Latest news with #Paulsen
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Paulsen to St Mirren truth amid Hemming transfer return talks
Reports had suggested Stephen Robinson would consider a swoop for the New Zealand internationalist should the Paisley club fail to land Zach Hemming. St Mirren are keen to sign Hemming from Middlesbrough after a second loan spell in Paisley last season. However, they face a wait to discover whether a transfer deal is feasible for the shot-stopper. Paulsen, 22, emerged as a reported target for St Mirren earlier this week after Hibernian had first been credited with an interest in the goalkeeper. The keeper spent last season on loan at Auckland FC from Bournemouth, where he won players' player of the season, with the Hibs ownership connection at Bournemouth prompting suggestions of a move to Scotland. Black Knights president Tim Bezbatchenko previously said: "If we're looking at a player at Bournemouth who maybe needs to be loaned out, and we feel that Hibs is an opportunity to put that player into a good environment, then that could change as Hibs fill out their squad. "One good example would be Alex Paulsen, who's currently Auckland's goalkeeper. The decision now for us is, 'Would it make sense to move him within the group?' And Hibs could be a good location for him." Read more: The Edinburgh club have since signed Raphael Sallinger from TSV Hartberg on a three-year deal. After the Leith link, speculation began over interest from Scottish Premiership clubs, including St Mirren, in the 6ft 4' stopper. Paulsen was on the bench for New Zealand during the friendly win over the Ivory Coast on Sunday. However, it's understood suggestions of a possible move for Paulsen from the Paisley club are premature, with the player unlikely to move to Scotland at this juncture. Highly-rated Paulsen is contracted to Bournemouth for another three years. He played for Wellington Phoenix before signing for the Premier League club. The current state of play remains that St Mirren await a decision from Middlesbrough on Hemming, no approach has been made or indeed transfer intent signalled for Paulsen, with a move to the Scottish Premiership not currently on the radar of the goalkeeper, who could move elsewhere this summer. On the pursuit of Hemming, who is thought to be interested in a third spell at St Mirren, Robinson said: "Zach, we are currently still speaking to Middlesbrough. "We hope to have a decision one way or the other over the next two weeks." Robinson, aided by head of recruitment Martin Foyle, is also keen to add a central defender, right wing-back, central midfielder, and attacking option before the new season.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Paulsen to St Mirren truth amid Hemming transfer return talks
St Mirren are keen to sign Hemming from Middlesbrough after a second loan spell in Paisley last season. However, they face a wait to discover whether a transfer deal is feasible for the shot-stopper. Paulsen, 22, emerged as a reported target for St Mirren earlier this week after Hibernian had first been credited with an interest in the goalkeeper. The keeper spent last season on loan at Auckland FC from Bournemouth, where he won players' player of the season, with the Hibs ownership connection at Bournemouth prompting suggestions of a move to Scotland. Black Knights president Tim Bezbatchenko previously said: "If we're looking at a player at Bournemouth who maybe needs to be loaned out, and we feel that Hibs is an opportunity to put that player into a good environment, then that could change as Hibs fill out their squad. "One good example would be Alex Paulsen, who's currently Auckland's goalkeeper. The decision now for us is, 'Would it make sense to move him within the group?' And Hibs could be a good location for him." Read more: The Edinburgh club have since signed Raphael Sallinger from TSV Hartberg on a three-year deal. After the Leith link, speculation began over interest from Scottish Premiership clubs, including St Mirren, in the 6ft 4' stopper. Paulsen was on the bench for New Zealand during the friendly win over the Ivory Coast on Sunday. However, it's understood suggestions of a possible move for Paulsen from the Paisley club are premature, with the player unlikely to move to Scotland at this juncture. Highly-rated Paulsen is contracted to Bournemouth for another three years. He played for Wellington Phoenix before signing for the Premier League club. The current state of play remains that St Mirren await a decision from Middlesbrough on Hemming, no approach has been made or indeed transfer intent signalled for Paulsen, with a move to the Scottish Premiership not currently on the radar of the goalkeeper, who could move elsewhere this summer. On the pursuit of Hemming, who is thought to be interested in a third spell at St Mirren, Robinson said: "Zach, we are currently still speaking to Middlesbrough. "We hope to have a decision one way or the other over the next two weeks." Robinson, aided by head of recruitment Martin Foyle, is also keen to add a central defender, right wing-back, central midfielder, and attacking option before the new season.
