Latest news with #BillFoley
NZ Herald
31-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Auckland FC: The 25 moments that made their A-League season unforgettable
Auckland FC enjoyed a remarkable start to life, with one of the most incredible debut seasons achieved by an expansion club in Australasian sport. Michael Burgess looks at the key turning points for the Black Knights, on and off the field. 1. Bill Foley swoops In the hustle for the
Scotsman
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Hibs fan forum minutes reveal 'better level' promise on Black Knight players
Training ground revamp and Easter Road upgrade discussed at summit Sign up to our Hibs football 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... Hibs owner Ian Gordon and a number of high-ranking club employees laid out their hopes and ambitions for the club at a recent meeting with fans. And the chairman addressed a number of important issues – including plans to land a better class of player through the club's tie-in with billionaire Bournemouth owner Bill Foley's Black Knight group. Hibernian Supporters Panel members also heard news on the need to upgrade Easter Road to meet UEFA criteria for their impending European campaign, last year's huge financial losses – and the need to start winning cups on a more regular basis to fulfil the vision of late chairman Ron Gordon. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The minutes of the meeting, attended by Ian Gordon, communications director Adam Tomlinson, supporter liaison officer Kieran Power and Steve Hazlett, venue and operations manager, include updates on the redevelopment of Hibernian Training Centre. There were also discussions about tifo displays and the dangers of pyros. The official report of the meeting referenced the most recent recorded losses of £7.2 million, noting that the figures 'didn't make for great reading and there's no hiding away from that.' But it was pointed out that Hibs continued to make £1 million from player trading, while season ticket records have been broken – with more growth expected. Interestingly, fans were also told: 'We believe that the strategy with Black Knights can get us to a different level and type of players required can allow us to really build in this area of player trading. On Black Knights, the last 10 months has been positive but especially since Tim (Bezbatchenko) came in; it improves every day and we're in a really good spot as we have shared ambitions and end goals.' Fans heard that 'a club like Hibs need to be winning cups on a more regular basis …' and that 'qualifying for Euro group stages was Ron's ultimate goal.' Aberdeen's Scottish Cup victory ripped that guaranteed league stage football from Hibernian's hands on the last day of the domestic season, meaning David Gray's men will have to get through at least two qualifying rounds before securing a prize worth upwards of £5 million. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad UEFA regulations on Europa League and Conference League group stages addressed Supporters were also told that, while Easter Road's current UEFA Category 3 status would NOT be enough to host Europa League or Conference League group games, work was underway to upgrade behind-the-scenes parts of the stadium to meet Category 4 criteria. All will be completed before their Europa League second qualifying round tie in July. Should Hibs reach the league stage of UEFA competition, meanwhile, the club will consider selling tickets in match bundles – possibly including Hibernian Women's Champions League campaign and the league-winning under-18s, who will enter the UEFA Youth League as an under-19s group. Chairman and majority shareholder Gordon also provided an update on the prosed redevelopment of HTC. Armed with architect drawings, he revealed there will be two new hybrid pitches AND a full-sized indoor synthetic pitch to UEFA Championship Standard, including seating for fans. Work is expected to begin in early 2026. There will also be two new satellite academy facilities open, with Hamilton selected as the first site as Hibs look to spread their recruitment potential. The second venue will be to the west of Edinburgh.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Our review of the season part three: The goals
Then there were the hat-tricks. Makeshift striker Dango Ouattara starred in a 5-0 rout of Nottingham Forest, which ultimately improved the goal difference enough to pip Brentford to ninth place. And Justin Kluivert hit two trebles on the road, with a historic hat-trick of penalties at Wolves, before gunning down Newcastle to score more league goals at St James' Park in one game than his father Patrick managed in an entire season on context, that 4-1 win at Newcastle on 18 January was the champagne moment of an unforgettable season. The Magpies went into that game on a run of nine successive wins, being talked about as title contenders, with Alexander Isak on a red-hot streak of 11 goals in his past eight league could only name a patched-up XI with players out of position and a threadbare bench of development squad players, the six outfield subs boasting only four substitute league appearances for the Cherries between them. The omens were not good for the fans who had left their homes in the early hours to make the longest journey of the season for a Saturday lunchtime those fans were treated to a breathtaking performance to live long in the memory. Isak did not get a kick. Even some Newcastle diehards I spoke to after the game hailed it as the best away performance they had seen at St James' Park in the field, the Cherries have a new state-of-the-art training ground – and owner Bill Foley chose its opening ceremony to announce that a deal had been reached to buy back Vitality Stadium, which had been sold and leased back two decades earlier when the financial wolves were years ago, Foley promised European football within five years. While a top-seven place was tantalisingly out of reach in 2024-25, this Bournemouth team have made a habit of shattering glass ceilings - and they are not done just yet.
