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BBC News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Newport need 'change' to move forward
Newport County interim manager Dafydd Williams says "a lot needs to change" at the club berfore next disappointing 2024-25 ended with a 4-1 home defeat by Tranmere Rovers which saw them finish just above the League Two relegation took charge for the final two games of the season after Nelson Jardim recently left his role as head coach."Reflecting on the whole season, whoever you point the finger at, we've probably finished in the position we deserve to finish," Williams told BBC Sport Wales."It's not good enough for this football club and those that are here next year – that has to be a real reality check for them because in my opinion a lot of it is unacceptable."A lot needs to change to move forward and to go in the right direction as a football club." County chairman Huw Jenkins, who wants Jardim's successor in place by the end of the month, acknowledged the team had struggled for said he wanted to create a buzz at Newport once again with the club challenging for the play-offs as well as FA Cup runs."I think this club, mid-to-long-term, is an exciting place to be," Williams added."I think we can learn a lot of lessons from this season in terms of what's needed and what's required and whether that's with the players that are in the building or potentially coming in over the summer."The lads that are here next year, that are contracted, they need to learn the harsh reality of what League Two."
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Fantastic' not to be involved in pressure game
Phil Parkinson admits it is "fantastic" that Wrexham's final game of the 2024-25 season at Lincoln City is not a high-pressure Red Dragons head to the LNER Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST) having already secured automatic promotion into the 57-year-old hopes his side can end another memorable season on a high note as they go in search of a third successive victory to end the campaign on a 10-game unbeaten run."It's been incredible. The occasion of finishing the job off at the weekend in front of our fans with the atmosphere," he told BBC Sport Wales."I said to the lads that it may take a few weeks to be away from it all in the summer for it to actually sink in."The lads have really enjoyed a bit of time away, they came back in on Tuesday and they're looking forward to going to Lincoln to finish the season off."There's a lot of big pressure games this weekend across the divisions and it's fantastic for us that we're not involved in one."We can say that that's a success whilst looking to put in a good performance at Lincoln."
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Early WRC lead 'doesn't mean a huge amount'
Elfyn Evans says he's not getting carried away following his promising start to the World Rally Championship (WRC) Welshman has a 36-point lead after the first three rounds following back-to-back winning Rally Sweden in February, the 36-year-old was also victorious in Safari Rally Kenya in also finished second behind Sébastien Ogier in Rally Monte Carlo on the opening weekend of the season."It's definitely been a decent start," Evans told BBC Sport Wales."Everything's worked well in the first three rounds, but we also know it's very, very early in the season and it doesn't mean a huge amount at this stage."But of course we have to take the points while we can." It was Evans' first victory in Kenya after podium finishes in 2022 and considered to be one of the most challenging rallies in the Championship due to it's rugged terrain and unpredictable weather."It's an iconic rally, it's one of the classics. And this year it was an especially tough edition. There was a lot of endurance involved," Evans added."It's always a funny feeling when you win an endurance event, you don't somehow get the same buzz as you get when you win one of the rallies where you're flat out from start to finish. "At the same time to win a rally like that is still something special." Evans has finished runner-up in the Championship in four of the last five years. His only victory last year came in the final rally of the season in Japan, as he ended up 32 points behind the eventual winner Thierry Neuville. "The results towards the end of last season and the start of this season have been good. But in any type of sport there's always challenges. We have to keep focused," Evans said."There's a string of seven gravel rallies coming up, and we know that being early on the road for those rallies is often a difficult place to be. "When you have such a long string of them in the crucial mid-part of the season it's very easy to lose ground. "The lead we've built up at the moment really doesn't mean too much. It's a case of having to continue to focus on doing the best we can in each rally."Round four of the 14-race calendar is the Rally Islas Canarias from 24-27 April.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales' confidence soaring after Sweden draw
