Ex-Port Vale midfielder Grant joins Accrington
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Press and Journal
4 hours ago
- Press and Journal
Opinion: Cooperation agreement between Caley Thistle and Celtic could be a perfect fit
It perhaps won't come as too much of a surprise if Caley Thistle and Celtic enter into a cooperation agreement given two of the men leading the Highland club's football department. The chief executive Charlie Christie, dad of ex-Celtic and current Scotland midfielder Ryan, also played for the Hoops. As did Inverness head coach Scott Kellacher, who learned much from another ex-Celtic player, John Hughes, when he worked as a coach beside the man who led Inverness to Scottish Cup glory in 2015. Kellacher is a long-time coach and former assistant manager, now in the role quicker than he ever could have imagined due to administration leading him to replace Duncan Ferguson last October. Scottish champions Celtic have always put much stock on the way they set out to entertain. That's a main reason why Kellacher and Christie junior and senior were no doubt lured to Glasgow to play for the Hoops. As it stands, the Scottish champions and League One club Inverness are weighing up a potential cooperation agreement. This new Scottish FA-led project came into being this season, allowing players aged 16-21, who are eligible to play for Scotland's national teams, to spend loan time at a lower league club. Flexibility is built in, with the players permitted to move between their loan and parent clubs during the season, but increasing playing time is the name of the game. Celtic's professional player pathway chief, Shaun Maloney, made the trip north to discuss the possibility of ICT being a route for the Hoops starlets, although another League One club is also in the frame. Maloney mentioned the attacking style encouraged by Kellacher was appealing for Celtic – and that's a great compliment to Kellacher, who is helping drive attendances up. For their 2-0 win against Peterhead this month, 2,078 were in the crowd – well above the League One average of around 800. While the loan agreement might well happen, ICT are keen to see their own local talent come through and challenge for game time. We've seen breakthroughs this summer for James Clark, Archie Kerr, Ben Gardiner and Sam Thompson, for example. Celtic would expect any of their younger players arriving in the Highlands to play competitively. Inverness, who are aiming for promotion to the Championship this season, must ensure the players are match-ready, to help deliver results. What is in place already though is a strong bond between Brendan Rodgers' club and the Caley Jags. Highly-rated Celtic B captain defender Mitchell Robertson, 20, is already at ICT on a season-long loan and his first start came in last week's 4-1 KDM Evolution Trophy win at Elgin City. Last term, with the club in administration and battling to overcome a 15-point deduction, a selection crisis was helped by Celtic with two emergency loan moves for goalkeepers Aidan Rice then Marcus Gill. One such example of the agreement sees Aberdeen loan players to League Two club Elgin City, with 17-year-old defensive trio Dylan Ross, Jamie Mercer and Noah McDonnell all on board for this season in Moray. Whether the cooperation agreement between Caley Thistle and Celtic comes to fruition remains to be seen but the links and respect between the two clubs could help Inverness as they seek to progress on and off the pitch.
Metro
7 hours ago
- Metro
Shearer tells Isak to take drastic action amid Liverpool transfer 'mess'
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has advised Alexander Isak to sack his agent 'on the spot' over the 'f***ing mess' he has made of this summer's ongoing transfer saga. Isak and his camp have made no secret of the fact the striker wishes to leave Newcastle for pastures new after three years in the north east, with Premier League champions Liverpool their priority. But the situation has rapidly turned sour after Newcastle rejected Liverpool's opening bid of £110million for Isak, with the Sweden international accusing the Magpies of 'breaking promises' and betraying his trust. Later on Tuesday evening, Newcastle responded with a statement of their own, refuting claims that Isak had been given assurances that he would be allowed to leave for a direct rival. While Isak opted out of Newcastle's pre-season tour and played no part in the season's opening match against Aston Villa, Eddie Howe has made it clear that the attacker would be welcomed back into the fold when he is ready to rejoin his team-mates. The latest reports suggest Liverpool would be willing to stretch to £130m to lure Isak to Anfield, but it's understood the Toon bosses are sticking to their £150m asking price for the wantaway forward. 'I mean, oh my God, what a f***ing mess his agent has made of this, honestly,' ex-Newcastle and England striker Shearer – the Premier League's all-time record goalscorer – told Betfair. Sky Sports is going full throttle this Premier League season, airing a record-breaking 215 live matches - that's nearly double the usual dose of drama, goals, and post-match meltdowns. From Friday night clashes to Super Sundays and even all ten final-day fixtures, Sky's new deal means fans won't miss a single nutmeg or last-minute screamer. Whether you're team Sky Q, Sky Glass, or prefer streaming via NOW, you're covered. And with pundits like Jamie Carragher probably already rehearsing their 'I told you so' lines, expect top-tier commentary alongside top-tier football. As Pep might say, 'More games, more problems - for the other teams.' Check out the latest deals from Sky here, starting from £15 a month. Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more . 'If I was him, I'd get his agent in a room and sack him on the spot immediately because he is meant to be giving him the advice to sign that six‑year deal and there's no get‑out clause. I mean, it's ridiculous. 'And to take anyone's word in football… it's nonsensical to say that someone said, 'Oh, I'll be able to get out at the end of the season.' Really? I mean, come on.' Shearer is adamant that Isak and his team have 'gone about it in the wrong way' and should have inserted a buyout clause in the Swede's contract when he signed a new deal at St James' Park in 2022. 'Alexander Isak is being given bad advice, this isn't the way to do things,' Shearer added. 'Newcastle have also released a statement saying that promises were not broken, or promises were never made. 'I've always said there are two sides to every story, but my feelings are exactly the same: he's gone about it in the wrong way. 'I get that he might want to join a huge football club in Liverpool. I understand that, and I understand that they're regularly going to be competing for trophies. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'But we also need to know, who promised him? What did they promise him? When did they promise him, if that is the case? Newcastle have totally denied that. 