Latest news with #ex-Saints
The Courier
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Courier
Stevie May becomes FOURTH ex-St Johnstone player signing up for Livingston's Premiership campaign
Livingston's St Johnstone-themed summer recruitment strategy is gathering pace, with the newly-promoted team signing Stevie May on a permanent contract. The Perth great was a regular on loan in the Championship, with his role changing to impact sub towards the end of the campaign. David Martindale saw enough in May, who scored 10 goals in 46 appearances, to persuade him to offer a permanent switch to West Lothian after he was released by Saints last month. That deal means that there will be at least four ex-Saints at Almondvale. Ryan McGowan was one of Livingston's promotion stars, with Graham Carey and Connor McLennan both signing this week. May's legendary status at McDiarmid Park is assured. He inspired Saints to their first Scottish Cup triumph in 2014. Then, in his second spell at the club he was part of the 2021 double-winning squad.
Scottish Sun
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Russell Martin to Rangers ‘makes sense' claims ex-Premier League star as he reveals trait that makes him top candidate
The ace was a former target of Celtic but has backed Martin to succeed on the other side of Glasgow RUSS HOUR Russell Martin to Rangers 'makes sense' claims ex-Premier League star as he reveals trait that makes him top candidate RANGERS suffered another disappointment under Barry Ferguson with a 2-2 draw against St Mirren on Saturday. The interim Gers boss is battling to prove he deserves the permanent gig - but a former Premier League player has tipped Russell Martin for the job instead. Advertisement 3 Russell Martin has been tipped to be named permanent Rangers manager Credit: Getty 3 Barry Ferguson has been in interim charge since February but has just four wins from 11 games Credit: PA 3 Martin was sacked by Southampton in December, but an ex-Saints ace has backed him to succeed in Scotland Credit: Getty Ferguson demanded five wins from five from Rangers to end the season, but his struggling outfit fell at the first hurdle. The 2-2 draw at the SMISA Stadium means the Ibrox interim now has a record of four wins from 11 since replacing Philippe Clement in February. The Gers Hall of Famer revealed he is set for talks with incoming sporting director Kevin Thelwell, promising to be 'honest and clear' when the pair 'bang heads'. But ex-Premier League striker Shane Long has instead revealed he fancies Russell Martin to step into the hotseat. Advertisement Martin recently dodged the question when asked on Sky whether he would consider returning to Scotland to manage in Glasgow. But Long told BoyleSports, who offer the latest Irish Premier Division Odds & Betting, that he thinks the ex-Southampton gaffer's passing style would be a success in the Premiership. Long said: "He plays a lovely style of football, passing it out from the back and he gets that kind of belief in the players to do it, go out there and show it. "In that league, Rangers need to play that way to dominate teams because teams are going to sit back in and defend so you need to be able to pass it around and open up gaps and spaces." Advertisement Martin turned out for Gers in the 2017/18 season, as well as earning 29 caps for the Scottish national team. Long continued: "He's obviously played up there as well so it does make sense for him to go back. Celtic fans demand 'build him a statue' after Daizen Maeda trolls Rangers during four-in-a-row title party "I've met him a few times and he's a lovely guy. "He loves the game of football, he lives and breathes it and I think to be a manager at Rangers or Celtic, you need to have that extra love for the game and he's definitely got that." Advertisement Long recently revealed that he twice missed out on a move to Celtic Park in his career. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
USA Today
12-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL free agency: Broncos reach out to ex-Saints cornerback
