Latest news with #DeclanCaddell
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Young talent will shape the future at Crusaders, insists Declan Caddell
Crusaders manager Declan Caddell says he's committed to giving young guns a chance to blow Premiership opponents away.
BBC News
09-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Big calls changed the game' - Caddell on Carrick loss
Crusaders manager Declan Caddell felt big calls went against his team as Carrick Rangers came back from three down to win 4-3 at Crues looked to be on course for an impressive win when hitting three goals inside the opening 32 minutes, but the decision by referee Mark Dillon to award a penalty when Aidan Steele was taken down by Elliot Dunlop proved to be something of a turning point as Jack Scott from Daniel Gibson either side of the break brought the visitors level, but another big call in injury time would lead to Scott stroking home a second penalty, awarded when a cross struck the hand of Robbie didn't feel his team produced the goods in the second period, but was frustrated by both big calls which ultimately cost his team."The first 35 minutes we dominated, scored three goals and could have had five or six, but a big call and a big decision has allowed Carrick to get back into the game," he told BBC Sport NI."You try to calm down over the summer, forget about things and look forward to a new campaign, but at 3-0 up we are cruising. A big call, which I think he got wrong, changed that game and from that we lost our way."I can take a bit of responsibility for that in the second half, as to how the players performed. I don't think they were at it, but big calls change games."Even the last penalty, I'm not sure again, so it's two huge calls from the referee that has given Carrick Rangers three points today." 'It's frustrating but we'll move on' Caddell does not believe the introduction of VAR into the Irish League is the natural step to rule on such big calls but instead feels the decisions that went against his team are easily fixed."You don't have to go VAR, they are basic decisions," he continued."On the sideline, I look for the reaction of my players and the opposition first one: the linesman is four yards away has given a throw-in to us, which was the right call, but the referee overrules him."The second: there referee says handball. It has hit his hand, but he hasn't made himself bigger, so they are huge calls."We lost our way and that can happen when calls go against you. It's frustrating, but we have to move on."
BBC News
09-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Irish Premiership - Live text and audio of Saturday's three games
Update: Date: 14:42 BST Title: Irish Premiership fixtures Content: Saturday, 9 August A reminder of today's three Irish Premiership fixtures. Irish Premiership fixtures Update: Date: 14:37 BST Title: Team news Content: Crusaders v Carrick Rangers Having finished sixth in last season's Premiership, Declan Caddell will be hoping for an improved 2025/26 campaign, and he has some new blood to revitalise today's team. In comes new goalkeeper Musa Dibaga, former Glentoran player Finley Thorndike and Scottish forward Adam Brooks to make their competitive debuts as the Hatchetmen look to make a statement. You could be forgiven for thinking that the away team are Crusaders in disguise when you read down the Carrick Rangers team sheet. Old Seaview men Jimmy Callacher, Adam Lecky, Paul Heatley all start for Stephen Baxter's side, with former Crues skipper Billy Joe Burns named on the bench. New signing Matthew Snoddy also starts after signing in the last 24 hours from Glenavon. Snoddy also previously had a spell at Seaview. It really feels like a home away from home for Rangers today. Crusaders: Dibaga, K Forsythe, Hamilton, Weir, Brooks, Thorndike, Dunlop, J Forsythe, Bryden, Anderson, Lew Barr. Subs: Tuffey, Williamson, Od McCart, Nixon, Ol McCart, Leo Barr, Boyd Carrick Rangers: Gartside, Callacher, Gibson, Lecky, McCullough, Shiels, Crow, Heatley, Snoddy, Scott, O'Brien. Subs: Pengelly, Burns, O'Malley, Waide, Maciulaitis, Buchanan-Rolleston, Cherry Crusaders v Carrick Rangers Update: Date: 14:31 BST Title: Team news Content: Glenavon v Ballymena United Two teams hoping to improve on their recent fortunes go head-to-head at Mournview Park. Glenavon have six new faces in their starting line-up with debuts for Jacob Carney, Paddy Burns, Harry Murphy, Stephen Mallon, Kyle McClelland and Corey Smith. There are for new faces in the Ballymena line-up with David Toure, Ali Gould, Matthew Clarke and Joel Thompson making their first appearances for the Sky Blues. Glenavon: Carney, Murphy, McKeown (C), McClelland, Wilson, Burns, Carlin, Malone, Mallon, Smith, McGovern. Subs: Byrne, McMullan, McDaid, Baird, Lowe, Lomboto, O'Connor. Ballymena United: O'Neill (C), Toure, Gould, O'Donnell, Clarke, Thompson, McEleney, Rocks, Corbally, Kennedy, McCurry. Subs: Breen, Nelson, McCallion, O'Reilly, O'Connor, Jarvis, Edogun. Glenavon v