Hibs' Newell may be out for season
Hibernian midfielder Joe Newell, 32, may not play again this season. (Scotsman - subscription required), externalRead Saturday's Scottish gossip
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Scotsman
13 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Hearts, Celtic and other SPFL teams braced as Scotland's Lowland League votes in favour of reconstruction
The fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid is to split in two 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... Hearts and Celtic are bracing themselves for change after Scotland's Lowland League clubs voted for reconstruction. Sitting one level below League Two of the SPFL in the pyramid system, the Lowland League is to split in two in a new regionalised format from season 2026/27. League Two teams dropping out of the SPFL would also be impacted once the new system is in place. A new East Division and West Division will be established based on clubs' geographical location, meaning the Hearts B team and Celtic B team would compete in different leagues should they continue as Lowland League guest clubs. Both divisions would run alongside the Highland League in the fifth tier and would eventually contain 16 teams each. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As a result, there is to be no relegation from the Lowland League in season 2025/26. However, there will be promotion for teams in the divisions immediately below - East of Scotland Premier Division, West of Scotland Premier Division, South of Scotland League and the East Region Midlands League. Clubs can only be promoted if they meet the Lowland League's entry criteria, which is a bronze level Scottish FA Licence and complying with financial fair play rules. The West of Scotland and South of Scotland leagues are to directly feed the new West Division, while the East of Scotland and East Region Midland League will supply the East Division. Clubs including Albion Rovers, Caledonian Braves and Cumbernauld Colts are to take their place in the West Division automatically. In the East Division, the likes of Berwick Rangers, Bonnyrigg Rose, Cowdenbeath and Linlithgow Rose would be certain of their places. Other SFA licenced teams would be promoted into the respective leagues in time. It remains to be seen whether Hearts and Celtic continue entering B teams in the new set-up. The Scottish Football Association last week announced a new co-operation system, allowing clubs to partner with one another and loan under-21 players to enhance youth development. That comes into effect immediately for season 2025/26 and could affect how bigger clubs use youngsters. Hearts are already in talks with their Edinburgh neighbours Spartans about a Co-operation Agreement. Transfer window in Scotland The transfer window in Scotland officially opens on 16 June and, from that date, clubs with a Co-operation Agreement can move up to three players back and forward at any time over the season. Moves are not restricted to transfer windows and clubs can have multiple Co-Operation Agreements in place at the same time. However, no club is allowed two in the same division of the pyramid. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The SFA are also disbanding the Under-18 league and the SPFL Reserve League, which will be replaced by a hybrid Under-19 league this season. Overage players are allowed to take part. The Under-19 matches will take place on Mondays rather than the current Friday fixtures. This is to let young players get involved in senior games over the weekend and also have the opportunity to play on a Monday. Similar systems are in place in European countries including Croatia, Austria, Belgium, Hungary and Serbia. Scotland is now following suit to enhance player development with the long-term aim of benefitting the national team. The 18-year-old Hearts striker James Wilson became the youngest international footballer in Scottish history in March and rearing more like him is a priority within Hampden Park's offices.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Panicked Rangers diehard drops £40m transfer bomb after Cerny KO as Tierney suffers brutal Hotline slapdown
He's a marquee signing from Arsenal who fans already know comes alive in green and white but the mood is changing around Kieran Tierney 's return to Celtic. The prodigal son returned but confidence appears brittle among the Parkhead faithful who were left miffed with the left-back's call-off for Scotland hours before he signed on the dotted line. Reason to be concerned or an overreaction based on an act of caution from national team boss Steve Clarke? One regular has already hit the panic button. Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, said: "Have Celtic 's hierarchy lost the plot? Injury prone Kieran Tierney signed on a five year deal. This signing will end in tears and Rodgers gone before Xmas, and also the rumour mill has Jamie Vardy going to Rangers, more chance of it being Peter." Mild concerns escalated to full-scale panic with one of the club's finest homegrown stars even earning unwanted comparisons to one of the club's most spectacular signing own goals. David Bryce, Troon, added: "I am very sceptical to say the least in regards to Tierney's return to Celtic. We all know a fully fit Tierney is a huge asset however he's not nearly fully fit and having watched him recently for Scotland I'd say he's a shadow of the player he once was. This signing has James Mccarthy written all over it and only Celtic would hand a guy with Kieran's injury history a five-year contract." Record Sport revealed Vaclav Cerny's brilliance at Glasgow has all-but ruled out any shot of an Ibrox return. And