'I'd also ask the question, who's advising him? He signed his six‑year contract without a release clause in it. That is his doing, that is his agent's doing. 'Now, if they foresaw someone trying to get out early, then before they signed that they were in a really strong position. They should have had a get‑out clause in it. That would be my take on it. 'Everything sort of boils down to: I think he's being given bad advice and the way he's going about it is wrong, I really do.' According to Shearer, Isak's behaviour 'doesn't benefit anyone' involved and only makes for a 'very messy' and unwanted distraction which has overshadowed the start of Newcastle's season. 'I just think even releasing this statement last night has thrown flames onto the fire, which he didn't need to do,' he continued. 'I get that we needed to hear his side of the story and we've heard that now, and I'm not saying I don't believe him or I don't believe Newcastle, I'm just saying it's very, very messy for him and for the football club. It doesn't benefit anyone. 'I still don't think it's the right way of going about things to get out of a football club. There are ways and means of doing it. As far as I'm aware he still hasn't put in a written transfer request. Is there a reason for that? 'I don't know whether it's still the case that if you do that, you lose out financially because you don't get bonuses. Is that a thing that he perhaps should look at? I don't know. 'But whatever he's doing and saying, and whoever's advising him, for me, it's not the right way.' Loud chants of, 'There's only one greedy b******!', were heard amongst Newcastle's travelling support at Villa Park last weekend – and Shearer thinks fans have every right to be angry. He went on: 'I totally get it, and I totally understand it. There's a lot of anger, there's a lot of frustration, because we all come and go, fans come and go, players come and go, but the one constant that doesn't is the football club. That's far more important than anyone, any individual, any player has ever been and ever will be. 'It's their football club, it's their community, it's what they do, it's what they love, it's what they pay their money for, for their shirts. So, understandably, there's a lot of anger around, and I totally get that when someone says they don't want to play for their club. 'It would happen at any other football club, not just Newcastle. It's happened before and it'll happen again, and those fans would feel exactly the same. 'Now, I understand the frustration from the Liverpool fans' point of view, but they would feel exactly the same if a player was doing that. And it doesn't sit right with me, I don't like it. I don't like what Wissa's doing at Brentford, even if Newcastle were to sign him. 'It's not a good look on a player or an agent to not go out and train and not go out and play when you have a contract behind you. It's not a good look and it's not a good thing to do.' Newcastle's initial bid to to bring in a successor to Isak, namely Yoane Wissa, was rejected out of hand, with Brentford thought to be demanding a fee in the region of £50m for the DR Congo forward. And while talks are ongoing for Wissa, Shearer feels his former club would also need to bring in a replacement for Callum Wilson before the transfer deadline comes around on September 1. More Trending He added: 'My view is the same as it was three or four weeks ago. If Newcastle can get players in to replace him, and if Newcastle receive a bid they want to accept, then it may happen. 'If that doesn't happen, then he stays, and it becomes really messy. If Liverpool want him, then they put in an offer Newcastle will accept, and if Newcastle can get two players in, because that's what they need, one to replace Isak and one to replace Wilson, then fine. 'They've been trying to do that for the past four or five weeks and haven't been able to. Whether they can do that in the next 10 days is doubtful, but there's still time. 'I think we're just sat here guessing, but last night's statement hasn't done him any favours whatsoever in terms of trying to get Newcastle onside or forcing them into a decision, I think they'll just go the opposite way.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal plot move for £80m Chelsea transfer target after Kai Havertz injury MORE: Chelsea agree transfer deal to sell forgotten defender after just 12 months MORE: Rasmus Hojlund makes decision over transfer as Manchester United receive new approach
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Rangers set to miss out on experienced English Premier League star as Ibrox-linked defender ‘agrees deal with Euro club'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS could do with all the defensive help they can get right now as they continue leaking goals. But it looks like one experienced left-back linked with a move to Ibrox will NOT be heading to Glasgow. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Alex Moreno looks to be on his way out of Aston Villa Credit: PA 3 The former Betis defender is heading back to Spain Credit: Getty 3 Russell Martin could add to his defence before the transfer window shuts Credit: PA Rangers have conceded in six of Russell Martin's eight matches as manager and shipped three inside the opening 20 minutes of last night's sobering Champions League qualifying defeat to Club Brugge. The 3-1 loss leaves the Gers' ambitions of making a return to European football's top table hanging by a thread. Three of the four defenders who started the match are new signings. Max Aarons, Nasser Djiga and Jayden Meghoma have all arrived at Ibrox on loan this summer. Plenty of other defenders have been linked with a move to Rangers during the transfer window. A deal for Nobel Mendy collapsed and he's now joined Rayo Vallecano from Real Betis. Conor Coady was another name linked but the ex-England star ended up moving to Wrexham instead. It's looking like Alex Moreno will be another name to add to the list of transfer misses. Rangers were one of the clubs said to have expressed an interest in the Aston Villa left-back in a report out of Spain last week. The report said he was a priority target for his former club Betis, with fellow La Liga club Girona also interested. Rangers fans should NEVER have walked out on their team despite Brugge battering And it's the latter of those clubs who look like they've won the race to land 32-year old Moreno, who had a loan spell at Nottingham Forest last season. Foot Mercato reporter Santi Aouna is reporting that Moreno has agreed personal terms with Girona on a contract running until 2027. He says that an agreement between Girona and Aston Villa is close. Rangers added left-back cover in Meghoma from Brentford last Sunday. But boss Martin could look to bolster the position further before the transfer window closes. Jefte looks set to complete a return to Brazil with Palmeiras while Ridvan Yilmaz continues to be heavily linked with a switch back to former club Besiktas. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
