Latest news with #Dodds
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Pub chain Young's sees profits rise by 25 per cent to over £70million
Young's boasts more than 800 hotel rooms as well as 277 pubs and bars CHEERS Pub chain Young's sees profits rise by 25 per cent to over £70million Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PUB and hotel chain Young's is booming because Brits still want traditional boozers, its boss has told The Sun. Simon Dodds trumpeted a 25 per cent profit rise to £71.4million in the last 12 months for the near-200-year-old business. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Young's has seen profits rise to £71.4million in the last 12 months (pictured CEO Simon Dodds) Credit: Times Media Ltd The chief executive said: 'We have unique pubs which are the heart of the community and all our food is fresh and seasonal.' Founded in 1831, Young's boasts more than 800 hotel rooms as well as 277 pubs and bars. Mr Dodds said sticking to traditional ways of serving customers is helping the group to be a rare British hospitality success. He added: 'We're good at running pubs and good at running bedrooms.' Not that the business is living in the past. He went on: 'Our heritage is important but we're not standing still, we invest a lot in our pubs and invest a lot in our people.' He pointed to 80 per cent of its general managers having worked their way up within the firm. It also splashed out £41million in the year to March to keep pubs looking good. Revenue rose 24.9 per cent, from £388.8million to £485.8million. That was helped by an extra 50 pubs and more than 200 hotel rooms from the City Pub Group, which Young's bought for £162million in November 2023. Pint prices on the rise and Maccies axes beloved item Its dividend was also up 6 per cent, with the year's total 23.06p. The boss said: 'Everything within our control is going to plan.' IT'S DOC SMARTIN' PROFITS at British footwear and clothing firm Dr Martens fell to £8.8million in the year to the end of March. It continues the Northampton-based brand's woes since its stock market listing in 2021. 4 Profits at Dr Martens fell to £8.8million in the year to the end of March Credit: PA 4 The business blamed 'a challenging market' Credit: PA Profits dropped around 90 per cent from £93million in 2024, after sales fell 10 per cent in the year. The business blamed 'a challenging market' and warned unfavourable foreign exchange rates would hit sales and profits in the current financial year. It said hard-up Brits are looking for bargains, but it will not discount stock. IT'S A WISE MOVE FINTECH firm Wise is the latest business to ditch the London Stock Market and switch to New York. The £12billion money transfer firm said the move would 'bring substantial strategic and capital market benefits'. It follows a growing number of businesses choosing to list in the US. Paddy Power owner Flutter, mining group BHP, building materials group CRH and construction rental firm Ashtead have all made the change in recent years. Wise's share price climbed 6 per cent on the news. CHECKS IN POST... WATCHDOGS have launched a global crackdown on posts by illegal financial influencers. The UK's Financial Conduct Authority has joined regulators in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Italy and the UAE to tackle rogue promotions. Some social media personalities claim to have lavish lifestyles in videos to flog products or services illegally. Meanwhile, the Treasury Committee wants social media giant Meta to explain why it took up to six weeks to respond to FCA requests to take down dodgy posts. GROUND DOWN FOR WIZZ AIR BUDGET airline Wizz Air said having a fifth of its planes grounded over the last year has hit its profits. It was forced to mothball an average of 44 planes – almost a fifth of its entire fleet — over the year because of issues with the engines, which were made by Pratt & Whitney. 4 Jozsef Varadi, CEO of Wizz Air, who has seen profits fall to £141million Credit: Reuters The US aircraft-maker was forced to pay compensation last year over the grounding of Airbus A320neo planes. Profits for the year at Wizz Air fell two-thirds from £368.7million to £141million. But despite the 'significant challenges' it faced, the Hungarian airline said it was flying more passengers than ever. It carried a record 63.4million during the year, which helped revenues for the group edge up 3.8 per cent. The airline, led by chief exec József Váradi, did not provide a forecast for the year ahead owing to 'uncertainties'. That hit its share price, which dived more than a quarter yesterday. JOBS in construction have been cut at the fastest rate since 2020, but experts say 'the worst may have passed'. The S&P Global construction purchasing managers' index showed activity slowed in May for the fifth consecutive month. NEW CAR SALES UP THE new car market returned to growth last month as registrations increased by 1.6 per cent, figures show. There were some 150,070 new listings — up from 147,678 the year before — and marks the best May performance the market has seen since 2021. Registrations of pure battery- electric new cars rose by a quarter to take a market share of 21.8 per cent. It is partly down to manufacturers offering discounts to boost sales. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Wales Online
