Latest news with #KeithCampbell
Scottish Sun
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Former SPFL player's bizarre new career as he hopes to lead his country to World Cup glory in different sport
PAR FOR THE COURSE Former SPFL player's bizarre new career as he hopes to lead his country to World Cup glory in different sport Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HE was once considered to be one of the most exciting young talents of his generation when Liverpool came calling in the early 2000s. But by the time he rocked up at Dundee United at the age of 31, injuries had robbed him of his promising career. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Florent Sinama-Pongolle struggled with injuries at Dundee United Credit: Keith Campbell - The Sun Glasgow 3 Florent Sinama-Pongolle was a promising talent at Liverpool before injuries Credit: Getty 3 Florent Sinama-Pongolle is now involved in professional FootGolf Credit: INSTAGRAM @flosinama_pongolle4 Now, almost a decade after that ill-fated spell at Tannadice, Florent Sinama-Pongolle is combining his natural talent and love of the game, with something that's a little less taxing on the body. As well as being a pundit on Canal +, the 40-year-old former France international is now helping to develop footgolf in his country. He is the coach of the French footgolf team, who are hoping to retain their World Cup title next year in Mexico after success in Florida in 2023. And a recent post on his Instagram shows he can still play a bit as well! As he holed a shot from distance with precision and perfect weight at the Golf de Saint Donat in Cannes. He told Quotidien Du Sport earlier this year: "It's a sport that can be very frustrating because, on an 18-hole card, you can play really well for 17 holes and, if you mess up on the last one, it ruins everything. "So, to be consistent, you have to manage your nerves." A feeling most golfers and footgolf players alike can relate to! Sinama-Pongolle started out his football career in France at Le Havre before catching the attention of Liverpool and then-boss Gerard Houllier. He famously helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005 - even if injury prevented him from actually playing in the final - after his significant intervention against Olympiakos to keep them in the tournament. In an nomadic career after leaving the Reds, he played for Recreativo Huelva and Atletico Madrid in Spain, before moving to Sporting Lisbon in Portugal. He had unsuccessful loan spells with Zaragoza in Spain and Saint-Etienne in France, before switching to Rostov in Russia in 2012, where he ruptured his ACL in his right knee. Where are they now: The unusual careers of former footballers He had a brief spell in MLS with Chicago Fire before joining Lausanne-Sport though he never made an appearance after rupturing his ACL in his right knee for a second time during a training session. Then came his spell with Dundee United in the 2015-16 season after Mixu Paatelainien brought him in following a successful trial. But it never worked out after his three cruciate injuries, and he made just four appearances in his six-month spell as United were relegated from the top flight. He then moved to Thailand and played for Chainat Hornbill, winning the second division in 2017, before finishing his career for Saint-Pierroise on the island of Reunion where he started out as youngster. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Forgotten ex-Hibs star close to stunning Scottish football return almost TWO YEARS since his last game
He made the breakthrough as a teenager NEW SAINT Forgotten ex-Hibs star close to stunning Scottish football return almost TWO YEARS since his last game Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) INJURY has robbed him of almost two years of his career. But now one former Hibs star is closing in on a stunning comeback to the SPFL. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 18/09/15 St Mirren v Raith Rovers. Pix by Keith Campbell. STEVIE MALLAN Credit: Keith Campbell - The Sun Glasgow 2 21.11.2020 Hibernian v Celtic, SPFL Premiership . STEVIE MALLAN Credit: The Sun Stevie Mallan broke into the first team at St Mirren as a teenager, making his debut as an 18-year old in a Premiership clash with Hamilton. He went on to make more than 100 first team appearances for the Buddies before earning a big move to England in 2017. Mallan joined Championship outfit Barnsley but struggled to make an impact and was restricted to just nine appearances as the Tykes suffered relegation. After just a year away, Mallan returned to Scotland with Hibs in July 2018 and signed a four-year deal. He bagged 13 goals from midfield in an impressive first season at Easter Road before a knee injury hampered his second season at the club in 2019/20. Mallan moved to Turkey with Yeni Malatyaspor, on an initial loan deal in February 2021. The switch became permanent in the summer but it turned into a nightmare over unpaid wages. Mallan returned to the UK with Salford City in June 2022. But injury completely wrecked his spell with the League Two outfit. In fact, his last competitive game was all the way back in 2023. David Gray on life as Hibs manager and how he turned it around when his job was on the line Mallan played the full 90 minutes of a 3-1 defeat for Salford against Gillingham on November 18 that year. He hasn't played since. A foot injury arose and it's sidelined him for 20 months. But now, he's ready to come back. Mallan has been on trial with St Johnstone and looks set to sign up for Simo Valakari's promotion push. He featured in a pre-season clash with Dundee United on Tuesday night. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
SPFL club welcome hero back for third spell as he returns after major career change as PHYSIO
