Latest news with #MickKennedy
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
East Kilbride land St Johnstone in cup: Big scalps last season show we'll have no fear in Premier Sports clashes, says boss
Kilby will take on the likes of St Johnstone and Raith Rovers in their cup section next month East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy says his side hold no fears going into the Premier Sports League Cup groups this summer after pulling off some cup scalps last season. Newly-promoted Kilby are still riding the crest of a wave after reaching the SPFL last month and they are now looking forward to their first matches as a League Two club after the draw for the League Cup was made last week. Kennedy's side have been drawn in Group F alongside top seeds St Johnstone, who were relegated to the Championship last season, Championship side Raith Rovers, League One Inverness Caley Thistle and League Two rivals Elgin City. EK defeated the likes of Championship sides Airdrie and Ayr United in the Challenge Cup last term, so Kennedy believes they can punch above their weight again. Reacting to the draw, which will see Kilby host Saints at K-Park on July 12, Kennedy said: 'I look forward to these occasions because it gives us a chance to test ourselves against some big teams. 'Nothing changes in terms of our style of play, so they are always interesting occasions. I'm looking forward to it. 'It's a really good group. There's three full-time clubs in there so it will be a big test, but we showed last season that we can compete with Championship clubs on our day. 'St Johnstone is a massive game to kick us off after getting into the SPFL. I know they had an unsuccessful season and had a new manager come in, but I have a lot of admiration for [boss] Simo Valakari in terms of how his side plays. 'He is trying to implement a possession-based style of play so I think that will make for a good game between us. 'We will go to try and win all the games and we'll certainly show no fear.' With East Kilbride being involved in the end of season play-offs last term, Kennedy says they will need to use the cup as pre-season. EK are due to play one friendly on Saturday, July 5 against an as yet unnamed opponent before the cup campaign gets underway. League Two will kick-off on August 2. Kennedy added: 'We will try and get one friendly in before the cup starts but that will be our pre-season. 'We need to use the competition as our pre-season because we finished a lot later than the SPFL teams and the boys needed their break.'
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
East Kilbride boss: We won't be making 'big name' signings now we are in SPFL
Mick Kennedy has stressed Kilby won't be splashing the cash on 'stellar' signings over the summer as he aims to stick to successful model that won club promotion East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy has warned fans not to expect any glamour signings now the club is in the SPFL. But he has targeted six fresh faces to spearhead Kilby's push for the League Two title next season. The Lowland League champions won promotion to the fourth tier last month with a play-off victory over Bonnyrigg Rose to claim their place in the professional ranks for the first time. Work is well underway to strengthen the side for a title-tilt but while Kennedy admits they will bring in plenty of fresh faces, he says he won't be going for any so-called big names in the transfer market. Kennedy said: 'Our style of play dictates our recruitment. There's only a certain type of player who can fit into our structure. 'Some people are maybe expecting us to come up and announce some stellar names and stuff like that. There won't be any of that nonsense, like us signing Championship players. 'It will be boys about 23 or 24 who have played some degree of games in the SPFL. There will be nothing major happening. 'It's people we think we can coach well and develop, and who will give us the best opportunity to get out of League Two. 'The squad during my time has always been made up like that. Now and again there have been some experienced boys we've managed to get hold of. 'But there will be nothing that will make you go 'wow', I can assure people of that. 'I am not saying it isn't possible for us, it is just not my style. I really don't think there will be anything significant in terms of a 'name', but we are confident that if we get the players we are trying to bring in, we will certainly have one of the strongest squads in the league. 'There are deals in place that we are hoping to announce shortly. We will bring in six players as we look for a squad around 20. 'Once things settle we will start to look at the loan market and see what is available. We are working away and hopefully we will start to get some over the line this week.' East Kilbride announced last week who will be retained for next season and who has been released. The club has 13 players from the promotion winning squad sticking around with Sean Fagan, Jordan McGregor, Jamie Hamilton, David Ferguson, Reegan Mimnaugh, Lewis Spence, Joao Balde, Nathan Flanagan, Cami Elliott, Luke Main, Broque Watson, John Robertson and skipper Jack Leitch all retained. Those being released are Chris Truesdale, David Wilson, Adam Livingstone, Ian McShane and Scott Ferguson, while loan stars Matty Connelly (Motherwell), Daire O'Connor (Hamilton Accies), Cameron McKinley (Stirling Albion) and Zander Craik (Kilmarnock) return to their parent clubs. There are names among the retained list who could attract interest from bigger clubs, with the likes of ex-Hamilton Accies man Reegan Mimnaugh having a great campaign in 2024/25, but Kennedy is confident none of his key players will be going anywhere during the transfer window. He added: 'The retained players are those we've had conversations with and who all want to stay. I have a good enough relationship with the boys that if something came up they would speak to me. 'I wouldn't imagine anyone on the retained list is going to go anywhere. They enjoy the environment, the style of play and how the club is run. No disrespect to other clubs, but I think many of them would struggle to find something similar at this level. 'East Kilbride is arguably the best-run part-time club in the country and everybody has said they are fully committed for next season.'
