Latest news with #PFAScotlandTeamoftheYear
The Herald Scotland
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Nicolas Raskin makes Rangers vow over Rangers future
His form earned him a deserved place in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year and he has certainly been one of the best and most consistent performers in royal blue. Raskin has been linked with a move away, with Leeds and Aston Villa linked, having previously been quoted on his ambitions to play at as high a level as possible in his career. However, the 24-year-old insists he is going nowhere any time soon. He aims to continue enjoying himself at Ibrox and plans to stick around for the next two years, so long as the club wants him. His contract expires in the summer of 2027. Read more: Will Still 'rejects' Rangers manager chance with English sides lining him up Carlo Ancelotti sends message to Davide amid Rangers links Speaking after the final day draw with Hibs in which he was denied what looked a clear goal, he said: "I've been enjoying myself this season and it's not so often that you can enjoy yourself at a club. "So I'm really happy here, two more seasons in my contract. as Long as the club wants me, I'll be here and we'll see what happens." Raskin has also urged the club to make sure they get their next managerial appointment spot on. He is a fan of Barry Ferguson's but insists whatever decision is taken, it has to be one that ensures success is on the horizon. 'I like Barry, but it's not my decision," he admitted. "The thing is we need to be successful next season. So it's going to be who's coming in and how do we do that? How do we be successful? 'Barry's been great for me and my statistics can show it. I've been much more efficient and going forward for the team. So Barry's been great for me. I think he's a great guy. 'It's going to be a big change in the summer. So who knows what's going to happen? I don't know. So let's just wait and see.'
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
John Souttar in telling Rangers honesty as Davide Ancelotti next boss links addressed by Ibrox star
The big defender is entering the final 12 months of his deal and there has been no talks over an extension since October John Souttar is a man of few words these days. But at Rangers' training ground, he didn't have to. Because as he assessed the wreckage of what's gone before this season, the look of dejection and disappointment was written all over his face. And as he somehow tried to look ahead to a bright Ibrox future - with just a year left on his contract - what Souttar did say was telling. His gaffer Barry Ferguson touched on it at his press conference last week. That while the club is subject to a £100million American takeover from 49ers Enterprises and Andrew Cavenagh - there will continue to be an air of uncertainty around the club. And that's not just about who will be in charge going forward or how much cash a new manager might have to spend. It's about the current group of players who, while they've underperformed this term, need some clarity on what's around the corner. Souttar is certainly in that boat. In a poor campaign, he's been one of their most reliable players. He was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year and has also excelled for the national team. But as it stands, Souttar will go on his summer holidays with no idea if he'll still be at Ibrox next season. With 12 months remaining on his deal, the club opened talks with the centre-back months ago and it looked certain that an extension would be agreed. But with the takeover now at the forefront of everyone's mind, he revealed those discussions have NOT continued. He doesn't know if he'll have Davide Ancelotti, Barry Ferguson or anyone else as his gaffer. But whoever is in charge will need to make a decision soon on whether they want to keep Souttar at Rangers. Certainly, the 28-year-old is keen to stay for the long-term. But, despite trying to be guarded at Gers' pre-match press conference, he admits it's a concern, not just for him but for other players too. When asked if he'd felt that air of uncertainty, Souttar said: 'Yeah, if you're coming to the end of your contract, there's always going to be that uncertainty. 'Everyone is focused on the last two games. But I think if you're out of contract, then naturally part of your mindset will be what's going to happen in the summer. 'That's only natural for every player. Anyone in that position will feel the exact same. 'Has there been an update on my own contract? No, I've heard nothing. Nothing at all. 'Fingers crossed that any new manager coming in would see me as someone they'd want here long term. 'I spoke about it (contract extension) earlier this season with the club, around October time. 'But apart from that there hasn't been much communication. 'So I'll just play these two games, hopefully be involved with Scotland in June then see what happens. 'Is that because of the uncertainty around the club in terms of a takeover? Yeah, potentially. 'I think a number of lads are in the same position so we'll just have to wait and see.' Another one in a similar boat is his partner at the back, Leon Balogun, who will be a free agent. Souttar also wants the big Nigerian's situation to be resolved. He said: 'Balo has been a great servant to Rangers and has made it clear he wants to stay. 'It's obviously out of our hands but it would be good to see that. 'Age doesn't matter with him, that shouldn't come into it. 'He's a senior figure in the dressing-room and a good person to have here. 'We need characters at a club like this, and experience. That's what he brings.' Souttar has arguably been Rangers' best defender this season and - if it's red-hot favourite Ancelotti who is appointed as manager - is someone you'd want to keep. At 28, he should be coming into the best years of his career. But Souttar is honest enough with himself and supporters. He says he's had good and bad spells this term on a personal level. But he's unequivocal when accepting it's been nowhere near good enough from the Rangers squad a whole. That's why he's determined to finish with two victories against Dundee United and Hibs. He said: 'Obviously, the season hasn't been good enough. Everyone is aware of that. 'We'll concentrate on these two games but I think everyone is looking forward to the summer. 'We're not happy with how the season has gone but it's important to finish strongly. 