Irish League outfit reveal they are facing financial crisis that could ‘threaten very existence of the club'
The five-time Mid-Ulster Cup winners are establishing an emergency committee in an attempt to remain afloat.
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Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Irish League outfit reveal they are facing financial crisis that could ‘threaten very existence of the club'
Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League side Banbridge Town say they face a financial crisis which could see the club go out of business. The five-time Mid-Ulster Cup winners are establishing an emergency committee in an attempt to remain afloat.
Finextra
4 days ago
- Finextra
Why and how America's midsize cities are leading the way in business payments
0 This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community. 'Go West (or maybe, Go South instead), young business!' is an appropriate hallmark slogan for post-pandemic small business payment and general population trends. Even if the US and its communities large and small have changed substantially - and the economic and political environment is dramatically different than in the days of this original quote from the 1800s, attributed most often to either expansionist Horace Greeley or an aging, fortune-focused Daniel Webster. A recent report from an industry payments leader showed some surprising new trends about both population shifts and B2B payments volumes: mid-sized cities within the US are now growing fastest in both categories. This is not 'old' or outdated information that we've seen in many such surveys – it's updated even to the present 'pre/post/waiting for the next word' tariffs watch among American businesses, to less than two months ago, in May 2025. Accounts payable spending analysed in small-to-medium B2B firms across cities from 100-500k The data in question was shared by BILL (formerly which describes itself as an 'intelligent financial operations platform that powers nearly 500,000 SMBs and operates a network of more than 7 million members.' It was compiled by analysing accounts payable spending/B2B payments 'by firms with 2-200 employees from the largest 342 US cities,' which the company's chief economist, Fergus McCormick explained meant having a population of 100,000 or more, and midsize defined as from that minimum number up to half a million residents. The report, BILL Economics Report: Charting growth of America's large and midsize cities, illuminates a couple of clear and present and pronounced moves toward 'the middle' than we've seen in the past: people are relocating to midsized cities, and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) – and their payments to providers and customers in their supply chains - are following them. What does this mean for future employment and commerce trends? That's still unclear, but the migration to the middle has clearly begun in the USA. From Clearwater, FL to Concord, CA, population and payments are on the move nationally BILL's main focus is on the SMB sector of the marketplace, and their report summary notes that the company processes about '1% of US GDP' through their 'integrated platform products,' including accounts payable/receivable, expense, procurement, forecasting and other B2B applications. Leveraging that broad expertise and the company's insights into updated payments activity, their new study looked at not just how much was being processed in terms of payments volumes, but also where these remittances originated. Middle America, even if we're not speaking geographically, but more to population size and certain locales than to traditional borders, is getting more of that B2B payments volume now than the larger, traditional financial hubs in cities around the country – with one major exception. The San Jose (Silicon Valley) area continues to churn out transaction volumes above all other major cities as a centre of payment activity; it was the only large city in the top 25 highest payments growth communities listed in the report. Robust business growth since pandemic – but results decidedly uneven across the country Heightened payments activity since the pandemic and into mid-2025 is not just about one or two geographic regions, though the South, primarily Texas and Florida, as well as California and more broadly the West really stand out in the statistics BILL compiled. The study highlights several midsized communities where smaller businesses have decided to locate - some within large states - or to expand their operations, and these include cities in some of the faster growing regions within the US marketplace. Telling trends: 75% more new businesses have been created over the past three years (according to the Internal Revenue Service/IRS), than in the ten years prior to the 2020-23 pandemic. Entrepreneurs have often selected midsize cities to set up those new enterprises for reasons including lower cost of living, better quality of life, more hospitable climate, and more friendly (and lower-cost) business environment. Business payments growth in mid-sized cities like Pembroke Pines, Florida (near Miami) and Rancho Cucamonga, California (45 minutes from Los Angeles) has exceeded