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Daily Record
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Record
I scored Celtic winner against Rangers in cup final and I know why Hoops fans would never accept American takeover
Andy Lynch has seen it all and he reckons Celtic's sustainable model is the way forward There may be an American revolution taking place across the city, but such a takeover couldn't happen at Celtic – because the fans wouldn't stand for it. That's the view of Hoops hero from years gone by Andy Lynch who is uniquely placed to argue that Rangers can keep their 49ers-backed buyout. Lynch is a legend in the eyes of Hoops fans of a certain vintage, scoring a penalty against Rangers to seal the 1977 Scottish Cup final. He was a regular throughout their success in the late 70s and won three league titles and two Scottish Cups in green and white. Later in life, Lynch was an advisor to a consortium that infamously failed to buy Liverpool in 2010. Grand plans were in place to ditch Anfield for a new stadium while the Reds were at their lowest, but it collapsed at the 11th hour after one investor pulled out. So as a man who has been inside the type of takeover bid that recently saw a San Francisco 49ers-backed consortium buy a controlling stake in Rangers, Lynch speaks from experience when he says it couldn't happen at Celtic. And he's happy with that too. He said in the Glasgow Times: 'The Liverpool takeover bid happened around the time that foreign investors had really started buying into big English football clubs. 'Just look at the Premier League now. So many of them are owned by overseas businessmen or investment funds. That is even true in the Championship and down the divisions down south. Now it has happened at Rangers with this takeover. 'The way that Celtic go about their business is still preferrable for me. They are self-sufficient, enjoy consistent success, post profits every year and have money in the bank. They aren't reliant on anyone to bankroll them. I don't think Celtic could go down the route that so many other clubs have, I don't think the fans would ever allow it. 'You never know, of course. If they were to lose a few titles then anything could theoretically happen. At the end of the day, money talks. If they ever found themselves unable to compete, maybe the outlook would change. "But I do think Celtic supporters would always be eager for a Celtic fan or fans to remain as the major powerbrokers.' Lynch would however like the takeover to work for Rangers – because he feels Celtic need the competition. 'The game in this country badly needs somebody to come forward and vie with Celtic for major honours," he added. 'When I played, we would always get a hard game against the likes of St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, whoever. It wasn't just Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs who were difficult to beat. It wasn't like today when Celtic go out and dominate most games. The majority of teams we faced could compete with us and we always had to play at our best. 'I am a Celtic man and I always want them to win. But for me it has become a little bit too easy in recent years. I think having a greater challenge will be good for them and will ultimately help them when they play in Europe. For me, they should always be looking to compete at the highest level, in the very top bracket, on the continent. 'Rangers really need to get their act together. They are in the throes of bringing in another new manager and they have to get their next appointment right. Other clubs need to improve.'
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hibs pay tribute to long serving stars as pair depart with SWPL winner statuses
A fond farewell has been bid by Hibs to the players, one after 11 years of service. 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... Hibs have wished a fond farewell to Shannon Leishman and Lia Tweedie who's long associations with the club have ended. Leishman has said her goodbyes to the team she grew up supporting after 11 successful years and over 150 appearances. She trained with Hibs Women before she was 16 years old and made her senior debut in 2014 versus Rangers, departing with a league winners' medal after nine appearances for Hibs and then spending the second half of the 2024/25 SWPL campaign on loan at Motherwell. She helped guide the Lanarkshire side to a first-ever top six finish and the Scottish Cup Semi-Finals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That adds to four domestic cups won in Leith, having also played UEFA Women's Champions League football with her childhood club. Head coach Grant Scott has wished Leishman the best for the future. Hibs reaction to long serving player exits He said: 'Shannon has been a dedicated servant to Hibernian over the past 11 years. Coming through our Academy, Shannon has from a young age always set an example for others to follow and her commitment to being the ultimate professional has helped us to many successes over the years. More than all of that, she's a great person whose presence will be missed. We thank her for her contributions and wish her all the best for the future.' It comes after Tweedie's exit was also recently announced. Over two stints at Hibs, the forward won seven trophies in total, including a couple of Scottish Cups and four Scottish League Cups. She made a substitute appearance on the final day of the season against Rangers as league glory was secured. Scott said: 'I want to thank Lia for her outstanding contribution to Hibernian. She is a great person who has deservedly picked up plenty of winners' medals with the Club. 'From coming through the Hibs Academy to performing on the European stage and winning silverware, Lia has always remained a fantastic servant to this Club and will be a big loss to the group – both on and off the pitch. I wish Lia the best of luck with what comes next for her in her career.'