Scottish Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Premier Sports Cup group stage draw in FULL as first competitive clashes of 2025/26 season mapped out
Seven Premiership clubs are entering the competition at this early stage UP FOR THE CUP UP FOR THE CUP Premier Sports Cup group stage draw in FULL as first competitive clashes of 2025/26 season mapped out THE curtain has only literally come down on the Scottish football season. But the early part of NEXT season has already been mapped out by the Premier Sports Cup group stage draw. 3 Celtic are the holders of the Premier Sports Cup Credit: Getty 3 Derek McInnes' first competitive Hearts games will take place in the competition Credit: PA 3 East Kilbride and Mick Kennedy will get an early season taste of SPFL opposition Credit: Michael Schofield, News Group Newspapers Ltd As has now become the norm, the coveted competition kicks-off in mid-July. That means an early start to the campaign for several of the Scottish Premiership's big hitters. The five top flight clubs playing in Europe won't enter until the next round, but for the other seven they'll get underway right from the off. Derek McInnes' career as Hearts boss will get underway in the Premier Sports Cup, with his first competitive game in charge taking place in this competition. St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Motherwell are also among the clubs entering here. SPFL newcomers East Kilbride will test themselves against some higher level opposition, while Highland League champions will face TWO top flight clubs in their group. Here's the Premier Sports Cup group stage draw in full. What teams have been drawn to face each other in the Premier Sports Cup group stage draw? Group A: Falkirk, Queen's Park, Cove Rangers, The Spartans, Brechin City Group B: Ross County, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South, Edinburgh City, Stranraer Group C: Dundee, Airdrieonians, Alloa Athletic, Montrose, Bonnyrigg Rose Group D: St Mirren, Ayr United, Arbroath, Annan Athletic, Forfar Athletic Group E: Hearts, Dunfermline Athletic, Hamilton Academical, Dumbarton, Stirling Albion Group F: St Johnstone, Raith Rovers, Inverness CT, Elgin City, East Kilbride Group G: Motherwell, Greenock Morton, Stenhousemuir, Peterhead, Clyde Group H: Kilmarnock, Livingston, Kelty Hearts, East Fife, Brora Rangers How does the Premier Sports Cup group stage work? 40 teams are taking part in the group stage The clubs have been drawn into eight groups of five teams from seeded pots one to five All SPFL clubs take part in the group stage apart from the five Premiership clubs competing in European competition (Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Dundee United and Aberdeen) Bonnyrigg Rose, who were relegated out of the SPFL last season via the play-offs, are taking part as well as the top two teams from the Highland League, Brora Rangers and Brechin City Each team will play their group opponents once, with two games at home and two games away All eight group winners will progress to the second round The three best-runners up will also advance to the second round with all other clubs eliminated from the competition As always, three points are awarded for a win and a point for a draw - but matches ending in a draw will see the teams take part in a penalty shoot-out with a bonus point awarded to the winners When does the Premier Sports Cup group stage take place? The first matchday will take place across the weekend of July 12/13 This will be followed by matches on the midweek of July 15/16, weekend of July 19/20 and the midweek of July 22/23 The final round of matches will he be held on the weekend of July 26/27 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Premier Sports Cup draw details and seedings plus live stream and how to watch for free
The group stage of the League cup gets underway on the weekend of July 12/13 The curtain may have just fallen on the last season of Scottish football- but the seedings for the upcoming group stage of the Premier Sports Cup have now been confirmed. Ahead of Wednesday's draw, the 40 participating clubs from the SPFL's top four divisions as well as the Highland and Lowland League teams will learn who they will be facing in the group stage as they dream of going all the way to Hampden later this year. Highland League champions Brora Rangers and runner's up Brechin City will be included as guest clubs in this year's competition as they plot a shock route to the knockout stage. They will be