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Scottish Sun
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘When you get it right, there's no one better to watch' EFL cult hero tips Russell Martin to be great fit at Rangers
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSELL MARTIN would be a brilliant appointment for Rangers, according to ex-Swansea star Lee Trundle. The 39-year-old former Swans, Southampton and MK Dons boss is a leading contender for the Ibrox gig after impressing new owners 49ers Enterprises. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Russell Martin is one of the frontrunners for the Rangers job Credit: Getty 3 Lee Trundle celebrates scoring for Swansea in 2006 Football League Trophy final Credit: PA 3 Former Saints boss Russell Martin Credit: Getty Martin was in talks with Leicester City about becoming their new manager, but talks there have stalled. The ex-Scotland international is again vying with Davide Ancelotti for the Rangers gig and Trundle, who watched him closely during his time in Wales, believes he'd be ideal. He told the BBC: "He's a very clever manager. "I think he'd be a brilliant fit for Rangers. "Man-management is probably one of his strongest points. 'Everyone at Swansea loved playing for him. He's honest with his players, he tells them what he needs. "You need to get the right players in for the way he wants to play. It's football from the back to front, fans need to be patient at times with the build-up. "I don't think he has a plan A or a plan B, it's just the way he sees football. He thinks that is how the game should be played and he sticks with it. "When you get it right, there's no one better to watch. "At Southampton, when they were losing games, of course fans are going to be frustrated. What next for Rangers after American takeover is confirmed? 'He did really well with them to get them to the Premier League but then you go up another 100 steps." The pendulum has swung both ways in the race for the Ibrox hotseat but as of Sunday, it looks as though Davide Ancelotti is the favourite to land the job. Ancelotti has been assistant to his legendary father Carlo at Real Madrid, Napoli, Bayern Munich and Everton, but it seems he is to step out of his father's shadow and become his own man in management. Sources close to the Italian have said that Rangers would be his preferred choice, but he does have other options on the table. Rangers are now under American ownership after a takeover to buy the club was finalised. And the new regime at Ibrox will want to move quickly to secure the signature of their new boss. The new owners Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises have said £20million will be made available for summer signings in the transfer window for the new manager. Rangers manager contenders Davide Ancelotti - 4/7 Russell Martin 6/5 Francesco Farioli 14/1 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
EFL star quits football aged 31 to begin new life in real estate in Dubai
A former EFL footballer who became the first player to make his professional debut in a cup final held at Wembley has swapped a 15-year career in the sport for real estate George Ray has swapped the football pitch for flipping houses as he leaves behind a 15-year playing career in England for a real estate journey in Dubai. The former Crewe Alexandra star, who debuted during the Football League Trophy final in 2013, has announced his departure from the sport on social media in a heartwarming post. The 31-year-old came from the Alexandra academy and began his career in the EFL as a defender. He played for Tranmere Rovers, Exeter City, Leyton Orient, and Barrow, winning one trophy and appearing in two cup finals during his career. Ray became the first player to make his professional debut in a cup final held at Wembley as Alexandra beat Southend United 2-0, meaning he won a trophy the minute he began playing. Now, the ex-defender is venturing into new pastures, as he announced his work will begin with Haus and Haus, which is based in Dubai. Writing on Instagram, Ray said: "After 15 unforgettable years of playing professional football, it's time for a massive change! I will be swapping boots for suits as I move to Dubai to start a new career in real estate with @hausandhaus. "The transition has been exciting, and I've spent countless hours over the past 12 months researching, learning, and immersing myself in the industry to ensure I'm in the best position to succeed. "I'm committed to delivering the same level of dedication, commitment and passion I brought to football. "Now for a few holidays and to enjoy the summer with family and friends before starting my new role on August 1st. "If you're considering buying, selling, or investing in Dubai, feel free to send me a message. I'd be happy to discuss how I can assist you in moving forward." Ray made a total of 324 career appearances in football, scoring 13 goals from a centre-half position between the years of 2013 and 2025. Many former teammates have celebrated his new career venture, including Barnet striker Dom Telford, who spent time with Ray at Barrow last season. Telford wrote: "Love it stinger, enjoy mate." Fellow Alexandra academy graduate Billy Waters also added: "Swaaaa mean. All the best Georgey boy."
