Latest news with #HeartofMidlothian
The National
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Celtic B decision made ahead of new Lowland League season
The lineup for Scotland's fifth tier was unveiled on Monday. The youngsters were revealed as one of the 18 teams set to compete in the division for the 2025/26 campaign. Heart of Midlothian will once again enter a B team into the league, with the likes of Albion Rovers, Caledonian Braves, and Bo'ness United remaining in place. Read more: The full lineup was recently confirmed: The stage is set… the preparation begins… this is the Scottish Lowland Football League 2025/26! — The Park's Motor Group Scottish Lowland League (@OfficialSLFL) May 26, 2025 Celtic's B side finished second in the table this season, seven points behind eventual winners East Kilbride, who have since been promoted to Scottish League Two through the pyramid play-off after victory over Bonnyrigg Rose. Stephen McManus led Celtic B for 2024/25, as they also reached the knockout stages of the UEFA Youth League. News of their Lowland League participation comes after the club sent a heartfelt message following the terrible events at Liverpool's title parade on Monday evening. A statement read: "Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with Liverpool Football Club, all those people affected and the city of Liverpool following this evening's tragic incident." Liverpool also spoke out on the incident, saying: "We are in direct contact with Merseyside Police regarding the incident on Water Street, which happened towards the end of the trophy parade earlier this evening. "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident. "We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident."
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Third-time lucky for County or instant return for Livi?
Scottish Premiership Play-off final, first legVenue: Home of the Set Fare Arena Date: Thursday, 22 May Kick-off: 19:45 BSTCoverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Sport website. Highlights on BBC Scotland at 23:00. Heart of Midlothian disposed of Neil Critchley after failing to reach the Scottish Premiership's top six and Dundee's Tony Docherty paid the price despite narrowly escaping a play-off to avoid Valakari kept his job despite automatic relegation, but it was St Johnstone's players who have felt the brunt of their drop to the Championship - with 21 being shown the Partick Thistle interim co-managers Brian Graham and Mark Wilson have been left waiting to see if they have done enough to be given the job permanently after falling short in their promotion bid after losing the Premiership Play-off pressure now shifts to the winners of that semi-final, Livingston, Championship runners-up who were relegated last season, and Ross County, who are facing another play-off after finishing second bottom in the top flight for a third season in the row. County 'know what it takes' County manager Don Cowie insists he is not thinking about the personal 42-year-old, who took interim charge in February 2024 before being appointed permanently that summer, says "regardless of who the manager is", most important for him is County retaining Premiership football."I have been at this club over two spells for over 16 years, I am from the area, it means a lot to me in terms of the job that I have got," Cowie said. "I am very proud to be the manager of this football club and I will be doing everything I can to make sure that I am here long term."County are looking to extend their five-year stay in the Premiership, albeit they are now seeking to stay there via the play-offs for the third straight season."It is a huge moment for the football club," Cowie said. "It is situation we have faced before and we have to go and deal with it again."I think you have got to recognise how big it is. It is my job to let the players know that, but at the same time, I like to think that they are knowledgeable enough to know the importance of it, the importance of bringing Premiership football to the Highlands."County defeated Thistle last season, and Raith Rovers 12 months ago."I think what the last two years show is that there are different ways you can get through the scenario we are in," he said. 'Apprehension and anxiety' with County Livingston manager David Martindale is not surprised that County are in the play-off for a third successive believes that a 12-team top flight means it is likely to be the same clubs battling it out at the bottom to avoid the drop in most years, clubs like County, St Johnstone and his own are likely to be either fighting relegation from the top flight or chasing promotion from the Championship and "every year seems to get a wee bit more difficult".Cowie suggested Livingston have made "a little tweak in their style of play" this season and are "playing a lot of good football" in a recent run of six wins in seven the West Lothian side prevailed 3-2 after extra-time when they met in a January Scottish Cup thriller in though, said Thursday's visitors are "a club that's done fantastically well over the years" considering the difficulty in attracting players and keeping them at Scotland's most northerly the 50-year-old admitted: "I've been looking at them probably since the Scottish Cup game up there, so I had one eye on them at that point."Before the victory over Thistle, Martindale admitted takeover talks meant there was doubt about whether he would be extending his five-year stint as team Ford, the great-great-grandson of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford, has since been announced as the club's new majority shareholder and Martindale said that, while there is "a belief" within his squad that they can win the play-off, all the pressure is on County as it is they who have their Premiership status on the line."I think all the apprehension, all the anxiety, should probably be with the team that was sitting 11th in the Premiership, because I think there's a huge amount of pressure on them," he added.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'McInnes wants to take Findlay with him to Hearts'
Incoming Heart of Midlothian boss Derek McInnes wants to take Stuart Findlay with him from Kilmarnock, where the 29-year-old centre-half has spent two seasons on loan from Oxford United. (Daily Record), externalKilmarnock striker Bobby Wales has passed his medical with Swansea City and is in the process of finalising terms on a four-year contract that will net the Scottish Premiership club around £300,000 in training compensation for the 19-year-old. (Daily Record), externalRead Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.
