Glentoran sign Slovakian goalkeeper: ‘Conor McMenamin sold the club to me'
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Daily Record
2 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Conor Coady message to Rangers insider amid Wrexham interest as initial Ibrox transfer offer surfaces
The defender has been a long-term target at Ibrox so far this summer but is still on the books at Leicester In-demand Conor Coady is still keeping tabs on Rangers amid reported interest from Wrexham. The Leicester City defender has been a target at Ibrox all summer - with both the Scottish Premiership giants and Coady had been keen to make a deal happen. The England cap had been keen to link up with Russell Martin in time for the double-header against Panathinaikos - but he remains with the Foxes as new boss Marti Cifuentes has been unable to find a replacement. The 32-year-old has remained as captain going into the new season but is now attracting interest from cash-rich Wrexham after entering the final year of his contract. The Red Dragons - owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney - reportedly want to bring in the England international as part of their ambitious plan to reach the English top-flight by 2027. But amid the interest, Coady signalled he is still keeping tabs on the Light Blue after they progressed through the Champions League qualification rounds with a draw in Athens enough to secure an aggregate victory as he sent a message to Jack Butland Goalkeeper Butland took to Instagram to acknowledge the Rangers support by posting 'on to the next" with a bear and union jack emoji and images from the 1-1 draw at the Olympic Stadium - which was liked by Coady. It comes after details of Rangers' initial approach for the 32-year-old have emerged, with the Leicester Mercury stating a loan offer was put on the table. It is said Leicester rejected the offer as they are looking to offload players and boost their transfer budget - with free agent Asmir Begovic the only new face in the door so far this summer for the cash-strapped club. With Coady set to leave at the end of the campaign as a free agent, any bid for the centre-back will be seriously considered by City this summer. Boss Cifuentes conceded last week that players had to be sold in this window following Premier League relegation. The Spaniard said: 'It's very clear we have a lot of players in the squad. Definitely there is a lot of quality, but at the same time we need to understand that we need to trim this squad. 'At the moment we have 32 players which is quite a lot. It's not what I want. Everybody is aware is that the market, there's a lot of weeks until it's closed. A lot of things can happen."
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Hibs ace wary of 'falling at first hurdle' as defender issues Euro rallying cry
Midtjylland contest balanced at 1-1 heading into second leg clash Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... After everything they went through just to reach this point, dragging their broken and weary frames from the pits of despair to the brink of greatness, there is no way these Hibs players will settle for second best. Having risen from the relegation zone to earn their shot at the Europa League via a remarkable third-place finish in the Scottish Premiership, David Gray's men are in no mood to take even a sideways step against seasoned campaigners Midtjylland. 'We didn't go through everything that we did last season just to get papped out on day one,' said Jack Iredale, looking ahead to tonight's decisive Europa League second qualifying round second leg at Easter Road, the Aussie adding: 'We want to continue this journey. We know it's a journey and I think there's so much more to come from us as well. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We didn't do all that work from Christmas on, November onwards, just to trip at the first hurdle. We know we can't sit back against them. 'There will be times to soak pressure, but there will obviously be times where we have to show real bravery and real confidence. And when you look around the team, you'll see the quality that we've got all over the pitch as well. It's a good place to be.' Record home crowd means a lot to players Easter Road could be a very special location later this evening, with a dearth of away supporters meaning the club can already crow about a record home attendance – somewhere north of 18,500 Hibs fans – in the modern era. For players who wouldn't have blamed punters for turning completely against the team during the darkest days of Gray's first season as gaffer, that definitely means something. "Yeah, I can't wait,' said Iredale, looking forward to the decisive act in a tie balanced at 1-1 after last week's draw in Denmark. 'That's something that we've been speaking about in there as well. Just the mood around the club right now is so good and everyone's on a real high. We want to make sure we continue that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We wouldn't be able to get here without the fans supporting us. They stuck with us in real difficult times and now I feel like we're paying them back a little bit. Like I said, there's still so much more to go and they're going to play such a massive role tomorrow, so I can't wait for the atmosphere and playing under the lights. 'Even during the warm-up over there (in Denmark), me and a couple of the boys were talking about how good we felt because of the support that we had. That was only 1,000 fans in the corner of a stadium. So I cannot wait to see Easter Road tomorrow, a full stadium of Hibs supporters, and to see the kind of noise that they can generate for us. 'Because I'm still not even sure if the fans understand how much that helps us, even with our preparations and then certain stages of the game where you need that extra boost - and they're there for us. The away fans are incredible and like I said, I'm really excited to see the stadium tomorrow and hopefully deliver a really positive performance for them.' Hibs have never reached the group or league stages of a UEFA competition. If you don't think Gray will be mentioning that in his pre-match team talk tomorrow, well, you haven't been paying attention. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is a head coach who loves setting targets and incentives. A relatively inexperienced manager already demonstrating a knack for knowing how to inspire his team. Iredale explained: "I think the goal setting and stuff that the gaffer does is really helpful. We obviously have our long-term targets that we set at the start of the season and then it's classic goal setting. 'You go through ways of being able to achieve that by setting your short-term goals. So he sets out what he expects from us per game. I think it helps massively. 'To be able to create history with this group, I think would be absolutely incredible. And it's something that I'm really hoping that we can do. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Obviously we're going to need to find a winner from somewhere. But we've got quality in so many different areas of the pitch and I'm full of confidence at the minute for the boys. 'There's still always room for improvement and we've been working on that this week. But in terms of what we found out about them last week, we know they've got quality all over the pitch - and we know that we have to be very good to deal with that. "They've been a Champions League team and done well in the Europa League. They've got quality players. You see some of their players, what they're valued at, similar to what we deal with here. We know they're a good team, but we know we're a good team as well.' Norway or Serbia? Next Euro destination laid out The stakes in this game are as clear as you could get so early in the European calendar. The winners will face Fredrikstad, of Norway, in the third qualifying round. The losers almost certainly head to Belgrade – barring a late comeback by Ukrainian side Oleksandriya, 2-0 down from the first leg at home – to face Partizan in the Conference League. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad All going well, of course, someone is going to play the role of hero for Hibs tonight. By stepping up to make a big block at the right moment. Or banging in a goal to change everything. Iredale, laughing when asked if he fancied a repeat of his PFA Scotland Goal of the Season winner against Hearts last season, said: "Oh, a volley from 30 yards? I'll see what I can do. I wouldn't hold your breath for that one.' While everyone at Hibs is focused on the immediate prize, Iredale knows that an extended European run would also increase his chances of further international recognition. He was called up for a Socceroos training camp in the summer, although he didn't make the final cut as Tony Popovic's men – including Lewis Miller and Martin Boyle – qualified for the World Cup in impressive style. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I've said my whole career playing for my country is something right at the top of my goals list,' admitted the defender. 'And that camp was definitely a step in the right direction. 'Definitely an eye-opener for what's expected at that level. But the whole staff on that national team was fantastic. They're still in regular contact with me, helping me improve and get to where they want me to be and where I want to be, because I'm desperate to play for Australia. 'It's one thing that I really want to do. Playing in a club as big as this, in competitions as big as this, it's only going to help. 'With how big the games have been for Australia recently, he (Popovic) needs to know that people can deal with that pressure. So being in environments like we were there last Thursday and then backing it up and delivering, you hope he's watching.'
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Hearts ride a wave of optimism hoping to avoid a belt in the mouth
The 2025/26 Scottish Premiership begins at Tynecastle on Monday Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Derek McInnes prowled the visitors' technical area at Tynecastle Park dozens of times over the years. Standing inside a cauldron of noise, his priority was to quieten the natives by stifling Hearts' energy on the pitch. Those days as manager of St Johnstone, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock are gone, with McInnes now occupying the dugout across the tunnel. Now he wants those same home supporters to blast the volume and create a raucously-intimidating atmosphere. Monday is the new Hearts head coach's Premiership bow. There is a touch of irony in Aberdeen being the visitors, but McInnes is focused on his own environment and how to harness it. Positivity is aplenty in Gorgie just weeks into his reign after Hearts scored 16 goals in four Premier Sports Cup ties, then beat English Premier League side Sunderland 3-0 in Craig Gordon's testimonial. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A serious competitive test is yet to come given Premier Cup games were all against lower-division sides. McInnes' experience tells him football's fickle nature can bring a 'belt in the mouth' - as he puts it - at any moment. For now, he wants to surf the crest of this wave, prolong it and take the entire Hearts support base with him. Easier said than done but plenty fans are revelling in the new-look, attacking team he is busy structuring. Monday will indicate, to some extent, how serious the recent momentum is. The 54-year-old can feel excitement building around his new place of work. 'I just want us to keep riding this wave as long as we can,' he says, speaking exclusively to the Edinburgh News. 'There's a lot of optimism about and a bit of a feel-good factor. However, knowing football, the belt in the mouth is just round the corner so we need to stay on our toes. The squad is getting stronger and things are becoming a bit clearer as we go along. Saturday [against Sunderland] was a step in the right direction because you can only play what is in front of you. 