Latest news with #KeithJackson
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rangers are miles behind the eight ball and things could get worse before they get better
How concerned should Rangers fans be that Max Aarons is their only signing so far? KEITH JACKSON: They're going to have to be patient this summer. Rangers are miles behind the eight ball, largely because the American takeover took longer to complete than expected. At the risk of sounding boring, it may get worse before it gets better for the long suffering Ibrox support. It certainly won't get sorted in one transfer window. Advertisement SCOTT McDERMOTT: Time is certainly getting away from them. There is so much work for Martin to do in terms of a squad overhaul but they'd have expected to be further ahead by now. It feels like it's going to be a really difficult start to the new campaign. CRAIG SWAN: Rangers are not a quick fix. It would be more concerning for fans if players were just being rushed through the door. Taking time and getting it right for the long term is more important. READ MORE: Metinho still on Rangers transfer radar as Gers 'ready' to up the ante in bid to land Brazilian youngster READ MORE: I asked Sir David Murray something straight out about Rangers 15 years ago and we haven't spoken since – Keith Jackson Advertisement GAVIN BERRY: It reminds me a bit of Celtic's summer when Ange Postecolgou came in - they were undercooked and came a cropper against FC Midtjylland. Rangers really need to get a move on. Do you think now is the right time for Celtic to cash in on Nicolas Kuhn? KEITH: Yes. Kuhn has bags of talent and will fetch a huge fee because of it but there are concerns over his mentality. It's no coincidence that he dropped out of Celtic's starting XI around the time Brendan Rodgers was questioning the desire inside his own dressing room. It's difficult not to reach the conclusion that Kuhn put the tools down as soon as the Champions League adventure was over. SCOTT: From a certain point last season it felt like Kuhn wasn't 100% happy at Celtic. The day they won the title at Tannadice, he wanted to have a go at anyone who had criticised his performances. If there are big bids on the table, it might be time to let him go. Advertisement CRAIG: If someone is willing to pay £15 million for a player who cost a fifth of that 18 months ago, he should go. That's the model that makes Celtic so successful. GAVIN: It depends on the price. If the reported £15m is realistic then I would cash in. He has been hot for a third of his 18 months at Parkhead and there are no guarantees he'll get back to that purple patch form he showed during his blistering six months. What should Scottish Cup holders Aberdeen hope to achieve this season? KEITH: It's set to become an all out battle for third place with Hearts and Hibs - with the potential for at least one of these clubs to stake a serious claim for second spot given the scale of the work required at Ibrox this summer. Let's see where this goes but it does feel like a fascinating season to come. Advertisement SCOTT: The Dons, as well as Hearts and Hibs look like they're tooling up this term to have a real go at the Old Firm at the top end of the table, which doesn't bode well for the rest. Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack with Scottish Cup Aberdeen have to be aiming for a top four finish, target another trophy - and at least make an impact in Europe. CRAIG: To mount a serious and sustained effort to challenge or even split Celtic and Rangers. It's a tall order, but the Dons have to aim high. Taking care of the rest week-to-week is the key. GAVIN: This could be a cracker of a campaign with the Dons flush, Tony Bloom's cash injection at Hearts and the American dollars at Ibrox. While the Scottish Cup was an historic day to remember for the Dons, they lacked consistency where it matters in the league. Third place is the obvious target. Has the FIFA Club World Cup been a waste of everyone's time? KEITH: Has anyone even been paying it any attention? This whole vanity project is a grotesque money maker from the mind of a man who is fast becoming even more loathsome than his predecessor. It's beginning to feel like Gianni Infantino is Sepp Blatter on steroids. Advertisement SCOTT: I tried to ignore the criticism and get into it from the start but it's impossible. Some of the European players look shattered and it will surely have a detrimental effect on their league season. It's a FIFA cash cow, nothing else. CRAIG: It just feels about money. It could take 12 hours for the game to finish. If the cash keeps rolling into the right coffers, it appears all that counts, sadly. GAVIN: It hasn't been a total waste of time as you can see potential for something that we could enjoy. It has shown us there are quality sides outside of the Big Five leagues in Europe where many live in a Champions League bubble and think nothing exists outside of UEFA. But there has to be changes - starting with where when it is played which has led to many of the complaints.