Countdown to 2025-26 season is on - but are the Blues ready?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
26 minutes ago
- Daily Record
East Kilbride boss expects 'fully motivated' Stranraer as Kilby seek first SPFL home win
The Blues visit looking for their first league win and Mick Kennedy expects a real test Mick Kennedy reckons Saturday's League Two clash against Stranraer will be a massive one – as they meet for the first time since the 2023/24 pyramid play-off final, and with connections between the clubs. The Blues' management team are former Kilby duo Chris and Stevie Aitken, with a third ex-boss, Martin Fellowes, part of their backroom team. EK had a painful play-off defeat to the Blues in 2023/24, but made up for it by winning promotion and joining Stranraer in League Two this term. Kilby boss Kennedy said: 'It's probably two very different squads now! We've rebuilt, and I think Stranraer have had a bit of change-over as well. 'No disrespect to Stranraer in those two games, but I don't know how we didn't win those games and get promoted that year. 'But there's no pressure this time round, the dynamics are totally changed. 'Stranraer have a new manager as well, they had a really good League Cup campaign, though their first couple of league results haven't been great, but I'm sure they'll come to K-Park fully motivated and we'll be trying to get three points. 'Martin Fellowes is in there as well, so their management team have a real affiliation and connection with East Kilbride as well, so we are looking forward to it.'
Daily Mirror
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Alan Shearer sends Alexander Isak tongue-in-cheek message after Hugo Ekitike strike
Liverpool's new signing Hugo Ekitike grabbed a goal and an assist on his Premier League debut as Arne Slot's side opened their campaign with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth Alan Shearer has warned Alexander Isak that he wouldn't be a guaranteed starter at Liverpool after Hugo Ekitike made an impact on debut. The Reds opened their Premier League campaign with a dramatic 4-2 win over Bournemouth on Friday night, with Ekitike the star. The French striker, who arrived in a deal worth £69million plus £10m in add-ons from Eintracht Frankfurt, hit the ground running at Anfield. He opened the scoring by coolly slotting into the net before half-time and he then turned provider, teeing up Cody Gakpo to make it 2-0. Bournemouth fought back admirably with a double from Antoine Semenyo, but were undone late on. Federico Chiesa volleyed in before Mohamed Salah got in on the act by rifling into the bottom corner. While there were worrying signs for Liverpool's defence, their new-look attack was impressive, with Ekitike taking home the Man of the Match award. With Isak refusing to play for Newcastle in an effort to force through a move to Liverpool, Ekitike's performance wasn't lost on Shearer. 'Surely any forward thinking of going to Liverpool, will be having second thoughts now having to play second fiddle to the brilliant Ekitike all season?' he wrote on X alongside a few emojis. Liverpool have seen one bid of £110m plus £10m in add-ons rejected by Newcastle for Isak and are yet to return with another offer. The Swede has burnt his bridges with the Magpies and is desperate to move to Anfield, where there is a space in the side. Liverpool sold Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz this summer after the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and Arne Slot has made it clear he wants another attacker brought in. Slot told Sky Sports before the Bournemouth game: "I see Hugo mainly as a No.9 that could also play from the left or together with another No.9. We need to have one more attacker at least." Isak has not been training with Newcastle and still has two weeks left before the transfer window closes to get his move. But Eddie Howe insists there is a way back for the 25-year-old at St James' Park. 'I want him to play. I want him to train," he said on Friday. "I've had those conversations [with Isak] but the details of those will remain private. "There is no change to the situation. All my focus has been on the training, Aston Villa and the transfer front in terms of getting players in – that is all-consuming for me. Alex's situation has been unchanged for a while and that will continue to be the case." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Mark Chapman's joke about Gary Lineker, football team he supports, BBC Match of the Day pay
Mark Chapman will host the first Match of the Day show of the new Premier League season on Saturday as he, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates take over from departed stalwart Gary Lineker Mark Chapman will host the first Match of the Day show of the new Premier League season. The 51-year-old will share hosting duties with Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates this campaign after Gary Lineker's exit. The BBC flagship will have a new permanent host for the first time since 1999 this term after former England striker Lineker stepped down, ceasing all involvement with the organisation from the end of last season after sparking an antisemitism row with a social media post. Lineker's exit was announced in November last year, and it was confirmed in January that ex-MOTD 2 host Chapman, renowned presenter Logan and former Sky Sports star Cates would rotate to fill his shoes. Chapman will take the reins on Saturday, and Mirror Football takes a look at his life away from the screen, including where his footballing loyalties lie and how much he earns. Mark Chapman's Gary Lineker joke Although Saturday will be Chapman's first show as permanent host, as per PA, with colleague Logan taking on the Sunday rendition, he is no stranger to fronting MOTD. Chapman's role with MOTD 2 often saw him host the midweek editions of the show, and an appearance in January saw him crack a joke amid the announcement of Lineker's exit. The 51-year-old opened the broadcast alongside Micah Richards and Alan Shearer with a witty allusion to his upcoming role, declaring: "Evening, thought I'd get the practice in…" His co-stars couldn't help but chuckle at the admission, with Shearer exclaiming: "You haven't wasted any time, have you? Six months too early!" Chapman retorted: "It's going to be a long night, eh?" What football club does Mark Chapman support? Former host Lineker did not hide his love for boyhood side Leicester City, for whom he began his footballing career. He played over 200 times for the Foxes from 1978 until 1985. Chapman, who is not an ex-pro, having started life with the BBC in 1996 as a community announcer, also has an affinity for a top English side in Manchester United. Born in Rochdale, Chapman told the iPaper in 2018: "It's not my fault that I support a big team! I had to put up with a lot of poor, if at least entertaining, stuff in the 1980s. I am a genuine Manchester United fan." After the Red Devils endured a difficult 15th-placed Premier League finish last season, with some dismal results, Chapman explained on a 2025 appearance on the game show Catchphrase: "By the time we go on air, I've had enough time to stop being a sore loser. So by then I'm fairly impartial." How much does Mark Chapman earn? Lineker was renowned for being one of the BBC's highest-paid staff members during his time with the organisation. It was reported that he took home roughly £1.75million last year before stepping down. Colleague Shearer was also a top earner last year with a reported salary of £440,000, though Chapman earns considerably less than the two former England strikers. Over the course of the 2021/22 season, Chapman earned roughly £250k, and his salary was boosted the following term to around £325k. During the 2023/24 season, Chapman took home somewhere in the region of £260k for his coverage on Radio 5 Live, MOTD 2, the Challenge Cup, the Euros and Olympic Games.