'Everybody said that we should be winning those games in the League Cup, that it's not a test and Sunderland will be the test. Then we play Sunderland and we dealt with that game and that level of player. The players acquitted themselves brilliantly and fed off the crowd. That's the kind of thing I'm looking for. I want us to feed off the crowd on Monday. 'We are against an Aberdeen team that is more than capable of causing us problems, but we want to keep the positivity going as long as we can. We know there will be setbacks and disappointments as we go along. We are just trying to keep all of that to a minimum and try to expect to be a winning team more often than not.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad McInnes makes no apology for incessant demands on players. He signed seven new ones, with at least two more to follow, and is motivated to coach good footballers into better ones. 'I have asked a lot of the players and I'll continue to put those demands on them. We have to keep moving forward and keep improving as we go through the season. What I can say about the players is that they have given us plenty encouragement and they aren't scared of hard work. Everybody is desperate to be part of it. 'As a manager, when you go into a new club, that's first and foremost what you are looking for - the appetite and the response from the boys. We are getting that because everybody is choking to play their part. We are all looking forward to Monday's game now and to give us the best chance we will hopefully have as many players available as possible. Then I'll try to set us up right, then try to deal with the game. 'I don't think there's anything wrong with having plenty of optimism about. I'd certainly rather have it that way. Professional players, as good as they are, need to feel that confidence. A confident player will always give you a better chance of winning. The lads are in a good place at the minute.' Hearts fans can influence Scottish Premiership progress Fans have a huge role to play in this mini Hearts revolution. Anger at last season's seventh-place is still lingering within some, but the new management team have brought a fresh approach. McInnes and his assistants, Paul Sheerin and Alan Archibald, are all experienced Scottish football campaigners. They know what a good Hearts team should look like and what Tynecastle should sound like. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'All I would ask is that, if Monday isn't straightforward, I just want the fans to stay with the team and have that trust,' states McInnes. 'I know we need to build that trust over a period of time, but just trust the team that we are trying to play a certain way that will allow us to win games so just stick with us as long as they can. 'As an opposition manager going to Tynecastle, you would try to make sure that wasn't the case. If the fans stick with the team and the players have that connection with supporters, I want that to be a force for us. Good or bad, we are all after the same outcome. The supporters can have a huge bearing on what happens on Monday. They really can. 'If they can stick with the team and show that support, the players will feed off it, there's no doubt about it. Hopefully we can make it a good night's work because I want Tynecastle to be exactly that type of place. Not just the atmosphere at the start of the game, I want it to feel intimidating for the opposition, I want it to feel that we are all in it together. Until that final whistle blows, everybody needs to be giving maximum effort. Any support we can get from the stands to help the players would be really appreciated.' Style of play for new SPFL season 2025/26 Locals always respond warmly to a Hearts team pumping at full pace with aggression and a high tempo. It's exactly what McInnes wants in an ideal world. However, just as he tried to in previous jobs, Aberdeen and other opponents will attempt to negate that approach. The hosts' aim is to dictate the game and overwhelm their guests. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We would like to, yes,' says McInnes. 'Sometimes that isn't the case because some games can be a bit stop-start. Sunderland allowed us to come on to them. Aberdeen may well do that, they might not encourage us with their press and could go a bit longer. We train to play a certain way, move the ball quickly, get the ball into wide areas quickly, we try to play into our strikers quicker maybe than before. Not saying there is anything wrong with what has gone on before. 'We will try to annoy the opposition. We will let certain players have the ball and all that will become clearer as we go along. Saturday was a step towards where I'd like us to be against good opposition. We will do whatever we need to do. Whether we have more of the ball or less of it, the outcome is to try and win the game.' Strikers are scoring goals to offer plenty encouragement that Hearts will be a force entering the new league campaign. Lawrence Shankland, Claudio Braga, James Wilson and Elton Kabangu all found the net in the Premier Sports Cup. Shankland and at least one of the other three will make Monday's starting line-up. 'You can't go through a full season with two strikers,' McInnes points out. 'You need to have competition and everybody has something to offer. I get to see them every day in training, how they are playing and how their form is. It also depends on the opponent. Sometimes some players are more suited to playing against a certain opponent, so there are lots of factors when picking a team. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We've got that strength at the top end of the pitch. There is strength in numbers, quality defensively, good options in wide areas. Once we get everybody up to speed, we have good competition.' READ MORE: Kabore preparing for Hearts debut against Aberdeen