Ballymena United Update: Date: 14:28 BST Title: Carrick Rangers season preview Content: Crusaders v Carrick Rangers (15:00) 2024-25 league position: 11th Manager: Stephen Baxter Opening fixtures: Crusaders (A) - 9 August; Glenavon (H) - 16 August; Linfield (H) - 19 August; Dungannon Swifts (A) - 23 August; Glentoran (A) - 30 August The 2024-25 season was a miserable one that many Carrick Rangers fans would like to forget. They won the promotion/relegation play-off against Annagh United to retain their top-flight status and end a tumultuous campaign on a high after just seven league wins from 38 games. Boss Stephen Baxter, who replaced Stuart King last year, has opted for players he trusts in the transfer window as he looks to steer the club away from another season of fighting relegation. The former Crusaders manager has raided his old club for experienced trio Jimmy Callacher, Billy Joe Burns and Adam Lecky. He has also brought in Nathan Gartside as his new number one goalkeeper as well as striker Ryan Waide and midfielder Jack Scott, who impressed in spells with Coleraine last season, to help boost a thin squad. They will hope Danny Gibson can continue to score goals to push them up the table after he managed 15 in all competitions last season, but they do have a tough set of opening fixtures to contend with. Update: Date: 14:26 BST Title: Seaview return will be 'strange' for Carrick boss Baxter Content: Crusaders v Carrick Rangers (15:00 BST) Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter has said that he is "building something new" as he approaches his first full season in charge. Carrick finished 11th last season but a convincing 8-3 aggregate victory over Annagh United in the relegation/promotion play-off secured their Premiership status for the 2025-26 season. During his first pre-season with Carrick, Baxter has acknowledged that the club are still searching for another two players before the window closes. "We had 12 players who left so it was a total rebuild at my end and we have brought in good players and we are still on the search for maybe another two before the season starts," Baxter told BBC Sport Northern Ireland. Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter Update: Date: 14:22 BST Title: Team news Content: Portadown v Glentoran Portadown kick off their Premiership season at home to Glentoran, looking to extend last term's seven-match unbeaten run at Shamrock Park. Niall Currie's side, who posted the league's second-best home record in 2024/25, start with a familiar XI, while summer recruits Rayhaan Tulloch, Jordan Gibson, Jamie Rea and Alex Moore are named on the bench. The Glens finished third last season but stuttered on the road, winning just once in their final seven away fixtures. History favours the visitors, though - five straight league victories and nine unbeaten at today's venue. New signings Ryan Cooney, Daniel Larmour and Jordan Stewart start, while Jordan Jenkins, scorer in both meetings last term, again leads the line. Declan Devine is without Christie Pattisson, Dylan Connolly and Joe Thomson due to carry-over bans. Shane Andrews is the referee as Portadown seek a first home league win over the east Belfast side since 2015. Portadown: McCarey, Altintop, MacKinnon, Chapman, Wylie, Ukek, McCullough, Fyfe, Teelan, Obhakhan, Thompson (C). Subs: Moore, Isamala, Rea, Mayse, Gibson, Traynor, Tulloch. Glentoran: Mills, Cooney, Kelly, Stewart, Coll, McEleney, Fisher, Larmour, Amos, Singleton (C), Jenkins. Subs: Urminsky, Ferris, Burt, Lindsay, Russell, Wightman, Douglas. Portadown v Glentoran Update: Date: 14:20 BST Title: Crusaders season preview Content: Crusaders v Carrick Rangers (15:00) 2024-25 league position: 6th Manager: Declan Caddell Opening fixtures: Carrick Rangers (H) - 9 August; Larne (A) - 17 August; Bangor (A) - 19 August; Glentoran (H) - 23 August; Portadown (A) - 29 August It has been a busy summer at Crusaders, who look to be rebuilding after an inconsistent first season under Declan Caddell. As they did last year, the north Belfast side have brought a lot of players in from clubs in Scotland, hoping to unearth the next Kieran Offord, who was a revelation during his six-month spell at the club. Of their seven additions, five come from Scottish clubs and it is a bit of a gamble whether they will settle in or fail to get going. They have lost some experienced players with the likes of Billy Joe Burns, Daniel Larmour and Philip Lowry departing, but Kurtis Forsythe is a shrewd addition and Finley Thorndike has the potential to shine with regular game time. Retaining their pace in the top six and pushing for Europe will be the aim under Caddell this season as well as improving their home form, which was patchy last year. Update: Date: 14:16 BST Title: Caddell 'looking to build something new' at Crues Content: Crusaders v Carrick Rangers (15:00) Declan Caddell has said he has "put his own stamp" on a much-changed Crusaders side for the new Irish Premiership campaign. Caddell led the north Belfast