'Everyone at the club knows it hasn't been good enough for a number of reasons this year. 'For me personally, I've played a lot of football in what's been an up and down season for me. 'At the start of it, if you'd have told me I'd play this amount of games, I'd have taken it. 'I've also got myself back in the national team set-up, which is great. 'But it's difficult to look at yourself because the season as a whole hasn't gone how we wanted it to as a club.' It could well be Ancelotti's job to fix that this summer if he arrives from Real Madrid as Rangers' new head coach. And whether Souttar will be part of a new dawn at the club - or sold off before his contract expires - remains to be seen. When asked about what he thought about the Italian son of Carlo being linked with the job, he said: 'I try not to think about it too much, if I'm honest. 'I'll probably only take notice of it when it's announced. 'Until then, I'll just play football and see what these next two games bring.'
Edinburgh Reporter
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Eilidh Adams says double award nomination is 'special feeling'
Eilidh Adams has described being nominated for two separate PFA Scotland awards as a 'special feeling'. Already selected in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year alongside goalkeeper Erin Clachers, Hibernian Women's number nine is now up for both the Young Player of the Year award and Player of the Year award. Scoring 24 goals and providing five assists has, unsurprisingly, earned Adams a spot on the two shortlists – a feat she takes a lot of pride in. 'It's really nice to be nominated for both awards,' she told HibsTV. 'I wasn't expected to get nominated for either of them, so to then be nominated for both is really nice. 'It's a special feeling to be recognised by other players in the league that you play against week in, week out. It feels really good. 'I think obviously it's a very nice feeling but it's not necessarily something I look at at the start of the season. But when it does happen it certainly feels good and it definitely helps me.' The 21-year-old, who made her senior Scotland debut earlier this year off the back of her tremendous performances for Hibs, is already looking forward to trun-in. With five league matches remaining, the first of which is the visit of Motherwell to Meadowbank on Wednesday evening, Adams is keen to put awards to the side to focus on her team's title push. 'Without how the team's done this season, and the hard work of the team, it would be very different. I think I need to give them all a lot of credit to them as well. 'I think the hard work of the team has got me this recognition. 'There's a big task at hand given how the league looks, so it's just about concentrating on each game and the next game that comes, and focusing on that and then maybe celebrating at the end of the season.' Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
James Penrice dismisses 'weird' Hearts claims despite the story Neil Ciritchley's record tells
Penrice also reflected on an impressive personal season despite the Jambos as a whole missing their targets James Penrice has dismissed 'weird' claims Hearts can't handle big games despite their Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Aberdeen. Neil Critchley' s record against the bigger clubs in Scotland makes for grim reading, with just three points from 12 clashes against Celtic, Rangers, Hibs and Aberdeen. A late defeat to the Dons in Saturday's cup clash has proved the final straw for a number of fans, who want the board to make a change in the dugout after seeing their side come off second best in another big game. The Jambos ended extra-time with nine men after Michael Steinwender's first-half red card and Cammy Devlin' s second yellow just before Oday Dabbagh's winner denied them a chance at a penalty shoot-out. The club have demanded answers from the SFA over ref John Beaton's call to dismiss the Aussie. But Penrice insists that despite losing, he and his team-mates showed they can perform on the big occasions. He said: 'There were weird shouts in the Press earlier on in the week – 'we couldn't handle big games'. But I don't think anyone walked off that park in a Hearts jersey that was disappointed in their performance. 'Every single one of the boys was brilliant. That's what you need. That's what you need every week when you play with this club. 'You need to put 100 per cent in and that needs to be the first thing. That's what we've got to do going forward now.' After also missing out on the top six, Hearts now face an underwhelming end to the campaign, although they could do with another win to remove any lingering relegation play-off doubts. And Penrice admits they have no choice but to lift themselves. 'Don't get me wrong, it's very disappointing but I think that's your job,' he added. 'You can't always have it easy in football. This is what you're judged on when it is tough. Can you bounce back? That's what us as a group of players have got to do. 'We've got to bounce back now and go and finish these five games strongly because we owe it to the fans as well. 'We've got to win these five games. That's the least we can do. Hopefully we can do that. Despite a disappointing campaign for the club, Penrice has been a stand-out and was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year. He said: 'It's a massive achievement for me. I was hoping that didn't get released until after the game. 'It's a massive credit to where I was. Almost a year ago I wasn't even playing football and I was injured. 'It's a lot of hard work that's gone into it but it's not just me, it's the boys in there as well. 'They help for that and I'm very thankful to the club for giving me an opportunity to play.' After arriving from Livingston expecting to be a squad player, Penrice can't help but be pleased with his displays during his maiden season in maroon. He added: 'I've loved every minute of it. It's been a massive jump up for me. I've taken it in my stride and I'm playing with confidence. 'Ultimately, I'd like to be doing a wee bit better than we are. I joined this club to compete in the finals and finish up the higher end of the league and go and play in Europe. 'On that end, it's disappointing. But from a personal point of view, I've loved every minute of it. It's a club I've taken to straight away.'
