Latest news with #PlayerDevelopment
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Marcus Stewart departs Yeovil after MND diagnosis in 2022
Ex-professional footballer Marcus Stewart has left his role as Yeovil Town FC's head of player development more than two years after he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).Yeovil Town FC said the former Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Exeter City, Ipswich Town, Sunderland and Yeovil striker remained "a cherished part of our club's history and a much-admired figure within the wider football community".Bristol-born Stewart was diagnosed with MND in September 2022 and has since raised awareness of the condition, completing a 178-mile (286km) march to raise research club added its "very best wishes to Marcus and his family as he continues his fight with dignity and courage". "He will always be welcome at Huish Park," it said in a statement. Stewart played in all top four tiers in England, with 254 goals in 783 games in a career spanning 20 years at eight different scored 19 goals in the Premier League in the 2000-01 season as Ipswich Town finished fifth and qualified for the Uefa Cup. Stewart joined the Glovers in June 2022 as head of player statement continued: "In September 2022, Marcus bravely shared the news of his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a moment that touched the hearts of supporters across the footballing world. "Despite facing this immense personal challenge, he continued to serve the club with dedication and resilience."
CNA
12-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
UEFA urged to increase payments to non-elite clubs to reward player development
The Union of European Clubs on Monday proposed the creation of a financial system that would see continental governing body UEFA share 5 per cent of its revenue from club competitions with low-ranked football clubs that develop elite players. Last year, UEFA said the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and Super Cup would generate a gross revenue of 4.4 billion euros in the 2024-25 season, 5 per cent of which would be 220 million euros ($244.79 million). Under the proposed system, titled 'Player Development Reward' (PDR), only clubs who did not reach the league phase of the Champions League would be eligible for payouts, which would be based on minutes played in UEFA competitions and prize money earned by players. In a statement, the UEC, which represents non-elite professional clubs, said the PDR is "a pragmatic, merit-based approach to restoring fairness and balance in the football ecosystem... "The concept has already been presented to the European Commission and to key stakeholders across football, receiving encouraging initial feedback," it added. "The core principle is clear: clubs that invest in player development should be fairly rewarded when those players contribute to the success of European competitions." The UEC added that nearly 1,500 clubs across Europe would have received PDR payments if the system had been in place last season, with over 400 clubs earning more than 100,000 euros. UEFA has already committed 7 per cent of its revenue for the 2024-27 cycle to clubs not taking part in men's continental competitions, but the UEC said UEFA's system was "outdated and misaligned with the goals of sustainable football." Reuters has asked UEFA for comment. The UEC was formed in 2022 and is separate to the European Club Association, which is headed by Nasser Al-Khelaifi and says it is the sole representative body of clubs in Europe. The ECA, which has a Memorandum of Understanding with UEFA that runs until 2033, represents more than 440 clubs across the continent, although it is dominated by the big teams.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How a proposed rule could see Uefa hand prize money to clubs like Blackburn, St Mirren and Bury
Uefa has been called upon to set aside five percent of competition prize money for non-competing clubs who develop players, an idea that would have meant Blackburn Rovers received over £750,000 from last season's European matches and Bury over £10,000. The proposal comes from the Union of European Clubs [UEC], a lobby group established to represent the interests of the wider continental game amid worsening financial disparity. The expansion of the Champions League essentially sees more money go to competing clubs - who are invariably the wealthiest clubs - and the UEC feel more innovative solutions are needed to lessen gaps and encourage growth and investment in talent. As it stands, the only redistribution mechanism is seven percent of prize money going to clubs not in European competition, which is known as "solidarity money". This policy proposal, known as the Player Development Reward, suggests an extra five percent goes to clubs whose investment in talent directly contributes to the success of European competition. The calculations would be based on minutes played by talent developed at clubs outside the Champions League when they were under the age of 23, as well as the prize money they generate. Only clubs not currently participating in the Champions League opening phase would be eligible. As current examples, St Mirren would have received £220k for the 740 minutes that John McGinn played for Aston Villa, and Pavia £270k for the contribution of Inter Milan semi-final hero Francesco Acerbi. Ultimately, over 400 clubs would have received more than €100,000 each. While this is negligible to most Champions League clubs, it can be game-changing for those lower in the pyramid, especially at a period of such financial strife for the game. Chelsea would have also received over £2.5m given that they weren't in the Champions League last season, but the entire point is to encourage development. The idea comes from frustration with the current system, particularly with how Fifa's transfer solidarity and training compensation is tied to other transfer activity and not actual developmental success. The most prominent illustration of this is perhaps Seamus Coleman. Although the right-back has gone on to become an Everton legend, Sligo Rovers have not received the value they might have because they never benefited from the sell-on fee that was factored into the initial £60,000 fee. While Eoghan O'Connell, a former Bury player, has played in the Champions League during his time with Celtic. He played in Celtic's 7-0 defeat by Barcelona in the Champions League in September. And David Raya spent time at Blackburn's academy before stepping up to their first team, meaning his time in the Champions League with Arsenal would have seen Rovers benefit under this proposed rule. The policy has already been presented to the European Commission and key football stakeholders, and received encouraging feedback. Such suggestions come amid a volatile period for football politics, particularly at European club level. While the European Club Association [ECA] have entered into a partnership with Uefa over the running of club competitions - spearheaded by the presidency of Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and through the new U3 joint venture group - that has come amid accusations that the elite end of the game is increasingly serving the wealthiest clubs. The ECA has expanded its umbrella but a number of clubs from outside the elite do not have full voting rights, a situation which led to the creation of the UEC.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