side to a sixth-place finish in his first season in charge after taking over from long-serving manager Stephen Baxter. The Crues have signed a number of young players from Scotland summer window so far but have lost the likes of Philip Lowry, Daniel Larmour and Billy Joe Burns. "Everything has been going well. Obviously, there is a big turnover of players, we were all aware there was going to be a rebuild at the club," Caddell told BBC Sport NI. "We are really happy with the players we have brought in. We have a lot of youth about us, lots of energy, enthusiasm, and a lot of quality as well. They're all gelling and settling in well which is a positive for me. "This is my second year now and it's always difficult coming into a club. Stephen did such a great job but, ultimately, a lot of them were Stephen's players and obviously times change, and I am looking to build something new and put my own stamp on things." Caddell paid tribute to the long-serving players like Lowry and Burns for their contributions to the club but says he is excited to move forward with a younger squad. "It's my responsibility to look after the benefit of the club and where it goes moving forward and big decisions had to be made," Caddell continued. "We're sorry to lose all those players as they were a big fabric of all the success that the club had, but we had to move on. We now have these younger players coming in and they want to make a name for themselves, and that's something for us all to look forward to." Update: Date: 14:13 BST Title: Glentoran season preview Content: Portadown v Glentoran (15:00) 2024-25 League position: 3rd Manager: Declan Devine Opening fixtures: Portadown (A) - 9 August; Bangor (H) - 16 August; Glenavon (H) - 19 August; Crusaders (A) - 23 August; Carrick Rangers (H) - 30 August For Glentoran, the 2024-25 season yielded joy and pain. In winning the County Antrim Shield, they pocketed their first silverware in five years, but failed to add another trophy when they lost the BetMcLean Cup final to Cliftonville. Their Irish Cup campaign also ended in humbling fashion with defeat by Bangor, while they were knocked out of the European play-offs by Cliftonville. Finishing 22 points behind Linfield in the league, however, encouraged the club to act decisively in the transfer market. Jordan Stewart has returned to the Oval, a decade on from leaving for Swindon, while Daniel Larmour has followed him to the Glens from Crusaders. And in 34-year-old Pat Hoban, Glentoran have added a proven goalscorer who Devine labelled a "major coup". As ever, Devine will be tasked with getting a good tune out of his new players to keep on the right side of an expectant fanbase. Update: Date: 14:10 BST Title: 'Experienced arrivals can drive Glens on' - Devine Content: Portadown v Glentoran (15:00) Glentoran manager Declan Devine is confident the new arrivals at the Oval can help push the club on to new heights this season. The Glens made a raft of summer signings, including striker Pat Hoban from Derry City and Scottish midfielder Liam Burt, who won League of Ireland titles with Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers in recent seasons. Former Crusaders duo, Jordan Stewart and Daniel Larmour, made the move to east Belfast, while Ryan Cooney arrived from Crewe Alexandra and goalkeeper Peter Urminsky joined from St Mirren on loan. Adding such experience can not only increase the competition for places, but aid the development of the younger players according to Devine whose team opens their Premiership campaign with a trip to Portadown on Saturday (15:00 BST). "Pat needs no introduction," Devine told BBC Sport NI. "He spoke to five or six clubs and felt this was his best opportunity to win trophies. He can lead men too and brings an incredible professionalism about him, so he'll have a big role for us this year. "Liam's had a lot of success wherever he's been, played in the group stage of Europe and knows what it takes to get there. "Jordan Stewart has four or five league titles under his belt, Daniel Larmour has two Irish Cups and played 10 games in Europe, so we've brought a lot of experience to the group. Add in Ryan Cooney who has 246 games in League One and League Two in England." Read more from Devine here. Update: Date: 14:06 BST Title: Portadown season preview Content: Portadown v Glentoran (15:00) 2024-25 league position: 8th Manager: Niall Currie Opening fixtures: Glentoran (A) - 9 August; Dungannon Swifts (A) - 16 August; Ballymena United (H) - 19 August; Larne (A) - 22 August; Crusaders (H) - 29 August Having pushed for a place in last season's European play-offs, Portadown hope to push for a spot in the top six this term. But Niall Currie's side will be challenged from the outset with a trip to Glentoran first up. Currie has lost a great deal of experience with Ross Redman retiring and Dougie Wilson leaving for Loughgall. But the Shamrock Park outfit have made some intriguing signings, including a couple of League of Ireland imports in winger Rayhaan