Scotsman
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hearts star senses change is afoot at Tynecastle as he lands major achievement
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now The Hearts star has been talking three objectives that drew him to Gorgie after a strong season was greeted with reward Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... James Penrice believes changes will occur at Hearts going into pre-season as he looks for more than just personal success. The left-back has been left proud after being named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year. He is one of only two non-Old Firm players in the XI, the other being Dundee United striker Sam Dalby, as Penrice is recognised for an excellent first season in maroon after joining from Livingston. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On the team front, it's been a tough season, with bottom six fixtures awaiting post split and losing Saturday's Scottish Cup semi final with Aberdeen. Amid the role of Jamestown Analytics in recruitment, Penrice believes it's an exciting time to be part of the club as he hopes to build towards three of the key reasons he joined Hearts. Three Hearts objectives He said: 'It's a massive achievement for me. I was hoping it would get released after the game. It's a massive credit to where I was. Almost a year ago, I wasn't even playing football and I was injured. I think it's a lot of hard work that's went into it, but it's not just me, it's the boys in there as well. They help for that and I'm very thankful to the club for giving me an opportunity to play. 'I've loved every minute of it. It's been a massive jump up for me. I think I took it in my stride and I'm playing with confidence. Ultimately, I'd like to be doing a wee bit better than we are. I joined this club to compete in the finals and finish up the higher end of the league and go and play in Europe. On that end, it's disappointing, but from a personal point of view, I've loved every minute of it. It's a club that I've took to straight away. The support that everyone around me and the fans have given me and my family in joining the club, it's been excellent. 'It's a very exciting project that the club have got with the way they're going about their business with the analytics. I'm sure there will be a lot of changes, but as players you just need to get on with it and see what comes. We'll be going into next season with positivity and hopefully we can start better than we did this season." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Clamping critics There were questions lingering over Hearts heading into the game at Hampden over their ability to mix it in big games, having missed two chances to enter the top six, failing to beat Hibs this season in derby action but league phase elimination in the Conference League. Neil Critchley's side more than matched the Dons over 120 minutes into extra time, with Michael Steinwender sent off in the first half and Cammy Devlin dismissed controversially for a second yellow in the additional half hour. Penrice insists a standard has been set. He said: 'There were weird shouts in the press earlier on in the week. We couldn't handle big games, but I don't think anyone walked off that park that was in a Hearts jersey that was disappointed in their performance. I thought every single one of the boys were brilliant. That's what you need. That's what you need every week when you play with this club. You need to put 100% and that needs to be the first thing. That's what we've got to do going forward now. 'Don't get me wrong, it's very disappointing, but I think that's your job. You can't always have it easy in football. This is what you're judged on when it is tough. Can you bounce back? That's what us as a group of players have got to do. We've got to bounce back now and go and finish these five games strongly. Because we owe it to the fans as well. 'I thought we were brilliant. Our shape was brilliant. We caught them a couple of times on the counter as well. For the most part of the game I think they ran out of ideas. They didn't really know what to do. We felt really comfortable actually. We were kind of looking to go into extra time and go and try and get another couple of chances. It wasn't to be and it's frustrating because of the amount of work that the boys have put in. The disappointment of last week and this week. It was a massive week for the club. It is frustrating, but we've just got to get on with it."
