Latest news with #Magilton
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jim Magilton has simple message for his Cliftonville players as he reflects on his own playing career
Jim Magilton had a simple message for his Cliftonville players after they secured European football for the second year in a row under his leadership. Despite the challenges the Reds have faced this season they finish on a high with qualification to the UEFA Conference League qualifiers secured following their 2-0 play-off win over Coleraine on Sunday to add to the BetMcLean Cup they won earlier in the season. Magilton wants his young charges to embrace playing on the continent again as he did despite it coming late on in his playing career. READ MORE: Rory Hale calls for one final push from Cliftonville to reach European dream READ MORE: KSI warned James McClean would 'do him damage' in a boxing fight 'I didn't play in Europe until I played in the Uefa Cup for Ipswich when I was around 30 and I cherished every second of it,' said the Reds boss. 'I want these lads to cherish every second of it because they so deserved it. They have been in for 10-and-a-half months and it's a long season. They got their just rewards at the end. We were really good, took our chances and it is huge credit to the team.' After ending their long wait for Irish Cup glory last season Cliftonville have had to deal with a lot of challenges this campaign, none more so than the death of Michael Newberry. Magilton was full of praise for his players with how they dealt with everything this season and still produced the goods on the pitch when it mattered. 'It's still probably too soon for reflection,' said Magilton. 'But you go into a season ready and then wallop, you get hit with the devastation around Michael and we had to regroup and get the players back on side and focused. 'People don't really discuss the League Cup Final. We came up against a buoyant Glentoran team but managed to win it. 'We got to a second consecutive Irish Cup Final and lose it on penalties, then we go into the Play-Offs. I make that three Finals in a season and we have won two. We are greedy, we wanted three but it is just magnificent. "Our supporters have come out in their big numbers, and they are so passionate about this club. It is just a magnificent achievement. 'It takes courage to come back from losing a Final. You have to dig really deep to win at Glentoran and then come here where there is massive expectations on both clubs. 'Finals are about winning, and they can go either way. You can play poorly and win it. I wasn't too disheartened; I was very determined. I didn't like the negativity and we galvanised everyone. 'We said 'right, let's go again' and I knew they had it in them to do that. I'm just overwhelmed by it all. I was really emotional after the game because they deserved it." Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'We lacked conviction' - Magilton on final defeat
Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton said his side "didn't do enough to win" as they fell short in their bid to win back-to-back Irish Reds lost out 4-3 in a penalty shootout against Dungannon Swifts after a 1-1 draw after extra Kearney scored a fine goal to equalise after John McGovern had opened the scoring for the Swifts, who had Steven Scott sent off on 70 playing with a man advantage for the end of the second half and extra time, Magilton felt his side failed to make it count."We lacked real conviction today. I just didn't think we had enough about us to go out and win the game and it was a bit hopeful," he said."That's a real disappointment for us, but I want to congratulate Rodney [McAree] and the club, they've done a great job this year."We've got to take it on the chin and move on." 'You can't begrudge Dungannon' Magilton praised the Swifts' display and believes they were worthy winners in the end as they lifted the Irish Cup for the first time."They go down to 10 men and you think you're going to capitalise on that, but Declan [Dunne] had a really good day in goal," he added. "They showed unbelievable character, defensively, I thought they were absolutely outstanding. "If you looked at [Dean] Curry, he hasn't played for, a month, since the semi-final, it's an unbelievable shift he and they put in, so you can't begrudge them, you really can't."The Reds boss was perturbed, however, that a coin toss did not take place to decide which end the penalties would be taken in the spot kicks were taken at the Dungannon end due to an IFA decision, who in a statement said: "The decision was taken based on safety advice in accordance with Law 10.3 of the IFAB Laws of the Game."The law states that: "Unless there are other considerations (e.g. ground conditions, safety etc.), the referee tosses a coin to decide the goal at which the kicks will be taken, which may only be changed for safety reasons or if the goal or playing surface becomes unusable"."I would be amazed if Cliftonville agreed to that, that is pretty amazing, I have never heard that," Magilton said."Did it ultimately cost us the game? No, because that would be taking credit away from Dungannon and we don't want to do that. Would we have liked to be shooting into our end? Yes."It is pretty startling though a penalty shootout being decided on safety measures, what was the security risk, our supporters getting exuberant? I think it is pretty poor if they thought that."If we take the penalty shootout out of it, though, we had to do more, and they were pretty composed with their penalties." 'We need European football' The north Belfast club have endured an incredibly tough season despite winning the BetMcLean Cup in Michael Newberry died suddenly in December with the Cliftonville players again wearing his number five on their jerseys at Windsor Park. The heartbreaking cup final defeat means that the Reds will now compete in the Irish Premiership play-offs for a place in are away to Glentoran in the semi-final on Wednesday night and captain Rory Hale said it is now his job to pick up his devastated team-mates for a massive game."We can't cry over spilt milk, it's over and done with now, but it's very disheartening for myself," he said."I put a lot into this season, and it's been really, really emotional for us."The young players have gone through a lot, the highs of winning a trophy, the lows of, losing a team-mate and finishing in the bottom half of the table, and now another bit of heartbreak for them, to try and cope with."It's up to myself, Jonny Addis and Joe Gormley, to really get these kids motivated again for Wednesday night because we need European football."