Agriland
7 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Ukraine: Communities need ‘immediate support' to produce food
Rural communities in Ukraine 'need immediate support' to produce food amid the ongoing war with Russia, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). With the war ongoing, many Ukrainian farmers and rural farming families face limited access to their land due to mines and lack the financial resources to purchase needed agricultural inputs, the FAO said. It warned that without 'urgent and sustained support', thousands of rural households may be unable to plant or harvest on time, jeopardizing Ukraine's national food security and rural livelihoods. The FAO said urgent support is needed to help farmers in the country safely access their fields and obtain essential production resources like seeds, fertilisers, storage and energy solutions. 'Meeting the needs of Ukraine's rural communities requires more than emergency assistance – it demands sustained, well-coordinated response to support agri-food systems,' the organisation said. According to the FAO, the coming months will determine whether rural producers in Ukraine can sustain production through the winter and into the next season. 'Across the country, rural households – many of them elderly, or female-headed – continue to depend on agriculture for their survival,' the FAO said. These households may be growing vegetables; tending to a single cow or a handful of chickens; and cultivating small plots of land, without a reliable source of electricity and with limited access to markets and supplies. Rein Paulsen, director of emergencies and resilience at the FAO, said: 'With the war still affecting millions, rural frontline communities remain among the most vulnerable and the least supported. 'These families want to be able to provide for themselves. They want to stay on their land. And emergency agricultural support is such an affective means of enabling them to do that,' Paulsen added. According to an assessment carried out by Ukraine's government, the World Bank, the EU and the UN, the country's agriculture sector has suffered $83.9 billion in damages and losses, with an additional $1.6 billion in the irrigation sector. The FAO said rural households and small-scale farmers bear a significant share of this impact and have been forced to adapt, facing land contamination, labour shortages, rising input costs and power outages. Thousands of families still lack basic tools, inputs, and services needed to sustain their production and protect their livelihoods. Since 2022, the FAO has supported over 250,000 rural families with vegetable seeds, animal feed, day-old chicks, cash and vouchers, with more than 15,000 farmers receiving crop seeds, temporary storage and financial assistance. The FAO has also worked with others to survey land mins and restore access to fields. Despite that support, the FAO said 'much more is needed', with many rural Ukrainian families at risk of 'being left behind'. Paulsen said: 'This work is absolutely indispensable. Agriculture is a fabric of rural society. It's not just a way to make a living, it's a way of living. And vulnerable rural families are holding on. They need support not just to survive, but to thrive and rebuild.' The FAO called on its donors and partners to 'redouble their support' to Ukraine's farming families, amid funding shortfalls that the FAO said continue to limit the implementation of its Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for 2025-2026.
Politico
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Ciattarelli's GOP chair choice
Presented by Good Monday morning! Nothing's official yet, including the Republican nominee for governor, but it's looking like the New Jersey State Republican Party will soon be run by Glenn Paulsen. Ciattarelli late last week indicated to Republican leaders that Paulsen will likely be his choice to run the party if he wins the nomination in June, which looks likely. Party nominees traditionally get to pick the state chair until at least November, though it hasn't always happened that way. Paulsen is a 14-year former Burlington County GOP chair, back when that county, now quite Democratic, was a bastion of Republicanism. He was often called a 'boss,' and he maintained a strong GOP organization along with his protege, the late Bill Layton, but looking back, the Democratic tide of South Jersey suburban Philadelphia seemed inevitable. Another Paulsen mentee, Eric Arpert, is running Ciattarelli's campaign. And Ciattarelli strategist Chris Russell also goes way back with him. Paulsen also played a big role in launching the political career of former state senator and Ciattarelli 2021 lieutenant governor running mate Diane Allen, before they became political enemies. But over the last 20 years or so, Paulsen has largely been out of the spotlight while remaining a behind-the-scenes player. He's make the news occasionally, like when his former law firm Capehart & Scatchard was New Jersey's special counsel to the DRPA. In 2019, he joined the firm Malamut and Associates, which the Burlington County Times noted had strong ties to Burlington County Democrats. But that association ended suddenly during a recent controversy