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VETERAN players have a long-established habit of returning to their former clubs as coaches or managers. But Inverness Caledonian Thistle have taken things a stage further by naming a former star as their new PHYSIOTHERAPIST. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 David Proctor made the decision to go back to university Credit: Keith Campbell - The Sun Glasgow 2 David Proctor during his second stint at Inverness Credit: Scottish News and Sport The Highlanders are rebuilding their football department under Alan Savage after the financial chaos which saw them enter administration last season. And they've made an eye-catching appointment after they handed defender David Proctor his third spell at the club - as physio. Proctor is a familiar face at the Caledonian Stadium, having played for the club in two spells between 2004 and 2006 and between 2007 and 2009. He won the second tier in Scotland in both of his stints - and that's in addition to spells at Dundee Utd, Airdrie, FC Edmonton and East Kilbride, where he also was assistant manager. He has also been Manager at Lowland League side Cumbernauld Colts but now he's back after a major career change saw him graduate from Glasgow Caledonian University with a First Class Honours degree in Physiotherapy. Inverness said: "David is getting settled in with his new role." At that point it looked as though Caley Thistle were doomed. Scott Kellacher - who featured on our One-on-One series - was appointed manager in October after previous boss Duncan Ferguson left the club as they were unable to pay him and his players. They were slapped with a 15-point deduction for entering administration and the financial outlook was grim, with club chiefs having knocked back a £1.2m bid to save them. As recent as March the club was at serious risk of going under as there were no serious offers to take them out of the doldrums. But a deal was agreed in Aril that would see them EXIT administration and a few weeks later they officially beat the drop thanks to a 3-0 win over eventual League One champions Arbroath. 'Absolutely brilliant or RUBBISH' - Gassama Rangers transfer verdict and Souttar to leave Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
SFA hit back at Rangers over John Brown ‘corrupt' row and ‘remind clubs of their responsibilities'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Scottish FA have hit back in their row with Rangers over the controversy surrounding John Brown's comments made in a match against Hibs last season. Rangers released a strongly worded statement on Thursday after the club were handed a £3,000 fine by Scottish Football's governing body after being found in breach of the rules. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 1 16/07/16 Motherwell v Rangers. Pix by Keith Campbell. John Brown Credit: Keith Campbell - The Sun Glasgow This was after the former Gers defender branded Scottish football 'corrupt' live on the club's TV channel when a goal by Nicolas Raskin was chalked off at Easter Road. Rangers were furious and raised concerns about "clarity" and "confidence" in the system. In response the Scottish FA said in a statement: "We note Rangers' response to the determination of a recent independent Judicial Panel Tribunal. "In the interests of accuracy, we wish to address some of the misleading comments contained therein: "The sanction imposed by an independent panel was entirely in keeping with the application of the rules. "The most recent and relevant example of a similar breach, the sanction imposed on Richard Foster of Motherwell FC for comments of a similar nature in the media, attests to that. "Furthermore, to address the comments regarding 'rationale behind differing outcomes', we wish to point to the fact that investigations were undertaken in previous cases outlined and that the Compliance Officers of the time saw fit to issue a censure by way of warning letter for potential breaches deemed insufficiently serious to be progressed to a Notice of Complaint. "This system of proportionality has been adopted since the inception of the Judicial Panel Protocol in 2011. "Indeed, such discretion was exercised last season when the Compliance Officer wrote to the club to warn of the future conduct of players following matters involving Vaclav Cerny, Dujon Sterling and Mohamed Diomande. "We also note that Rangers intend to contact the association to seek clarity on the Judicial Panel Protocol and its application. "The club is, in fact, already represented on the JPP Working Group. "We have requested written reasons from the panel chair involved in the tribunal and in the interests of transparency will publish in due course. "JPP Rule 38 was introduced in response to the referee strike of 2010, when match officials campaigned for greater protection after enduring sustained personal criticism from clubs and fans. Ahead of a new season, we remind clubs of their responsibilities in this regard." More to follow....
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Historic football club become first SPFL team since Rangers to be liquidated and reformed as newco
The club has a long history and even won the Scottish Cup MONEY MATTERS Historic football club become first SPFL team since Rangers to be liquidated and reformed as newco DUMBARTON will become the first SPFL club to be liquidated since Rangers, after a rescue plan to reform as a newco was finalised. Formed in 1872, they are of Scotland's oldest senior clubs and their storied history includes two league championships (one shared with Rangers) and a Scottish Cup win. Advertisement 1 Dumbarton vs Rangers at 'The Rock' in 2014 Credit: Keith Campbell - The Sun Glasgow But those triumphs were back in the 1800s and for the majority of their modern existence, Dumbarton have bounced around the lower leagues of Scottish football. The Sons won the old First, Second and Third Division titles and as recently as last year they won promotion to League One via the play-offs. But they were plunged into administration in November, which saw them docked 15 points and they were relegated back to League Two. Manager Stevie Farrell has been in post since 2021 but his future could too now be up in the air. Advertisement The club was bought over by Canadian businessman Mario Lapointe and there was hope they would exit administration via a creditors voluntary agreement. However, with the new season just a month away (Premier Sports Cup fixtures start on July 12) there were fears a deal wouldn't be reached in adequate time, A progress report by administrators Quantuma, first seen by The Herald, has now confirmed that the club will be dissolved and replaced by a new company. It will be called Dumbarton Football Club 1872 Ltd, and is wholly owned by Lapointe. Advertisement Rangers went through a similar process in 2012, with the club going into administration and then the company being dissolved. A statement, first reported by The Herald, said: 'The proposed exit route (from administration) is now dissolution. Moment Ally McCoist interrupts live radio to congratulate his 'wee pal' on signing for Rangers 'The administrators will seek approval from the creditors to this variation via a decision procedure using the consent process and, assuming agreement is obtained, will file a notice of dissolution. 'A funding requirement of circa £140,000 was highlighted for the team to complete the season. This funding requirement increases to c. £200k when carried through to the end of June 2025. Advertisement 'The shortfall has been funded by £118,384 raised by fans and the receipt of a £30,000 non refundable commitment fee which will be discussed further below. The balance of the shortfall will be met from the sale consideration.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