The National
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Steven Naismith responds to next Kilmarnock manager link
The former Heart of Midlothian boss has quickly emerged as a frontrunner to succeed Derek McInnes at Rugby Park. McInnes has been heavily linked with a move to Hearts with an approach made between the clubs over a deal to take him to Tynecastle. It's expected McInnes will become Hearts manager next week. The Kilmarnock manager will not lead the team for the final game of the season, against Hearts, with the club confirming the decision in a statement on Thursday. Now, Naismith has responded to reports labelling him as a contender to take over at Kilmarnock and replace McInnes. Asked about a possible return to Rugby Park, as a manager on The Warm-Up, he said: "I'm having a great time here. You flew straight in. No, I'm here! "My things haven't changed. I will go serious for you and give you a good answer. "I'm enjoying the time out. It takes over your life, management. "Whether you say life/work balance, it doesn't. It's on your mind all the time. I loved it, but I've loved my time out. "I'm at the point where everything needs to be perfect for me; the right club, you believe in what it is, and you're going to make a difference. That's where I sit. "I have spoken to clubs in the past and I have just felt it's not been right, I will probably speak to clubs in the future and if that changes then my mind will change. "I'm really relaxed and enjoy my life at the moment." Naismith is currently away from the dugout after being relieved of his role at Hearts earlier in the season. However, he has admitted he will return to management when the right offer comes along. He added: "Everything in your life takes a back seat, whether you like it or not. See for me, that has got to be the way it is, you have got to be 100 percent committed and that is the focus. That is why it is so intense. "The buzz of me being a manager and what I believe I can give when I am all in, I think I could be a success and I think my first year shows that. "I'm not putting any pressure, I am not going to jump into a football club just to get back in, I don't think that is the right thing to do. "If the right opportunity comes and it ticks everything and I'm ready, then I will do it." A Kilmarnock club statement read: "It has been agreed between our Board of Directors, Derek McInnes and his staff that the best approach would be if they were not in charge for the final match of the season. "Paul Sheerin and Alan Archibald will also not be involved – first team preparation and matchday duties will be undertaken by Chris Burke and Craig Clark. "We look forward to seeing the blue and white army out in force this weekend as we give the players the send off they deserve. "More information will follow in due course." Charlie Mulgrew, Brian Graham and Steven Naismith appeared on The Warm-Up, the William Hill SPFL's weekly preview show. Check out the full episode here:
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hearts' Shankland making 'no promises' on deal
Heart of Midlothian striker Lawrence Shankland says he is making "no promises" about his future as he ponders staying at the Scottish Premiership 29-year-old Scotland international is out of contract this summer and has recently been offered a new deal by the Tynecastle the forward, who only has nine goals this term, revealed it is a decision he is still pondering."I don't even know," he told BBC Scotland. "I've got decisions to make and things to talk about in the summer."Obviously the club have come back into talks about me staying, but listen, I'm at that stage of my career. I've got a lot to weigh up for myself, my career and, most importantly, my family." There has been constant speculation regarding the striker after his goal-scoring exploits last season, when he found the back of the net on 31 occasions for Hearts, with another two for Scotland added to the after Hearts' 2-1 home win over St Johnstone on Wednesday, Shankland refused to confirm if there were offers on the table from other clubs for his services."Possibly, that would be telling right now," he said. "Whether or not, we'll see, it's still early. "I'm still playing football at the minute as well. I've always been a professional throughout and I would always have that approach and be respectful of the club as well."Hearts are closing in on appointing Derek McInnes as their new head coach early next worked with the current Kilmarnock manager when the pair were at Aberdeen, so would he be one of those he would speak to before making a decision?"Possibly, if that's the case," he added. "I'm sure there'll be a conversation to be had, of course. If I was considering staying at the club, I'll speak to whoever the new manager is. "We'll see. I'm not promising anything to anyone at the minute."I need to go and finish the season with the club and, as I say, we'll take it from there."
