Neilson eyes new job
Former Heart of Midlothian head coach Robbie Neilson, who has been out of work since being sacked by Tampa Bay Rowdies earlier this year, is willing to explore any opportunities to return to management. (PLZ Soccer)Neilson says he has missed the intensity of Scottish football and is interested in the vacancies at Dundee, Motherwell and Partick Thistle. (Scottish Sun)Hearts have held initial talks after expressing an interest in German midfielder Soufian El-Faouzi, the 22-year-old who has a year left of his contract with Bundesliga 3 club Alemannia Aachen. (Daily Record)Hearts are on the verge of finalising a transfer deal with Tobol for Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov, according to the 25-year-old's agent. (Hearts Standard)Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.
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BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
Clarke on evaluating past year, dealing with critics & Doohan
Head coach Steve Clarke has been speaking to BBC Sport before Scotland travel to face Lichtenstein on are the key lines:On reacting to Friday's woeful defeat to Iceland, Clarke says: "You have to recover, football's never smooth. We're fortunate we have a game to put things right."Clarke says young goalkeeper Cieran Slicker is "obviously disappointed" with his disastrous debut, but the Scotland boss says it is "better not to concentrate too much on what" the 22-year-old incoming keeper Ross Doohan, Clarke adds: "It's nice we've got Ross in. He's had good experiences at different clubs. Hopefully he comes in and does really well."On the past year, Clarke says people "shouldn't lose sight" of the fact Scotland were going to a major tournament 12 months the Nations League campaign, which ended in League A relegation, he adds: "The Nations League campaign was good. Even the games we lost, the team was good. You could see we were building."On how he deals with disappointment, Clarke says he is "measured in his approach to football and life" and criticism "doesn't bother" him too much.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
'It's letting fans down' - Well Society urge wider VAR debate
Motherwell's majority shareholder has called for a wider discussion on the use of VAR in Scottish football after none of their members backed the technology in its current a consultation, fans were almost equally split on whether VAR should be scrapped immediately or "fundamentally reformed".However, none of the supporters who took part in the Well Society survey felt VAR should remain unchanged. Less than one per cent were "unsure".A total of 63 per cent of respondents said they did not support VAR in Scottish football, while 60 per cent said the use of the video technology had made their experience as a supporter "significantly worse".A Well Society statement read: "Fans spoke about long delays, a lack of clear communication, inconsistent decisions, and a growing sense of disconnect between those in the stands and those officiating on the pitch."Rather than building trust in decisions, many feel VAR has done the opposite, creating more distance between supporters and the game itself."Some still see potential for technology to play a role in football, if used in the right way. But the overwhelming feeling from our fanbase is that VAR, as it stands in Scotland, is simply not working. "A system designed to bring clarity has, for many, only added more confusion."Well Society director David Cullinan added: "As a fan-owned club, we have a duty to listen. This wasn't about grabbing attention. It was about listening to what our supporters really think. "And they've made it clear that VAR, as things stand, is letting them down. This is just the start of a wider discussion, and we're calling on clubs across Scotland to stand with their supporters and be part of it."
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
'Clarke must go' or 'only a friendly defeat'
It is fair to say many Scotland fans are raging with Friday's 3-1 home defeat by asked for your views and the consensus is that Steve Clarke has lost his way as head coach, even past his sell-by date, with the players underachieving considering the talent at his their team prepare for Monday's friendly in Liechtenstein, the Tartan Army want him to freshen up his squad, change his tactics, or just go... 'Don't blame Slicker - blame Clarke' Much of the spotlight on Friday was on goalkeeping errors from debutant substitute goalkeeper Cieran Slicker, but most fans think the 22-year-old should not be blamed for what are seen as more widespread An absolute shocker of a performance against Iceland, with the horrific goalkeeping situation coming to the fore. Only George Hirst came close to pass marks. World Cup qualification hopes look slim at best and Clarke's future surely has to be in doubt. The team look to be lacking any ambition and Put Slicker in the next game. It was not his fault Scotland were poor. They never protected the young guy. We had nothing to play for and it looked like the players were just going through the motions. Clarke is not the man to take us into the World Cup games. Franny: That is as bad a performance as I have witnessed in six decades as a Scotland fan. We have been woeful recently. Creatively barren and boring. Time for a new coaching team with fresh ideas? Clarke should have gone after the Euros and should go now before the World Cup campaign starts, or we definitely won't qualify. That was awful again and for how much longer is the SFA going to sit back and expect fans to pay good money to watch abject performances like that?. Ian: Scotland looked like an ageing team coming to the end of their cycle. Clarke has to realise it's time up for Grant Hanley and the Kieran Tierney/Andy Robertson set-up is done. A younger injection was needed after the last Euros. I see no chance of reaching the World Very disappointing and uninspiring. We need to find a way to attack far more effectively as we look toothless. As for the defending and goalkeeping - don't get me started. Only saving grace is we tend to be far better in qualifying matches. 'Clarke lacks ideas and is too loyal' Some of you fear for Scotland's chances should Clarke still be in charge for the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign in Clarke has to go. He is devoid of ideas and the players are not motivated any more. He has one of the strongest midfields in Europe but can't do anything with it. His only decent results recently were entirely down to Ben Doak. He is holding the players back rather than developing the squad. Duncan: How can players be doing so brilliantly for their clubs and so badly for their country. Some of the older players need to be retired, but the team must find some fire and passion for the World Cup campaign. Clarke should change or It's not the team, it's the management. Experience and loyalty, such as Clarke has showed with Hanley and Robertson, is not a bad thing. But when the manager has lost that edge, as Clarke clearly has, it's time to go. The young keeper was at fault, but the atmosphere and lack of direction in the team, no doubt affected I really feel we need to start playing younger players. Grant Hanley is clearly at the end of his career and it's shown in every international since the Euros. David: Clarke just isn't inventive. He is absolutely devoid of any ideas and should've walked after the Germany The pool of players in the Scottish team have all been successful at their clubs. And yet they are unable to play a co-ordinated organised game for Scotland. However, Scotland was having success with these players in the past, so what has changed? I think the root of the problem lies with the coaching staff, the tactics employed, and poor Clarke has to go - now. How many excuses for insipid performances? He sticks with people who are not delivering. His selections are unadventurous and uninspiring. The crowd now expects failure. He cannot get a performance out of these players - see the Euros. Time for a change now before we lose the first two World Cup qualifiers and have nothing to do for the next two years. 'Overreaction to a friendly' There were, however, a few dissenting voices among the Tartan These are friendly games where we learn about our strengths and weaknesses, which have been highlighted. Agreed, the performances are worrying, but if we can get them correct, the only games that will be important will be the World Cup qualifiers. If Scotland learn from this then we can have a good chance of qualifying and hopefully do well in the group stages in in Tough one to take but is only friendly. Not great for momentum but bit of an overreaction from fans in my opinion. Luckily, when it comes to qualifiers, Clarke has a great record and will return right back to basics in September - our best chance in qualifying for Dire stuff at the moment, but keep the faith. Only one more friendly then the real football.