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reds board & members 'all delighted' with takeover
Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton says that the club's board and members "all seem delighted" with the takeover proposals accepted by the club's membership at an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday night. The takeover by Canadian consortium, the Toronto Investment Group (TIG), could see the north Belfast club moving to a full-time model and making improvements to their Solitude home. Following Wednesday's meeting, a Cliftonville statement said the next stage in the process would involve the club's legal representatives engaging with their counterparts at TIG. Speaking on Thursday, Magilton said he hasn't "been involved in any of it". "The club wants to redevelop and I think they're looking forward to that aspect of it," added the Cliftonville boss. "The competition in the league is so fierce now. Obviously finances does and will help you try and bring maybe a different level of player. "We'll still go about our business the way we do in terms of recruitment and try and look at the characteristics of the player and that won't change. "I haven't spoken to anybody from the group, so I won't know that until I'm invited into that conversation." Magilton added that "somewhere down the line, I [will] get an opportunity to speak to them and see what their vision is". "Even when I was an outsider looking in, it's a club with massive potential," continued the Reds boss. "That's brought to the fore with an Irish Cup final, when you see the numbers coming in, the tickets selling so quickly and the redevelopment of the ground etc. It puts Cliftonville on the map."
BBC News
17-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Reds board & members 'all delighted' with takeover
Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton says that the club's board and members "all seem delighted" with the takeover proposals accepted by the club's membership at an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday takeover by Canadian consortium, the Toronto Investment Group (TIG), could see the north Belfast club moving to a full-time model and making improvements to their Solitude Wednesday's meeting, a Cliftonville statement said the next stage in the process would involve the club's legal representatives engaging with their counterparts at on Thursday, Magilton said he hasn't "been involved in any of it"."The club wants to redevelop and I think they're looking forward to that aspect of it," added the Cliftonville boss. "The competition in the league is so fierce now. Obviously finances does and will help you try and bring maybe a different level of player. "We'll still go about our business the way we do in terms of recruitment and try and look at the characteristics of the player and that won't change. "I haven't spoken to anybody from the group, so I won't know that until I'm invited into that conversation."Magilton added that "somewhere down the line, I [will] get an opportunity to speak to them and see what their vision is"."Even when I was an outsider looking in, it's a club with massive potential," continued the Reds boss."That's brought to the fore with an Irish Cup final, when you see the numbers coming in, the tickets selling so quickly and the redevelopment of the ground etc. It puts Cliftonville on the map."
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cliftonville takeover moves step closer
Cliftonville club members have voted to accept a takeover proposal from the Toronto Investment Group at an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday night.A club statement said that the Irish Cup holders' "legal representatives will now engage with their counterparts at TIG on the next step of a continuing process".Any takeover by the Canadian consortium could see the north Belfast club move to a full-time model and make improvements to their Solitude boss Jim Magilton feels the possible developments could help his side be more competitive in the Irish Premiership and the transfer market."I think any investment in a football club is a good thing," said the former Northern Ireland and Ipswich Town midfielder before the EGM."I really do believe that, as long as it's very clear and transparent in what the investors want to do and approach it. "Ultimately if we can then finance to bring in good players, I think we've done a really good job with that, but some of the players that we've spoken to we just haven't had the financial capabilities to bring them in. "If that changes then we'll put ourselves in a better position and maybe be more competitive in the league."Cliftonville will be bidding to retain the Irish Cup when they meet Dungannon Swifts in the showpiece final at Windsor Park, a ground where they have already lifted the BetMcClean Cup this league form has, however, been inconsistent and they failed to make the top six before the end-of-season split. Magilton added that at this stage he did not know how the club would look under new owners. "The legalities of a takeover are as such that I've stayed out of that and that will be down to the members and the board," he added. "If they get that over the line, then it'll be conversations ongoing after that. "It has to be signed, sealed and delivered or you won't really know. We have to make plans for both scenarios. "Whatever one works out, we just have to get on with it."