similar expansion in larger cities almost three-fold (32% vs. 11%) since tariffs were introduced by the Trump administration in February 2025. A deeper look into that South and West domination shows California, Florida, and Texas with 14 communities on BILL's list of 25 fastest growing payments cities, though alongside Mesquite, Texas and El Monte, California, Quincy, Massachusetts also came in at the top of the growth category for month-to-month comparisons in May 2025 vs. the prior month and year. In general, the Northeast and Midwest regions – whether large or midsize cities are measured - have fallen in population and payments rankings since the pandemic, and that trend has continued into this year with no signs of abating any time soon. While midsize cities in the South and West have led the way in B2B payments growth, more of that has occurred in the South's Atlantic and the West's South-Central sub-regions, as measured by US census, postal data, and other demographic sources. In fact, more than 2 million people moved to the South from other regions since the pandemic, almost 1 million relocated to California, and the Midwest lost more than 100k in population during that time. As immigration has become the centre of discussion under new administration policies, similar trends have emerged among people moving to the US (with many immigrant entrepreneurs then setting up businesses in their new locations). BILL notes in its report that 'Of the 2.1 million people who moved to the US from other countries in 2022, 904,000 settled in the South, while 534,000 moved to the West.' League City, Texas may be just close enough - yet sufficiently far away - from Houston (about 45 minutes' drive) to make it a hot target for retirees, but Brownsville is one of the four cities in Texas among the 25 in the US that have grown the fastest since May, 2024. The latter saw 29% growth in B2B payments volumes since January 2025, right before the Trump tariffs were announced. El Monte is booming in both population and payments volumes, making all the top 25 in-migration lists: population growth since the onset of COVID-19 (March 2020), since last May, and since just before the tariff announcements changed the global economic landscape. It's also one of the fastest-growing cities for business-to-business payments. It's proximate, but depending on traffic, just enough miles away from bustling Los Angeles to make it a better place to live and do business for many, according to recent population and SMB payments trends. Some sectors are hotter than others, including a few surprises: Agriculture or fishing, anyone? What are the 'hottest' specific business sectors right now? Among the top midsize cities for payments volume increases during the first part of 2025, it looks like companies in the Information and Construction fields rule the roost. For the most recent month studied in the BILL report (May 2025) vs. the same period a year ago, total B2B payment volumes (TPV) have increased almost 85% in the Administrative and Support + Waste Management and Remediation Services sector, and more than 73% in Manufacturing, in the ten fastest growing midsize cities. Over the longer term, i.e., since March 2020's pandemic onset, the ten top growth cities for TPV (3-month moving average) in May 2025 saw Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services jump 600%, with Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, & Hunting next with a 536% increase in volume over that time. Manufacturing and Wholesale trade sectors also came in at more than 300% above pandemic-era volumes in May of this year. Implications of the midsize population and payments migrations The BILL Economics Report highlighted the fascinating facts and related stories that mark a new American revolution. US residents, especially owners of small and medium-sized businesses, have increasingly uprooted themselves from their previous higher-cost, weather-challenged home cities, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, to head to midsize communities in the West, South, or wherever in the country they can find the most hospitable, least expensive, and most business friendly communities. Once they've set up shop in these fast-growing locales near the big cities – but not too close for comfort – they can then have access to the superior, even cosmopolitan amenities which places like Miami, Tampa, Houston, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco or San Jose have to offer. It's important to note that several of these locations are certainly not cheap in terms of housing or other costs of living, yet their other advantages in climate or perceived opportunity to thrive are clearly winning the hearts and minds, if still denting the wallets, of these opportunistic migrants. The trend for SMB owners is clear, even in this age of mounting tariff concerns and every-day macroeconomic upheaval. Weighing many factors, they are choosing new homes in smaller, yet still sizable communities where they can confidently hire good employees and conduct and expand their profitable business operations. All while living what they perceive is – for now at least – better lives for them, their employees, and their families.
