Latest news with #ExeterCity
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Veteran NI striker insists he will not play ‘victim' as he aims to win back his international place
The experienced Euro 2016 hero remains out in the cold for the friendlies against Denmark and Iceland in June. Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill wants to look at other forward options such as Dion Charles, Lee Bonis, Dale Taylor and Ronan Hale. Magennis, who has impressed with Exeter City, turns 35 in August and now faces a fight to add to his 82 caps. 'It was a hard one to take, obviously, I'm not going to lie,' said the former Aberdeen man. 'Michael's the manager and it's his rationale and his thought process. As much as I didn't agree with it and it took me a couple of days to come round, I could understand it because eventually I'm going to hopefully, God willing, be a manager or a coach. 'It's a coach's job to always make the team better. If Michael thought that by seeing other players playing friendlies before we went into the World Cup, because the World Cup is what really matters, then he's every right to do so. 'So, I had to reframe my thought process in terms of getting away from the victim mentality. I never wanted that to happen. Football is an ever-evolving game. 'It doesn't wait around for anyone. So, my thought process quickly went from feeling that I should be in the squad to why am I not in the squad to, well, you've just got to get back to work.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Magennis still has 'a lot to offer' Northern Ireland
Experienced striker Josh Magennis is targeting a Northern Ireland return, admitting he can "never be comfortable" with being left out of a squad. Manager Michael O'Neill omitted the 34-year-old frontman from March's friendlies to assess new forward options, but said the door would remain open for surgery has ruled Magennis out of June's games with Denmark and Iceland. but the Exeter City forward is aiming for a return when World Cup qualifying begins in September."You can never be comfortable being left out of a squad," said Magennis, who has 12 goals in 82 Northern Ireland caps. "That's your own selfish ego, but you have to try and see the bigger picture. "Similar happened to me when I came into the squad, when Michael wanted to see me but there were other players before me and he knew what they could do."Magennis added that he still "has got a lot to offer" his country after scoring 12 goals in all competitions for League One side Exeter during the 2024-25 season."It's up to me to continue to perform and keep my head down, and be ready to go whenever that opportunity comes again," Magennis added."I still feel like I've got a lot to offer. I feel like I'm progressing and doing well, so I'm not slowing down any time soon."While recovering from surgery, Magennis is working on his coaching badges with the Irish FA and says "it's a passion that I've got" when his playing career comes to a close."I'll continue to play as long as I possibly can. I'm still enjoying playing football, but unfortunately in every dream you have to wake up and for me that's getting closer and closer as the seasons go on. "It's a passion I've got now to understand the game, learn the game and develop players as much as I can."
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Exeter unhappy as Watts turns down contract offer
Exeter City have criticised Caleb Watts' decision to turn down a new contract with the League One 23-year-old midfielder has agreed terms with a rival club having been a free agent this who has suffered a number of injuries over the course of his two-season spell at St James Park, scored five goals in 48 games in all competitions."The dedication of the club's coaching and medical departments, who worked tirelessly on his fitness, enabled Watts to play over 1500 minutes this season, which is the most in his senior career so far," an Exeter City statement read."While we understand this is an offer Caleb could not refuse, we are disappointed he has decided not to repay the commitment and faith shown to him during his time at the club."Watts signed a succession of short-term deals after first joining the club from Southampton in the summer of 2023 and scored twice in the final four games of this season."As a supporter-owned club with a unique and sustainable model, we take great pride in consistently competing at this level despite operating with one of the smallest budgets in the division," Exeter City's statement added."We were unable to come close to matching the financial terms offered to Caleb by another club."
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Striker Reid extends contract with Stevenage
Stevenage striker Jamie Reid has agreed an "improved and extended" contract with the League One 30-year-old scored nine goals in 49 appearances this season as Boro finished 14th in the table under boss Alex first joined the club from Mansfield Town in the summer of 2021 following spells at Exeter City and Torquay has 55 goals in 197 games for Stevenage and is seventh on their all-time scorers' list.
Scotsman
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
'His ceiling is huge' - Rangers lose 21 y/o starlet as ex-Celtic man admits amazement over Ibrox swoop
Michael Beale gave debut to 'player with promise' Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... Rangers have confirmed the permanent departure of youngster Johnly Yfeko in a move that has left his new club boss amazed that the deal was sanctioned. The 21-year-old, who can play left-back and centre-back, joined the Ibrox club in the summer of 2022 after being released by Leicester City. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He featured mainly in the Rangers B team before being handed a first-team debut by former manager Michael Beale in August 2023, starting against Morton in the the last 16 of the League Cup. Johnly Yfeko in action for Rangers during a League Cup match against Greenock Morton at Ibrox on August 19, 2023. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group Yfeko played the full 90 minutes at left-back as Rangers came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over the Championship side. It came after the youngster had been promoted into the first-team squad during pre-season, featuring in a 2-1 friendly win over Hamburg at Ibrox, after which Beale described him as "player of promise". 'He's in my thoughts for a first-team place, but so is Bailey Rice and Zach Lovelace,' said Beale. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But I think Johnly has been the big smile of pre-season. That's a really big part of my belief, my staff believe in terms of developing young players. It's a tough old club to play for sometimes so we got to get that right. 'But I think Big Johnly has done well again and it's lovely to see when you have a young players come in, you can see the energy. He's not there, he's got some work to do, but I think we might have a good player. 'He missed probably four months of last season with a hamstring problem. But he's a player with promise.' His appearance against Morton remained his one and only first team outing with the Englishman joining League One side Exeter City last summer on a season-long loan with an option to buy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Yfeko has made 13 appearances for the Grecians, who are managed by former Celtic, Hibs and Scotland defender Gary Caldwell, in what has been an injury-hit spell at St James Park. However, the player impressed in his short time on the pitch and Exeter have triggered their purchase option, paying an undisclosed fee to Rangers to secure his services on a two-year contract. Johnly Yfeko (left) in action for Exeter City against Northampton Town on August 17, 2024. (Photo by) | Getty Images Caldwell admitted his amazement that Rangers included an option to buy in the deal, believing the player has a 'huge ceiling' in the game. "I think when we saw him start the season everyone was amazed that we had that clause and he's got another two-years at the club but obviously the two injuries he's had the big setbacks this year that we've not seen enough of them,' he told the Exeter website. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "I spoke to Johnly today and said he has every tool at his disposal to be a top, top player now he has to make sure he stays on the pitch next year. He's professional, he's consistent with his work because his ceiling is huge for what he can achieve in his career and we're delighted to sign him this summer."
