Latest news with #EnglishChampionship
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Kilmarnock provide player update as new boss Stuart Kettlewell looks to build squad
The club confirmed their out of contract players - but talks are still ongoing with many Kilmarnock have provided an update on their playing squad following the end of the 2024/25 season. New gaffer Stuart Kettlewell earlier confirmed that he'd spoken to all players, both in and out of contract, as he looks to get his squad sorted for the new campaign. A total of 12 players have expiring contracts, but the club haven't confirmed which players, if any, are in discussions over a new deal. Skipper Kyle Vassell had verbally agreed a new contract under previous boss Derek McInnes, while Bobby Wales is set to join English Championship side Swansea City and fellow striker Innes Cameron has joined Barrow. Other notable players who have reached the end of their deals are Player of the Year Joe Wright and Players' Player of the Year Fraser Murray. Killie also confirmed that 26 players are under contract for next term, although that features several youth team players who have yet to feature for the senior squad. The club statement said: "Kilmarnock Football Club wish to share a first-team squad update following the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign. "Following the appointment of new manager Stuart Kettlewell, we are now in a position to confirm these decisions. The club would like to thank each of the departing squad members for the role they have played and wish them the best of luck for the future. "FULL SUMMARY: Contract expiring: Aidan Glavin, Kieran O'Hara, Aaron Brown, Gary Mackay-Steven, Bobby Wales, Innes Cameron, Kyle Magennis, Joe Wright, Liam Donnelly, Fraser Murray, Danny Armstrong, Kyle Vassell. "Returning to parent clubs: Tom Wilson-Brown, Calvin Ramsay, Stuart Findlay. "Remaining under contract: Robby McCrorie, Ben Brannan, Corrie Ndaba, Lewis Mayo, Robbie Deas, Matty Kennedy, David Watson, Liam Polworth, Brad Lyons, Rory McKenzie, Bruce Anderson, Marley Watkins, Cole Burke, Archie Traynor, Ethan Mersey, Ruari Ellis, Kian Leslie, Ethan Brown, Zander Craik, Corey Armour, Dylan Brown, Grant Marchant, Euan Bowie, Reuben Cooper, Samuel Duruh, Duncan Barlow. "Conversations are ongoing with a number of players and with the 2025/26 transfer window due to open 12th June 2025, Fan's should expect updates in due course."
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
Celtic flop 'expected' to leave EPL club as ex-winger is released
The central defender joined the Parkhead outfit in the summer of 2023 on an initial six-month loan. Phillips' tenure in Glasgow's east end ultimately didn't go to plan, as he played just eight times in all competitions. Read more: The 28-year-old promptly returned to Anfield, although he is now expected to leave Liverpool this summer, claims The Athletic. Phillips spent last season on loan at Derby County in the English Championship, although it remains to be seen where he may end up come the beginning of the 2025/26 campaign. News of his potential exit comes shortly after ex-Celtic winger Gary Mackay-Steven was released by Kilmarnock. The Rugby Park club recently provided a squad update following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season. Mackay-Steven was named as one of 15 players whose contracts are expiring and are set to depart. The wide man played 62 times in the green and white of Celtic in a two-and-a-half-year spell at the club after joining, alongside Stuart Armstrong, from Dundee United in 2015. Elsewhere, Rennes are said to have held positive talks with Brentford over the sale of Kyogo Furuhashi. It was reported earlier this month that Kyogo is 'expected' to leave the French club, with Bournemouth interested in finding out the terms of a potential transfer. Now, a new team from England's top flight has emerged in the race in the form of Brentford. Indeed, reports from Le Parisien [via RecordSport] claim that Rennes have held 'positive' talks with the London club regarding a potential deal. Thomas Frank's side finished 10th in the Premier League last season.