joined by Bonnyrigg rose now of the Lowland league after being defeated by high-flying East Kilbride in the League two relegation playoff over two legs as Kilby join the professional ranks for the first time in their history. Mick Kennedy's side will now be dreaming of drawing some stellar ties against the likes of Hearts, Kilmarnock and newly promoted Premiership side Falkirk in tomorrow's draw. Missing from group stage action is Scotland's European representatives, with Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United all gaining a bye into the next round and will be joined by the eight group winners and three best runners-up in the second round of the competition. Celtic are the reigning champions after defeating Rangers in an epic final at the national stadium last December and will be hoping to retain their title later this year. The group stage of the Premier Sports Cup will get underway on the weekend of July 12/13 with further matchdays coming on July 15/16, 19/20, 22/23 and 26/27. Record Sport has all the details including where you can watch the big draw for free as well as the seedings which will determine how 40 clubs start their new season. When is the Premier Sports Cup draw? The draw will take place on Wednesday, May 28 at 1pm UK time. Where can I watch the Premier Sports Cup draw? The draw will be available to fans of all clubs absolutely free on the Premier Sports YouTube channel/X page. In addition, the SPFL YouTube channel will also have live coverage of the draw. What are the seedings and club numbers for the draw? Pot 1: 1 St Mirren, 2 Heart of Midlothian, 3 Motherwell, 4 Kilmarnock, 5 Dundee, 6 Ross County, 7 St Johnstone, 8 Falkirk. Pot 2: 9 Livingston, 10 Ayr United, 11 Partick Thistle, 12 Raith Rovers, 13 Greenock Morton, 14 Dunfermline Athletic, 15 Queen's Park, 16 Airdrieonians. Pot 3: 17 Hamilton Academical, 18 Arbroath, 19 Cove Rangers, 20 Queen of the South, 21 Stenhousemuir, 22 Alloa Athletic, 23 Kelty Hearts, 24 Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Pot 4: 25 Montrose, 26 Annan Athletic, 27 Dumbarton, 28 Peterhead, 29 East Fife, 30 Edinburgh City, 31 Elgin City, 32 The Spartans. Pot 5: 33 Stirling Albion, 34 Clyde, 35 Stranraer, 36 Forfar Athletic, 37 Bonnyrigg Rose, 38 East Kilbride, 39 Brora Rangers, 40 Brechin City. Premier Sports Cup match dates in full 2025/26 Group stage - MD1: Weekend of July 12/13, MD2: Midweek of July 15/16, MD3: Weekend of July 19/20, MD4: Midweek of July 22/23, MD5: Weekend of July 26/27 Second round Weekend of August 16/17 Quarter-finals Weekend of September 20/21 Semi-finals Weekend of November 1/2 Final Sunday December 14
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
East Kilbride announce new deals for Mick Kennedy and Si Ferry after promotion glory
The duo helped EK finally win promotion after the club waited 11 years to reach League Two East Kilbride manager Mick Kennedy and assistant boss Si Ferry have signed new deals at the League Two club after securing their promotion from the Lowland League on Saturday. Kilby defeated Bonnyrigg Rose 3-1 on aggregate in the League Two play-off final to earn their place in the professional ranks for the first time, following an 11-year wait. And now club chiefs have rewarded their management duo with a contract extension that will keep them at K-Park until June 2027. Kennedy guided the club to a treble this season, winning the league, Lowland League Cup and the South Challenge Cup, having won the Lowland League and Lowland League Cup in his first season. The 45-year-old said: "Since joining the Club, myself and the staff have been fully committed to ensuring that we got East Kilbride up to League 2. Now we have achieved this and have the foundations in place, we move into phase two of this journey. "We must ensure that we build, grow and develop, on and off the pitch. To do so, it's important that we have stability. The staff and I are delighted to commit to the club, working alongside the owners, directors and staff and I am fully committed to establishing the club within the SPFL. "The fans can be assured that myself and the staff will continue with the same drive, commitment and desire to continue to bring success to this football club. "Finally, to the fans and the East Kilbride community, I'm proud to represent your club and your community. It's more important now than ever that we don't stand still. "We will need you by our side, together as one. Hopefully the last two years have shown what we can achieve together."