Wales Online
07-07-2025
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as shattered Wales team owe country and star fights back tears
Today's rugby news as shattered Wales team owe country and star fights back tears The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world Wales players and team staff huddle after the team's 19-24 defeat (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) Here are your rugby morning headlines for Monday, July 7. Rogers: We owe the nation a performance Wales wing Tom Rogers says the team owe the nation a performance in their final game of the season as they look to bounce back from Saturday's 24-19 defeat to Japan in Kitakyushu. Matt Sherratt's side travelled to Kobe on Sunday ahead of next Saturday's clash at Noevir Stadium. The second Test against Japan marks the end of a frankly miserable campaign for Wales, with their losing run at Test level now stretching to 18 matches. That saw head coach Warren Gatland leave his post mid-Six Nations, with no replacement having been appointed by the Welsh Rugby Union four months later. As the national team continues to slide down the world rankings, there is also uncertainty hanging over the four professional clubs at the minute. All too often, a new low is reached and then surpassed - with no one able to confidently predict where exactly rock bottom is. The defeat to Japan - with Wales having thrown away a 19-7 half-time lead in Kitakyushu - is as low as it's been so far, but with one game left, it remains to be seen how this tour - and this season as a whole - will end. Article continues below When asked if the Welsh players would throw everything into the final week of a long season, wing Rogers - who crossed for Wales' third try on Saturday - said: "100 per cent. "The boys will be fired up for this next game. We need to put a performance out there for the country and the people who support us." Having not tasted victory in international rugby in over 600 days, Saturday felt like the perfect opportunity to finally get that monkey off their back. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia. Eight of Japan's matchday squad were uncapped, with captain Michael Leitch the only player with more than 30 caps. Yet, despite putting themselves in a solid position, Wales folded once again in familiar fashion. "It's a tough, tough loss," added Rogers. "I thought we played well in the first-half, but we just couldn't get our game plan on the pitch in the second-half." "I think we've got to use this loss as a bit of fire for next week. We've got to use it as a challenge. "We've got a good bunch of boys here. I'm sure we'll turn it around next weekend." As the final whistle blew, Welsh players were left to reflect on another tough loss - with some close to tears as the reality of 18 consecutive defeats sunk in. "It's always a pleasure playing for your country," said Rogers as he reflected on those moments on the pitch afterwards. "Every time you wear that shirt, you want to win. "Today it didn't go our way. It's just gutting." The extreme heat and humidity was a factor in how the match panned out, with the match taking over two hours thanks to a stop-start nature, cooling breaks and an extended half-time. Japan captain Leitch said afterwards that they could tell the Wales players were "blowing" in the second-half, but Rogers - like interim head coach Matt Sherratt and captain Dewi Lake - refused to blame the conditions. "I don't think you can use the heat as an excuse," he said. "At the end of the day, you're playing rugby for your country. I'm gutted, just gutted." Belcher emotional after first cap New Wales cap Liam Belcher fought back the tears as he described the mixed emotions of running out for his country for the first time. The Cardiff Rugby hooker was introduced off the bench in Japan during the 24-19 defeat, and it has been a long road for the 29-year-old. Belcher had considered other career routes not so long ago, a groundsman or an electrician, according to interim boss Matt Sherratt. But earning that first cap for Wales makes all that perseverance worthwhile. In an emotional video posted by the WRU, Belcher appeared to fight back tears as he spoke about the first time he donned the red jersey. "It's a hard one really, isn't it? Delighted to get my first cap and gutted with the result," Belcher said. "Take the rough with the smooth I guess. Thanks firstly for welcoming me into the squad, boys. It's been a pleasure getting to know boys I haven't met before. "When you come as a sub, you're trying to get the second wind and be involved as much as possible. "It was quite nice, actually, because it was more of a 'Belch, you're getting on', kind of thing. "There's nothing worse than getting told you're on in five or 10 minutes. You can overthink it a little bit. Just got told, 'You're going on' and you just run on. It's a surreal feeling, really. "It was nice being on Zoom wit my parents and seeing my nephew. Just seeing all my family happy with smiles on faces. Obviously means a lot really to be honest with you. Gets me a little bit emotional seeing them back home." Navidi: Sherratt would prefer different Wales role Former Wales back-rower Josh Navidi says he wouldn't be surprised if Matt Sherratt is kept on the Wales coaching staff in a permanent capacity, but believes he wouldn't want the top job. Sherratt took over on an interim basis during the Six Nations and has also been tasked with leading this tour of Japan, too. Among his coaching staff in Japan is Harlequins and former Cardiff coach Danny Wilson, under whom both Navidi and Alex Cuthbert played at the Arms Park. "I've said from day dot, when we had him at Cardiff, both him and Danny are international-level coaches," Navidi said on Sportin Wales podcast. "When we went to Tonga and Samoa in 2017 — it was like a stag do! — it was a great tour, but their standard of coaching is there. "It wouldn't surprise me if they got the nod." Cuthbert chipped in by saying: "I think Jockey (Sherratt) would be a backs coach." Navidi: "I think that's what he would want, as well." Moving the conversation on, both ex-players expressed their disappointment for their former Wales team-mate Tomos Williams, who suffered a tour-ending injury while on Lions duty. "I was gutted. I was devastated," Cuthbert said. Navidi added: "I was gutted when I was watching it and saw him straight away grab the top of his hamstring. "Actually hearing the news killed me. He has been in form, one of the best players I've ever played with, skills-wise, unbelievable. "I knew he would impress the coaches going into that camp. He is a top bloke." Cuthbert agreed, adding: "That's what I said. He is so good in the squad, people don't realise how good he is off the field. "He's worked hard for that. Absolutely dominated in that position, pushed Gloucester on to another level. With Wales it's been tough, but he just sees the game totally different. Article continues below "It's a big loss for the Lions."
