Can Rangers deliver 'something special' in Bilbao?
Former Rangers defender Maurice Ross hopes progression to the Europa League semi-finals is "written in the stars" for Barry Ferguson's side as they look to make it past Athletic Bilbao tonight after battling to a goalless draw with 10 men in the first leg.Listen to more build-up on the Scottish football podcast
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
NBA star expected to make offer to buy stake in Crystal Palace as part of consortium - with bid set to be more than £147m amid Eagles' European crisis
A consortium including NBA star Jimmy Butler 'is set to make an offer of more than £143million' to buy a stake in Crystal Palace. Palace, who are waiting to find out if they will be booted out of next season's Europa League for contravening multi-club ownership rules, could sell 43 percent of the club owned by John Textor's Eagle Football Holdings if they accept the offer. That could then allow Palace to compete in the Europa League but it remains to be see if any agreement can be struck quickly enough. Mail Sport's Mike Keegan earlier reported that Textor is willing to sell his stake in Crystal Palace for £175m – and put an end the club's European crisis. Whether the consortium is willing to meet his valuation or Textor settle for a reduced amount is not yet known. According to the Athletic, Butler and Co are let by ex-Morgan Stanley exec Bejan Esmaili and former Roc Nation lawyer Wajid Mir. The bulk of the finances would come from an American group with experience investing in football, says the report. Butler would be the highest-profile member of the consortium and join the likes of Tom Brady (Birmingham) and JJ Watt (Burnley) in investing in UK clubs. He is a six-time NBA all-star who has been with the Golden State Warriors since February. Palace co-owner John Textor is currently looking to sell his shares quickly in order for the Eagles to compete in next season's Europa League having qualified by winning the FA Cup. But because Textor also owns Lyon, another club in the competition, UEFA bosses are currently deciding whether they will be allowed to compete. Sale of his portion of the club could offer a swift resolution but time is against Palace and they are expected to hear back from UEFA by June 30. Earlier on Wednesday, Mike Keegan reported that the figure, for Textor's Eagle Football Holdings' 43 per cent share, is understood to value Palace at significantly less than the amount Textor himself offered to buy out his three fellow directors earlier this year, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. To exacerbate the situation, David Blitzer's (another Palace stakeholder) Brondby would then take the Europa Conference spot for the same reason as he also failed to spot the potential issues. Nottingham Forest would be elevated from the Conference League to the Europa League while Palace's rivals Brighton would take a slot in the Conference League. Palace have until June 24 to present their final case to UEFA officials, who are then expected to take around a week before reaching a verdict. Should they not be satisfied with the ruling, Palace could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as could the other clubs involved in what is a complex situation. Such a scenario is not unlikely given what is at stake.
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Palace co-owner John Textor would sell shares for Europa League chance
The American, whose Eagle Football Group owns 43 per cent of Palace, has imperilled the club's chance of a first-ever European campaign owing to his involvement with Ligue 1 side Lyon, but is ready to offload his stake to his fellow co-owners in order to bring the saga to an end. UEFA does not allow clubs with the same ownership to compete in the same European competitions in a season. As well as his stake in Palace, the 59-year-old has a controlling stake in the French club, also via Eagle Football. However it is also reported that the European governing body does not consider Textor's influence at Selhurst Park to be decisive and is leaning towards allowing the club into the Europa League regardless. The PA news agency understands no formal decision is likely on Palace's fate until the end of June. Textor has previously spoken of his frustration at how little influence his stake entitles him to, over football matters. Victory for Oliver Glasner's side over Manchester City in last month's FA Cup final gave them their first major trophy and with it a first crack at Europe. However, Nottingham Forest have since written to UEFA to challenge Palace's Europa League spot and in the hope of taking their place. Forest's owner Evangelos Marinakis, who also owns Greek side Olympiacos, placed his shares in the club in a blind trust before the governing body's March 1 deadline, anticipating Nuno Espirito Santo's side's European qualification. At present Forest, who finished seventh in last season's Premier League, are set to enter the Conference League but would take Palace's Europa League place, should they be deemed ineligible.