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
David Murray tarnished Rangers legacy and naive fans falling for Peter Lawwell nonsense must remember one thing
Record Sport's Keith Jackson isn't buying the narrative being pushed in Sir David Murray's new book. And neither are today's Hotline callers. Our chief sports writer has taken a swipe at the former Rangers owner's claims he was duped over the sale of the club to Craig Whyte in 2011. Advertisement READ MORE: I asked Sir David Murray something straight out about Rangers 15 years ago and we haven't spoken since – Keith Jackson READ MORE: 16 Celtic stars yet to report back for pre-season training as fringe men aim to catch the eye And Lewis Fotheringham, Mount Ellen, reckons Jacko was spot on with his assessment, saying: 'I have got to praise Keith Jackson's very personal column regarding David Murray. 'Murray says that he cared deeply about Rangers, but selling the club to Craig Whyte has tarnished whatever legacy he had. "This very action led to our eventual demise which we have never truly recovered from, despite that league title in 2021. Murray is as much to blame for our downfall as Whyte is." Advertisement And Liam Birney, Paisley, took issue with the former Ibrox chairman's blast at Celtic chief Peter Lawwell: 'So some Rangers fans are falling for the nonsense that Murray is spouting about Peter Lawwell doing Rangers a wrong. 'Can I remind them all it was under his tenure as Chairman that EBTs were used and that when he sold the club to Whyte for a quid, they were well down the road to liquidation. Also, is it not a Rangers or Celtic objective to bury their biggest rivals? Take some responsibility David!' Meanwhile, Lawrence Shankland's future remains up in the air after he skipped the flight to Hearts' pre-season training camp. But Alan Flett said: 'I'm sick fed-up of hearing that Rangers should sign Shankland. He's no better than what we've already got. Lawrence Shankland in action for Hearts 'I'd have Cyriel Dessers over Shankland every day of the week. Michael Beale, Philippe Clement and now Russell Martin have had the opportunity to sign Shankland and none of them did. Doesn't that tell you something?' Advertisement Regular caller Gordon Ashley ruffled a few feathers with his swipe at Hamza Igamane's potential transfer value. George Wilson, West Sussex, said: 'Rangers-obsessed Gordon Ashley apart from seemingly having insider knowledge about the potential sale of Hamza Igamane says Celtic play at a higher level in Europe. 'Unfortunately they have been a total embarrassment and regularly humiliated in Europe for the last 25 years. 'Last season they suffered several more Champions League hidings and only won three out of 10 games against the absolute worst three side out of 36 teams in the competition. 'Rangers on the other hand played Nice, Lyon, Spurs, Man Utd, Fenerbahce and Athletic Bilbao, who were collectively better than most of the dross Celtic faced.' Advertisement Alfie Mullin, London, added: 'Gordon Ashley claims that Celtic get higher transfer fees than Rangers do for their players because they play at a higher level in Europe. I suggest he replace the word 'play' with the word 'lose'.' Michael Emonds took aim at another called: 'Once again Jimmy Murray shows his ignorance in his understanding of the Celtic business model - which is to buy players for the right money, improve them and sell at a profit. 'He says the answer is scrap the model and sack serial winner John Kennedy and coach Gavin Strachan, get in new coaches to bring the young players through. 'But he doesn't understand that's the job of the pathway manager, who until recently was Darren O'Dea, who has just left for Swansea City and was last week replaced by Shaun Maloney. So let's see how many hopefuls he can get through the ranks.'
