Dodds 'refreshed' for new challenge after Rangers
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BBC News
14 minutes ago
- BBC News
All smiles as Cherries return for pre-season testing
Bournemouth's first-team players returned to the training centre over the weekend as pre-season testing took were plenty of smiles despite the intensive programme Andoni Iraola and his team have put together.
STV News
20 minutes ago
- STV News
Russell Martin remains quiet about Jamie Vardy link to Rangers
Russell Martin refused to be drawn on reports linking Rangers with a move for former England and Leicester striker Jamie Vardy. The 38-year-old forward, who saw a move to Genoa fall through, has now been heavily touted for a switch to Ibrox after leaving the Foxes at the end of last season. Recently-appointed Gers boss Martin remained coy but refused to dismiss the prospect, when asked after his side's 2-2 pre-season friendly draw at home to Club Brugge on Sunday if Vardy was a target. 'I think I've been asked about so many players,' he said. 'Some miles away, some on the money. So basically, I'm not going to give you an answer on that. But I guess you'll find out who's real and who's not in the next few weeks.' Rangers have already added five new players this summer and Martin, who has also been linked with defenders Conor Coady and Nasser Djiga, said he expects 'the squad to look different in a week's time'. 'I think we definitely want to do more, for sure,' he said. 'And also probably some players need to move on as well at some point because the squad's going to start looking very big and very heavy.' Rangers strikers Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane have been heavily linked with moves away in recent weeks. Dessers – top scorer last term – sat out Sunday's friendly due to injury but Martin indicated that he is keen to keep the Nigerian, who was the subject of a recent bid from AEK Athens. 'Cyriel's just been injured, he's had a bit of a niggly ankle, but he was here today,' said the manager. 'We turned down a bid a while ago for him. That was nowhere near the valuation of the football club. And he's been great, he's desperate to train. We had to give him some treatment this week on his ankle since he's been back. 'But I'm looking forward to working with him, so that's just nowhere near happening. And hopefully he will get on the training pitch this week, and he'll start enjoying it. But he's not kicked up one moment of fuss. He seems a really good professional.' It has been reported that Igamane, who has not been able to return to Scotland from his native Morocco this summer due to visa issues, is close to joining Lille. 'Hamza's just been a bit of a red tape,' explained Martin. 'He was due back this week with the other international players, he was at the airport and he didn't quite have the right visa, so I don't think it's anyone's fault. 'Things have changed since he last got his visa, so we've had to wait for him to get his new one, which he should have tomorrow all being well. So hopefully he will be with us this week at some point.' Asked about interest from Lille, Martin said: 'I haven't heard of any.' Pressed further on whether he expected to have Dessers and Igamane available for the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round tie at home to Panathinaikos a fortnight on Tuesday, Martin said: 'That's two weeks away, so I can't plan for anything in football.' Martin, who also revealed that defender Clinton Nsiala is likely to leave on loan, reported that key centre-back is John Souttar is recovering well after undergoing hernia surgery this summer. 'The big man's good, he's trained the last few days,' he said. 'He's reacting really well to his operation and what's he had in training. He'll be back in properly this week and he'll play next weekend (in a closed-doors friendly in England).' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Redemption, karma… There's only one jockey who makes sense on Field Of Gold with Colin Keane set to be banned
REDEMPTION and karma are wonderful things not always experienced by all. John & Thady Gosden are now likely to have the chance of putting their anger to one side and giving Kieran Shoemark the chance of redemption. 2 And in doing so the handlers themselves can gain karma and peace! None of you will be surprised I'm talking Field Of Gold, of course, who is set to run in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on July 30. Shoemark lost the ride when he was defeated by a narrow margin in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. That came on the back of a brilliant display by both jockey and horse in the Craven Stakes, when John Gosden was keen to praise Shoemark for his efforts. Subsequently, Colin Keane rode Field Of Gold to facile successes in the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes. But Keane is this week likely to be given a whip ban which will rule him out of the Sussex. I'd be close to certain that owners Juddmonte would have no issue with Shoemark on top. Why would they? The rider has a tremendous record for the outfit over the last 12 months, and of course was brilliant at Goodwood in the Nassau when Lady Bowthorpe banged in her Group 1 in 2021. That day owner Emma Banks showed loyalty and decency. And she was rewarded in spades. Of course I'm not totally crazy, and the chances are the Gosdens will refuse to let Shoemark do what is so obvious. Indeed, it's more than likely Oisin Murphy will be called up to ride Field Of Gold should Keane be absent. Rumours abounded that Murphy had, actually, been pencilled in to ride Field Of Gold in the Irish 2000 Guineas before Keane was put up as the Juddmonte main man. But I can't back that up with any substance. It might have just been a rumour. Whatever the case, on a humane level Shoemark and Field Of Gold back together in the Sussex just seems the right way to go for all concerned. I won't hold my breath, but come on, people, you know it makes sense. Meanwhile… Much has already been said and written about the Coral-Eclipse since Saturday, but it will long remain one of the most insane races I have ever seen. I spoke to more than one of the connections of Delacroix who were convinced he would be making all. I certainly didn't hear anyone suggest Delacroix would be ridden for a turn of foot! And of course he wasn't, for all that is what he eventually needed. Delacroix was last turning for home. OMG! And who has ever thought Sosie was a front-runner? He was in the Eclipse, which was odd in the extreme. The one thing you know about French raiders is they mostly have a closing kick. Just a bizarre race, and if you have studied his body language to any degree at numerous moments Ryan Moore looked fairly miffed with how things were going. I wonder at what point Moore really thought – 'I might just go and win this'. At a guess, only once Delacroix was pulled out wide and after a few strides started to get going. But at that stage Ombudsman was clear albeit he had probably been in front for long enough. As a form guide for the future, it's hard to say the Eclipse will be a reliable one. But what you can say is that Delacroix must be some machine. Looking ahead I wonder if one day he will end up in the Breeders' Cup Mile or Turf? Which one would you pick for him? Time will tell… . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