over the leadership of Rowan College at Burlington County, when Paulsen said another employee of the firm told him he was done 'without any explanation, any previous negative employment evaluations or any other explanation.' But as likely as Paulsen looks, Ciattarelli isn't expected to make the choice formal until after the primary, and then it will have to be ratified by the the committee members. I'm told there's no bad blood between Ciattarelli and current GOP Chair Bob Hugin, whom Ciattarelli first named chair four years ago. Other names I've heard floated for the role include Cape May GOP Chair Michael Donohue, Middletown Mayor Tony Perry, Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon and Hunterdon GOP Chair Gabe Plumer. Ciattarelli's chief primary rival, Bill Spadea, responded to the news by saying the pick shows Ciattarelli is a 'slave to the Trenton crowd' and calling Paulsen 'an entrenched political insider who has made his entire career off of taxpayer dollars.' 'I didn't think that Jack's newest choice for chair could be worse than his guy who drove NJGOP into the ditch for the last four years, but he's surprised me again.' Spadea is backed by Ocean County GOP Chair George Gilmore, one of the most powerful Republican insiders in New Jersey. I asked his campaign if he would consider Gilmore for GOP state chair if he wins the position, but his campaign manager Tom Bonfonti told me he doesn't have a shortlist right now because 'our only focus is on the voters and winning this primary.' FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — No public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'There's a law against impersonating a religious belief, and that's exactly what you're doing, Ed Grimes! Your Jeep is outside. I took a picture of your license plate. I will now press charges against you.' — Dover Mayor James Dodd, after activist Ed 'Lefty' Grimes allegedly showed up to a council meeting in a burqa to complain about a smoking ordinance. (I'm not familiar with any laws against impersonating religious belief, and I can't imagine one would be constitutional.) HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Kevin Egan, Chris Aikin, Ken Deitz, John Traier, Judy Ward WHAT TRENTON MADE QUICKER ZWICKER — Sponsor confident NJ will clarify House vacancy law before Murphy's term ends, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: A bill to reduce the amount of time it takes to fill House vacancies, introduced after a painfully slow process to fill the seat of the late Rep. Donald Payne, has yet to advance a year after it was introduced. But after making a series of amendments to it Thursday, and after a brief discussion of it in a Senate committee, its author is confident it will pass by the end of Gov. Phil Murphy's term in January. 'No one has come out against it. I worked closely with the county clerks. I want to make sure the vacancy got filled as quickly as possible,' said state Sen. Andrew Zwicker, a Democrat. The timing is important. Two Democratic House members are running to replace Murphy: Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer. Should one of them win, it will create a vacancy and trigger New Jersey's currently long and cumbersome process to replace them. The bill, NJ S3282 (24R), would cut down the time frame to fill House vacancies in some circumstances, but it could still be a particularly long process, depending on when the vacancy occurs. SURGE PRICING — 'Uber spends millions backing Fulop, Sherrill, Ciattarelli in primary,' by New Jersey Globe's Zach Blackburn: 'Uber is spending millions on primary races this summer in a push to end high insurance costs for rideshare companies in New Jersey. The spending is part of an ongoing push from Uber to end the insurance requirements, including a five-figure digital ad campaign earlier this month … 'The cost of rideshare in New Jersey has become too expensive for many, and that is largely due to state-mandated insurance requirements,' Uber spokesperson Freddi Goldstein said in a statement … Uber's PAC, Fair & Affordable New Jersey, gave $1 million to Workers for a Better New Jersey, a super PAC supporting Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop's campaign for governor. A source close to Uber told the New Jersey Globe the company's PAC sent $500k to Stand Together NJ, a super PAC supporting Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill, and another $500k to Kitchen Table Conservatives, a super PAC supporting Republican Jack Ciattarelli.' NURSING A GRUDGE — 'N.J. spends billions on nursing homes. Officials question spending in wake of report,' by NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livio and Ted Sherman: 'New Jersey spends billions to help fund nursing home care for frail and elderly residents. But state officials are now questioning just how the money is being spent in the wake of a recent series by NJ Advance Media and its sister newsrooms across the country examining the inside financial dealings of the long-term care industry. State Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman laid out the stakes in a key budget hearing earlier this month … She pointedly asked whether operators who receive tens of thousands through Medicaid reimbursements for indigent residents should be allowed to profit from those public funds. 