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Conference League final host Emma Dodds' sports star partner and clash with Steven Gerrard live on air
Conference League final host Emma Dodds' sports star partner and clash with Steven Gerrard live on air The presenter is fronting TNT Sports' coverage of the Europa Conference League final in Poland tonight Dodds is fronting TNT Sports' coverage of the Europa Conference League final Chelsea have the opportunity to become the first club to win all four major UEFA trophies tonight as they take on Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw, Poland. Enzo Maresca's side ensured they will be playing Champions League football next season after securing a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League on Sunday, but could now end their season with silverware. Victory over Betis will see them make history and become the first team ever to win Conference League, Europa League, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup titles. However, they'll have to overcome a quite remarkable record to emerge victorious, with the last 27 finals across the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League and Europa League/UEFA Cup to feature a Spanish team having had a Spanish winner. TNT Sports will be broadcasting the final in the UK, with pundits including former Chelsea stars Joe Cole and Steve Sidwell, as well as 2023 Conference League winner Michail Antonio. However, fronting the coverage is Scottish presenter Emma Dodds, who has worked for TNT Sports and Premier Sports among others over the course of her career. Here's what you need to know about her life away from the studio. Welsh sports star partner In 2023, Dodds married her long-term partner, Welsh golfer Becky Morgan. The pair tied the knot in a stunning ceremony in Loch Lomond, with the TV presenter describing it as the "best day ever". Dodds and Morgan got engaged in 2020, with the former sharing the happy news on Instagram in September of that year. "Some personal news," she wrote. "After a few months to enjoy this privately with friends and family, I'm beyond thrilled to say @bjmgolf said yes!" A former winner on the Ladies European Tour, Abergavenny-born Morgan has also previously finished in the top 10 of the Women's PGA Championship, while she has placed in the top 15 at the Women's British Open. Dodds revealed she had faced "a lot of challenges" as she opened up about her sexuality in an interview with Sports Media LGBT+ in 2021. Speaking about the importance of LGBT+ visibility in sport and media, she said: "I think it's really important, I honestly do. Some people feel they have to come out and I probably felt I had to do that more than Becky. It took me a lot longer to say publicly who I was. "I'd always gone to great lengths to keep my private life private because I wasn't ready. I think part of that was due to the industry I worked in. "It wasn't a case of making a public announcement, like I know some people do, but if you follow me on social media, you'll know who I am now, and that was after a lot of challenges personally behind the scenes in dealing with my family, and speaking to various people." Dodds added: "For me growing up, there wasn't that visibility. I didn't see people who were like me and I often wonder if I did, would it have taken me so long to come out publicly? I don't think it would have. "I grew up in the countryside in Scotland and although I was into sport, I didn't know of any women who were gay, except for Martina Navratilova who I would look up to. While there were others, I don't feel it was that well known. "I feel now personally that I want to be visible. I'm comfortable with who I am, and I think there's a responsibility for us to the younger generation to show it's OK to be yourself, especially in certain industries." Social media ban Dodds has admitted that while her wife can be affected by social media criticism, she has learned to let it go. However, she has also confessed to enforcing a social media ban in her house. "I will take critique from people who I value, people I work with, people I work for, my loved ones," she told Mail Sport last year. "Becky used to put my name into Twitter, and be, like, 'Oh my God, did you see that? 