How a proposed rule could see Uefa hand prize money to clubs like Blackburn, St Mirren and Bury
Uefa has been called upon to set aside five percent of competition prize money for non-competing clubs who develop players, an idea that would have meant Blackburn Rovers received over £750,000 from last season's European matches and Bury over £10,000. The proposal comes from the Union of European Clubs [UEC], a lobby group established to represent the interests of the wider continental game amid worsening financial disparity. The expansion of the Champions League essentially sees more money go to competing clubs - who are invariably the wealthiest clubs - and the UEC feel more innovative solutions are needed to lessen gaps and encourage growth and investment in talent. As it stands, the only redistribution mechanism is seven percent of prize money going to clubs not in European competition, which is known as "solidarity money". This policy proposal, known as the Player Development Reward, suggests an extra five percent goes to clubs whose investment in talent directly contributes to the success of European competition. The calculations would be based on minutes played by talent developed at clubs outside the Champions League when they were under the age of 23, as well as the prize money they generate. Only clubs not currently participating in the Champions League opening phase would be eligible. As current examples, St Mirren would have received £220k for the 740 minutes that John McGinn played for Aston Villa, and Pavia £270k for the contribution of Inter Milan semi-final hero Francesco Acerbi. Ultimately, over 400 clubs would have received more than €100,000 each. While this is negligible to most Champions League clubs, it can be game-changing for those lower in the pyramid, especially at a period of such financial strife for the game. Chelsea would have also received over £2.5m given that they weren't in the Champions League last season, but the entire point is to encourage development. The idea comes from frustration with the current system, particularly with how Fifa 's transfer solidarity and training compensation is tied to other transfer activity and not actual developmental success. The most prominent illustration of this is perhaps Seamus Coleman. Although the right-back has gone on to become an Everton legend, Sligo Rovers have not received the value they might have because they never benefited from the sell-on fee that was factored into the initial £60,000 fee. While Eoghan O'Connell, a former Bury player, has played in the Champions League during his time with Celtic. He played in Celtic's 7-0 defeat by Barcelona in the Champions League in September. And David Raya spent time at Blackburn's academy before stepping up to their first team, meaning his time in the Champions League with Arsenal would have seen Rovers benefit under this proposed rule. The policy has already been presented to the European Commission and key football stakeholders, and received encouraging feedback. Such suggestions come amid a volatile period for football politics, particularly at European club level. While the European Club Association [ECA] have entered into a partnership with Uefa over the running of club competitions - spearheaded by the presidency of Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and through the new U3 joint venture group - that has come amid accusations that the elite end of the game is increasingly serving the wealthiest clubs. The ECA has expanded its umbrella but a number of clubs from outside the elite do not have full voting rights, a situation which led to the creation of the UEC.
Fox News
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Alabama football staff members reveal the 'panic' that set in during Nick Saban's retirement
The retirement of legendary Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban shook up the college sports world. Now, for the first time, fans can learn what unfolded on the day it happened. In the fourth episode of "The Tides That Bind," a series streaming exclusively on Fox Nation, staff members of the Crimson Tide reflect on the shocking announcement of Saban deciding to end his coaching career. "Jan. 10, 2024, is absolutely a day that will always be in my memory," Director of Sports Medicine for University of Alabama athletics Jeff Allen said in the new episode. During a scheduled team meeting on that fateful January day, Saban got up on stage and everything seemed "normal," according to former NFL player and Director of Player Development Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. "He was having his normal conversations, like you know, we're getting ready to go fight for another championship," he said. "And towards the end of his conversation, this meeting he kind of started, you know, stumbling a little bit, kind of teary-eyed. You can feel the energy change in the room." "It just came out," Assistant Athletics Director Dr. Ginger Gilmore said. "He says, 'so I'm going to retire.'" Saban, 73, won six national championships with the Crimson Tide from 2007 to 2023. He produced four Heisman Trophy winners during his 17 seasons with the team, including Mark Ingram II, Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young. Before his stint with Alabama, he won a national championship in 2003 with Louisiana State. "The players are shocked," Director of Player Development Denzel Devall remarked of the dreaded moment. "Everybody is in disbelief, like it's a dream. And when he walks off the stage, that's when reality hits like, damn… the GOAT is gone." "What we've known for 17 years has been absolutely, you know, turned upside down," Allen echoed, describing the seismic shift Saban's announcement made. Despite the panic that took over Tuscaloosa during Saban's exit from the program, the Crimson Tide managed to hire a successor with winning pedigree, former Washington Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer. In DeBoer's first year, the team finished the 2024 season 9-4 but failed to reach the expanded College Football recently spoke with Fox News Digital about what it's been like to fill Saban's shoes and the team's partnership with Fox Nation. Fox Nation programs are viewable on-demand and from your mobile device app, but only for Fox Nation subscribers. Go to Fox Nation to start a free trial and watch the extensive library from your favorite Fox Nation personalities.
