Latest news with #JohnHartson
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
In Case You Missed It: Kilby's dreams come true at last, Docherty pays the price for Dundee's hapless defending ... and Tuipulotu gets ready for a strange sort of homecoming with the British and Irish Lions
Dreams do come true in football, with events of the past seven days proving the case time and again. At the start of the week, Mail Sport's Hugh MacDonald went On The Road and found star quality on the sidelines watching East Kilbride reach the SPFL for the first time. In attendance to see the Lowland League champions complete the job in the League Two play-off final against Bonnyrigg Rose and hit the big time were Celtic icons John Hartson and Neil Lennon, as well as Hearts legend Gary Locke. While seeing the Rosey Posey relegated back to the Lowland League after three seasons in the SPFL would have been a tough watch for hometown hero Locke and Lennon, whose son, Gallagher, is on the books of Bonnyrigg, it was a far happier experience for Welshman Hartson. Involved with the club since their launch in 2010, the former Celtic striker told our man Hugh that he feels the sky is the limit for Kilby, who harbour serious ambitions of climbing to the Premiership and mixing it with the big boys in Scottish football. None are currently bigger than Celtic, who continue to dominate the domestic landscape, Saturday's cup final aside. It was, however, a rather different picture two decades ago. On Thursday, it was the 20th anniversary of Helicopter Sunday... when Rangers pipped the Hoops to the title on a dramatic final day of the season. John McGarry looked back on that remarkable season — a far cry from the recent title processions we've had to endure — when two late goals from then-Motherwell striker Scott McDonald, who went to play for Celtic, handed Rangers the league trophy. Fans of the Ibrox club will undoubtedly be hoping that the expected takeover by American investors, including the 49ers Enterprises investment arm, will herald the kind of sweeping changes which will usher in a new era of greater domestic competitiveness. As the domestic season draws towards a conclusion, a couple of international friendlies loom on the horizon. While a Hampden clash against Iceland and a trip to face little Liechtenstein will hardly set pulses racing, they do provide an opportunity for Steve Clarke to assess his options ahead of the World Cup qualifiers this autumn. Chief among those, insisted Mail Sport's Calum Crowe in his gripping column on Wednesday, is to find a system that ensures midfielder Lewis Ferguson's involvement. Calum powerfully argued that Ferguson, who has just captained Bologna to Coppa Italia glory, has been criminally under-used by the national team boss and MUST be part of the road map that the Tartan Army will hope leads all the way to the World Cup Finals in North America next summer. Of course, Ferguson isn't the only Scotland star walking on air this week, with Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour having played pivotal roles in helping Napoli pip Inter Milan to become Serie A champions, as they beat Cagliari on Friday night. Fittingly in what has been an exceptional season since his £25.7million move from Manchester United, McTominay set his side on their way to victory with a sensational opening goal. While both are in Clarke's squad for the upcoming friendlies, it would be no surprise to see one or both granted leave to continue their celebrations. With the Italian top-flight proving a fertile league in which Scottish talent can thrive, with Che Adams, Josh Doig and, previously, Aaron Hickey, also flourishing, it's little surprise that Clarke suggested this week that it would be the perfect platform for in-demand Lennon Miller, with the Motherwell midfielder not likely to be short of suitors this summer. Sadly, the recent rise in unsavoury incidents in Scottish football shows no sign of abating, with Ross County boss Don Cowie claiming a Livingston supporter spat in the face of his assistant Carl Tremarco in Thursday night's Premiership play-off first leg at Almondvale. In a powerful Mail Sport exclusive on Tuesday, Calum Crowe revealed research has shown rising levels of cocaine abuse are helping fuel the recent violence and disorder witnessed throughout Scottish football, with fears being raised that we are heading towards a point where someone is going to be killed inside a stadium in this country. With First Minister John Swinney condemning the violence blighting the game as 'utterly unacceptable', the Scottish government and footballing authorities must wrestle with how best to combat the growing scourge of football disorder. It was also a week of managerial upheaval, with Tony Docherty's failure to fix a hapless defence coming home to roost as ruthless Dundee demand better, while Michael Wimmer stunned Motherwell by quitting after just 12 games in charge to return to his native Germany and a job at third-tier SSV Jahn Regensburg. Switching sports to rugby union, and Sione Tuipulotu insisted this week that, despite his Australian accent, he is 'all in' on securing a Tour victory for the Lions Down Under. The Scotland captain, recently back in action with Glasgow Warriors after months of injury torment, spoke passionately about his pride at being selected to represent the Lions as they head to the land of his birth this summer. And if there's anything else you might have missed, don't forget to check out our home page for all the latest Scottish news and sport.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Celtic: John Hartson on Brendan Rodgers, Stiliyan Petrov on Arne Engels