'So, we've now got a ban on it in the house. Who cares?" But Dodds has also admitted that she finds one particular criticism aimed at her "a little disrespectful". Having grown up as a Rangers supporter, the presenter - who has worked on countless games involving the Scottish side - says she is accused of bias by opposition fans, which she finds totally unfair. "They question my neutrality all the time and I find that a little disrespectful," she said. "We all grew up supporting someone, which is why we are in the job. '(Eilidh) Barbour supports St Johnstone, but it's not questioned. Laura Woods is a massive Arsenal fan. Jake (Humphrey) is a Norwich fan. Lynsey (Hipgrave) is a Newcastle fan, Jules (Breach) is a Brighton fan. It's a West of Scotland thing, for sure. "I get a bit of stick at the stadiums occasionally, but it doesn't bother me at all," she added. "I'd be the first to ask a difficult question about Rangers. I genuinely don't really care what people say, so long as I feel that I've done a good job." Clash with football legend In 2021, Dodds was at the centre of controversy when her line of questioning irked then-Rangers boss Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool legend had been persistently linked with taking over at Newcastle United, but when he was quizzed on the rumours following his side's Europa League win over Brondby in October of that year, he hit back at Dodds' questions. 'Do I look happy?," he replied." Do I look settled? Don't ask silly questions then.' Gerrard - who a few weeks later left Rangers to become Aston Villa manager - soon came under fire for his response, leaving Dodds surprised as she insisted there was no hard feelings about the clash. 'I was absolutely amazed by the backlash that it received," she told the Old Firm Facts Podcast "There were so many people saying that he was out of order, it was disrespectful, it was terrible. 'I was actually quite surprised with that because I wasn't offended at the time and the more I was reading people's comments I was thinking, 'gosh, people are really upset by this.' "Subsequently his departure maybe put a bit of salt into the wounds on that one and maybe made him look a bit foolish in that he could have answered the question without saying 'don't ask silly questions, of course he could of. But there have been things in the past where he had little quips and little answers and it's never felt like I have been disrespected. Article continues below 'I was more surprised by the backlash afterwards. Him leaving ultimately proved my point." Dodds added: 'I did find it quite interesting that people were quite defensive of me, almost standing up for me and the outrage. I'm always grateful for it because social media can be a ruthless place at times. 'It was unnecessary, he didn't have to say it like that. He did, and I wasn't offended by it. I think we all saw how the story unfolded and who ended up looking like what so I will just leave it at that.'
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Formula E CEO says Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton wouldn't instantly win races as SunSport goes behind the scenes
JEFF DODDS says Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton would struggle to win races in Formula E right away. Dodds is the CEO of the radical motor sport series paving the way for the future, with cars all powered by electricity. 4 This season's FE cars are now accelerating to 100 kilometres in 1.8 seconds, which is 30 per cent faster than F1 cars 4 Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds says within five-years FE cars will be beating F1 cars around Monaco 4 Four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen could one day dip his toes in Formula E 4 Germany's Maximilian Gunther won in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this season SunSport's F1 reporter Isabelle Barker went behind-the-scenes at the double-header in Tokyo this weekend to see what the series is all about. In an exclusive interview with SunSport, Dodds says 'never say never' to four-time world F1 champion Verstappen one day burning rubber in an electric car. When asked if Hamilton or Verstappen would have instant success in the series, he said: 'I'm almost sure they wouldn't because driving the cars are different. 'It isn't a natural translation from driving a petrol car, a combustion car, to driving an electric car. READ MORE IN SPORT 'HE'LL BE A BIG LOSS' Tearful Martinez waves goodbye to fans after Villa's final home game 'We have to regenerate our battery, so we're braking and slowing to put power back into the battery. They accelerate differently, the gearing is different.' Dodds is good pals with Red Bull driver Verstappen, who has made it clear that he wants to dip his toes in other areas of motor racing in the future. The Dutchman recently used a fake name of 'Franz Hermann' to shatter the Nurburgring lap record in a Ferrari. Dodds added: 'I know Max, I'm a massive fan of Max. He's a generational talent. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "If Max came across and stuck at it for a few years, I think there's a very good chance he'd be the best Formula E driver ever. 'But he wouldn't show up and be the best Formula E driver ever instantly. Sergio Aguero takes up new sport aged 36 and Man City legend will compete against Brooklyn Beckham 'There's too many of the most talented drivers in the world that have been racing these cars for years. 'Max and I have spoken a few times. I had a bet on Max last year, which was pretty well publicised that he would win the title. 'It came through but he and I decided to give the money in equal parts to his charity. 