Tulloch from Shelbourne and defender Divin Isamala from Bohemians. Currie has also added goalkeeper Alex Moore following Jordan Williamson's departure to Ballymacash. The Ports will also be hoping for a better run in the Irish Cup after being dumped out of the fifth round by Annagh United last season. Update: Date: 14:03 BST Title: Portadown sign Gibson ahead of Premiership opener Content: Portadown v Glentoran (15:00) Portadown have added experienced midfielder Jordan Gibson to their squad ahead of their Irish Premiership opener against Glentoran on Saturday. The 30-year-old has spent the past two seasons with Loughgall in the top flight after previous spells with Dollingstown, Lurgan Celtic, Carrick Rangers and Ballymena United. He becomes the Niall Currie's fifth summer addition after Jamie Rea, Alex Moore, Divin Isamala and Rayhaan Tulloch. "Obviously everyone is well aware of me and Jordan's history, he's been a Premiership player from the moment I signed him for Carrick Rangers and was brilliant for me in my time there and went on to get signed by David Jeffery at Ballymena United, so he's got great experience now at the highest level," Currie told the club's website. "He's 30 and coming into his prime years and his versatility is always great for any squad. "We're delighted to have the big man on board and his desire to come to our club was there for all us to see." Update: Date: 13:57 BST Title: Irish Premiership returns Content: The Irish Premiership season is back! It's been 90 days since the 2024/25 Irish Premiership season came to a close with Cliftonville beating Coleraine in the European play-off final in May. So, three months on, Northern Ireland's top flight is back and it has been a busy summer for all 12 clubs. We start with three Saturday fixtures to kick off the season. At Shamrock Park, Portadown, who surprised everyone in their first season back in the top flight last year host Glentoran, who will be hoping to sustain a title charge and get into Europe this season. At Mourneview Park, Paddy McLaughlin begins his first full season in charge of Glenavon with a home game against Ballymena United, who have made some big signings in their hopes of breaking into the top six. In the final Saturday game, Stephen Baxer returns to Crusaders as his Carrick Rangers side, littered with ex-Crues players, travel to Seaview for their season opener. We will have live text commentary of the three games as well as in-play clips with a report, reaction and highlights to follow. You can also listen to all the action on BBC Sportsound by clicking the play button at the top of this page or on BBC Sounds. Thanks for joining us - enjoy!
BBC News
07-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Caddell 'looking to build something new' at Crues
Declan Caddell has said he has "put his own stamp" on a much-changed Crusaders side for the new Irish Premiership led the north Belfast side to a sixth-place finish in his first season in charge after taking over from long-serving manager Stephen Crues have signed a number of young players from Scotland summer window so far but have lost the likes of Philip Lowry, Daniel Larmour and Billy Joe Burns."Everything has been going well. Obviously, there is a big turnover of players, we were all aware there was going to be a rebuild at the club," Caddell told BBC Sport NI."We are really happy with the players we have brought in. We have a lot of youth about us, lots of energy, enthusiasm, and a lot of quality as well. They're all gelling and settling in well which is a positive for me."This is my second year now and it's always difficult coming into a club. Stephen did such a great job but, ultimately, a lot of them were Stephen's players and obviously times change, and I am looking to build something new and put my own stamp on things."Caddell paid tribute to the long-serving players like Lowry and Burns for their contributions to the club but says he is excited to move forward with a younger squad."It's my responsibility to look after the benefit of the club and where it goes moving forward and big decisions had to be made," Caddell continued."We're sorry to lose all those players as they were a big fabric of all the success that the club had, but we had to move on. We now have these younger players coming in and they want to make a name for themselves, and that's something for us all to look forward to."
Belfast Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Gambia international goalkeeper will be a real hit at Crusaders, maintains boss Declan Caddell
Beaming head coach Declan Caddell believes Crusaders is the perfect environment for new goalkeeper Musa Dibaga to enhance his game after recruiting the Gambia international to his squad on a two-year deal. The Crues chief has backed the 6'4' shot-stopper, who links up with the north Belfast outfit after a spell with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, to impress the Seaview faithful and prove his worth in the Sports Direct Premiership.
