'I didn't sack Burley, he ran away'
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Scotsman
32 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Zander Clark's Hearts frustration and the Hibs question as he aims to seize a big moment
Scotland internationalist is ready for season 2025/26 Sign up to our Hearts 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... Zander Clark stands in the Spanish evening sunshine knowing brighter days may be dawning. A frustrating year as Hearts' second-choice goalkeeper is done, and he now has the opportunity to reclaim first-choice status. Clark would never wish to profit from a team-mate's injury but Craig Gordon's shoulder issue nonetheless leaves a goalkeeping void needing filled. After 45 minutes in Wednesday night's 1-1 friendly draw against St Mirren, which took place at the Edinburgh club's Iberian training base, Clark spoke publicly for the first time in months. He is keen to enjoy 2025/26 more than last season. For him, that means seizing the moment and securing the keeper's position under new manager Derek McInnes. Another friendly comes on Friday against Crawley Town and competitive action begins in the Premier Sports Cup on 12 July, so every opportunity counts. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Clark was dropped by former Hearts coach Steven Naismith after the first two Premiership games of last season and remained on the bench. Gordon took over and remained No.1 until injury struck in May, with third-choice Ryan Fulton stepping in. Clark was injured himself at the time and recovered to start the season-ending Premiership match at Kilmarnock, although injury recurred and he was forced off. That day summed up an exasperating campaign for the 33-year-old Scotland internationalist. 'Aye, obviously it's been frustrating,' he says. 'I got that buzz back at Killie and then re-injured myself so it's been a frustrating summer. That probably summed up last season for me, just a big frustration. I was delighted to get back out here to Spain, get back fit, back on the grass with the boys. Getting 45 minutes there on Wednesday, it's been good to get back to feeling good. As I say, it's always nice when you get a game.' He knows this is his moment but Fulton is also competing to replace Gordon. 'We've got Fults there as well who came in during last season and showed what he's capable of, so it's going to be a tough battle again,' stresses Clark. 'He's a top-class goalkeeper as well. Some folk might have doubted him but I've loved Fults since he was at Hamilton. I've played against him many a time and he's a good goalkeeper. 'He came in and improved that in the games that he played towards the end of last season. So the competition is good amongst the goalkeepers. Obviously, as a goalie, you know that only one of you can play. So the competition is healthy and it's just good for me to get back out there and play. You need to believe in your own abilities. I've done well the season before last and I went off of that. As a goalkeeper, it's always going to be a challenge to play. I was up for the challenge and it felt right to sign a new contract [in January].' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad New contract as Hibs took interest in Hearts keeper The new deal runs until 2027 and was agreed amidst reports of interest in Clark from Hearts' biggest rivals, Hibs. He is asked whether he would have considered crossing Edinburgh's footballing divide. 'I signed for Hearts. Put that on the backburner,' he smiles. He seems happy, for now, that last season's difficulties are over. 'Obviously, it's frustrating but as a goalkeeper you know that's possibly going to happen,' he says. 'You just need to keep plugging away and trying to show the manager what you're capable of. I felt I'd done that throughout the season but I never got my chance. To be fair to Craigy, he did well to keep me out of the team. That's just the life of a goalkeeper. You always need to be at your best, whether you're playing or not playing. You never know when you can be called upon. You need to make sure you're ready, not just for your sake, but for the team's sake as well.' McInnes stated that being the goalkeeper first in line during pre-season can lead to an extended run in the team. Clark would appear to be in that very position at the moment, although again Fulton shouldn't discounted. McInnes has not given much away on the subject to date. 'If that's what the manager is saying, then it obviously adds a bit more pressure to show what you can do and try to make sure you are the one that's in for that first competitive game,' explains Clark. 'We had a game the other night and another one on Friday. There's a couple of games coming up before the opener. It's a chance to show the manager what I'm capable of. Fults will be in the exact same boat. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'As I say, it's a healthy competition. Both of us get along well. We'll be battling it out. It's just a case of head down and see what I can do this season. Obviously, it's going to be tough out here. Myself and Fults will obviously be fighting to play from the start in the Dunfermline game in 10 days.' READ MORE: Hearts in talks to sign Albanian winger
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
The secret Lennon Miller transfer bid by Rangers and inexplicable act of folly since they might live to regret
It probably wasn't common knowledge at the time. But almost 15 months ago, Rangers tentatively contacted Motherwell over the availability of Lennon Miller. The Ibrox hierarchy intimated that they were admirers of the teenage midfielder. They even got as far as verbally offering £1 million for Miller's services, which understandably was immediately thrown out of Fir Park. Since then? Silence. Rangers haven't been in touch again. They haven't made a single inquiry about Scotland's most talented youngster in over a year - despite a continued, meteoric rise which has elevated him into Steve Clarke's national team. And right now, while Rangers and Russell Martin are on a summer signings spree, the question fans might ask is, why? Let's be clear. Miller is the most exciting prospect in the country right now. At 18, he won every Scottish Premiership Young Player of the Year award last season. In a struggling Well side, he stuck out like a sore thumb. And ask any experienced player in that dressing-room about Miller and they'll tell you he's a generational talent. Anyone who doesn't acknowledge that - or can't see it in front of their eyes - probably shouldn't be watching football. On top of all that, Miller has a maturity beyond his years. His humility is one of the many attributes which separates him from the rest. Motherwell