Scotsman
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hibs chief provides update on Sunderland loanee's future
Bill Foley meeting provides clarity as Black Knights get to grips with SPFL demands Sign up to our Hibs football 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... Nectar Triantis has been hailed as the player who added muscle to the 'soft underbelly' that left Hibs exposed to the counter-attack. And Easter Road sporting director Malky Mackay, who said the lack of defensive nous in central midfield was something he'd identified back when he was Ross County manager, has delivered an update on the club's chances of landing the Sunderland loanee for next season. Mackay, just over a year on from his appointment, revealed that he and club owner Ian Gordon had travelled south to meet with minority shareholder Bill Foley last week. The billionaire Bournemouth owner remains eager to help Hibs, especially in the transfer market, via his Black Knight group of clubs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Former Cardiff City and Watford manager Mackay, who has provided a useful sounding board for David Gray in the manager's first year as head coach, believes key figures within the Black Knight group have developed a better understanding of what it takes for players to compete in the Scottish Premiership over the last six months. With former Bournemouth performance analysis guru Garvan Stewart in as head of recruitment at Hibs, and Black Knight president Tim Bezbatchenko on the board, opportunities for player movement within the group have been discussed at the highest level. But Mackay, speaking on the Scottish Football Social Club on Premier Sports, knows that Hibs fans are rightly fixated on the prospect of Triantis returning for a third spell in Edinburgh. Having signed on for a second loan stint in the summer, the new Socceroos call-up has been a stand-out in central midfield, earning himself a place on the short list for the Scottish Football Writers Player of the Year award. Sunderland playing for Premier League spot against Sheffield United at Wembley With parent club Sunderland playing for a place in the Premier League when they take on Sheffield United in Saturday's play-off final at Wembley, there are a lot of moving parts involved, Mackay declaring: 'We love him - but unfortunately he's not our player. So we'll certainly be talking in chat to him and Sunderland over the next period. 'We've talked to them, we've been talking to them, but ultimately that's not one that's within our control. He's one of a group of people that we want to try and co-ordinate, we want to try and extend; to keep at the club and there's reasons why. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'You know, Nectar has done terrifically well at the football club. He came in as a centre-back for six months last season, and David looked at him near the end of the season and put him in midfield for a couple of games. 'We had a conversation over the summer about it, about maybe where Hibs' failings had been. Certainly as a Ross County manager, playing against them, I thought they were a really good football team. 'But maybe at times they had a soft underbelly. It was something that I felt, certainly on the counter-attack, we needed to make sure we solidified that area. And we felt in the summer, David and myself, that Nectar could be the guy who could come back and actually hold down that central midfield position as somebody who can break up play and still be able to pass the ball. 'He's had a terrific season, he's been called up for two countries now, I believe. He's been called up for Greece and Australia. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He's a Sunderland player and that at the end of the day is what he is. He has attracted a lot of attention; he's up for Player of the Year.' Pressed on whether Hibs would be looking to sign Triantis on another loan or pay a transfer fee to land the 22-year-old on a more permanent footing, Mackay said: 'We would do both. We've got our owners and our minority owners as one at the moment. 'Myself and Ian Gordon were down seeing Bill Foley last week and the Black Knights group and we had a terrific three or four hours with them. Just in terms of what happened during the season, where it all went, the good and the bad and the ugly. But also then what going forward was going to look like and they're very much aligned. 