'The reality is this is happening' she said, referring to the stories and the findings about the quality and nutrition of food provided in nursing homes, as well as revelations on self-dealing by nursing homes that do business with related companies.' TOO STEAMY — A social media video posted by Steve Fulop on Saturday night chronicled his day on the campaign trail. Set to the tune of Rusted Root's 'Send Me On My Way,' it initially began with G-rated footage of Fulop in the shower at 5:30 a.m., but Fulop deleted it. 'One person said something so I didn't want to deal with a shoulder being exposed,' Fulop told me. You can still see the video, sans shower footage. Fulop is calling it 'Shower Gate.' STREET FIGHT 2 — The race to become New Jersey's next governor is on! This election is crowded, and even less predictable than normal. Let's look at what could happen — pick a Democrat and a Republican to face off, and we'll tell you how it might go. Choose your fighter here — ''Wake-up call': [Wimberly's] car broken into by scooter-riding burglars' — 'Sierra Club endorses Mikie Sherrill for governor' — 'Sweeney pushes healthcare proposal amid Medicaid uncertainty' — JCP&L asks BPU: Should we still be spending hundreds of millions on offshore wind grid? — 'What Makes Jersey Run: What you need to know about N.J.'s hot governor race in easy numbers' — 'Navy pilot. Mom. A different kind of leader: I'm Mikie Sherrill, running for N.J. governor' — 'To fix our state, we need common sense: I'm Jack Ciattarelli, running for N.J. governor' — Sauickie: 'As utility bills bankrupt NJ, Trenton Democrats blame everyone but themselves' TRUMP ERA BOBBING FOR PARDONS — 'Former Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez is still pushing for a Trump pardon before reporting to prison,' by NBC's Kate Santaliz, Julie Tsirkin, Garrett Haake and Carol E. Lee: 'President Donald Trump has not ruled out pardoning or commuting the sentence of former Sen. Bob Menendez, though allies believe there is only a small chance that the New Jersey Democrat will receive clemency before he's scheduled to report to prison next month, according to a White House official and three additional people familiar with the discussions. Menendez allies have made multiple overtures to the White House since Trump took office to request either a pardon or a commutation of his 11-year prison sentence following his conviction on bribery and corruption charges, according to four people familiar with the efforts. After one such overture, some of Menendez's allies were convinced Trump will not grant the New Jersey Democrat clemency, people familiar with the efforts said. But a White House official says Trump has not made a decision on the matter.' — @SenatorMenendez: 'People talk about the Trump DOJ, but it was the Democrats who started weaponizing the Justice Dept. When, as the Chairman of the SFRC, I didn't go along with Obama's Iran deal, I was indicted, and the next day after being stripped of my position, Obama announced the Iran deal.' Community note: 'Former Senator Bob Menendez was convicted of federal corruption charges in July of 2024 after it was found that he and his wife accepted nearly $1 million in cash, gold bars and a luxury car as bribes. He was sentenced to 11 years and is due to report to prison on 6/17/25.' — Chris Christie says Trump is giving free rein to white-collar criminals UNWARRENTED — 'Officials in conservative N.J. county are baffled at their inclusion on 'sanctuary jurisdictions' list,' by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: 'When the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a list yesterday of 'sanctuary jurisdictions' that it says violate the law to shield undocumented immigrants … two jurisdictions on the list stick out from the rest: Cumberland and Warren Counties. Both counties voted for Donald Trump last year — Warren County did so by more than 20 percentage points — and both have Republican-controlled boards of county commissioners that are hardly sympathetic to sanctuary cities. An official statement from Warren County's government expressed 'surprise' at the designation, citing the anti-sanctuary state bills the county commissioner board has passed in recent years.' SHOOTING THE POOCH — 'A federal list of immigrant 'sanctuaries' nets Trump allies and foes alike,' by The New York Times' Campbell Robertson, Halina Bennet and Jill Cowan: 'Some of the jurisdictions on the list had indeed designated themselves as sanctuary cities in resolutions or executive orders. Officials in other places argued that the phrase 'sanctuary city' did not technically apply, though they had pledged to protect immigrants. But mixed among them were many counties and cities that openly support efforts to apprehend and deport immigrants, or have even been actively cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Officials in other places that had voted overwhelmingly for President Trump but were far from the front lines of the immigration debate were simply bewildered.' HOTLINE KING — 'Trump will hold a tele-rally for Ciattarelli on Monday night,' by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: 