'End of Shankland saga is nigh, but how will it unfold?'
Another day, another - kinda - update on the Lawrence Shankland story...As we all know by now, Derek McInnes' squad have headed out to Spain for a warm-weather training camp and the Scotland striker is not with them.However, according to Hearts Standard editor Joel Sked, the offer of a contract from the Tynecastle club is still there and his future remains "in the balance"."It seems like it's business as usual, the contract is on the table for Lawrence Shankland - a contract which would still make him the highest paid player at the club," Sked told BBC Sportsound."I have no problem with him holding out to see if there are options."I think it's still in the balance, but at the very end stage where, one way or another, something has to be done."Hearts kick off their season on 12 July against Dunfermline in the League Cup group stage, so it's safe to say time is ticking."Hearts will need someone to replace him if he doesn't stay," Sked added. "I get why they're trying to wait as long as possible because I think trying to replace Shankland will be very, very difficult."I don't think it will be much more of a saga, I think we're coming to the end of it, which is needed for all parties."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
As the Queen of Hearts announces she is to step down, how should Ann Budge's Tynecastle reign be remembered?
With over a decade of service as the maroon-clad matriarch at Tynecastle, Ann Budge is to leave her position as the chairperson of Hearts later this year. It has been announced that Budge, who saved the club from financial ruin back in 2014, will step down in December. As the Queen of Hearts prepares to vacate the throne, the club have already embarked on the search for a successor. But the departure of Budge, 77, will bring an end to one of the most eventful — and, at times, divisive — stewardships of any club in Scottish football. What should her legacy be? How should she be remembered? Did she perhaps stay a bit too long? Having made her fortune in computers, should she not have logged off from Hearts before now? All valid questions. To assess the impact made by Budge, it is important to recognise what the state of play was when she first became involved with the club in 2013. After years of chaos and financial mismanagement under Vladimir Romanov, Hearts were staring into the abyss. Working alongside the Foundation of Hearts, Budge invested £2.5million of her own money to buy the club in 2014 and take it out of administration. Had it not been for that intervention, Hearts could well have gone bust. In the club's darkest hour, Budge became a guiding light. She promised that she would eventually hand the club back to the supporters, with the model of fan-ownership forming a key part of her long-term vision. She duly delivered on that promise in 2021, with Hearts becoming the largest fan-owned club in Britain. The club was debt-free and had just built a terrific new main stand at Tynecastle a few years earlier. Hearts also became a force for good off the field, becoming the first club in Scotland to introduce a living wage for all staff. They also became the first club in the country to have charity sponsors, with Save the Children and MND Scotland both featuring on the front of their jersey. All of these things happened on Budge's watch. But, on the football side of the business, there were also a lot of mistakes and missteps. Throughout Budge's 11 years at the helm, Hearts appointed eight full-time managers. Plainly, there were more misses than hits. The likes of Ian Cathro, Daniel Stendel and Neil Critchley, whilst ambitious in their thinking, proved disastrous appointments. Budge's loyalty to Craig Levein also extended too far, with Levein's over-arching influence angering supporters towards the end of his time in charge. Robbie Neilson made a decent fist of things across his two spells, while Steven Naismith also took the club into Europe after a third-place finish. But the high turnover of managers throughout Budge's time at the club speaks of an owner and chairperson whose expertise was not on the football side of things. There were also times when she sounded aloof and out of touch. Instance the sacking of Critchley towards the end of last season. When Budge was doorstepped by a reporter as she headed in to a club awards function, she laughed and brushed it off as 'yesterday's news'. Whilst she was under no obligation to answer questions, it wasn't a great look, especially given the club had endured a torrid season. Budge also railed against the establishment and fought a legal case against the SPFL following Hearts' relegation in 2020. Whilst the case was dismissed, many were sympathetic to her cause given the circumstances around the pandemic and how Hearts had been demoted. Many felt that the successful transfer of ownership to the fans back in 2021 would have been the ideal moment for her to walk away. But she chose to stay for another four years, with Hearts now looking forward to a bold new chapter with Tony Bloom's investment in the club. Reflecting on her decision to step aside, Budge said in a statement today: 'This is something I have thought long and hard about. 