Press and Journal
2 hours ago
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen defender Jack Milne could follow £4.75million star's Pittodrie career path, says legend Brian Irvine
Signing Jack Milne on a long-term contract is a masterstroke by Aberdeen as the defender's career rise could mirror Scott McKenna's, says legend Brian Irvine. Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin and the Pittodrie hierarchy recently tied centre-back Milne on an extended deal in April until summer 2029. A month-after committing his long term future to the club Milne played a key role in the Scottish Cup final triumph – in only his third start of the season. The 22-year-old delivered a stellar performance at Hampden as the Dons lifted the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1990. Irvine netted the winning penalty in the 1990 cup win and was at the national stadium to watch Milne shine at the heart of a five-man defence. He reckons youth academy graduate Milne's performance proves he has the potential to emulate the Pittodrie career path of Scotland international McKenna. McKenna emerged through the Aberdeen youth system to become a first team star before securing a £3million move to then-English Championship Nottingham Forest in 2020. The figure Aberdeen banked for McKenna rose to £4.75m due to add-ons being achieved when he helped Forest earn promotion to the Premier League in 2022. Irvine said: 'Signing Jack Milne on a long-term contract until 2029 is a great move by Aberdeen. 'He delivered a fantastic performance in the Scottish Cup final that was extremely mature for a young player. 'Milne can take real confidence from how he played at Hampden and will benefit from that going forward. 'It could ultimately be another Scott McKenna situation where Milne gets a big move from Aberdeen in the future. 'McKenna was superb for Aberdeen for a number of seasons then went on to get the big transfer to England. 'At club and international level McKenna has had a fantastic career since coming through at Aberdeen. 'Milne could potentially mirror that.' Aberdeen's Scottish Cup final triumph has secured guaranteed European league action next season and a Uefa cash bonus of around £5million. The Dons will enter the Europa League play-offs with ties played on August 21 and 28. Should they lose the play-off, Aberdeen will parachute into the Conference League. Manager Jimmy Thelin has already began bolstering his squad in a bid to balance European league action with domestic commitments. Australian international striker Kusini Yengi, 26, has signed a pre-contract. Yengi will arrive on a free following the expiration of his contract with Portsmouth. Versatile left-back Emmanuel Gyamfi, 20, was signed from German Bundesliga 2 club FC Schalke 04 on a four-year-deal for an undisclosed fee. Australian winger Nicolas Milanovic was also secured for around £400,000 from A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers. The 23-year-old was recently named the A-League player of the year. Keeper Nick Suman, 25, was also secured and will join the Reds when his contract with Cove Rangers expires later this month. Aberdeen are in advanced talks with multiple transfer targets ahead of the summer transfer window. Irvine is confident the Reds will build on the Scottish Cup triumph. He said: 'All the Aberdeen players should take huge confidence from the cup win. 'Ultimately they lost out on that third-placed Premiership finish. 'But that was overtaken by qualifying for the Europa League play-off anyway by winning the Scottish Cup. 'It has been a great season for all the players and now they should build on that. 'Thelin signed a lot of players in his first season, with many Scandinavians, and it takes a little time to settle. 'They'll have more confidence and experience to take the next step in their Aberdeen career. 'There will be more new signings in the summer window. 'However, most of the players have been under Thelin for a year and we will see the best of them next season.' Pittodrie great Irvine famously scored the winning penalty as the Dons triumphed 9-8 in a spot-kick shoot-out against Celtic in the 1990 Scottish Cup final. Irvine was back at Hampden for further penalty shoot-out drama. Only this time he was watching as one of the 20,000 Aberdeen supporters who cheered the Reds to a 4-3 triumph on penalties. Aberdeen also won the Scottish Cup on Irvine's 60th birthday. He said: 'I was down on a supporters' bus that was arranged by the club, and left from Pittodrie. 'At Hampden, I sat in amongst the supporters – because I am one myself. 'I was there with my daughter's partner. 'It was a slightly different position from 35 years ago… but just as nervy! 'When we won the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1990, it was a very emotional moment. 'I'm delighted for the players, the club and the fans. 'It was extra special because Aberdeen won the cup on my 60th birthday. 'A lot of supporters took selfies with me at Hampden, which I really enjoyed. 'On the journey home the music was pumping out with lots of songs sung. 'We got back to Pittodrie just ahead of the team bus which arrived just after 11. 'The night was probably still young for the youngsters, but 60-year-old me thought I had better go home. 'The unity between the club and city is strong at the moment which is fantastic to see.'
