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Daily Record
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Brendan Rodgers must be Celtic contract priority as Hoops hero Marc Rieper warns of disruption he'll never forget
The Hoops manager is set to sit down with Dermot Desmond in the coming weeks with his own situation among the items on the agenda. Marc Rieper knows only too well the dressing room disruption that can be caused by a manager leaving amid a period of success. The big Dane has been both a beneficiary and a victim of much-loved gaffers cutting ties with their clubs suddenly and with drastic consequences. That's why the former Celtic defender reckons the best bit of business the Hoops could do this summer would be to tie Brendan Rodgers down beyond the end of his deal in 12 months' time. Rodgers will sit down with Parkhead supremo Dermot Desmond in the coming weeks and pour over a wide range of topics ahead of the new season. And chief among them is his own situation as he enters the third and final year of his deal. It may be a while off but uncertainty over what happens beyond next May is already reverberating through the fanbase. The longer the issue drags on the more it threatens to become an unwelcome sideshow. Rieper knows that can never be allowed to filter into the dressing room. He felt both sides of it not long after being signed for Celtic from West Ham by Wim Jansen in 1997. Midway through that first season and with Rangers chasing 10-in-a-row, the Ibrox club announced Walter Smith would be leaving at the end of the season. Not only did the Ibrox juggernaught hit the skids as Rangers blew their chance of history, they ended the season empty handed as Jansen's Celts stormed to one of the most important titles in Parkhead history. Yet just 48 hours after securing the championship Jansen dropped the bombshell that he too was off, due to a breakdown in relationship with the club hierarchy. Rieper will never forget the disruption that caused to the squad who would finish the next season empty handed. And it's why he hopes there's an extended deal agreed for Rodgers when the Northern Irishman sits down to chew the fat with Desmond. Rieper said: 'It's always important when you've had a good run and the manager is liked by everyone that you try to stick with him. 'Obviously, that's for them to find out. I'm sure Brendan Rodgers is a popular guy at other clubs as well. 'But it'll be important for Celtic to try and keep the consistency. 'You could see what happened when I played at Celtic in 1997-98. Back then we had Wim and Murdo MacLeod as assistant and suddenly one day after we won the league they decided to quit. 'It just disrupted the whole of the next season. 'We had a togetherness with the team and with the management and in that case there seemed no real reason for him to stop. 'Obviously he had his reasons, but it was something that was really difficult to understand. 'Although we had some good people coming in and Josef Venglos as manager it was really difficult for them to create that togetherness so quickly. 'Even though you try to get a manager that's got the same philosophy and style of play, it's always different. 'So it's very important that you have the consistency and you keep the uncertainty away from the players and fans.' Smith's departure from Rangers that same summer was nowhere near as sudden having been announced in the October. But the effect it had at Ibrox during those eight months was every bit as devastating. Paul Gascoigne left before the end of the season followed by Brian Laudrup. Rieper said: 'Again, that was uncertainty. It wasn't just the manager who left. Some of the players, they sort of thought 'maybe it's time for us to move on as well'. 'That's bound to create uncertainty in the dressing room and with the fans, you don't get as much credit if you perform badly for a game or two. You feel it straight away from the crowd. 'So it's really important that you've got a settled dressing room and a settled management.' Rodgers won't be around forever, of course. But he has given '200 per cent' assurances he won't leave midway through his third term just as he did in his first spell in charge. But with speculation over what could come at the end of the season already in overdrive, the concern is his own situation could become a weekly soap opera. Rieper said: 'Yeah, that can happen. It would have been good to have it sorted by now. But they've both got their reasons why not to do that. 'Hopefully they'll figure something out.' No matter what, Rodgers will be in the hotseat next season and has already set out his targets - primarily to dominate domestically again and be competitive in the Champions League. Rieper was impressed with what he saw of his old club last season. But he reckons the hurt of the Scottish Cup Final defeat to Aberdeen and missing out on the Treble will be fuel to their desire to do even better next year. He said: 'I think they are players who've got that hunger anyway. 'It's difficult but they will definitely try and win everything on a domestic level. Then obviously do well in the Champions League as well. 