'Having discussed this with the board, I feel now is the right time to confirm that I intend to step down later this year. 'When I first got involved with the Foundation of Hearts in 2013, I could not have envisaged the journey it would take me on. 'Initially, the aim was to stabilise the club before even thinking of growth. Now, 12 years later, as I look at where the club stands, I can allow myself to feel a sense of pride at what we have achieved. 'With Tony Bloom's investment now complete, and the supporters ensconced as custodians of the club, I believe I have done what I set out to achieve. 'The appropriate time for reminiscing and saying goodbye will come after the AGM in December but until then, my full focus will remain on what it has always been, and that is doing my very best for Hearts and our fans.' Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay added: 'It cannot be overstated just how much Ann has done for Heart of Midlothian and on behalf of everyone at the club, I extend both my thanks and my gratitude. 'As we get closer to December's AGM we will update our supporters on our succession plans, but for now we will continue to enjoy and benefit from working with Ann until the end of her tenure as the club's chair.' Given how Budge led Hearts from the darkness and gave them a pathway to a brighter future, it is no stretch to say she is one of the most important figures in the club's history. She forked out £2.5m of her own money and helped save the club from oblivion. That's quite a legacy to leave behind. Did she stay too long? Yeah, probably. Her popularity among fans has definitely waned in recent years, but maybe that's just part and parcel of being an owner or chairperson. You are never going to please everyone. For all that she appointed a few dud managers, Hearts fans shouldn't forget all the good that Ann Budge did. Quite simply, she saved their club. She leaves the club in a considerably stronger position than she found it. Ultimately, that's all that can be asked of any owner.
.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Carlos Alcaraz stutters to opening Wimbledon win in five-set epic against Fabio Fognini
It's doubtful Carlos Alcaraz will need to be told. If the effervescent, at times mesmerising, 22-year-old Spaniard wants to claim his third consecutive Wimbledon title, he'll have to play a damn sight better than he did here on day one. For tennis's hottest property, this was a stutter of a start. Gasps were aplenty at last Friday's draw ceremony when wily old fox Fabio Fognini was picked to face the defending champion. The old-school maverick is entering his final months on tour and, at the age of 38, seemed a routine first round conquest for Alcaraz, himself on an 18-match win-streak following his French Open triumph against Jannik Sinner. Yet the inspired Italian thrived in a final big-match moment here, conducting the 15,000 in attendance with a brash arrogance even if, in the end, he came up short. Ultimately, Alcaraz prevailed in five captivating sets, emerging triumphant via a 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 scoreline, over four-and-a-half hours, on the hottest opening day in Wimbledon history. New knights of the realm Gareth Southgate and David Beckham endured their fair share of unconvincing victories in England colours and they witnessed another one here, perched in the front row of the Royal Box. 'I don't know why it's his last Wimbledon, the level we just saw... he could play another four years,' said Alcaraz of his opponent afterwards. 'He's a great player, the talent he has... I'm just a bit sad that it's his last Wimbledon. Happy to have shared the court with him. 'It's never easy, I've been practicing very well. I could feel the difference between Wimbledon and the other tournaments. I would say I can be better... I have to improve.' The second seed now faces British qualifier Oliver Tarvet, the world No 733, in a dream encounter for the University of San Diego college player in round two on Wednesday. And frankly, against a player on a terrific run on the grass, Alcaraz will need to vastly improve. To say Alcaraz started his three-peat quest – upon entering Centre Court in a pristine Roger Federer-esque white cardigan – off-beat would be an understatement. Fognini, a former top-10 player now ranked down at 138, saw five break point chances come and go early on, in a first set where Alcaraz failed to find any rhythm at all on his usually potent forehand. Yet while Alcaraz's unforced error count racked up, 16 by the end of the set, by crunch time at 5-5, he found his mark. Luring in his 38-year-old opponent with a drop-shot on break point, Alcaraz almost cruelly lobbed a flailing Fognini with a volley to seal a break of serve. A quickfire hold to love followed, setting the wheels in motion. Fognini, a colourful but often controversial character, has endured a pretty torrid relationship with Wimbledon, since his debut here in 2008. Something of a clay court specialist, he has never gone beyond the third round in 14 attempts and, in 2019, was lambasted from all quarters after wishing a 'bomb would explode at the club', cursing the 'damned English' in the process. The Italian quickly apologised and was fined a then-record £21,000, but