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Edinburgh Reporter
3 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Former Hibs and Hearts players complete UEFA Pro-Licence
The graduates received their award from Scottish FA President Mike Mulraney in the President's Lounge prior to kick off of the Scotland v Iceland game at Hampden last weekend. The award, which follows completion of the A-Licence, is the highest coaching diploma available in Europe. Over the course of the past two seasons, the candidates have completed a number of different modules, with a mixture of face-to-face learning combined with independent study and one-to-one coach development visits. The graduates attended the 2023 Under-21 European Championships, and also heard from several high-profile guest speakers, including Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho, Everton manager David Moyes and former Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou. Among the group were former Hibs players Marvin Bartley, Steven Whittaker and Brian Kerr and former Hearts player Christophe Berra. Andy Gould, Chief Football Officer, Scottish FA: 'For all the graduates, this award is the conclusion of several years of dedication to their craft and we are delighted to be able to present them with their diplomas this evening. 'We understand that in an industry as demanding as football, it is not easy to juggle the required individual work with packed working schedules, so it is testament to the candidates and their steadfast efforts in completing the programme. 'We have enjoyed getting to know them as individuals and as professionals, and hope they have benefited from the talented speakers and challenging discussions over the course of the past two years. 'It's tremendous to see so many of this group, and our 2024 intake, already working at such a high level – both at home and abroad – and I am sure we will continue to see them flourish in their careers, in the different paths they decide to take.' Brian Kerr, Chris Burke, Chris Doig, Christophe Berra, Don Cowie, Dougie Imrie, Gil De Sousa, James Grady, Jens Wissing, Leanne Crichton, Marvin Bartley, Neil MacFarlane, Owen Coyle, Paul Nuitjen, Richard Foster, Scott McDonald, Steven Whittaker, Stuart Glennie, Stuart Kettlewell, Paul Brownlie Like this: Like Related
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Steven Naismith opens heart on controversial Rangers exit and ‘shady' situation of being told ‘sign this and move on'
STEVEN NAISMITH has opened his heart on his controversial exit from Rangers back in 2012 - claiming that things went on that just "weren't right". Naismith was one of a number of high profile Ibrox stars who exercised their right to leave the club as a free agent amid the club's financial meltdown. 4 Rangers' Steven Naismith gestures to Celtic fans as he celebrates Credit: Reuters 4 Naismith with Steven Whittaker as they refused to tupe their contracts over Credit: Keith Campbell - The Sun Glasgow Top earners such as Naismith, Steven Davis, Allan McGregor, Lee McCulloch and Steven Whittaker all agreed to take swingeing 75% pay cuts to help others keep their jobs. While McCulloch stayed at the club through the journey, the likes of Davis and McGregor have all since returned and helped clinch a top division title at Ibrox. But a number of Gers fans have never forgiven Naismith, who sat alongside Steven Whittaker as he referred to newco Rangers as "Sevco" at a press conference and said the club wasn't the same one he had supported since childhood. In an in-depth interview for the 4 Lads Had a Dream Podcast, Naismith admitted with hindsight that the press conference hr gave was "wrong" - but explained why he didn't feel he could trust those above him at the club. The former Scotland star and Hearts boss has been linked with a return to the club under new head coach Russell Martin, who he played alongside for both club and country. He said: "So many things went on that were, with the little you know about business, NOT really businesslike. "In a room, 'just sign this and move on'. That kind of shady kind of way. "Which I must say that the senior players started to question. "Whether it was Jig, Greegsy, myself, Davo, Whitts, we started to ask a few more questions. "How can this be part of the plan? 'Just quickly do it now and don't let anyone see it', that kind of stuff, which was all very uncomfortable. Moment Ally McCoist interrupts live radio to congratulate his 'wee pal' on signing for Rangers "From the administration point on, how it was dealt with, wasn't normal, wasn't right, didn't feel right. "Loads of pressure was put on players from administrators, the board, people above. This isn't normal. We are just footballers here. "This was the hardest thing I've ever done in football because life was great for me, six months earlier. "You are in the prime of your career to then go to the point that you are in the bottom division and you are going to lose the prime years of your career. "When the people came into the club it was 'we need you to sign this'. 'Trust us we are going to do this and this'. "But it got to the point where so many things had happened I really CAN'T trust these people. "In hindsight every one of those people who went into that club thought 'this is a great chance to make a fortune'. "And ultimately they probably did." 4 Naismith went on to excel at Everton Credit: Getty Images - Getty Asked specifically if he regretted the press conference, Naismith said: "Looking back on it, 100%. It was wrong. What leads you to do it is the six months before. The amount of times I looked at a paper and I was the problem. "It was constantly pressuring us to suit their narrative and suit their needs, it was relentless. "Saying, see if you don't sign, we are going to tell everybody they are done and only keep Greegsy, myself, Whitty, Davo, that was the four assets at the club. "They were saying we are going to keep you and bin everybody. Everybody is going to get released. "Staff are going to get made redundant and lose their jobs. 4 "You feel as if 'I am being made out to be the bad guy all the time'. At that point you feel you need to speak up here and say 'this isn't us'. "We've taken a pay cut, we've managed to secure nobody losing their jobs. "We want the best for the club and that is what leads you to get to this point. "But in hindsight it [the press conference] was the wrong thing to do. "It is sad that you have so many good memories, some of the best memories of your career, and the success with winning trophies and it's tainted by the way it ended." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