The National
2 days ago
- General
- The National
Angus Gunn on his hurt at his Norwich City exit and his next move
Scotland goalkeeper Gunn wasn't offered a contract extension by the English Championship outfit, who he joined back in 2021, when the 2024/25 campaign ended last month. However, the 27-year-old is only concerned with finding a new club and ensuring that he is playing regularly by the time the World Cup qualifiers, which get underway in September with a double header against Denmark and Belarus away, come around. Read more: 'I'm over it,' he said. 'It was only something that I felt personally they could have handled better. Ultimately, I think the decision was probably the right one from both sides for me to move on and go somewhere else in my career. 'I think it's always a good opportunity to come away with the national team. Obviously, in my position, I'm really excited for what's to come. It's a good chance for me to get some more caps under my belt and stay fit as well. 'The transfer window has just opened, so that's just started. There are a few conversations happening, but I don't want to rush into anything. First and foremost, I want to come away and focus on this camp first. Then, I think after that, decisions will be made. 'I'm really determined (to get a club and stay in the Scotland team). Obviously, it's definitely a big factor that there's a qualifying campaign coming up for the World Cup in America. That's definitely a big focus for me. It's something that will be in the back of my mind when I make the decision. That's definitely in my thinking. 'There's a lot of factors. Obviously, I'm a bit older now, a bit more experienced and I know the game. I've got a young family as well and I want to look after them. At the same time, I've got aspirations in my career and the World Cup is definitely one of them. To reach that would definitely be the pinnacle. 'There's many different things going through my head. It's such an important decision. That's definitely one of them. Obviously, as a player, I've played in the European Championships now, but I've never played in a World Cup. So, yes, that will be pretty special.' (Image: Andrew Milligan) Asked if he would consider a move to a club in Scotland, Gunn said, "Like I said, I'm open to moving anywhere really, anywhere I feel that fits me and my ambition. So, yes, anywhere.' The 15-times capped 27-year-old has been delighted to see his Scotland team mates enjoy success on the continent this season – Lewis Ferguson captain Bologna to victory in the Coppa Italia and Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay helped Napoli to win Serie A – and he refused to rule out going abroad. 'It helps Scotland having so many title and trophy winners in the squad,' he said. 'In the past, it's probably only been Robbo [Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson] who's come into the squad, having won a trophy outside Scotland. But there's quite a few guys now, obviously Fergie, Scotty and Billy over in Italy. 'They've done amazingly well and it just gives confidence to the rest of the lads that we've got players like that in our squad. Hopefully, we can use that to our advantage and hopefully we can take the nation to another major tournament. "I'm open to anything. I'm open to going anywhere that I think is a good fit for me. Even before they won trophies and had success over there, I would have said that and nothing's changed in my mind. It's definitely something that I've got in my head.' Read more: Gunn feels the matches against Iceland at Hampden on Friday night and Liechtenstein away in Vaduz on Monday evening are hugely important for Scotland ahead of their World Cup qualifying campaign. 'I think it helps us having these matches,' he said. 'In the last qualifying campaign, we'd done a lot of the work early. So that was something that we can learn from and try and start fast when the first game comes around. 'Obviously, there's other teams in the group that are going to have the same aspirations as us. So it's not always simple. But, like I said if we can start fast in the group and try and get some points on the board, that will be a positive for us.'
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Risky Rangers appointment Russell Martin starts on back foot
At best, these appointments have inspired the odd 'well, let's see how he does.' Mostly though, they have sent their fanbases into tailspins of despair six weeks or so before a ball is even kicked in anger. (Image: SNS Group Paul Devlin) Every appointment is a gamble of sorts, of course. But there are degrees of risk. These decisions could be spun as brave calls, as the leadership at these clubs choose a direction of travel and press ahead no matter the prevailing winds of public opinion. Or, in the words of a sage man once of this parish - the dogs bark, and the caravan keeps moving. As the bold Pedro found out to his cost though, with such brave calls can come grave consequences, and a short rope should things not get off to the best of starts. Read more: At Ibrox, given the buoyancy still present due to the recent takeover and the good feeling towards the new owners, there may have been an argument that there would be a longer period of grace for the incoming manager than might usually be the case. But for Martin, who hasn't so much split opinion as unified it against his appointment, that seems unlikely. This is also the first major call that the club's new leadership have made, and so will be the first opportunity for them and their decision-making to be judged by the Rangers fanbase. They will no doubt have done their due diligence and believe he is the right man to spearhead this new era at Ibrox, but it is hard to shake the feeling that not only will Martin start on the back foot because of fan opinion, but that this news has taken a little of the wind out of Rangers sails just as the support were whipping themselves into a frenzy about the future. Playing devil's advocate though, while Martin might not be the sexiest name, and while his record at Southampton last season was also extremely underwhelming, with one win and two draws from his 13 matches before he got the bullet, you can also at least see some logic behind the choice when compared to the other runners and riders. Is Martin, for instance, with over 250 games under his belt as a manager with MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton, any more of a risk than Davide Ancelotti, with a grand total of none? And has Steven Gerrard's record since leaving Rangers (or much of his record while at the club) offered any sort of evidence that he would be a success a second time around? I would argue no, on both counts. And until last season as he led a Southampton team that clearly wasn't up to the level into the English Premier League, Martin's record at St Mary's was actually pretty good. He is hardly the first manager to have built a side that works it's way out of the English Championship but is not quite up to the EPL, and he won't be the last, but while he copped flak for being dogmatic in sticking to his principles, the style he implemented with the Saints could in fact translate well into the different context he is coming into at Rangers. I wonder how much of the negative reaction from the Rangers support is driven by Martin's disappointing stint at Ibrox as a player, rather than a cold assessment of his time in the dugout. He was poor in Glasgow on the pitch, yes, but the shambolic state of Rangers at the time surely offers at least some mitigation. More pertinently, there are admittedly some more understandable red flags though when it comes to his oft referenced 'attacking' style of play. For every mention of his high-pressing, expansive approach, there is also the caveat that his priority is to hog possession. Which is all well and good, but if the Rangers fans wanted to watch their team endlessly pass the ball to one another in front of a low block with little idea of how to penetrate it, then Philippe Clement would still be in a job. Whether Martin will ultimately be a success at Rangers, as with any managerial appointment, only time will tell. The only thing that his selection tells us unequivocally is that the new men in the Rangers boardroom are quite prepared to make unpopular decisions if they feel it is in the best long-term interests of the club. (Image: SNS Group) As I said, a bold strategy, and as with all such calls, the reward or the failure will likely be spectacular. This appointment could solidify Andrew Cavenagh, Paraag Marathe, Kevin Thelwell and Dan Purdy's credentials as the crack team who are finally destined to end this long period for Rangers in Celtic's shadow, or it could very well tarnish their reputations right out of the gate. What they must do, and this will fall on sporting director Thelwell and technical director Purdy, is provide the players that Martin needs to implement his preferred style properly, and at least give their man a fighting chance. Because with the current squad, I just don't see it. The coming weeks, and their recruitment, could well be even bigger and more consequential for Rangers than their controversial decision to plump for Martin as the man in the dugout. Now, does anyone have the odds on Hamilton Accies hero Dougie Imrie becoming the new Motherwell manager?