Associated Press
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Mixed weekend for Brady as third-tier champion Birmingham loses Football League Trophy final
LONDON (AP) — NFL great Tom Brady was at Wembley Stadium on Sunday to watch Birmingham, the English soccer club where he's a minority shareholder, lose the final of the Football League Trophy in a 2-0 upset to Peterborough. Teenager Harley Mills and Hector Kyprianou scored for Peterborough to win a competition for teams outside the top two tiers in England. The trip wasn't all bad for Brady, though. Birmingham had already secured promotion back to the second-tier Championship earlier in the week. It then clinched the League 1 title on Saturday after Wrexham, owned by Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, dropped points. Brady got a stake in Birmingham in August 2023 in his first foray into the world of soccer and, as chairman of the club's new advisory board, said he wanted to bring a winning mentality to a club from central England that last played in the Premier League in 2011. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mixed weekend for Brady as third-tier champion Birmingham loses Football League Trophy final
Peterborough United's Hector Kyprianou with the trophy after winning the Vertu Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday April 13, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP) Peterborough United's Harley Mills with the trophy after winning the Vertu Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday April 13, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP) Peterborough United's Harley Mills with the trophy after winning the Vertu Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday April 13, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP) Peterborough United's Hector Kyprianou with the trophy after winning the Vertu Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday April 13, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP) Peterborough United's Harley Mills with the trophy after winning the Vertu Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday April 13, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP) LONDON (AP) — NFL great Tom Brady was at Wembley Stadium on Sunday to watch Birmingham, the English soccer club where he's a minority shareholder, lose the final of the Football League Trophy in a 2-0 upset to Peterborough. Teenager Harley Mills and Hector Kyprianou scored for Peterborough to win a competition for teams outside the top two tiers in England. Advertisement The trip wasn't all bad for Brady, though. Birmingham had already secured promotion back to the second-tier Championship earlier in the week. It then clinched the League 1 title on Saturday after Wrexham, owned by Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, dropped points. Brady got a stake in Birmingham in August 2023 in his first foray into the world of soccer and, as chairman of the club's new advisory board, said he wanted to bring a winning mentality to a club from central England that last played in the Premier League in 2011. ___ AP soccer:
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Fry wants Wembley win over former club Birmingham
Some people are calling it the 'Barry Fry final'. Why? Because when Peterborough United and Birmingham City walk out at Wembley for Sunday's Vertu Trophy final, it will be a meeting of two of the clubs he has been most closely associated with during his 65 years in football. The young Fry scored five goals in six games for England Schoolboys, one of them at the old Wembley in front of 95,000 people, before a blood clotting problem in his legs brought a promising playing career to a premature he is relishing the prospect of returning to the national stadium to see Posh, the club he has served in various roles for the best part of 30 years, take on Blues, who he guided to an EFL Trophy and promotion double in who turned 80 earlier this month, told BBC Look East: "I'm just a football nut. I've been so lucky to have been in football since I was [knee high to] a grasshopper. It's going to be an unbelievable day for me."His ability to wheel and deal is legendary - he once persuaded George Best to turn out for non-league Dunstable, his first club in management, having been appointed at the age of said he made Birmingham £12m in transfer market profits before leaving St Andrew's, and that negotiating talent has continued with the likes of Ivan Toney, Dwight Gayle and Ronnie Edwards passing through Peterborough on their way to bigger things."I've done some special deals and got money even I didn't think I'd get," he said. "The secret is that you really believe in your players - you believe they can go on to be an international or play in the Premier League. The bigger the club, the more you ask for and the more you expect." The Birmingham years 1993-96 Birmingham have dominated League One this season, and Tuesday's 2-1 win over Peterborough at the Weston Homes Stadium secured promotion back to the Championship following relegation last only need five more points to reach 100 for the campaign, but it was all very different when Fry left Southend United in 1993 to become Blues manager."They were bottom of the league by nine points, I think. I decided to go there despite them being bottom and we finished the season very well, out of the last 10 games we won seven, drew two and lost one," he said."That was promotion form but unfortunately we got relegated. The following year I said we'd do the double and we did."As well as winning the Division Two title in 1995, they also triumphed at Wembley in the Football League Trophy final, beating Carlisle United 1-0 in front of a crowd of over 76,000."We took 57,000 [with us] that day. Fair play to [then owners] David Sullivan, David Gold and [managing director] Karren [Brady] because in the earlier rounds you get no crowds whatsoever, nobody's interested," Fry added. "But we got 18,000, 20,000, 22,000 because they charged a fiver for adults and one pound for kids, which was wonderful."We also won the Birmingham Senior Cup, beating [Aston] Villa, and in the FA Cup we played Liverpool at home, drew 0-0 at St Andrew's, went to Anfield, drew 1-1 after extra-time. We got a standing ovation, rightly so, but lost on penalties." Despite that, Fry's time in charge came to an end in 1996, but it was not long before the chance to return to football with Peterborough came along. Posh 'responsibility nearly killed me' It was certainly a case of 'in at the deep end' with Posh as Fry soon found himself in the position of effectively being manager, chairman and owner at the same time."The responsibility nearly killed me because I had £150,000 to pay every month. I was on the training ground doing managerial things and I'd get a phone call from Mary in the office to say the bailiffs were here, so I'd run off the training ground, jump in the car and came here [to the stadium] to sort it out," Fry said."I put my family in jeopardy. My wife always said she loved me so much, we could live in a tent on the river - she doesn't know how close she came [to doing that]. It was horrific being the owner of this football club."Fry was understandably relieved when current Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony took over the club in 2006, the Irishman becoming the youngest chairman in the EFL at the age of 30, although it took the best part of a year before the deal could be concluded because of a dispute with their landlords."He bought the club off me for £1 - he did due diligence and saw all this money coming in from [sales of] various players over the years and said he'd buy it if I stayed as director of football and continued what I was doing," Fry said."It's very difficult [running a football club]. You can't win. You get criticised for everything. People don't know what's going on behind the scenes, if they knew, they'd be horrified." Fergie time again for Posh at Wembley? The name Peterborough United may not have the same lustre as Bayern Munich, but there is a similarity in that they have appointed Darren Ferguson as manager on four occasions, just as the German giants did with Jupp Heynckes - although his third spell was as a caretaker has been the 'third wheel' on and off since he first took the job 18 years ago. He has served the club well in the league and led the club to two EFL Trophy successes, having also won the competition as a player with Wrexham in although Fry enjoyed his time at Birmingham, there is absolutely no question of divided loyalties on Sunday, when Peterborough will kick off as underdogs."Since Darragh MacAnthony took over, I've sat back and enjoyed every minute. He fetched Darren Ferguson in and Darren's done over 650 games for us," he said. "He's taking us to Wembley in this cup for the third time - we've won the other two - and he's had five promotions, four of them with us and three of them taking us from League One to the Championship. "Darren has given us great excitement over the years with the entertaining, exciting teams he's put together."It's a wonderful partnership and long may it continue. I want to see Darren Ferguson win the trophy for the third time at Wembley. Up the Posh."