NFL free agency: Broncos reach out to ex-Saints cornerback Sean Payton loves his former New Orleans Saints. The Broncos have reached out to pending free agent cornerback and special teams ace Justin Hardee, according to a report from the Denver Post's Luca Evans. Denver made contact with Hardee after losing gunner Tremon Smith to the Houston Texans. Hardee (6-1, 200 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois with the Texans in 2017, but he moved to the Saints after failing to make Houston's active roster. Hardee then had a four-year run in New Orleans, playing 1,105 snaps on special teams compared to just 115 snaps on defense. During his time with the Saints, Hardee overlapped (2019-2020) with current Broncos special teams coordinator/assistant head coach Darren Rizzi, who was serving as a ST coordinator in New Orleans at the time. Hardee has spent time with four other NFL teams since leaving the Saints in 2021, most recently playing nine games with the Tennessee Titans last fall. He has 81 career tackles, two pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble in 109 career games. It's worth noting that the Broncos did agree to terms on a two-year deal with wide receiver Trent Sherfield -- a special teams player -- on Tuesday night. Sherfield might fill the special teams void that Smith's departure created, and it's unclear if that rules out a potential Hardee signing. Stay tuned. We are tracking all of the team's free agency moves on Broncos Wire. These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans
USA Today
08-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Sean Payton adds another ex-Saints player to coaching staff
Sean Payton adds another ex-Saints player to coaching staff The Denver Broncos announced additions (and promotions) on Sean Payton's coaching staff on Thursday, and the list of new hires includes a former player. It's no surprise as Payton has a history of helping ex-players transition to coaching. After playing under Payton as an offensive lineman with the New Orleans Saints, Zach Strief got his start as a coach in New Orleans before following Payton in Denver. Payton also hired ex-Saint safety Chris Banjo right after he retired, and Payton brought in ex-NFL quarterback Davis Webb immediately after he hung up his cleats. It wasn't his first coaching job, but former center Austin King also joined Payton's staff in 2023. The trend of hiring ex-players continued with the Broncos' latest round of hires as the team hired former Saints fullback Zach Line as a special teams quality control coach. Line (34) played fullback for seven years in the NFL, including a three-year stint under Payton from 2017-2019. After hanging up his cleats, Line returned to his high school alma mater, Oxford High School in Michigan, where he served as a head coach. After reaching the playoffs in four of his five years at the high school level, Line is now jumping to the NFL, reuniting with Payton. He will look to follow in the path of Strief, Webb, Banjo and King, who have all received promotions since joining Payton's staff. These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans
USA Today
27-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL free agents rankings: Former Saints backup, Eagles star Zack Baun ranked top-5
NFL free agents rankings: Former Saints backup, Eagles star Zack Baun ranked top-5 The New Orleans Saints had a lot of tough decisions to make in the 2024 offseason when it came to signings and departures, but one of the ones they likely felt more confident about was letting linebacker Zack Baun walk. However, here we are one year later, and Baun is now one of the most highly coveted free agents in the 2025 offseason, a Super Bowl champion, and a key contributor to the Philadelphia Eagles. In the 2025 NFL free agent rankings from Gregg Rosenthal, Baun ranked No. 5 on the list of 101 players. Ahead of him are some of the best players not only that are pending free agents, but also in the game. Those are Tee Higgins, Trey Smith, Milton Williams, and Ronnie Stanley. Being grouped in with those players is pretty indicative of a high level of talent, and Baun no doubt had an exceptional 2025 season. Rosenthal is clearly a big fan of Baun. Here's why he ranked the ex-Saints linebacker so highly: "He and Jalen Carter were the two best players on the best defense in football. Baun's versatility -- he played more than 150 snaps as a defensive lineman and in the slot, in addition to his linebacker duties -- unlocked the Eagles' defense. They gotta keep him!" In his Defensive Player of the Year-candidate season, Baun had 151 tackles (93 solo, 58 assisted), 11 tackles for loss, 5 forced fumbles with one recovery, an interception, and 3.5 sacks. Additionally, he was solid in coverage, allowing 50 completions for 379 yards and no touchdowns. Now the Saints have plenty of free agents of their own to deal with, as 19 players will be pending as such in this upcoming offseason for New Orleans. Additionally, they hired their new head coach off Baun's team, Kellen Moore, who came to play in their building for the Super Bowl. Ultimately who knows if Baun would have performed as well for the Saints in 2024 as he did with the Eagles, odds are probably not given the lack of development they helped him through previously.