'That's probably the most important thing for players who've won as much as they have - to do well in Europe. That's massive. 'They've had a really good season. I know they slipped up in the cup final, but still it's a good season. 'When you've won two things and you're a massive favourite to win the third, it's obviously disappointing. 'But it's still a fantastic season, well above par.' Meanwhile, Rieper insists Celtic are in safe hands with Kasper Schmeichel - even if the veteran keeper's best years are in the past. The 38-year-old dropped a clanger in the Scottish Cup Final defeat to Aberdeen. But it was a rare blot on an otherwise impressive season that saw Schmeichel keep 24 clean sheets including six-in-a-row to begin the Premiership season. The 113-times capped Denmark legend's form for the national team saw him harshly criticised in his homeland. But fellow Dane Rieper - who won 61 caps and the majority of them alongside Schmeichel's dad Peter - reckons the former Leicester keeper will prove he's still far from finished next season. He said: 'The best games of his career are probably behind him now. But he's still a top class keeper and he'll be great for Celtic next season as well. 'Kasper has had an unbelievable career, from obviously being in the shadow of his dad to then just making a name for himself. 'He's not played in as big clubs as Peter has. But the way he's performed for the clubs he has and winning the league with Leicester, which is probably one of the biggest achievements in British football history, I think he's had an amazing career. 'You can only just take your hat off for him and be proud of what he's achieved, both in the clubs he's played for and with the Danish national team. He's been tremendous. 'We've got some young talent coming through in Denmark who's eventually going to take over Kasper's spot. 'Is that going to be now or is that going to be in a year's time? I don't know, I think they're all good keepers. 'We've got Filip Jørgensen at Chelsea who's just won the Conference League and who's performed really well. 'We've got a few keepers in Germany who are playing regularly too. But I'm sure there's a few caps left for Kasper.' Denmark and Scotland are vying for a World Cup spot when the qualifiers kick off in September. Steve Clarke takes his side to Copenhagen for the opening match on September 5 before the Danes head to Glasgow for what could be a do-or-die concluding fixture on November 18. Rieper will be at Hampden for that one. But there's no split loyalties when it comes to the outcome. He said: 'Oh it'll be red and white for me! 'It should be a good game, both sides have a lot of quality. It really is hard to tell who will come out on top. 'I'm coming over with a group of people and we're going to have a tour of Celtic Park. So that's going to be good. It's been a couple of years since I last visited.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers' return to the top driven by era-defining trinity of Burke, Lopes and Watts
Shamrock Rovers is a club of contradictions. Four league titles in succession were followed, last season, by the club's best ever European campaign. The Hoops achieved this despite a boardroom in open conflict since co-owner Dermot Desmond questioned the actions of 'some' directors. The situation made Rovers manager Stephen Bradley consider his own future . 'It's draining,' said Bradley in April, 'but over time you learn to manage it and realise what is important – family, health and the football.' Last year's second-place finish on 61 points was Rovers' lowest total since 2017 (excluding the shortened season of 2020). And yet, they banked €6.4 million in Uefa prize money for making it beyond the league phase of the Europa Conference League. READ MORE At the halfway stage in 2024, just before the international break, a six-point gap from eventual champions Shelbourne was extended to nine when Will Jarvis slotted two penalties at Tallaght Stadium as Pico Lopes was dismissed with two yellow cards. Dan Cleary, Trevor Clarke and Josh Honohan all limped off that night and Rovers seemed to be coming apart at the seams. The squad looked old as it faced into the 2025 season. Johnny Kenny's return to Celtic, after a 20-goal loan season, had people questioning Bradley's decision to fast-track a 16-year-old named Michael Noonan. In February, Noonan scored on his debut in a 1-0 win over Molde of Norway, but 10 more appearances failed to yield another goal as the manager's decision-making was put under the microscope. Only Bradley and Rovers' sporting director Stephen McPhail could see the wood for the trees. The Hoops were tracking John McGovern , a prodigious Gaelic footballer from Down, but Dungannon Swifts were not willing to sell the 22-year-old mid-campaign. McGovern finished the season with 20 goals, including a thumping header in the Irish Cup final victory over Cliftonville. 'We could have moved in on other players in the previous window, but we wanted to wait for John,' Bradley revealed this week. 