights for major profits. Despite that the Brentford boss believes he's blessed to be in charge at the Gtech Community Stadium, hailing the environment he'd worked in. He previously told Sky Sports: "I may be in one of the best football jobs in the world. I mean that because the work environment is so good, the owner is so good, it's such a good environment. Everything is top. Do you want to try something different in the future? That's the thing. Maybe, but it's not like I need to try something bigger or better. Because what is better? I'm definitely very ambitious and I think I can achieve everything I want to with Brentford." Frank has enjoyed huge continuity and loyalty from the Bees. Even during periods where results have gone against them the club's bosses has kept faith with their man in the dugout. Tottenham and Levy have proved to be a much more ruthless environment. The club are eyeing another new manager with Postecoglou, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte shown the door in recent years. Both Nuno and Conte have gone on to enjoy success since. Jose Mourinho was famously sacked before a cup final and Tottenham have shown that even trophies will not supersede league form by sacking the former Celtic boss - a move which has proved hugely divisive.
The Independent
43 minutes ago
- The Independent
A Tottenham Hotspur legend forever – Son Heung-min hails sacked Ange Postecoglou
Son Heung-min hailed Ange Postecoglou as a ' Tottenham Hotspur legend' as the club's supporters' trust expressed 'concern' with another change in manager. Postecoglou ended Spurs' 17-year wait for silverware with Europa League success over Manchester United in Bilbao on May 21, but it failed to earn the Australian a third season. A club statement on Friday announcing Postecoglou's departure highlighted a woeful Premier League campaign where Tottenham finished 17th, which is their lowest top-flight finish since relegation in 1977. Captain Son was one of several Spurs players to pay tribute to Postecoglou, writing on Instagram: 'Gaffer. You've changed the trajectory of this club. 'You believed in yourself, and us, since day one and never wavered for a second. Even when others did. 'You knew what we were capable of all along. You did it your way. And your way brought this club the best night it's had in decades. We will have those memories for life. 'You trusted me with the captaincy. One of the highest honours of my career. It's been an incredible privilege to learn from your leadership up close, I am a better player and a better person because of you. 'Ange Postecoglou, you are a Tottenham Hotspur legend forever. Thank you, mate.' Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was Postecoglou's first signing and said: 'You are not only a top manager, you are an incredible person to work for, a real leader, a mentor, and someone I'll always look up to. 'What we achieved together will stay in the history books. Wishing you nothing but success as I know you will go on to achieve more and more. Thank you, Boss.' Dutch defender Micky van de Ven added: 'Gaffer, thank you for everything! Believed in me from the first day I arrived at the club. 'Many ups and downs in the last two years but you kept believing in us and kept pushing us. Big part of the success from the club this year, and forever grateful that u made me part of it. All the best.' Striker Dominic Solanke signed for Spurs last summer in a £65million deal. He said: 'Thank you for bringing me to this wonderful club, thank you for bringing us a wonderful trophy. '(I) won't ever forget the convo we had before I signed and we achieved a dream! All the best in your next adventure.' Right-back Pedro Porro insisted the 59-year-old would 'always be celebrated', writing: 'Thank you for everything, boss. 'I'll always be grateful for the way you led us, defended us, and kept us going through all the highs and lows. Above everything, you gave us one of the greatest moments in the club's history and for that, you'll always be celebrated.' Forward Richarlison added: 'Everyone who loves the Spurs will remember that Big Ange always bags trophies in his second season.' The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust thanked Postecoglou for an 'amazing night' in Bilbao but acknowledged league results were a 'long way short' of expectation. 'Our concern now is that it appears we will have yet another change of direction and that this is something that is becoming a habit since we said goodbye to Mauricio Pochettino in 2019,' a THST statement read. 'We can only hope that the right decision has been made and that the new manager is fully supported by the board and everyone at the club to build on the cup success that Ange has lain. 'He will need the finances to build a strong squad that can challenge simultaneously on many fronts. We wish whoever is appointed well. Spurs fans have had a taste of glory and we don't want to wait another 17 years for more.' Brentford boss Thomas Frank is reported to be the leading contender to take over, with Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner, Fulham manager Marco Silva, Burnley head coach Scott Parker and Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth also linked with the post.