Goal scorer Hannah Cain says Wales' confidence is soaring ahead of their first major tournament women are heading to Euro 2025 in Switzerland this summer and after her goal gave Rhian Wilkinson's side a shock 1-1 Nations League draw in Sweden, Cain says the squad believes they can compete against being without the injured Ceri Holland, Kayleigh Barton and cap centurions Jess Fishlock and Sophie Ingle, Wales were extremely impressive in Gothenburg and could have even snatched victory against the side ranked sixth in the world by Fifa."It is almost like a mini Euros for us, the teams that we are playing in every single camp are amazing, they are so strong and we are showing we can compete with them and get performances," she told BBC Sport Wales."We are up there with those sides now." Cain says the performance, despite having such key players missing, emphasised the progress Wales have made under Wilkinson."We've not really been in this position before where we can still put in a top, top performance despite missing such massive players," she said."They play a key role and we are missing them. Maybe if those four players had been here tonight we could have got the three points, but we still put in a top performance and hopefully they will be proud of us too." 'It was unreal' For Manchester United goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel, the night was especially memorable as she produced a player of the match performance in the biggest game of her only 20 years old, Middleton-Patel made a string of impressive saves in just her third start for Wales and she admitted the game was a highlight of her fledgling career."It was unreal. I think it was one of our best performances. We showed everyone what we are about, we aren't just underdogs, we are here to play," she told BBC Sport Wales."I am over the moon. The team have put me in this position. It doesn't feel like my third cap, I feel like I've been here for years."Personally for me, it was one of the best games I've played."I will leave my phone turned off for a bit and let everything sink in I think." Wilkinson pride at 'fantastic' Wales display Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson said she was proud to see her side once again push one of the top nations in the world, with Wales twice holding Sweden to draws in Nations League group A4 as well as coming close against Denmark and Italy, who both beat Wales by just a single goal."That was a fantastic performance. In possession we had good stretches of the game," she told Match of the Day Wales."In football you have to ride your luck and they [Sweden] came close a couple of times but the way this team never quits, the way they stick in it to get a tie against Sweden away is a phenomenal moment and something we can build on."No matter who we put on, no matter what role I ask them to play, they give everything. It's not always perfect and I don't ask for perfection."That's what I want the Welsh public to be proud of, that this team is putting on performances for them."
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wilkinson urges more fans to watch Wales v Denmark
Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson says she is disappointed with ticket sales for the upcoming Nations League visit from played in front of a record crowd in north Wales for their Nations League draw against Sweden last month and she is hoping the fans will show the players their support before a first major tournament appearance this summer at Euro 2025."I don't think we've sold as many tickets for Cardiff as I would like to see," Wilkinson said prior to the visit of Denmark on Friday, 4 April."This is something we can't shy away from, the fact we maybe haven't had the audiences in-person that we would like to get."This is a huge game for us. Come and support your team, let this wonderful group of women see how loved they are." Wilkinson has previously said Wales is "culturally behind" when it comes to supporting the women's she insists she will continue to make that point with Wales men's team regularly selling out Cardiff City Stadium and with over 2,000 fans making the trip to North Macedonia to watch Craig Bellamy's side in World Cup qualifying this week."To anyone who was out in North Macedonia or watching it on television, to the Red Wall, this is a sporting nation, men, women, youth, get behind your team," she told BBC Sport Wales."This is one of the last opportunities to see this team before the Euros. Can you help me in letting them feel supported? Because I know that there is so much support and sometimes we just don't always see that in the numbers coming out to the games, but this is an important game for us, a huge game for us."So I would ask people to come out to support their team and let this wonderful group of women feel as loved as they are."Wilkinson believes people will regret it if they do not get to watch Wales' top goalscorer and record appearance-maker, Jess Fishlock, before it is too late, with the Seattle Reign midfielder now 38-years old."I don't know when she'll retire but she will not play forever," added the Wales boss."If you haven't had the privilege of seeing someone like her play then get out to Cardiff. These are things I think we as Welsh people take for granted. "Those who didn't see Gareth Bale when he was playing regret it. Don't regret this. She is a very special player who is really delivering in every single game she plays in."There are players on this team that are generational players that you will not see for very much longer. This is a history-making team, so connected to their country and wanting to put this team on the world stage and deliver results." Wilkinson says Wales women have a passionate fanbase, but is hoping more fans who regularly attend men's games, will start to come and watch her side."Welsh support and pride for everything we deliver to the world should be celebrated. No one should be lost in [distinctions between] men's, women's, youth or senior football," she said."This is an opportunity to come out and support a Welsh team that is fighting on the international stage to be the best that they can be before attending a major event."The Red Wall is something real to us, they deliver time and time again. So thank you for coming to support a team that I feel deserves the support of their country."
