Latest news with #relegation
The Sun
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Plymouth confirm exit of Wayne Rooney replacement in blunt 13-word statement as chairman sends surprise message
Dear Green Army, I am sorry to have not written earlier after relegation was confirmed, earlier this month. Jane and I had personal issues in the US that forced us to cut short our visit to the UK, and we have been occupied taking care of them for a few weeks. Our thanks to those who sent best wishes, and all is ok now. We are making plans for a return to the UK later this summer. We are disappointed at Miron Muslic's departure – not at his joining a club with a profile such as Schalke, but in the timing and manner of his leaving. We hired Miron in January, giving him a three-and-a-half-year contract. Shortly after his joining us, we also hired the staff he requested, in an assistant head coach, head of elite performance, performance analysis and, a little later, a set-piece coach. A recruitment team was in place for the season, augmented by our securing the services of Stuart Webber, a very experienced and well-regarded Sporting Director, to assist with the post-season rebuild of our squad, along with Tom Randle, who has subsequently joined us on a full-time basis as Head of Recruitment. After the season ended, and with rumours flying that Miron was attracting interest from other clubs, I called him personally and he assured me that he was 100% committed to Argyle. As a result, Miron continued to take part in all recruitment meetings and was involved with interviewing and recruiting players until just last week. His colleagues had no indication that he wanted to leave. Last Saturday, Miron informed the club that he wished to speak with Schalke with a view to joining them. Under his contract, a club wishing to speak with him needs Argyle's prior permission. We were unwilling to give such permission, but Miron informed us that under no circumstances was he going to return to Plymouth. Thus, we reluctantly gave the necessary permission. By making clear his intention never to return, Miron gave us no choice but to move on. We could have insisted on the full compensation and gone to court to enforce his contract but would not have had his services as head coach, and progress on recruiting a replacement would have been blocked. Rather than get mired in a protracted, and highly disruptive, process we settled for an amount of compensation that, while below the contracted sum, is a strong financial outcome for a League One head coach, enabling us to move on positively. As you know, we have been in talks with a prospective new investor in our club for over a year. Those talks led to an application for approval of that investment being lodged with the EFL in February. Unfortunately, negotiations have taken too long and the key information that both we and the EFL required to complete the deal has not been forthcoming. I no longer believe that news of the new investor is imminent. As a result, existing shareholders (I, Argyle Green and the Holliday family) will provide the funds to ensure that we stay on course with our plans. This means making funds available to ensure we have a competitive football budget to aim to return us to the Championship as soon as possible, as well as continued investment in Foulston Park. Our budget next season will be twice that we had the last time we were in League One. These additional funds equate to the same level of financial support that was written into the investor plan for year one. I completely understand that this will be very frustrating for fans, as it is extremely frustrating for me and the rest of the Argyle Board. I have said constantly that my resources can enable us to be a sustainable Championship club, but that if we wish to aspire beyond that we would need new investment. I can provide some of that new investment, with the Holliday family's and Argyle Green's help, but not all. While progress towards a transaction in its current form looks to have stalled, we will continue to explore alternative routes, including being open to revised terms with other investment groups. It is important that we get the right investor, not the quickest investor, and this may take some time. We are committed to this, but in the meantime, current shareholders can (and will) support the club through its next stage of development. This current situation is disappointing, obviously, but honesty and transparency are important to us. It's been a long, ponderous process, but one we thought would come to a successful conclusion. It has not, but we remain in a very strong financial position. Over the past five or six years, we have set out a clear pathway to achieving success at Argyle. In that time, we progressed from League Two to the Championship, where we spent two seasons, before suffering relegation. Our mission has been, and remains, to be a sustainable and competitive Championship club, but some of the decisions we have made in the last two seasons have not worked as we had hoped. Those decisions obviously contributed to our relegation, but were decisions made by the entire board, and it is entirely unfair to blame any individuals. Unfortunately, in sport, as in life, decisions made do not always work out. We are sorry and will do everything we can to put it right. Argyle's long-term strategy is set by the board and executed by Andrew Parkinson, our CEO, and his team. Away from the pitch, the club continues to make significant strides. Thanks to the efforts of all staff, we have seen remarkable off-pitch progress including record revenues this year. We've also been recognised with several industry awards - testament to the quality of work happening every day behind the scenes. This progress is a direct result of the hard work and commitment of staff across all departments. Our focus on sustainable growth has led to significant infrastructure investments that now generate substantial revenue which supports our football operations. The first and still the largest of those investments was the refurbishment of the Mayflower Grandstand. Today, that not only provides outstanding match-day hospitality to our fans, but a facility for businesses and other organisations in the area. The revenues generated now number in the millions, and go directly into the running of the football club, primarily the football budget. The Grandstand refurbishment was the first and remains the biggest investment, but has been followed by the acquisition of Higher Home Park, part of which is now used as the Biffa Fan Zone; by the Green Taverners' building, now the Far Post; by the acquisition of Goals, now Harpers; and by many smaller investments that have improved the experience for fans and sponsors. As a result, the stadium has been full for most home games. We have also invested in players, breaking the club transfer record several times and realising substantial surpluses on subsequent sales of players. The result is that your club is now financially stronger than it has ever been with a strong and diversified revenue base. Those revenues have, until last season, helped