North Wales Live
an hour ago
- North Wales Live
Ryan Reynolds' new £50m sports project and net worth after Hollywood divorce
Ryan Reynolds has again made headlines by partnering with another Hollywood star to purchase a sports team. It follows the remarkable success of his acquisition of Wrexham AFC with Rob McElhenney. After guiding Wrexham AFC from non-league obscurity to the Championship in just four seasons, and achieving an unprecedented three consecutive promotions, Reynolds and McElhenney have put the Welsh club firmly on the global map. Now, they are tantalisingly close to reaching the Premier League, which would cap off their fairytale story. But already Reynolds is embarking on a new sporting adventure with his friend and fellow actor Hugh Jackman, known for their roles in Deadpool and Wolverine. The duo has announced ownership of an Australian sailing team, the BONDS Flying Roos, competing in the high-profile SailGP international sailing competition. This event has attracted investment from celebrities like Kylian Mbappe, Anne Hathaway, Sebastian Vettel, and Deontay Wilder. While Reynolds and McElhenney also have stakes in Club Necaxa, La Equidad, and the Formula One team Alpine, this venture marks Jackman's debut in sports ownership, reports Wales Online. "We're incredibly excited to set sail together in this new adventure," said Reynolds and Jackman. "Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country as well as being an avid fan of sailing. "He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride. Apologies in advance to Australia." Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now The exact sum shelled out by Reynolds and Jackman for the team remains under wraps, but estimates suggest a joint investment of at least $50 million (£37 million). In light of the Wrexham co-owner's new venture, we took a look at how he made his huge fortune and the key figures who've been with him on the way. Astonishing net worth It's said that Reynolds possesses an eye-watering net worth estimated at $400 million (£295 million), earning his spot as one of Tinseltown's biggest earners. Forbes ranked the actor second among the world's highest-paid actors in 2024, his staggering earnings of £79 million placing him just a whisker behind Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Reynolds' prosperity was significantly boosted last year by his leading roles in the blockbuster Marvel flicks Deadpool and Wolverine, not forgetting the contributions from family hit IF and the Emmy-triumphant documentary Welcome to Wrexham. His wealth isn't solely from acting; his astute investments include nabbing a stake of up to 20% in Aviation Gin before flipping it in a colossal £443 million sale in 2020. Another savvy business move saw him sell a sizeable chunk of Mint Mobile to T-Mobile in 2023, resulting in a mammoth £997 million transaction that lined his pockets with more than £220 million. Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney have significantly invested in Wrexham AFC, reportedly contributing more than £20 million since their acquisition of the club in 2020. According to a 2023 episode of Welcome to Wrexham, the Hollywood pair encountered substantial financial loss of around $12 million (£8.9 million) post-takeover, eliciting a candid reaction from Reynolds who quipped: "I'm going to throw up." Life after divorce Reynolds, having finalised his Hollywood divorce, is happily married to Gossip Girl star Blake Lively. The couple met on the Green Lantern set and their romance quickly developed, resulting in one of Tinseltown's most cherished unions. They exchanged vows at a private South Carolina marriage ceremony and are proud parents to four children, James, Inez, Betty, and Olin. Lively has been seen supporting Wrexham AFC at the Racecourse Ground. She praised the town following the team's leap to the Championship in April with an enthusiastic Instagram tribute. "Back to back to back," she posted. "History was made. Congratulations to @wrexham_afc. I will never forget the love and elation in that town today. Thank you for sharing it with us always." She also commended her husband and McElhenney for their hard work, adding, "And to these two men, @robmcelhenney and @vancityreynolds ... the love and respect that pours out of you each and together exponentially grows and creates more joy, more possibilities, more magic, more history,". "This picture feels to me like a painting of all you do for so many, while being so present and appreciative of every moment." Before finding love with Lively, Reynolds was no stranger to high-profile relationships, having been engaged and married to some of the most well-known women in the entertainment industry. In 2004, he proposed to fellow Canadian Alanis Morissette, after meeting the singer at Drew Barrymore's birthday bash two years prior. They called it quits in 2007, with Morrissette attributing the pressures of fame as a contributing factor, but they have remained firm friends ever since. Reynolds - who has also been romantically linked to actresses Sandra Bullock, Melissa Joan Hart, and Charlize Theron - soon started dating actress Scarlett Johansson and they tied the knot in 2008, in a private ceremony in Vancouver. However, they split in 2010, with both Reynolds and Johansson confessing that their relationship crumbled due to their hectic schedules and a lack of quality time together. "We work and then go home," the actress later shared with Time Out. "I'd just stare at the wall for a few hours before I got to sleep." Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Friendship with Rob McElhenney Despite overseeing one of the most remarkable turnarounds in football history together, Reynolds and McElhenney weren't exactly mates when they decided to purchase Wrexham, having only interacted with each other online on a handful of occasions. Contrary to common assumption, it wasn't Reynolds who initially had the idea to take over a football club. Instead, it was McElhenney who spearheaded the initiative after being inspired by British comedy writer and football enthusiast Humphrey Ker. Despite not having a particular interest in football, McElhenney found himself captivated by Ker's passion for Liverpool FC. Consequently, Ker suggested that he watch the Netflix series Sunderland 'Til I Die during the coronavirus lockdown. The series piqued the interest of the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star, leading him to the decision that he wanted his own football club to create a documentary about. Once the actor had established his budget, Ker assisted him in identifying some suitable options - with Wrexham standing out to McElhenney due to the club's rich history, fervent supporters and the need for fresh investment following the pandemic. He then approached Reynolds - who had previously messaged him about his favourite scene from Always Sunny - to try and secure additional funds for investment and to attach another high-profile name to the club. Reynolds was enthusiastic about the proposal and didn't want to be merely a sponsor, but a co-owner alongside McElhenney. In November 2020, the pair purchased the club for £2 million and the rest, as they say, is history - with the two now firm friends despite not meeting face-to-face until April 2021. McElhenney has since shared his close bond with Reynolds, calling him a "kind and generous soul, and somebody you can rely on." He praised the actor as a "truly inspiring person," and noted: "Our families have grown incredibly close, and even though we live on opposite coasts, we feel like we're right next to each other."
