Kingussie & Fort William extending winning runs
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STV News
33 minutes ago
- STV News
Gray excited by opportunity for Hibernian to secure European football
David Gray has braced Hibernian for a defining week in their season as they bid to complete 'a massive effort' to secure European main-phase football. The Hibees, who finished third in the Premiership last term, host Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their Conference League play-off tie on Thursday, with the second leg in the Polish capital seven days later. Having lost agonisingly in extra-time to Midtjylland in the Europa League before parachuting into the Conference League qualifiers, where they overcame Partizan Belgrade, Gray is determined to ensure his buoyant side do not fall at the final hurdle in their quest to secure European football. 'From the first day back in pre-season, we knew it was going to be massive effort, but the challenge to the players right on day one was, can we qualify for group-stage football, which has never been done before at the club,' Gray said. 'The challenge we've had, the tests we've had, the games we've came through, has been fantastic. This is the last one, and it doesn't get any easier. 'If anything it gets tougher, just because you're getting a little bit closer and what that means, and dealing with the expectation and the noise around about it. But it's certainly a very exciting time to be a Hibs player and fan, and everybody connected with the club at the minute.' Gray views the Legia tie as one of the biggest he has been involved in since becoming Hibs' boss last summer. 'Yes, I think so. With what's at stake, the opportunity to be playing in Europe right up to Christmas, the potential fixtures we might get,' he said. 'We've already had two sell-outs, soon to be three sell-outs tomorrow at Easter Road. To play in that environment, to coach in that environment myself, testing myself against top coaches, it's where we want to be at this football club. 'We say all the time it's all geared up and ready to go and do that. The bit that's been missing for the last few years, for a variety of reasons, has been performances and consistency. 'But right now they're delivering a really high performance level. We've got a really strong group that are in a really good place at the minute.' Gray is wary of the fact Legia, who slipped into the Conference League after losing a Europa League qualifier 5-3 on aggregate to Cypriot side Larnaca, reached the quarter-finals of the competition last term before losing to eventual winners Chelsea. However, the manager – who has everyone available except injured captain Joe Newell – is delighted that Hibs have no domestic game this weekend after taking advantage of the SPFL's new policy of allowing clubs competing in Europe the chance to postpone their league fixture in between the two legs of the play-off round. 'I think that's a real positive step for Scottish football to be able to postpone the match because Legia are the same,' said Gray. 'It's natural in countries abroad to do that, so I think it gives us a real opportunity over the two legs. 'No distractions, nothing in between where you can pick up knocks or injuries. I think it really focuses you on that one fixture over the two legs to give yourself the best possible opportunity.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Steven Gerrard has already held 49ers talks as Rangers 'monitor' rocketing Russell Martin pressure
A sluggish start to the season under Martin has sparked frustration from the Ibrox diehards Former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has held talks with 49ers Enterprises over a key post - and could rapidly be moving back on to the Ibrox agenda. The Liverpool icon has been persistently linked with a return to Rangers having previously lifted the Scottish Premiership during his time in Glasgow. Before Russell Martin landed the hot seat, it's understood that Gerrard was on the shortlist of candidates for incoming owners Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers alongside Martin and Davide Ancelotti. But Leeds United coach Stewart Downing has revealed that he was previously on the NFL investment wing's radar at Elland Road before they appointed Daniel Farke. Downing told Flashscore: 'I was at Leeds last year and there were a lot of rumours about him coming in there and at the time I thought Leeds would be a good fit. "Not too far from his home. Big club, big expectations, a bit like Rangers if you like in terms of the pressure because Leeds have a big fan base and big demands. "I know they definitely did speak to him before Farke got the job. It was him, Scott Parker and Farke. Farke got the job probably on his experience of getting teams promoted, which has been proven right. He's done a good job there.' The comments come with boss Martin facing increased scrutiny after a disappointed 3-1 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge at Ibrox. The former Southampton boss has yet to win a Premiership game going into Saturday's showdown with St Mirren - before a massive week for the club. The second leg of the £40million league phase shoot-out with Brugge on Wednesday will be following by the derby showdown with Celtic. Oddsmakers detect the pressure reaching boiling point after some fans walked out of the Euro first leg after 21 minutes with Rangers trailing 3-0 - with Gerrard and Barry Ferguson the early frontrunners to replace Martin. A spokesperson for AceOdds said: 'With Russell Martin under pressure after Rangers suffered a 3-1 home defeat in their Champions League qualifier tie with Club Brugge on Tuesday night, Steven Gerrard is the favourite to return to Ibrox, according to the bookies. 'Gerrard, who led Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title in 2020/21, is the 9/4 front-runner to succeed Martin. Barry Ferguson, who was in the Rangers hot seat on an interim basis last season, is the 7/2 second-favourite while former Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl is also in contention for the job at 4/1." But Ibrox icon Ally McCoist has laid the blame at the current crop of players - claiming that an "inferiority complex" has emerged in the dressing room when it comes to the title fight with Celtic. However, he concedes the owners will have to "monitor the situation" with Martin if results don't improve. McCoist told football betting site talkSPORT Bet: They are having a struggle to start the season. "I don't mind him making his views crystal clear [on the squad] and having a pop because it lets his players know in no uncertain terms what the demands are of them from him, I have no problem with that. "They want that league title back. I don't know whether it is a mindset within the players, it is anything but an inferiority complex, it is whether they think they can just rock up in the league and win, it is not the case. "He is going to have to get the new signings together, and the old core of the players that have been there, and say to them it's all well and good getting results union Europe but if you are back in Scotland and playing against Motherwell, Dundee, whatever - these are must-win games. "If you want to win the league, they are already four points behind Celtic after two games, he will be given time and he should be, we are just going to have to monitor the situation and hopefully get a change in the psyche and results. "He will always be under pressure, when you manage Rangers and Celtic you always are."
Belfast Telegraph
an hour ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Dungannon Swifts boss refusing to panic despite slow start: ‘Coleraine on a Tuesday is a harsh fixture for us'
Dungannon Swifts chief Rodney McAree refused to be downbeat about his side's start to the season as they remain pointless from their opening three Premiership games.