'We really like what he's about.' Roberto 'Pico' Lopes has been a rock at the heart of Shamrock Rovers' defence for several seasons. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho By waiting for McGovern, Rovers took a risk as Noonan shared minutes with veteran forwards Aaron Greene and Rory Gaffney. Despite a combined age of 70, Greene and Gaffney contributed nine goals between them and Noonan has three in the last three victories over Waterford, St Pat's and Derry City. Rovers have gone undefeated since the 3-2 loss to Bohemians on Easter Monday. It got lost in the shock of Rhys Brennan's 96th-minute winner for Bohs, but Noonan scored his first league goal that day – a gliding 40-yard dribble and cool finish. The Rovers academy is producing a stream of talent since Gavin Bazunu was sold to Manchester City in 2019. The imminent sale of 16-year-old Victor Ozhianvuna, potentially to Arsenal, could involve a seven-figure fee. Both Ozhianvuna and Noonan were among the five Hoops named in Colin O'Brien's Republic of Ireland under-17 squad ahead of November's World Cup in Qatar. The kids are flying. However, throughout this decade of groundbreaking success, there have been three constants on the pitch: Lopes, Dylan Watts and Graham Burke. Others made significant contributions, like Dan Cleary and Danny Mandroiu, while Jack Byrne constantly struggled with calf and knee issues. This season, however, Byrne has six assists in eight games, proving that his technical excellence is permanent. But it is Lopes, Watts and Burke who define this Shamrock Rovers era. Galway United's Vincent Borden (right) jumps for a header with Dylan Watts of Shamrock Rovers during a league match this season. Photograph: Evan Logan/Inpho Lopes has been so defensively solid over the past five years that his father's country, Cape Verde, took him to the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Cup. Watts is the midfield glue, playing all 18 matches during the Covid-restricted 2020 title-winning season. He maintained a remarkable level of consistency to be voted the PFAI Players' Player of the Year in 2024. Burke is another ever present. The 31-year-old's silky style covered the wait for McGovern and injury to Mandroiu, with six goals and five assists putting him on course to better 2018, his best statistical season, when he had 16 goals and six assists (numbers that earned him three senior caps). Rovers' return to the top of the Premier Division has them six points clear of Drogheda United while Shelbourne are nine points adrift in sixth. That's an 18-point swing away from Damien Duff's team in 12 months. Bradley has turned the tide at a critical juncture. A domestic cushion is needed ahead of, possibly, eight Conference League qualifiers from early July to late August. Mid-season, Rovers are in fine fettle. The rest have lacked consistency although Drogheda, under Kevin Doherty, backed up their FAI Cup success by showing the value of becoming a fully professional squad. After this stage last season, the Drogs languished in the relegation play-off spot with 15 points. Currently, they are second on 29 points. Moses Dyer, Galway United's New Zealand international, leads the scoring charts on eight goals, one clear of Sligo Rovers teenager Owen Elding. Burke is joined on six by Derry City winger Michael Duffy, Drogheda revelation Warren Davis and the Tottenham Hotspur-bound Mason Melia. Like Noonan, Melia recently found his groove with four goals in four games for St Patrick's Athletic, including a bullet header against Cork City that might become his calling card.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic can REPLACE him as he gives major update on his future
BRENDAN RODGERS insists Celtic would find it easy to replace him. The Hoops boss — out of contract at the end of next season — is expected to have summer talks with major shareholder Dermot Desmond over his future at Celts. 2 Brendan Rodgers has addressed his future Credit: PA 2 Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond Credit: Kenny Ramsay But Rodgers insists his position at the club is no different from any of the players in his squad. He said: 'Having now come through the first spell to the second spell, I know 100 per cent you will lose some of your best players. 'But they can always be replaced, like the manager can be replaced. 'Celtic's in a great moment as a club both on the pitch and off the pitch, and my job is to keep driving the vision forward.' Rodgers insists he's '200 per cent' committed to Celts next season, vowing there's no chance he'll quit before his contract expires. But so far the Northern Irishman has NOT ruled out quitting at the end of next season. In an interview with Sky Sports, filmed before the Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen, Rodgers added: 'I made my promise to be here to ensure that people felt the stability. I just wanted to make sure there were no distractions. 'I'm sure at some point I'll sit with Dermot and the board and have a chat around the future, but we haven't touched on that yet. 