'We would love to try and get him back in one shape or another. As I said, we're going into a European campaign and we're already in the qualifiers, but if certain things happen at the weekend in terms of the cup final, there's a possibility that we then go into a group stage no matter what. I think that can change things up again as well.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Europa Conference League guaranteed might sway top targets A Celtic win over Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday would see Hibs guaranteed, at the very least, group stage Europa Conference League football. Asked whether that would impact on the budget available to sign players, Mackay pointed out a bonus worth more than pounds and pence, saying: 'Yeah, and it also can attract players to decide: 'Right, I'm guaranteed eight to ten games in Europe right up to Christmas.' Other than the very top seven or eight in the Premier League in England, where else are you getting that? 'So that's one that we'll look to rammed down their throat. If there's any potential player that might come to the club might be trying to twist their arm.' Insisting the aim is to improve the club's strike rate in the transfer market from three out of 10 to 7 out of 10, Mackay provided more insight on conversations with senior figures in the Black Knight group, explaining: 'We've got to try and make sure that what comes in can hit the ground running and play in the Scottish Premiership. This is a difficult league. You've got to be tough. You've got to be aggressive. 'You've got to make sure that you can handle this league and that's something that you explain. And it's something that we've had real good conversations over the last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bournemouth sporting director blown away by Edinburgh derby 'Tim Bezbatchenko is the president of the Black Knights. He's Bill Foley's man. Ex-MLS soccer guy who's been massively successful at Toronto and at Columbus. And we speak every day maybe. 'And as I say, a few of the Black Knights guys have been up. Tiago Pinto, the sporting director of Bournemouth, who was at Roma and Benfica. 'He came up to the Hearts game, so he couldn't have come to a better game. And then came out for a few drinks afterwards, which was even more eye-opening for him. 'But actually then realised, wow, until he came up, actually realising the size of the club and the aggressive nature of the fan base in Scotland. The real personality of it and the fact that there's so much at stake in every game. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'So I think that recognition of what Scottish football is, was something that has gradually got there. And it's like anything; communication is the biggest thing in the world. You communicate generally on a regular basis. 'Things become clearer, and everybody knows where you're going. So it's been a really good last six months, to be honest with you.'
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Huijsen's success is testament to all areas of the club'
They say you should never fall in love with a loan player. This season, the same might be said for our permanent signings too, as Dean Huijsen, after just one campaign at Bournemouth, is moving to Real Madrid for £ feels like yesterday that we watched the Cherries entertain Los Blancos in a pre-season friendly, a fixture boasting the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mesut Ozil. While the game itself was, perhaps aptly, a "white-washing", who knew that just over a decade later we would be supplying their stars of the the time we signed him, he was hotly tipped as a player of the future - tall, combative, comfortable with the ball at his feet, but also, someone who likes to get up the pitch and score goals a solid defensive partnership of Marcos Senesi and Illiya Zabarnyi, it was not really known what impact he would have during his first season, but everything changed when Marcos picked up an injury against Wolves in lived up to the he leaves, Huijsen will have clocked up no more than 30 league appearances, meaning that, once Juve's sell-on fee is settled, he will have made Bournemouth £1m for each match he hindsight, it feels like £50m is a steal, but the fact is, how did we know how good he would end up being?His success is testament to all areas of the club. For Bill Foley investing the money in the club, for our recruitment for finding him, and for Andoni Iraola - whose job has been have not been many players who have been so influential in such a short time at AFCB, but Huijsen leaves the club with all Bournemouth fans fully behind more from Sam Davis at Back of the Net, external