'Max just loves to race, anything with an engine, motor or even sim racing. 'He loves to race, he loves to win, he's a generational talent. He's being paid an awful lot of money to race in F1. "He's unlikely to give up his chance at becoming an eight time world champion and that money simply to go and try something else. 'The only thing I would say with Max is, never say never because he doesn't follow the rules. 'If anyone was going to say, 'hey, screw this, I just want to go and try something else' it could be Max. He's very much his own man.' HORSE-POWER Ex F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has been heavily critical of FE and once described the cars as "lawnmowers". This season's cars are now accelerating to 100 kilometres in 1.8 seconds, which is 30 per cent faster than F1 cars. The series obviously has sustainability and location on its side with races held in some of the world's most breathtaking cities from Mexico City to Tokyo, London, Monaco and more. For a UK motor sport fan the cost of a FE weekend is enough to lure you in, with a grandstand pass for a double-header weekend in Berlin at just £104, for example. Or you can bag a one day grandstand ticket with a hotel included from £100 - £124 depending on the Saturday or Sunday race day. To put that into perspective with F1, a grandstand weekend ticket at Silverstone can cost a whopping £309 to £909. CAN HEAR A PIN DROP The elephant in the room though and of the greatest traits that sets F1 apart from other sports is the ear-piercing sounds of V12 and V10 engines. Which makes the sound, or lack thereof in electric cars a hot topic in FE and something die-hard motor sport fans continue to scoff at. But the old-school, predominantly male fan-base is not the market which FE is targeting, with half of the fan base being women. The sound is similar to a high-pitched whirring noise and there are benefits to the quieter atmosphere. Races are able to take place sometimes smack bang in the middle of the world's best cities. You can also hear every crunch and clank when the cars collide, which makes crashes all the more dramatic. And there have been plenty of crashes at that, just not fiery ones due to the lack of fuel. Also the prime locations mean for a race like Tokyo you can hop on the subway and travel just a few stops to the Big Sight centre where the race is held. F1 fans may be haunted with flashbacks to sitting in hours of traffic en route to Silverstone or Spa in the peeing down rain for the Belgian Grand Prix. NEW AUDIENCE Dodds said: 'We have about 400 million fans around the world. Half of them male, half of them female. "That's very unusual for motor sport, and half of them are under the age of 40. 'The reason we attract a slightly different audience is because we don't bring all of that tradition and history that comes with maybe F1 or Indy car. 'The cars are ridiculously fast. The quality of racing is very high impact, very wheel-to-wheel. 'It's all thrills, all spills. There's an enormous amount of activity you can go and do, music concerts. 'It's family day out but the quality of racing that underpins it is absolutely top class. 'You can hear each other speak. You don't get drowned out or burst your eardrums." GREEN FLAG One thing that makes you sit up and take note is that the entire FE paddock, including all the teams, for the whole season is less than the emissions for one whole F1 team for a season. There are typically no pit stops, because the drivers don't change tyres, for the sake of sustainability. The tyres are are all-weather for sustainability reasons so need to perform on sizzling hot tracks like Jakarta as well as street tracks and in the rain. Race teams only bring with them two sets for a single header while F1 teams can take around 12-13 different sets for a weekend. Dodds added: "Everything we do is zero emission. So not only do you get to watch an amazing race, you get to look in the mirror and feel good about it.' STAR STUDDED LINE UP Currently the most well known name in the series is former F1 driver Nyck de Vries who competed for Williams and Alpha Tauri. But the series has attracted the likes of Hamilton's former Mercedes teammate turned rival Nico Rosberg, Dodds added: 'I'm not sure if Lewis Hamilton retires and then decides he wants to come and do a couple of seasons in Formula E. 'It might bring Lewis Hamilton fans to come and have a look. I don't think it's transformative for our sport.' There is one more season of the current car but next year the series' new car will be launched which is set to have twice the power. Dodds added: 'I'm very confident that within five years, around Monaco, our cars will be beating F1 cars. 'That might not translate immediately to more popularity because I don't think you can just rewrite history. 'You can't erase, and neither should we, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost and Emerson Fittipaldi. "You can't erase McLaren and Mercedes' history in F1, there's a legacy that comes with that and so it should, but our technology will surpass it, there's no question about it.'
