
Takeover red tape could resolve in month
Red tape around 49ers Enterprises' proposed takeover for Rangers could be resolved by the end of April. (Record), externalKasper Hjulmand, Sean Dyche and David Wagner are the latest names linked with the Rangers manager's job. (Scotsman - subscription required), externalKris Boyd suggests former club Rangers should sign Celtic's Greg Taylor when the Scotland left-back, 27, becomes a free agent this summer. (Sun), externalPolice Scotland has ended its investigation after Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny was filmed squirting water towards home supporters as he celebrated his side's winning goal at Celtic Park last month. (Herald - subscription required), externalCerny, 27, will not face any police action. (Record), externalRangers chief executive Patrick Stewart is expected to hold a forum with supporters. (Glasgow Times), externalMeanwhile, Arsenal's Jason Ayto has been linked with a recruitment role at Rangers. (Record), externalRead Tuesday's Scottish gossip column in full.

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Press and Journal
25 minutes ago
- Press and Journal
What does the future hold for these seven Aberdeen players?
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin will have food for thought as he enjoys some well-deserved time off after a satisfying end to his first season in Scottish football. The Scottish Cup takes pride of place in the boardroom at Pittodrie for the first time in 35 years after Thelin guided his team to a stunning victory against Celtic at Hampden last month. With the trophy comes guaranteed European group stage football next season and a busy summer of transfer activity is expected at Pittodrie as a result. Australian duo Nicolas Milanovic and Nick Suman are the first new faces on board at the Dons and there undoubtedly will be more. How many will depend on which members of the current squad are part of Thelin's plans in the next campaign. Thelin has four members of his first-team squad returning from loans and a few who struggled for game time in the cup-winning campaign. We take a look at some of the decisions which will be on the Aberdeen manager's to-do list when he returns for pre-season training at the end of the month. Richard Jensen, Ryan Duncan, Slobodan Rubezic and James McGarry are the four senior players who will return to the club following the conclusion of their loan spells. Central defender Jensen spent the season on loan with Vejle Boldklub in Denmark but struggled for game time. He played 12 games, scoring once, as his club survived relegation from the Superliga by one point. Ryan Duncan had a more fruitful campaign in Scottish football. The attacker spent the season on loan at Championship side Queen's Park. He scored four goals and provided six assists in 39 appearances for the Spiders and was in the team which knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup at Ibrox in February. Two other Dons players headed out on loan in the winter window. Slobodan Rubezic rejoined Novo Pazar in January and the defender scored one goal in 16 appearances in the second half of the season. Rubezic's efforts helped his former club qualify for the Conference League second qualifying round following a third-place finish third in the Serbian SuperLiga. Despite media reports in Serbia, the loan club does not have an option to make the move permanent. Injury curtailed New Zealand left back James McGarry's loan move at Greek outfit Athens Kallithea. The defender made just eight appearances as his club was relegated from the Super League after finishing second bottom of the division. The quartet of loan players are all heading into the final year of their contract as they return to the Dons. The same goes for Ester Sokler and Vicente Besuijen. Injury curtailed the contribution of both players to the Aberdeen cause this season. Slovenian striker Sokler led the line at the start of the season as team-mate Bojan Miovski finalised his move to Girona. Five of his seven goals in the campaign came in the League Cup with Sokler making 28 appearances overall. However, injuries in the second half of the campaign restricted his contribution to the campaign. The same can be said for attacker Besuijen. Following two goals in 15 appearances, a knee injury against St Johnstone in December ended the Colombian-born player's campaign prematurely. When it comes to Dons players who could benefit from some much needed match action one man springs to mind. Step forward Peter Ambrose. The Nigerian attacker was viewed as developmental prospect when he arrived from Hungarian side Ujpest last summer. He scored just two goals in 23 appearances, mostly from the bench, and with two years remaining on his three-year deal he looks a prime candidate for a loan if he gets the opportunity for more minutes elsewhere. After all, it worked out for Pape Gueye a year ago didn't it? The Senegalese striker struggled to make much impression at all in his first season with the Dons before summer football on loan at Kristiansund BK in Norway rejuvenated his career.


Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Thelwell says recruitment at Rangers will be a collaborative effort... with new boss Martin given final say on transfers
Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell insists the club would never sign any player without the approval of new head coach Russell Martin. Martin was formally unveiled yesterday after agreeing a three-year deal to take charge. It's the start of a bold new era under American ownership, with investment of around £20million set to be made on and off the pitch over the summer. Fans are keen to see how the dynamic between sporting director and head coach plays out with regards to recruitment. With such a massive rebuild on the cards, Thelwell insisted, though, that any new signings will be made as part of a collaborative process. And he claimed it will be very much a team effort where both he and the scouting department will help identify possible targets, before Martin gives the final seal of approval. 'Put very simply, the way in which we will be organised is we've got a head coach and a sporting director,' said Thelwell, who will also be assisted by new technical director Dan Purdy in recruitment. 'The head coach is responsible for the most important bit; the preparation of the team, performance of the team, results. 'My role is to try and make sure all the support services that sit around Russell are as strong as they possibly can be to give us the best chance of winning. When we talk about recruitment, clearly, it is going to be a collaborative approach. 'I've never been in this role ever where I have signed a player for the first-team that hasn't been supported by the head coach or manager. We'll talk a lot about how we want to play, a lot about profiles we need and what positions we need. 'Between Russell, myself and the recruitment team, we will sit down and identify players that we think could make us better very quickly. Between us, we will decide about what we do next.' Having left his role at Everton at the end of last season, Thelwell started his duties at Rangers earlier this week as the club ramped up their search for a head coach. During his time in England with Wolves and at Goodison Park, he watched from afar as Martin carved out a reputation as a bright young coach whose teams played modern and possession-based football. Describing the 39-year-old as the outstanding candidate, Thelwell said: 'We've got exactly the right candidate that's a perfect fit for Rangers FC. From my perspective, I've seen Russell's team play for many years. Particularly, if I look back at his Championship season — and also the Premier League season with Southampton — there was a lot to be proud of. 'There's a lot that fits Rangers going forward. Russell's explained quite clearly about what he thinks Rangers need in games. 'We need to be dominating in all moments of the game. I'm delighted that we were able to have those conversations and pleased that he's now sat next to me getting ready to work. 'We wanted to make sure we made as strong a decision as we possibly could. But we also appreciate there's now a pre- season on the horizon and European games coming thick and fast. 'It was clear to all of us from the start that Russell was the outstanding candidate, so we're delighted he's joined us. He's had a strong career, over 250 games both as a manager or head coach. Over the course of that journey, he has sharpened his approach, from a technical and tactical perspective — but also from a personal perspective. 'I'm very excited to see what he's going to bring to Rangers and the team is very much looking forward to working with him.' Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart added: 'Our criteria for our next coach were clear: we wanted a coach who will excel in terms of how we want to play, improve our culture, develop our squad, and ultimately win matches. Russell was the standout candidate. 'This appointment is about building a winning team and a strong culture. He is no stranger to our club. We expect success and Russell knows that. We are excited for his leadership.' Club chairman Andrew Cavenagh added: 'I am delighted to welcome Russell to Rangers. This was a thorough, rigorous process and Russell impressed throughout. 'His appointment embodies the club's goal of attracting top talent, empowering them, and supporting them. 'We believe that Russell can improve on-pitch performance while also helping build the culture and infrastructure necessary for consistent and long-term success.'


The Courier
40 minutes ago
- The Courier
Angus killer Tasmin Glass parole deferral slammed as 'appalling'
The deferral of Angus killer Tasmin Glass' parole bid has been slammed as 'appalling'. Liam Kerr, justice spokesperson for the Conservatives, criticised the treatment of her victim's family, the Donaldsons, during the process. Glass' latest parole bid was deferred on Wednesday after the board failed to reach a decision following her recall to prison. It will now be around six to eight weeks before the case is considered again by the board at an oral hearing. Mr Kerr told The Courier: 'It is appalling that this family have once again been left in limbo. 'After first having to suffer through Tasmin Glass being released only halfway through her sentence, this decision will only add to their trauma. 'It looks as though the needs of a cold-blooded killer are being put above those of the victims' family which is all too often the case in the SNP's soft-touch justice system. 'Steven Donaldson's family deserve to be treated much better than this and for parole decisions to stop being kicked into the long grass.' The North East MSP's words reflect the feelings of Steven's dad Bill when he learned the case had been pushed on. He called the situation 'a nonsense'. 'This means this is, yet again, going to drag on for us,' Bill told The Courier. 'We now have to go through the entire procedure yet again. 'We can take comfort from the fact she currently remains in prison but how much longer do we have to deal with this. 'Yet again Glass seems to be dictating terms.' Glass was convicted of culpable homicide in 2019 for her 'pivotal role' in the murder of Steven and sentenced to 10-years in prison. Last July, halfway through her term, the killer was granted her freedom. The Donaldson family were left in limbo twice during that time thanks to deferrals by the board. Nine months after being paroled, Glass was back in jail after breaking the conditions of her release. Through our A Voice for Victims campaign, The Courier has been working with families like the Donaldsons to bring reforms to the Scottish parole system. We want more transparency, better communication for victims and a rethink on automatic parole consideration for violent offenders halfway through their sentence. The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.