Ballymena United recruit former Motherwell and Watford man: ‘I need to play men's football'
The 19 year-old started his career at Motherwell before joining EFL Championship side Watford in 2023. During his time at Vicarage Road he gained first team experience with loan stints at non-league clubs Kings Langley and Potter's Bar.
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BBC News
11 minutes ago
- BBC News
Celtic starting new season weaker than last term
Chris Sutton feels his former side Celtic are starting the new season with a weaker squad than last ex-striker has also warned the Scottish champions they could be taking a Champions League risk if they do not strengthen have brought back Kieran Tierney and signed Sweden midfielder Benjamin Nygren and Japan attacker Shin Yamada, but fellow summer signings Hayato Inamura and Callum Osmand could take time to reach first-team Glasgow side sold Nicolas Kuhn - one of last season's star performers - to Como and will be without injured winger Jota for a long-term period. Left-backs Greg Taylor and Jeffrey Schlupp have also departed."If you look at the squad going into the season, it's still a little bit light," Sutton said prior to Celtic's league opener with St Mirren on Sunday."Brendan Rodgers, everything I've seen him hint and say, he feels the same. The fact Brendan talked about ambition, he is always quite calculated in what he says and the words that he uses. "I think that's a little warning shot across the bows to say 'we need to bring players in'. It's fair to say the squad aren't as strong right now as they were at the end of last season, and that's not ideal. But there's still plenty of time left in the transfer window."If you look back at last season, Celtic won the league in the first half of the campaign. They won 16 of their first 18 games, set off like a house on fire and there was real momentum going into the season from pre-season. It doesn't quite feel like that at the moment."And they didn't have the burden of the Champions League qualifiers last season and we know how enormous they are for the club."Celtic will have to win a play-off to avoid dropping into the Europa League and the first leg will be on August 19-20."Celtic have been in this position before where they are signing players when the Champions League qualifiers have already begun," Sutton added. "That's not ideal."You don't want them learning on the job when the Champions League has started and then missing out. We know how massive these games are. If you're slightly off it, then you can get beat."We will find out at the end of next month whether Celtic have done enough. It's okay for pundits to say 'the board need to do more', but at the end of next month if Celtic bring another few players in of quality which is going to lift the squad, all well and good."If not, then clearly people are going ask questions about why they are weaker now than they were at the end of last season."
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Fringe play offers preview of what Edinburgh can expect when Tour de France hits yown
With this year's Tour de France having crossed the finish line, the creators of a new drama about the legendary road race are offering Fringe-goers a chance to experience it's thrills and spills. As Edinburgh prepares to host the 2027 Grand Départ, cycling enthusiasts and theatre fans, can get an early taste of what to expect from hosting the world's top cycling spectacle in a compelling multi-media play CADEL: Lungs on Legs. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... New York's Connor Delves and Edinburgh's Steve McMahon who co-wrote the high-energy sports drama believe hosting the heady Grand Départ will be a game-changer for the city. Writing about Australian cycling legend and 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans has convinced the duo that the Grand Départ in 2027 won't just be a cycling event—but also a celebration of Scottish innovation, and an opportunity to promote the city and boost sustainable transport. Scotland's connection to cycling makes the 2027 Grand Départ something of a homecoming as the modern pedal-driven bicycle was invented by Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith from Dumfries in 1839. Present-day cyclists also owe a debt of gratitude to Scotsman John Boyd Dunlop for his 1887 invention of the pneumatic tyre, which vastly improved comfort and speed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Steve, who was born and raised in Edinburgh, said: "I couldn't be more excited that our city will host the send-off of the world's most famous road race. Writing the play gave me a unique insight into the Tour de France—I understand the drama and theatricality of it all. Edinburgh's backdrop will create the perfect stage, and I hope everyone in the city will enjoy the spectacle." L-R Steve McMahon and Connor Delves, co-writers of CADEL: Lungs on Legs Connor, who performs the multi-character solo show and has just returned from seeing the Tour de France in Paris says: "Hosting the Grand Départ is not just a sporting honour, the Grand Départ in Yorkshire in 2014 attracted over 3.5 million spectators and brought an estimated £130 million to the local economy, while the Tour's broadcast reaches 3.5 billion viewers across 190 countries." Past host cities have seen investment in roads, bike lanes, and active travel networks, which help improve cycling infrastructure with lasting benefits for residents. Edinburgh already has an engaged cycling community, and bringing the Tour to the city would help promote cycling culture to a wider audience, inspire increased interest, and get groups and local clubs involved to nurture a new generation of Scottish cyclists. Connor and Steve learned that Edinburgh had won the hosting bid after signing up to bring their show to the Fringe and were delighted at the chance to give local and global audiences a preview of the amazing atmosphere and excitement surrounding the Tour. Edinburgh will form the perfect backdrop for the event, which is traditionally hosted in scenic, culturally rich cities. Edinburgh's renowned expertise in handling large-scale public events like the Festivals and Hogmanay will ensure the departure unfolds seamlessly. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The playwrights based their play on the life of Cadel Evans, an Australian outsider who triumphed at the 2011 Tour de France – an event so significant in his home country the nation nearly declared a national holiday. It's a physically demanding role as Connor pedals for an hour to recreate Evans' story on the same bike that rode to victory in the Tour. Connor Delves triumps as CADEL: Lungs on Legs The pair hope the show will appeal to cyclists, Tour de France fans, and those who want to see compelling theatre, tightly written and powerfully performed. Everyone is invited along for the ride.
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Celtic hero questions outcast's effort after recommending him
Last season, he was sent out on loan to Greece with Olympiacos. Izaguirre - who won seven league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups at Celtic and is now sports director of Motagua - was instrumental in getting Palma to Celtic after recommending the player to the Hoops. But he's admitted he was disappointed with Palma's efforts in Scottish football. He said: "I think Luis Palma needed to be more intense when he was at Celtic and actually finish the 90 minutes. "I don't know if he has good pre-seasons, I don't know about injuries, but you can see that he never seems to be able to finish the 90 minutes. Read more: "He's a winger and has to run many miles a game, press and make runs. I'm not sure he did that. "But he still has the potential to return to form. "He's now in Poland and we hope he gets the chance to play and enjoy it because he definitely has what it takes. "I have always believed in the national team players, which is why many of them play in Europe. We have quality." Meanwhile, Palma was praised by his Lech Poznan manager Niels Frederiksen after his introduction to Polish football in a 4-3 win at ex-Scotland No.2 John Carver's Lechia Gdansk. He said: "Luis Palma only had a few minutes on the pitch, but he forced a good save from their keeper and you could see the quality he has. "He will be a big player for us this season once he gets up to match fitness."