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Aberdeen must build on Scottish Cup success as Gothenburg Great urges Dave Cormack to keep backing Jimmy Thelin
John McMaster reckons Aberdeen's Hampden success over Celtic has lifted the entire Granite City. His own place in Aberdeen immortality has been secure for over four decades. But last weekend John McMaster stood with fellow Gothenburg Great Neil Simpson among their people at Hampden as a new group of heroes strode into Pittodrie folklore. And, according to McMaster, Jimmy Thelin and his players now deserve to join them as Dons LEGENDS. The sight of the iconic duo losing it in the national stadium said more than words could about the enormity of Aberdeen's Scottish Cup Final victory over Celtic. McMaster, a key man in the side that beat Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup Final and who won three Scottish titles and as many Scottish Cups for the club, says the current side have lifted an entire city. He just hopes their efforts aren't wasted. The dust may be settling after a week of partying that followed the dramatic penalty shoot out victory. But the 70-year-old, who spent 15 years at Pittodrie and the most of those under Sir Alex Ferguson, hopes there'll be no resting on laurels. He knows the glory days of the 80s are locked away in the history books. But he still feels there's an opportunity for growth. McMaster said: 'It's just remarkable the way the past week or so has turned out. A whole city's been lifted from doom and gloom. 'Union Street was chock a block for the first time in years for the bus parade and this team did that. It was one of the best days I can ever remember being on the other side, as a fan. 'For my sons as well. It's been 35 years since we won that trophy. When Mitov saved that last penalty there was an explosion of celebrations, joy, everyone hugging.. and then all of a sudden Neil Simpson came over two rows of seats and joins in! 'Simmy had tears in his eyes and then I turned around and there's my oldest boy, John, blubbering away. He said, 'Dad, I can't handle this!' 'John's 45, my other son Steven's 44, they were quite emotional. And my other son Scott was watching at home. 'They are all born and bred Aberdeen. John has the club crest tattooed on his chest. It was grannies and grandads, young kids, everybody. Fantastic. That was the best support I've ever seen. It was bloody brilliant. "Those players are now legends. And they deserve to be legends. That's them winners. If managers win trophies, they're remembered. And players are remembered too. You're not remembered for being runners-up. 'They got over that line because they were determined to show they weren't there to get beat. Everybody outside the club had them beat. But they believed.' The result has propelled Aberdeen into the Europa League play-off spot and guarantees Conference League group stage participation at the very minimum - worth upwards of £5million. McMaster said: 'They've got to build on this now. They've got to strengthen. They need to improve in certain places, it's obvious to me, but Aberdeen can only go one way now in my opinion and that's get stronger. 'I think the chairman knows, he's put money in, but it's been paid back in spades with that trophy. 'They need to push on again and have a crack at Europe. The good thing about it is they've got a wee break because the campaign won't start until August now. 'So, they've got a wee bit of rest there, more time to build and prepare. "They've just got to keep improving. Jimmy too. Tactically I think he got it right in the final and he will have learned from that.' Thelin had his doubters going into the final. Four straight defeats to finish the league campaign and having conceded 19 goals to Celtic in their previous five meetings this season had the critics sharpening their knives. Some predicted a bloodbath. He was accused of sticking stubbornly to his 4/2/3/1 gameplan. But the Swede surprised everyone with a radical change in shape. And it worked a treat. McMaster said: 'I was really pleased for Jimmy in the manner Aberdeen went about the game. 'I was at the football writers' awards the previous weekend and I never knew til I got there that Jimmy was on the same table. He told me he'd read my book - maybe that was the inspiration for what happened a few days later! 'He pulled off a masterstroke with the game plan. I was worried in case we would play out again, be too open. Celtic are great at pouncing and probably did all their team talks on that, getting in about us. 'But it was reversed, our boys did the business on them. 'Jimmy came right over to the fans at the end and thrust the trophy into the air three times. He was like a different man. 'All season there's been no emotion. No emotion whatsoever. 'But he deserves this moment. He also knows the hard work starts now to build on it. Not just in transfers. 'I'd love to see a couple of young boys coming through. Lads like Jack Milne and Fletcher Boyd. 'Big Jack was outstanding in the final and deserves a run in the team next season. I saw him when he was walking about after the game and he was straightening his leg because he had cramp. He put so much into it. 'If the young ones are good enough then give them the chance. The Boss, Sir Alex, did it in our team in the 80s. 'Boys like Simmy, John Hewitt, Neale Cooper, Eric Black, Bryan Gunn, all these boys were growing up and winning silverware together. 'They were 18 or 19 and winning trophies. It became the norm.'
STV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
Celtic confirm departure of third-choice goalkeeper Scott Bain
Celtic have confirmed the departure of third-choice goalkeeper Scott Bain. The 33-year-old joined the Hoops from Dundee in 2018 and has made 78 first-team appearances. Bain made his debut in a 3-2 win over Rangers at Ibrox and was part of the squad that won seven of the last eight league titles, but game time has been limited in recent years. He never made a single appearance in the season that's just finished, with Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo both preferred ahead of him, as Brendan Rodgers' side won a Premiership and League Cup double. In the 2018/19 season, he played 31 times across all competitions as the club clinched a treble-treble. Celtic confirmed his departure on Thursday. A statement released on social media said: 'We can confirm that goalkeeper Scott Bain has left the club after more than seven years as a Celt! 'During his time at Paradise, Scott won seven league titles, four League Cups, and three Scottish Cups. 'Thank you for everything, Bainy.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Celtic confirm first-team squad departure as trophy-laden spell at Parkhead comes to end
Scotland internationalist keen for regular game-time Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... Celtic have confirmed that goalkeeper Scott Bain has left the club following more than seven years at Parkhead. Bain joined Celtic in January 2018 and while serving predominantly as a back-up to a number of other keepers, he has landed 14 trophies in total during his time in the east end of Glasgow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Capped three times by Scotland, it is understood that Bain is keen for regular first-team football and will not get that at Celtic as he is behind Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo in the pecking order. Scott Bain's seven-year association with Celtic has come to an end. | SNS Group Bain had one more year on his contract left to run, but Celtic have decided to cut it short and allow him to leave on a free. In a statement on social media, Celtic wrote: '#CelticFC can confirm that goalkeeper Scott Bain has left the club after more than seven years as a Celt! During his time at Paradise, Scott won seven league titles, four League Cups, and three Scottish Cups. Thank you for everything, Bainy.' Bain's replacement lined up Bain started his career at Aberdeen, before moving to Alloa Athletic in 2011 in his first stint at No 1. He impressed for the Wasps, earning a transfer to Dundee in 2014, where he made more than 100 appearances in four seasons. A loan move to Hibs was cut short in 2018 when Celtic showed interest and his switch was made permanent that summer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bain made 78 appearances in total for Celtic, although he did not feature at all in the 2024/25 campaign.