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Evan Ferguson to Celtic transfer timeline and when loan deal from Brighton could really be announced
Evan Ferguson could be a realistic target for Celtic before the end of the window. But only if no other club take a gamble on the permanent transfer for the struggling Brighton star, according to Record Sport's Keith Jackson. Advertisement The Ireland international made just three appearances for West Ham without scoring - after being shipped to London on loan after falling out of favour under Fabian Hurzeler. READ MORE: 7 Celtic transfer headlines as summer window explodes with bargain Balikwisha, Greg Taylor successor and £2m trade off READ MORE: Why Lennon Miller won't sign for Celtic despite being 'perfect' transfer revealed by Motherwell hero The 20-year-old netted just one Premier League goal last season - a far cry from his breakthrough season in 2023/24 which saw the striker touted with £100million moves away from the AMEX Stadium. Advertisement That has lead to Celtic emerging as a potential destination for the frontman as he looks to kickstart his career. Reflecting on Ferguson's early promise, Jackson told Hotline Live: "At that time, he was one of these guys that would come onto the pitch and visualise himself scoring a goal, as if he was going to manifest it. "He knew he was going to score goals. He didn't think about it or overthink it - it was just all so natural to him at that point. He was phenomenal, and that is what he got the comparisons with Harry Kane. "I don't think that was over the top at the time, because he was going goal for goal with Harry Kane at the time, and looking like a younger, stronger, faster version." Advertisement Host Daniel Caw felt that a loan move to the Scottish champions "made sense" for the campaign noting he would "fly" under Brendan Rodgers. Jackson responded with a comparison to Max Aarons potential loan move from Bournemouth to Rangers - which has hit a roadblock over the Cherries' pursuit of a permanent exit. He said: "I don't disagree, but as we said with Bournemouth and Aarons - these clubs are not in the business of doing favours for people. "There would need to be a reason for Brighton to loan him out - I think he still has a few years left on his contract. "If there is a manager down there who thinks they can make him a Premier League player, and they can get a fee that is similar with what Bournemouth are looking to do with Max Aarons right now - in terms of 'why would I put you out on loan if I think I can get £8million-£10million?' Advertisement "That is for a right-back, so what about a striker who has proven what he can do in the Premier League? What kind of price does that carry? "If it gets to the end of the window, and nobody has taken a punt on him, that is when I think Celtic becomes a realistic possibility." Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Daily Record
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Barry Ferguson changing his Rangers tune suggests mood music is shifting after Kevin Thelwell summit
Ferguson met with the incoming sporting director last week and Keith Jackson suspects he's heard something encouraging Barry Ferguson's assertion that he believes he's in with a chance of becoming Rangers boss on a permanent basis perhaps indicates a shift in the mood music around the interim gaffer. And it's possibly a result of last week's sit down summit with incoming sporting director Kevin Thelwell. The current Everton executive will walk up the marble staircase at Ibrox this summer, when the protracted takeover by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises should finally be completed. Ferguson 's chances of being appointed were widely dismissed after damaging defeats to Motherwell and Hibs, then a lacklustre showing at St Mirren following Gers' Europa League exit against Athletic Club. The former Light Blues skipper is yet to win a game at Ibrox, although remains unbeaten against Celtic after the Final Old Firm clash of the campaign ended in a 1-1 draw. But Ferguson's seemingly newfound belief in his prospects has Record Sport's Keith Jackson suspecting that meeting with Thelwell at least offered some encouragement. And he warned on Hotline Live that the time taken to sign off on the takeover may leave the new regime with little choice but to stick with the man currently in the hotseat. "I found that interesting because there seems to be a shift in his approach and his mentality," he said when asked about Ferguson's post match comments. "He met with Kevin Thelwell last week and had a very long conversation. I find it interesting that the mood music appears to have shifted. "He's not putting his hands in the air shouting 'give me the job.' But it was only a few weeks ago when he didn't really consider himself to be in the mix. "It was after Hibs had won at Ibrox. he didn't see himself as being considered as a candidate. "I just feel - I might be wrong - but I've just got a hunch that something that might have been said over the last wee while that's perked his attention. "I keep coming back to it, whether he gets the job or not, that Rangers are absolutely miles behind in terms of planning for next season. "With every day that passes, I think it becomes more likely that they're forced to go with Barry Ferguson because they really need to start making assessments of the player sin that squad just now. "They need to make assessments on who to keep and who to lose. There will be more in the lose box than in the keep box. "There are so many things that Rangers need to plan and it should have been done if not in January, then maybe even last summer. "But they are now critically behind the eight ball. So something needs to happen and it needs to happen soon to give some sort of clarity. "You would expect, with that particular fixture out of the road, maybe Rangers will address it." Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