one suspects the suits at the All England Club won't be sad to see the back of the madcap Italian when he retires later this year. Even if, much like Monday, he is capable of strokes of genius on court. The Italian fought admirably here, making for an entertaining opening salvo on Centre Court. While Alcaraz's usual explosiveness deserted him – in fact, he was erratically inconsistent – Fognini whipped and pranced his way to a second set tie-break. Then, Alcaraz wilted and though Fognini spurned three set points, the Spaniard incomprehensibly went wide with a routine forehand passing shot at 6-5. Fognini, with a wry smile, was as stunned as everyone else. Yet the third set was this match's peak. With Alcaraz serving for it at 5-3, Fognini won the point of the match at deuce, hitting an unorthodox smash as he twisted backwards, following it up with a backhand volley winner. It had both men bent over in exhaustion, to the tune of roars in the stands. Alcaraz went wide on the forehand to gift a break. But right then, three hours in, something jolted Alcaraz into action. Finally finding his range, Alcaraz secured the third set with a trademark forehand rush into the net, Fognini slapping his pass into the net. A clenched fist from Alcaraz at the net radiated relief. Surely, now, Alcaraz would romp to victory? Seemingly not. Fognini found a second wind and, deservedly, clinched two breaks in the fourth set as Alcaraz borderline imploded. This was the world No 2 at his most flat, short of adrenaline and drive, with his Wimbledon hopes hanging by a thread. Only twice in men's singles history – Lleyton Hewitt in 2003 and Manuel Santana in 1967 – has the defending champion lost in the Wimbledon first round but, heading into a fifth set, the near-impossible was emerging into existence. However Alcaraz, as he so often does in clutch moments, kicked himself drastically into gear. He secured an early break in the fifth and - after a 15-minute stoppage for a spectator falling ill in the stands - went a double break up as Fognini faded, shanking a forehand long. At the end of a match which fell just 52 minutes short of his Paris epic against Sinner, Alcaraz emerged the victor. Fognini basked in the acclaim of the crowd as he left this stage for the last time. Alcaraz departed Centre Court, pointing humbly at his knackered opponent, a relieved man.
.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26crop%3D3%3A2%2Csmart%26trim%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
England starlet hit with hefty ban after leaving young Scot needing stitches
Timmins sanctioned after world championship flashpoint Sign up to our daily 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... England Under-20 player George Timmins has been banned for five matches after an ugly incident against Scotland in the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy which left Scots prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty needing stitches. The Bath flanker, who was sent off in the match in Verona, will now miss the remainder of the tournament. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Blyth-Lafferty was lying prone on the turf when Timmins brought his elbow down into the face of the Edinburgh player. Blyth-Lafferty had to go off for treatment on his wound but was able to return after receiving stitches. Scotland's Ollie Blyth-Lafferty had to go off for stitches during the World Rugby U20 Championship match with England. | SNS Group / SRU An Independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) was convened to consider sanctions and decided on a five-match suspension after determining Timmins' actions to be contrary to Law 9.12 (striking with the elbow). The sanction has been accepted by the player. 'Vulnerable position of the victim' A statement from World Rugby said: 'The FPRC decided that the correct entry point for the offending was top end. In reaching their decision, the Committee considered, amongst other factors, the deliberate actions of the player, the vulnerable position of the victim player on the ground, and the victim player suffering an injury to his face which required stitches.' Timmins will miss England's remaining pool stage matches at the tournament, against South Africa and Australia, and two further play-off games against opponents yet to be determined. In addition, the back-row forward will also be suspended for a Bath pre-season friendly which was revealed to be at home to Glasgow on September 6. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad England U20 player George Timmins has been suspended. | Getty Images Despite playing for most of the second half with 14 men, England U20 still beat their Scotland counterparts 56-19 in the opening match in Pool A. Kenny Murray, the Scotland coach, is hopeful Blyth-Lafferty will be fit for Scotland's next match, against Australia in Viadana on Friday. 'He's got some stitches just underneath his eye,' Murray said after the match. 'Hopefully we can get him through into the next game. It doesn't look like anything too major to be honest.' World Rugby also announced that Randall Baker of New Zealand U20 had been suspended for three matches after being cited for a dangerous clear out against U20 in Calvisano.