one concerned punters reckons it will be a familiar story unless they can become Champions League regulars once more. Lewis Fotheringham, Mount Ellen said: "Rangers missing out on players priced at around £9million, like Vaclav Cerny, shows that securing Champions League football this season is vital. Whilst going deep in the Europa League has been exciting, it's earning £40million from playing in the top competition and being able to attract the same quality of players Celtic can that will make us successful. Over the last 14 years, Celtic have competed in the Champions League seven times, whilst Rangers have only been included once. It all adds up financially." Neil Lennon issued a call to arms to the rest of Scottish football to carry the fight to the big two, however, not everyone is buying it as the Glasgow pair stand clear of the rest. John Scott, Grassmoor, said: "An exciting time if you're a Rangers or Celtic fan. Scouring the papers and online media for the next multi-million pound signing. And there's the rub. Neil Lennon should explain how the other clubs step-up to that challenge. The Hibees finished best of the rest, a massive 34 pts behind Celtic. "I've seen Hibs relegated with a much smaller deficit to the Champions. The game has changed dramatically in four decades. The giants of the game are racing towards super leagues and you would, in my humble opinion, be extremely deluded not to concede that." Scotland won 4-0 against Liechtenstein, but are the natives happy? Er, well not quite. Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: "That was a much more positive performance following on from the disastrous one against Iceland, a special mention to Che Adams always scoring against the big teams like Liechtenstein, Gibraltar Armenia, Luxembourg, Moldova and the Faroe Islands, fantastic stuff." Eddie Eason, Ballingry, Fife, said: "The usual sack the manager on here now it's Steve Clarke's turn. FGS the Scotland manager has taken us to two finals. "These friendlies are about giving players a chance and the honour of representing their country. For some it will be their biggest achievement in the sport. Then you get the keyboard warriors. Give the manager and his team a break they have had a long hard season." Thomas Tuchel is already feeling the heat in the England dugout as stalling displays turned into shocking results as Senegal wiped the floor with his tame Three Lions at the City Ground. Alan Flett emailed: "The arrogance of the English holds no bounds. They think they will win the WC, they think the EPL is the best and that everyone wants a piece of it. WRONG! Who wants to watch Brentford v Bournemouth apart from their own fans? "Their precious EPL is full of second rate foreign mercenaries and their own players are overhyped prima donnas. As for Thomas Tuchel? They'd be better off with Thomas the Tank Engine." And on that note, we'll choo-choo goodbye for another day.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Scots football fans humbled by African Mission as Ayr United supporters help thousands
Supporters of the Honest Men have helped to make a huge difference in Zambia as part of link-up inspired by a star signing and social media. Big-hearted Scottish football fans have helped to feed thousands as part of a unique friendship formed in Africa. Ayr United supporters raised cash which was converted into vital ingredients for locals in Zambia. Honest Men Barry Cowan and Callum Yorke flew 8,000 miles to see the results of the crowdfunder last week. The tie-up was sparked when United saw a surge of Zambian supporters after they signed the country's centre half, Frankie Musonda, three years ago. Zambian football fanatic, Charles Chibaala, has since become an adopted Ayr follower through social media and fans held a whip round to help him visit Somerset Park last year. The incredible bond went further when Ayr supporters raised more than £2,500 to distribute much needed meilie maize in Monze, the hometown of Chibaala. Barry, who has even bought 15 acres of Zambian land for Charles to farm crucial crops, told the Ayrshire Post: "Having boots on the ground and seeing the impact of what that money has done was a truly humbling experience. "You think you have a perception of what it will be like before you go, but it still doesn't prepare you. In Scotland, we take so much for granted and the warmth and welcome we received over there was something we'll never forget." Barry, who runs a Facebook page for United supporters entitled Ayr United Fans Worldwide, has formed a close bond with Charles despite the pair living on opposite sides of the globe. The Zambian's visit to Scotland last year saw him return home with merchandise donated by fans which was distributed to local kids and schools, who now proudly sport the Ayr colours on the streets of Monze, a town roughly an hour from the capital of Lusaka. Barry added: "In Zambia, the term 'family' runs far deeper than just blood relatives and you realise that when you walk around and see the bond between neighbours. "We visited compounds where life is about subsistence and a lot of houses don't have running water. It's tough - but they do it with a smile on their faces. "We knew that the money we'd raised would be able to help some people, but the sheer size and scale of it has blown us away. "One of the respected elders who helped with the distribution of the maize was explaining that it had helped to feed thousands and literally saved lives. That was very emotional to hear. "Social media can be a force for good when used correctly and this is definitely an example of that. Football and our love of Ayr United has been the catalyst to do a very special thing."