'President Donald Trump will host a tele-rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli on Monday evening at 7 PM, the New Jersey Globe has learned. Trump's virtual appearance for Ciattarelli comes eleven hours before the polls open for a week of in-person early voting … The president's endorsement of Ciattarelli, a onetime critic, came on May 12, making the former three-term assemblyman the clear front-runner in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.' — 'NJ nun tweeted at Trump every day in first term. Why she's changed her tune this time' — Murphy shows up in Smith's district to push back Medicaid cuts LOCAL ROSELLE PARK — 'Is cancer a coincidence? This N.J. town has a 30-year-old toxic waste problem that workers say is killing them,' by NJ Advance Media's Jackie Roman: 'Harry Uhrig's first two years of retirement from the Roselle Park Department of Public Works have been spent shuffling between doctors appointments. The 60-year-old doesn't drink or smoke. He always considered himself relatively healthy, until he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2022 and kidney failure in January of this year. That's why he wonders if his two decades of working at the borough's public works yard — one of more than 12,000 contaminated sites in New Jersey — had something to do with it … Dirty fill dirt used decades ago and old, leaking underground fuel storage tanks have contaminated the soil and groundwater, state records show. Volatile organic compounds like benzene and toxic heavy metals like arsenic, lead and manganese have been detected, according to remediation documents and a fact sheet from the state Department of Environmental Protection. Despite efforts by the town and the state to remove contaminated soil and conduct regular monitoring, current and former employees — some who've become sick, and the family of one who died of cancer five years ago — say not enough is being done. They claim that more than a half dozen former public works employees have died from different types of cancer between 2017 and 2024.' SUBWAY CRIME — 'Prospect Park councilman facing illegal gambling charges released from jail,' by The Record's Philip DeVencentis: 'The councilman who allegedly helped to orchestrate an underground gambling ring has been released from jail after a judge reconsidered a decision that kept him there for a month and a half. Borough Council President Anand Shah, 42, was allowed to walk out of Morris County Correctional Facility in Morristown on May 30, pending 11 charges of illegal gambling, money laundering and racketeering for his alleged link to the complex scheme. Michael DeMarco, an attorney for Shah, said his client will remain on home confinement, except for professional appointments and to go to work as a Subway franchisee.' FREE PARKING — 'Hoboken mayor accused of parking ticket fixing scheme, he denies any wrongdoing,' by Hudson County View's John Heinis: 'Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla is accused of fixing several of his parking tickets through municipal employees, according to a letter from a former assistant municipal public defender and current assistant Hudson County counsel, and he denies any wrongdoing. '...The mayor 'gets tickets' and hands them to enforcement officers saying, 'take care of this.' I reviewed publicly available records on which revealed ~247 municipal court cases listing Mayor Bhalla as the defendant,' wrote attorney Georgina Giordano Pallitto, who told HCV she was not releasing her client's name due to an ongoing investigation.' R.I.P. — 'Hudson County sheriff's officer dies after falling through window in Jersey City, prosecutor's office says,' by CBS2's Doug Williams and Lori Bordonaro: 'A Hudson County sheriff's officer died Friday after falling through a window at an administrative building in Jersey City. The circumstances Officer Justin Rivera's fall appeared to be accidental, the Hudson County Prosecutor's office said. Rivera, 29, fell from a ninth floor window around 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Hudson County Administration Building on Newark Avenue, the prosecutor's office said. He was taken to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.' — 'NJ bill would cut Lacey officials out of future nuclear reactor decisions' — 'Democrats to square off in Wayne primary for chance to challenge mayor' — 'Monroe police officers hailed for bravery, professionalism during mental health crisis' — 'Hundreds support LGBTQ+ community on Ocean City Boardwalk ahead of Pride Month' — '[Jackson] school named for late Challenger teacher-astronaut is closing' EVERYTHING ELSE R.I.P. — 'Former NYPD commissioner Bernard Kerik, a Paterson native, dies at 69,' by The Record's John Connolly: 'Former NYPD commissioner Bernard Kerik, a Paterson native, died at the age of 69 on May 29 'after a private battle with illness,' announced FBI Director Kash Patel. Kerik, a former Passaic County undersheriff, was New York City's top cop in the wake of terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. He later served time in prison for tax evasion and other charges.' TESLA FOIL — 'Tesla Superchargers to be removed from New Jersey Turnpike,' by NJ Advance Media's Stephanie Loder: 'The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has decided to part ways with Tesla, ordering 64 Supercharges to be removed from the super highway connecting northern and southern New Jersey. The authority has decided to use a sole third-party provider for its electric vehicle charging, which is why it didn't renew a contract to keep Tesla Superchargers on the toll road, Tesla said on social media on Friday. 