'The focus has been purely on being successful this season and then we'll arrive into the summer with real positivity, and I feel that's what's important.' Meanwhile, keeper Scott Bain has departed Parkhead after eight seasons with the champions. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has STRONGER transfer case after final defeat He still had a year left on his contract but he's now left Celts early, with Aberdeen goalie Ross Doohan due to arrive this summer. Bain said: 'I am really sad, of course, to be leaving the club. But I am so thankful, too, for everything the club has given me. 'I have enjoyed my time at Celtic massively, it's been a huge honour to be part of the biggest and best club in the country. 'I would like to thank the gaffer and all the other managers I've worked with, my many team-mates over the years and all the staff. 'I've made some great friends at Celtic and will always support the club in everything it does. 'The Celtic fans are the best around, and I thank them for all the support I have been given.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Cision Canada
20-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Mountain Province Diamonds Announces Voting Results from 2025 Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders
TSX and OTC: MPVD TORONTO and NEW YORK, May 20, 2025 /CNW/ - Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. (" Mountain Province" or the " Company") (TSX and OTC: MPVD) is pleased to announce the results of voting by the shareholders of the Company during the virtual 2025 annual and special meeting of Mountain Province's shareholders (the " Meeting"). A total of 110,077,023 common shares were voted at the Meeting representing 51.92% of the issued and outstanding common shares. The Company received the required shareholder approval under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (" MI 61-101") and under the TSX Company Manual (the " Manual") for the previously announced CAD$33 million working capital facility (the " WCF") with Dunebridge Worldwide Ltd. (" Dunebridge"). Mr. Dermot Desmond, through Vertigol Unlimited Company (" Vertigol"), is the ultimate beneficial holder of 75,446,071 common shares of the Company (the " Vertigol Shares"), representing over 35% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares, and on that basis, a "related party" of the Company under MI 61-101. Dunebridge is also ultimately beneficially owned by Mr. Desmond, and, as an affiliate of Vertigol under Mr. Desmond's common control, a "related party" of the Company under MI 61-101. Accordingly, for the purposes of the shareholder approval of the WCF under MI 61-101, the Vertigol Shares were excluded from the vote. Similarly, the 217,375 common shares registered to Mr. Jonathan Comerford, also a related party of Dunebridge, and accordingly, the Company, under MI 61-101, were excluded from the vote on the WCF in accordance with MI 61-101. For the purposes of the vote on the WCF under the Manual, the Vertigol Shares were excluded from the vote on the WCF in accordance with the Manual on the basis that Vertigol, as a control person of the company, and its affiliates, which includes Dunebridge, is an insider of the company. The definitive terms of the WCF are incorporated into an amended and restated bridge credit facility agreement dated May 13, 2025 (the " A&R Bridge Facility Agreement") with Dunebridge Worldwide Ltd., (" Dunebridge") as administrative agent, security trustee and lender thereunder Having received shareholder approval at the Meeting in respect of the WCF, the Company has drawn down on the balance of the WCF and will use the WCF on a revolving basis in accordance with its terms. Shareholders also elected the following directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders as detailed in the table below: KPMG was also re-appointed as auditor of the Corporation, with remuneration to be fixed by the directors. About Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. Mountain Province is a 49% participant with De Beers in the GK Mine located in Canada's Northwest Territories. The Gahcho Kué joint venture property consists of several kimberlites that are actively being mined, developed, and explored for future development. The Company also controls more than 96,000 hectares of highly prospective mineral claims and leases surrounding the GK Mine that include an indicated mineral resource for the Kelvin kimberlite and inferred mineral resources for the Faraday kimberlites. For further information on Mountain Province Diamonds and to receive news releases by email, visit the Company's website at SOURCE Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Rodgers on Desmond talks & Forrest future
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is to hold talks over his future with major shareholder Dermot Desmond. (Sun), externalRodgers indicates Celtic are ready to strengthen when the summer transfer window opens. (Glasgow Times), externalMeanwhile, the Celtic manager expects winger James Forrest, 33, to play a big role next term. (Scotsman - subscription required), externalRead Sunday's Scottish gossip