have now accepted the fact, they have to cash in this summer. While Rangers might have valued him at £1 million back then, you'll have to quadruple that figure now just to get a seat at the bidders table. Clubs in England and in Europe are already circling. The boy himself has indicated that he'd quite like to ply his trade abroad. And of course, Celtic have constantly been linked with a move for him. Brendan Rodgers is a fan of Miller so it makes sense that the Scottish champions want to be kept up to speed with any transfer developments. But why aren't Rangers in the same boat? It's inexplicable that when it comes to talking about Miller's future, the blue half of the Old Firm doesn't appear to be in the conversation. Especially given the lessons Rangers should have learned from the past. To this day, not bringing Lewis Ferguson to Ibrox - either from Hamilton Accies or Aberdeen - is one of the biggest mistakes the club has ever made. A boyhood Rangers fan, with a dad and uncle who wore the shirt with distinction. More importantly, he was a top talent on their doorstep. Yet in their wisdom, the Ibrox recruitment team at the time thought Bongani Zungu and Juninho Bacuna were better bets. There's no doubt that's where a peculiar snobbery comes into it. Whenever Rangers are linked with a Scottish SPFL player, supporters - certainly online - immediately turn their noses up at the prospect. You saw it resurface when Lawrence Shankland was talked about as a potential target. You have to wonder what fans reaction would have been if social media was around when Alex McLeish signed Nacho Novo from Dundee for buttons - or when Walter Smith plucked Kirk Broadfoot from St Mirren on a free. Both of those players helped Rangers reach a European final, by the way. X would have gone into meltdown when McLeish took big Marvin Andrews from Livingston back in the day - only for the defender to become a Helicopter Sunday title-winning cult hero. Incredibly, the punters who rubbished Ferguson as an SPFL jobber are the same ones who now wet their red, white and blue boxers when they're linked with a Paraguayan full-back they know nothing about - but who looks like Cafu in a three-minute YouTube highlights reel. It doesn't make any sense. The best Rangers teams over the years have always had a Scottish core. Legendary bosses like Smith and McLeish knew the value of it. It used to be what their success was built upon. What's been the bedrock of Celtic's dominance over the last 15 years? Lynchpin Scottish leaders, in the shape of Scott Brown and Callum McGregor. Whenever another Premiership club produced a homegrown first-team player with star quality, Rangers - and Celtic for that matter - were all over it. Brown, Steven Whittaker, Kevin Thomson, Ryan Jack, Greg Taylor - the list goes on. Strengthening your own team, while weakening the opposition was part of the Old Firm's MO. But it seems to be unfashionable now. Which is bizarre, given Celtic's huge error in allowing John McGinn to slip through the net and Rangers' sleepwalking over Ferguson. With new owners and fresh investment at Ibrox, there's no reason why Martin and Kevin Thelwell shouldn't have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to Miller. And that shouldn't change, even after the acquisition of new midfielder Joe Rothwell this week. Miller should also be in their sights. If huge bids go in for him, which are out of Gers' price range, fair enough. If the kid has his heart set on going to Europe, so be it. But to not be involved in the discussion for a top player 16 miles along the road? To have zero interest in a Scot who would walk into Rangers' midfield? That would be an act of folly that they might live to regret.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
The 'eye opening' reason Callum Osmand will get Celtic fans off their seats as mentor left in no doubt
The young attacker has swapped EPL outfit Fulham for a crack at trophies and Champions League football at Parkhead Callum Osmand has become the latest Fulham academy graduate to swap Craven Cottage for Celtic. And his former guru insists he has all the tools in his locker to succeed under Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead just like predecessors Moussa Dembele, Matt O'Riley and Patrick Roberts. The 19-year-old has penned a long-term deal with the Scottish champions as he looks to make his stamp in senior football. A switch to Scotland from the English Premier League outfit opens up the shot at regular trophies and Champions League football and for his former U-21s coach, Tom Hounsell, believes the youngster will excite fans and get bums off seats with his playing style. He reckons two key characteristics he possesses may be an 'eye-opener' to the Hoops faithful - but he is certain that he will score goals. Speaking to the Celtic Way, he explained: "It is really difficult in the EPL system for youngsters to break into their respective first teams, even with clubs like Fulham, where Callum invested a lot of years. "He has decided that he wants to take on a different challenge, and he has done that by moving to a massive football club like Celtic and going to a new country. I take my hat off to him for that. It also gives you an indication of his own self-belief. "In all of these moments, it is interesting to see how these young players step up and transition. He has all the tools in his toolbox to be a success, and Celtic should be a nice fit for Callum. The style of play that Celtic have and working alongside Brendan Rodgers and the coaching staff, on the outside looking in, it seems to be a win-win for Callum. "Callum is one of those players who can get supporters off their seats. The directness and speed with which he plays may be an eye-opener to some of the Celtic fans. "He will be a constant and real threat to defences, and he will cause problems for them. He will create many moments that will be memorable, and I hope he gets the opportunity and the rewards for making the move to Celtic. I pray that he makes a success of it. "As a young player, it is probably harder for Callum as he is going to be judged on his ability to score goals, and that can sometimes come with added pressure. I think it's his mindset that sets him apart from the rest, and he will know that he has to grasp those opportunities when they come, but this is a player who I know can and will score goals. I think this is very much Celtic's gain. He will enjoy having that kind of pressure of winning every game. He placed pressure upon himself over the years to score goals and meet individual goals and targets. "Callum carries himself with enough self-belief, and working at Celtic under Rodgers should be the perfect environment for him to kick on."