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Formula E CEO says Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton wouldn't instantly win races as SunSport goes behind the scenes
JEFF DODDS says Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton would struggle to win races in Formula E right away. Dodds is the CEO of the radical motor sport series paving the way for the future, with cars all powered by electricity. Advertisement 4 This season's FE cars are now accelerating to 100 kilometres in 1.8 seconds, which is 30 per cent faster than F1 cars 4 Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds says within five-years FE cars will be beating F1 cars around Monaco 4 Four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen could one day dip his toes in Formula E 4 Germany's Maximilian Gunther won in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this season SunSport's F1 reporter Isabelle Barker went behind-the-scenes at the double-header in Tokyo this weekend to see what the series is all about. In an exclusive interview with SunSport, Dodds says 'never say never' to four-time world F1 champion Verstappen one day burning rubber in an electric car. When asked if Hamilton or Verstappen would have instant success in the series, he said: 'I'm almost sure they wouldn't because driving the cars are different. 'It isn't a natural translation from driving a petrol car, a combustion car, to driving an electric car. Advertisement READ MORE IN SPORT 'We have to regenerate our battery, so we're braking and slowing to put power back into the battery. They accelerate differently, the gearing is different.' Dodds is good pals with Red Bull driver Verstappen, Dodds added: 'I know Max, I'm a massive fan of Max. He's a generational talent. Advertisement Most read in Motorsport BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "If Max came across and stuck at it for a few years, I think there's a very good chance he'd be the best Formula E driver ever. 'But he wouldn't show up and be the best Formula E driver ever instantly. Sergio Aguero takes up new sport aged 36 and Man City legend will compete against Brooklyn Beckham 'There's too many of the most talented drivers in the world that have been racing these cars for years. Advertisement 'Max and I have spoken a few times. I had a bet on Max last year, which was pretty well publicised that he would win the title. 'It came through but he and I decided to give the money in equal parts to his charity. 'Max just loves to race, anything with an engine, motor or even sim racing. 'He loves to race, he loves to win, he's a generational talent. He's being paid an awful lot of money to race in F1. Advertisement "He's unlikely to give up his chance at becoming an eight time world champion and that money simply to go and try something else. 'The only thing I would say with Max is, never say never because he doesn't follow the rules. 'If anyone was going to say, 'hey, screw this, I just want to go and try something else' it could be Max. He's very much his own man.' HORSE-POWER Ex F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has been heavily critical of FE and once described the cars as "lawnmowers". Advertisement This season's cars are now accelerating to 100 kilometres in 1.8 seconds, which is 30 per cent faster than F1 cars. The series obviously has sustainability and location on its side with races held in some of the world's most breathtaking cities from Mexico City to Tokyo, London, Monaco and more. For a UK motor sport fan the cost of a FE weekend is enough to lure you in, with a grandstand pass for a double-header weekend in Berlin at just £104, for example. Or you can bag a one day grandstand ticket with a hotel included from £100 - £124 depending on the Saturday or Sunday race day. Advertisement To put that into perspective with F1, a grandstand weekend ticket at CAN HEAR A PIN DROP The elephant in the room though and of the greatest traits that sets F1 apart from other sports is the ear-piercing sounds of V12 and V10 engines. Which makes the sound, or lack thereof in electric cars a hot topic in FE and something die-hard motor sport fans continue to scoff at. But the old-school, predominantly male fan-base is not the market which FE is targeting, with half of the fan base being women. Advertisement The sound is similar to a high-pitched whirring noise and there are benefits to the quieter atmosphere. Races are able to take place sometimes