lead to our success on the pitch. We have consistently achieved more than would be suggested by what we are able to spend on the first-team squad alone. Sometimes, our results flattered our performances but, overall, the strategy to compete by outsmarting not outspending our competitors has been successful. Last season, it was not, and the board took the decision in January that our best hope of avoiding what by then was a very likely fate was to hire a Head Coach who could introduce a new playing style. We narrowly failed, despite the efforts of our staff and our players. I thank them all. We will play the coming season in League One, as we did three years ago. Our circumstances, though, are much changed, because of the investments we have made and the support you have given us. We will have the financial resources to compete strongly at the top end of the division. Relegation is always disappointing, but we are now in a position where we end up stronger than we began. In the long-term, this is not being a yo-yo club, this is being a club that invests for the long term and emerges stronger from any setbacks. You will know that former Head of Recruitment Jimmy Dickinson has left Argyle after a successful six years. Jimmy has been a positive influence on the club, and we wish him well in the future. We also congratulate Ross Goodwin, our Head of Football Data, who will return home, and take on a senior role as Head of Recruitment at Dundee United. We are delighted to welcome David Fox back to Home Park in a senior management role as Head of Football Operations. He will be responsible for helping formulate and executing strategy on the football side of the club. Initially, he will be aided by Stuart Webber, whose experience and abilities as a Sporting Director will be hugely beneficial to Argyle. David and Stuart have been actively engaged in the process of recruiting a new head coach, and we hope to have an appointment in place as soon as possible. David will be provided with the support, resources and structure he needs. As I mentioned above, we also welcome Tom Randle as Head of Recruitment. He, David and Stuart have already been working behind the scenes to identify and recruit the players who will join us this summer. Recruitment is led by David and Tom, with other senior executive involvement. This structure means recruitment continues regardless of any changes in coaching staff, ensuring alignment with the club's long-term football strategy. We have already seen the fruits of this combined effort, and I'd like to welcome Jamie Paterson, Caleb Watts and Jack MacKenzie to Argyle. I'll be back in the UK over the summer, when we will host a Fans Forum ahead of the new season. I'll be very happy to address the questions I'm sure you will have on the investment setbacks and how we intend to take things forward to achieve our goals. Finally, to you, the fans - you have been outstanding. Week after week, match after match, home or away, your support never wavers, and all at your club are grateful to you. We've never been more determined to succeed and, alongside your unrivalled backing, through the highs and the lows, together we'll do this. See you soon, Simon
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Ross County relegated: How will it affect life in Dingwall?
Highland club Ross County's battle for survival in the Scottish Premiership fizzled out with a 4-2 defeat to Livingston on Monday has left the Staggies - and its home town of Dingwall - facing a potentially challenging season in the Championship, both on and off the and pubs have enjoyed a boost to takings from hosting large crowds of visiting fans from teams like Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen. Will a move into the lower leagues have an impact beyond football? Raffael Santos owns The Mallard - a pub on Dingwall Station's platform and a few minutes walk from the stadium. It is regularly packed out on home match days, with about 35-40% of business coming from visiting fans. But like many Ross County fans, he is hopeful their spell in the Championship is short-lived. "A lot of the town's businesses survive from big games like Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen," Mr Santos said. "We'll need to work hard to make the business keep going, but hopefully next year they are back into the Scottish premier league." Big games were also profitable for The Legion chairman Mike Murray said: "We got coaches of supporters booked in - like Hearts, Aberdeen and Hibs. They'd tend to phone two-three weeks before a game. "We could have 150 to 200 supporters through in the function room, and a good Saturday was a boost to the club." Leia Stephen, co-owner of the National Hotel, is experiencing the effects of relegation for the first time. County was last relegated in Stephen said home games have been helpful to the business during quieter winter tourist seasons."Football fans usually just stay one night but sometimes make a weekend out of it," she added."Our bar and restaurant host away and home supporters." The Championship is a highly competitive league, but experts say it will not match the financial benefits of playing in the big league brought to a small Maguire, a University of Liverpool football finance lecturer, said County will miss the revenue near-capacity attendances that visits by bigger clubs said the Staggies could lose at least £500,000 because of lower gate receipts, having fewer televised games and less prize with an already tight wage bill, he warned there is "not a lot of fat to cut" to help make savings. But councillor Graham MacKenzie said one of County's strengths was that it was deeply rooted in the he worked as a teacher he was impressed by how many young people chose the Staggies over a bigger club."It's come as a bit of a blow to everyone," Mr MacKenzie said of relegation."It's not so many months ago we had high high hopes we could finish in the top six."But he believes both town - home to about 5,500 people - and club have the resilience to cope with the coming season. Bruce Ritchie, one of many Staggies fans in Dingwall pondering the future outside the Premiership, said football was important to the town. "I'm really proud of the fact that we've been in the top division for so many years. "It's going to be a big miss."Other Staggies fans might be hurting, but they are far from sore losers. "I just felt Ross County weren't good enough, I'm afraid," conceded fan Panja Bethune."It's a shame that they've been relegated. "Livingston were the better team on the day."George Meiklejohn agreed his club were beaten by a good, strong added: "But they've bounced back once before and I'm sure they will again." Another fan, County Kebab takeaway manager Alex Toward, says regardless of where the club is in the leagues it should be proud."This area is not big and not very well-known - yes, everyone knows of Scotland and the Highlands - but not many think of Dingwall specifically," he says."I think the fact they (Ross County) are trying so hard to make a name for themselves and have come so far, they should be impressed and proud of their achievements."