Former Celtic forward John Hartson fears speculation over manager Brendan Rodgers' future may affect the club next season. (Sun), external Another ex-Celtic player, Stiliyan Petrov, expects the club to spend this summer and suggests five more players like Daizen Maeda would be a good place to start. (Herald - subscription required), external And Petrov expects Celtic midfielder Arne Engels, 22, to be "a completely different player next season". (Record), external Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Celtic players weigh in on Rodgers & recruitment
Former Celtic players weigh in on Rodgers & recruitment - gossip Former Celtic forward John Hartson fears speculation over manager Brendan Rodgers' future may affect the club next season. (Sun) Another ex-Celtic player, Stiliyan Petrov, expects the club to spend this summer and suggests five more players like Daizen Maeda would be a good place to start. (Herald - subscription required) Rangers manager Barry Ferguson says Oscar Cortes and Danilo need to do more to get more first team minutes. (Herald - subscription required) Former Hearts manager Jim Jefferies ponders whether the club's next manager needs to have a bigger say on recruitment. (Sun) The SPFL could alter the structure of the Premiership play-offs such that the quarter-final and semi-finals are played over one leg before a two-legged final. (Herald - subscription required) Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson, 25, is eager to help Bologna win the Coppa Italia for the first time in 51 years when they face AC Milan next midweek. (Herald - subscription required)
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic transfer teaser receives emphatic answer as club icon sets record straight on what Brendan Rodgers needs
The Hoops are set to build from a position of strength in the summer after bagging title No4 on the trot John Hartson insists Celtic will look at every area this summer if the right type of player comes up. Brendan Rodgers is planning another assault on the Champions League - but the four-in-a-row Kings of Scotland will need to overcome one qualifying hurdle this time around to join the big hitters at the top table. The Hoops qualified for the knockout stage this term, before narrowly losing out to German giants Bayern Munich in heartbreaking circumstances after a sensational display in the Allianz had them seconds from forcing extra-time before a last-gasp leveller on the night to give the home side the aggregate advantage. Celtic have already started the recruitment process with Kieran Tierney arriving on a pre-contract from Arsenal. New arrivals will be top of Rodgers' agenda while a number of fringe men will move on for a new challenge. Asked what areas his old club can improve on in the next few months, Hartson told Sky Sports:"Every area. If the right type of player comes up, whether it is a centre-back, a winger, a midfielder, or a forward. "If they can add that little bit of quality to the quality they have got, I think there is plenty of room to bring players in with the Champions League run they had this year. "The recruitment team have worked wonders over the years. I could name six or seven players that Celtic have brought in and they will make massive amounts of money on them in terms of how well they have played. For me, Celtic will always look to improve and move forward." Adam Idah was the derby headliner on Sunday as he fired home Celtic's leveller at Rangers to make sure it wasn't three derby losses on the trot for the champions. He's had to be patient with Kyogo the top man until he was sold to Rennes then Daizen Maeda getting the nod through the middle, with his Celtic and PFA awards showing his incredible impact this season. But Idah has still contributed 18 goals, and fellow striker Hartson has been a fan since day one and is certain of what he can offer. He said: "He's got 18 goals and still learning. When he came to Celtic he was a sub for Norwich for a long period. He was out of the team and did well when he arrived on loan. "Celtic then went in for him thinking he helped them win the league and get over the line the previous season. "Some really big goals and he's got 18 this term with a few more games to go, that is really good return. "I like him, he has pace, powerful and runs in behind. I think naturally the more goals he scores and opportunities he gets he will keep banging in the goals. I have been a fan of his since day one. "