smack bang in the middle of the world's best cities. You can also hear every crunch and clank when the cars collide, which makes crashes all the more dramatic. And there have been plenty of crashes at that, just not fiery ones due to the lack of fuel. Advertisement Also the prime locations mean for a race like Tokyo you can hop on the subway and travel just a few stops to the Big Sight centre where the race is held. F1 fans may be haunted with flashbacks to sitting in hours of traffic en route to Silverstone or Spa in the peeing down rain for the Belgian Grand Prix. NEW AUDIENCE Dodds said: 'We have about 400 million fans around the world. Half of them male, half of them female. "That's very unusual for motor sport, and half of them are under the age of 40. Advertisement 'The reason we attract a slightly different audience is because we don't bring all of that tradition and history that comes with maybe F1 or Indy car. 'The cars are ridiculously fast. The quality of racing is very high impact, very wheel-to-wheel. 'It's all thrills, all spills. There's an enormous amount of activity you can go and do, music concerts. 'It's family day out but the quality of racing that underpins it is absolutely top class. Advertisement 'You can hear each other speak. You don't get drowned out or burst your eardrums." GREEN FLAG One thing that makes you sit up and take note is that the entire FE paddock, including all the teams, for the whole season is less than the emissions for one whole F1 team for a season. There are typically no pit stops, because the drivers don't change tyres, for the sake of sustainability. The tyres are are all-weather for sustainability reasons so need to perform on sizzling hot tracks like Jakarta as well as street tracks and in the rain. Advertisement Race teams only bring with them two sets for a single header while F1 teams can take around 12-13 different sets for a weekend. Dodds added: "Everything we do is zero emission. So not only do you get to watch an amazing race, you get to look in the mirror and feel good about it.' STAR STUDDED LINE UP Currently the most well known name in the series is former F1 driver Nyck de Vries who competed for Williams and Alpha Tauri. But the series has attracted the likes of Hamilton's former Mercedes teammate turned rival Nico Rosberg, Advertisement Dodds added: 'I'm not sure if Lewis Hamilton retires and then decides he wants to come and do a couple of seasons in Formula E. 'It might bring Lewis Hamilton fans to come and have a look. I don't think it's transformative for our sport.' There is one more season of the current car but next year the series' new car will be launched which is set to have twice the power. Dodds added: 'I'm very confident that within five years, around Monaco, our cars will be beating F1 cars. Advertisement 'That might not translate immediately to more popularity because I don't think you can just rewrite history. 'You can't erase, and neither should we, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost and Emerson Fittipaldi. "You can't erase McLaren and Mercedes' history in F1, there's a legacy that comes with that and so it should, but our technology will surpass it, there's no question about it.'
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Both sides defended well' - Dodds on Charlton draw
Wycombe manager Mike Dodds says he cannot criticise his players for failing to break Charlton down in the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final at Adams sides played out a goalless draw on Sunday and will meet again at The Valley on admitted he expected a tight game and said both sides deserved credit for their defensive resilience."The game panned out exactly how I thought," he told BBC Three Counties Radio. "I was hoping for a moment of quality from someone on the pitch. We've got some quality, particularly in the front half of the pitch."That is not me having a go at anyone. You've got to give the opposition credit, they defended really well. Their backline dealt with our movements in trying to get in behind quicker."We defended really well and cancelled them out. I can't criticise our players."Dodds warned his players not to be concerned by a tough environment in the away leg and said they should focus on how they approach the game."I just said to the players, the style won't change but the occasion will be different. We have to separate the two and concentrate on the style instead of the atmosphere," he said.