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
Dealing with Southampton heat showed Russell Martin can hack Rangers
The Scotland goalkeeper, though, insisted he couldn't recollect that fateful moment in an English Championship match against Fulham at Craven Cottage eight years ago when he spoke to the media at Hampden yesterday. "I remember my debut,' he said following a national team training session at Lesser Hampden ahead of the friendly international against Iceland in Mount Florida on Friday night. 'But I can't remember him scoring against me, no. Did he? We won't mention that, because he's a good guy.' Yet, Gunn had no problem recalling what a fine footballer, inspirational leader and cerebral thinker on the game Martin, who had just been tipped to take over as manager at Rangers when he arrived at his press conference, was when they had played together at Carrow Road at the start of his professional career. The difficulties which Norwich experienced against the Swansea City and Southampton sides the former Scotland centre-half managed were also fresh in his mind. Read more: Opinion about the man who led the St Mary's Stadium outfit back into the Premier League via the end-of-season play-offs last year was sharply divided among fans of the Glasgow club. Many admitted they would have preferred Davide Ancelotti, Francesco Farioli or Steven Gerrard to succeed Philippe Clement. But Gunn was adamant that appointing Martin, who was sacked back in December following a disappointing run of results in the English top flight, would be no own goal by Rangers. 'It's hard to compare a promoted team going into the Premier League with a team like Rangers going into European games,' he said. 'But I think he showed what he can do as a manager, not only with Southampton but with Swansea as well. He took a team that wasn't expected to do much quite far into the Championship as well. 'I think it will be a positive thing for Rangers. But, obviously, the only thing that can bring those supporters round is probably him getting in the door and starting well. That's the only thing that can happen. "But Southampton were a tough team. We had a couple of good games against them. We saw the evolution of their team throughout the season. I think when we first played them, they were quite open. Then, when we played them again, they were a little bit more pragmatic. 'I think that shows a coach that can adapt and change the way his team plays. Watching his teams over the few years that he was there, I thought he did that. Even though some people probably said he was reluctant to change, I thought he did that quite well, especially in the Championship anyway. (Image: Andrew Matthews) "It is a difficult league to get out of. We had the pressure of them coming down as well. A lot of the teams find it quite hard. I was there at Southampton previously and I felt it. There was a lot of pressure on him and the team and he managed to deliver. 'I don't know if he's going to go to Rangers or not, but obviously he had a spell there as a player so he kind of knows the club a little bit. I think it would be a really good thing for the Rangers, to be fair.' Gunn always suspected that Martin, whose partner is former glamour model Lucy Pinder, who is a former member of the Green Party, who is a proponent of Buddhism and who is a vegan, was destined to move into management and his success with MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton in the past six years has not surprised him. 'I only worked with him as a player at Norwich,' he said. 'But he's a very intellectual guy. I went in there as a young goalkeeper and he helped me massively, even though he wasn't in the team every week and playing regularly. He was the captain of the club and he had good relationships with everyone in the dressing room. 'There were a few other players in that dressing room who were like that,' he said. 'Steven Naismith was there as well. But you can definitely tell on the pitch when you're playing with players who are going to go into management. They kind of start coaching whilst they're still playing, if you like, sort of organising on the pitch. Read more: 'He was one of them. But Russell wasn't just on the pitch, he was off the pitch as well, where he had close relationships with everyone. Even though, I wasn't a regular playing in the team, he was always on hand and always upbeat and a good person to go to. 'I watch him now on the television and can see the way he wants teams to play football and what his philosophy is. I really hope whatever he goes on to in his career is successful.' Gunn, who was released by Norwich at the end of last season, is eager to put a difficult season firmly behind him and is looking forward to featuring in both of the Scotland friendlies in the coming days and performing well for his country. 'The injuries have probably been the most challenging thing to me because I've not been injured too much in my career,' he said. 'Sometimes that's hard to deal with if you're not used to it. But I thought I dealt with it quite well. I came back, tried to come back stronger. 'Obviously, it's a different stage of my career now. I'm getting a little bit older and every year is different. From my point of view, I don't really look too much into the past. I'm more excited for the future.'