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Sampdoria handed relegation lifeline as former Italian champions look to avoid new low
Former Italian champions Sampdoria have been handed a dramatic relegation reprieve despite finishing the season in the bottom three after Brescia were dealt a points deduction. The club appeared to have sealed their fate of a first-ever demotion to the Italian third tier when ending the Serie B campaign in 18th, one of three automatic relegation places. However, Brescia have now suffered a four-point deduction for financial irregularities, meaning Sampdoria have leapt above them into the relegation play-off, which are contest between 16th and 17th. Having never competed outside of Italy's top two divisions in their 79-year history, the club will now have the chance to avoid an ignominious new low against Salernitana, who are hoping to avoid back-to-back relegations after finishing rock bottom of Serie A in 2023/24. Sampdoria are not the only beneficiary of Brescia's punishment, with Frosinone - originally due to vie for survival in the play-off on May 19 - moving one place up and out of the play-off places. Italian football watchdog Covisoc's investigation of Brescia threw Serie B relegation proceedings into disarray, informing the league of their probe into the club five days after the conclusion of the regular season. This led to the play-off to be suspended amid the uncertainty of Brescia's status in the league. On top of the four-point deduction in the 2024/25 campaign, Brescia will also start their 2025/26 Serie C season with a four-point penalty. Their owner, former Leeds United chief Massimo Cellino, and his son and board member Edoardo, have been handed sixth-month bans. Sampdoria won Serie A in 1991 and last played in the top flight in 2023, having spent 18 of their last 19 seasons at the highest level of Italian football. Despite teetering on the brink of a first-ever relegation to Serie C, their squad boasts notable ex-Premier League stars in former Liverpool and Sunderland striker Fabio Borini, as well as M'Baye Niang, once of Watford and AC Milan.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Brescia relegated to Serie C after points deduction, Sampdoria to contest play-out
May 29 (Reuters) - Italian side Brescia have been relegated to Serie C after they were docked eight points by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Thursday for a series of financial violations, meaning Sampdoria will contest a play-out to stay in the division. Brescia, who finished their Serie B campaign 15th and had avoided the relegation play-out thanks to head-to-head goal difference over 16th Frosinone, were deducted four points in the current season which dropped them to the third tier. They will serve another four-point deduction in the 2025-26 season. The club's president Massimo Cellino, formerly in charge of Leeds United, and managing director Edoardo Cellino were handed six-month bans by a FIGC tribunal. The bottom three teams in Serie B automatically drop to the third tier, while the teams finishing 16th and 17th contest a play-out to stay up. Brescia's relegation means that Frosinone earned Serie B safety, while Salernitana will face Sampdoria instead in the decider. The ruling is subject to appeal, a verdict of which is expected on June 12, Italian news agency ANSA reported. The play-out first leg is expected to be played on June 15, local media said.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Brescia relegated to Serie C after points deduction, Sampdoria in relegation play-off
Brescia have been relegated to Italy's Serie C after being deducted four points for financial irregularities, meaning Sampdoria will now take part in a relegation play-off game, despite finishing the season in the relegation places. Frosinone, who were originally scheduled to play Salernitana in the play-off on May 19, move up one place as a result of Brescia's docked points and are now safe from relegation. Advertisement Three teams are relegated automatically from Serie B, with 16th and 17th contesting a relegation play-off. The Italian football watchdog has been investigating financial irregularities at Brescia, throwing the conclusion of the Serie B season into chaos. The investigation was related to an irregularity in their payment of salaries and tax contributions in February. Covisoc — Italian football's supervisory body — informed the league of the investigation five days after the conclusion of the regular season and the play-off was postponed amid the uncertainty. Brescia originally finished 15th in Serie B on 43 points. Having been found to have breached the rules, their four-point deduction takes them into 18th and into the automatic relegation places. This moves previously-relegated Sampdoria into the relegation play-off, where they will take on Salernitana, and guarantees Frosinone's Serie B safety. Sampdoria have never played outside the top two divisions of Italian football in their 79-year history. Brescia have also been handed a four-point penalty for the 2025-26 season. Brescia most recently played in Serie A in 2019-20 and are owned by former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino, who, alongside his son and board member Edoardo, have been handed a sixth-month ban. Following the announcement of the investigation, Brescia released a statement reading: 'Brescia announces that it will appeal to any sporting and non-sporting body to protect its position, believing that it has correctly complied with the federal deadlines.' (Image)