'We have been preparing for three years for this potential outcome by building 116 stalls off the New Jersey Turnpike, ensuring no interruption for our customers,' the Tesla statement said.' DOES 'GOOD DOG, CARL' WORK FOR THE PORT AUTHORITY POLICE? — 'Cops rescue toddler from luggage conveyor belt at Newark airport,' by NJ Advance Media's Stephanie Loder: 'Port Authority police are credited with rescuing a 2-year-old child last week who climbed onto a luggage conveyor belt headed to an X-ray machine at Newark Liberty International Airport. Port Authority police officers assigned to Terminal A were alerted to the incident involving a child at 6:28 p.m. on Wednesday, an official said. The incident happened while the child's mother was at the JetBlue ticketing counter on the departures level … The child, who was not injured, was located in the checked baggage room on the lower level, the Port Authority said.' — 'Black bear sightings in New Jersey are down in 2025. A breakdown by the numbers' — Doblin: 'In 2025, as chaos and hate swirl, we need Pride now more than ever'
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Double award win for Hibs transfer target as Bournemouth goalie honoured
Potential No. 1 part of Auckland team who fell just short in A-League title shot Sign up to our Hibs football 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... Top Hibs transfer target – and potential No. 1 – Alex Paulsen picked up TWO major awards after his team's breakout season ended with a painful near miss in their bid to claim a shock title triumph. And the Bournemouth goalkeeper, currently on loan at Auckland, wasn't the only winner as the Black Knight's newest club were singled out for end-of-season honours Down Under. After sealing a move to Bournemouth last summer, Kiwi keeper Paulsen was immediately loaned out to the latest sporting acquisition by billionaire Cherries owner Bill Foley. New Zealand-based Auckland FC have just called time on their debut campaign in Australia's multi-national top flight with an agonising – and controversial - defeat to Melbourne Victory in the play-off semi-finals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Paulsen is definitely of interest to David Gray, who needs to bring in at least one goalkeeper during the close season transfer window. The Black Knights, who hold a minority stake in Hibs, are eager to demonstrate the value of player movement within their stable. And the 22-year-old is seen as a player who ticks all the boxes. He's just been named the A-League's Goalkeeper of the Year AND picked up Save of the Year for a stunning stop against Victory's Nikos Vergos. Auckland boss Steve Corica was named Coach of the Year at the Dolan Warren awards. Watch video of Alex Paulsen as Auckland FC No. 1 rewarded for starring performances Hibs gaffer Gray and sporting director Malky Mackay will retain final say on any incomings this summer, with chairman Ian Gordon and his family – majority shareholders at Easter Road – calling all the shots on major decisions despite Foley's £6 million buy-in. But the relationship between the Black Knights and Hibs has been strengthened in recent months, with the appointment of former Bournemouth analysis guru to a head of recruitment role at East Mains opening up more possibilities for co-operation. Former England goalie replaced by Nottingham Forest veteran With former England Under-21 goalkeeper Josef Bursik returning to Brugge after an unsuccessful loan spell and young prospect Max Boruc unlikely to remain on the books as his contract expires, Hibs currently have only Jordan Smith competing for a start between the sticks. The veteran back-up has added reliability to the team since stepping into relieve a struggling Bursik back in November, with Smith more than playing his part in a 17-game unbeaten league run that helped Hibs climb from the relegation zone to finish third in the Scottish Premiership. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Former Nottingham Forest keeper Smith has just signed a new long-term deal keeping him at Hibs until 2028. But the club are looking for someone to provide genuine competition for the 30-year-old. Paulsen was actually named by Black Knight president Tim Bezbatchenko as a likely target just a few weeks ago, the Hibs director telling The Athletic FC podcast: 'Hibs could be a good location for him. 'We look at the Bournemouth players who may benefit from going out on loan to a good environment. Players want to move up whether within the Black Knight group our elsewhere. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Alex Paulsen is a good example. It may make sense to move him within the group this summer. There's constant communication; there's weekly meetings about these things between out club's sporting directors.'
