Brown expects 'quality' from teenage Celtic duo
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Daily Record
31 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Reo Hatate turns Celtic super agent as key role in transfer drive revealed
Shin Yamada has lifted the lid on the role the frontman played in his move to the Scottish champions It broke Shin Yamada's heart having to say goodbye to his hometown club in Japan. But the hitman is convinced he'll find love again at Celtic. The frontman was in tears after his big send-off at Kawasaki Frontale with fans chanting his name and even holding up Scottish flags ahead of his £1.5m move to Glasgow. Yamada admitted it was an emotional experience that even left him wondering If he'd made the right call to move to the other side of the world. The feeling didn't last long though as he's always had his heart set in being a success abroad. The 25-year-old got his first take of action for Celt's in Saturday's Como Cup penalty shootout win against Al Ahli – who beat Yamada's Kawasaki side in the Asian Champions League Final back in May. A friendly victory couldn't be classed as revenge but the striker was delighted to bury the winning penalty having looked lively during his second half cameo. Yamada is up and running and ready to throw himself into life at Celtic. He said: 'I am 25 now so I'm not really young any more. 'I wanted to challenge myself. I had options to stay in Japan as well but felt the decision I made was good for my career. 'Kawasaki Frontale is the club where I grew up. It's the club that took care of me since I was in their Academy and I always wanted to contribute to the club. 'But I also had another dream I wanted to pursue for my career. It was sad for me to leave – but I had to make that decision. 'It was emotional for me. That is a love I really love but by coming to Celtic I believe I can improve myself more. That's why I made my decision.' Yamada didn't take a blind leap of faith coming to Scotland. He's seen some of his fellow Japanese stars soar with Celts and he fancied getting on board. He revealed he was sold on the move after a chat with midfielder Reo Hatate and he's already got cracking with learning the lingo. He said: 'The staff from at Celtic have told me some things. I have also done some research of my own. 'I have been speaking with Reo and the other guys. I had a video call with Reo before I came over and we had a good chat about everything. 'He gave me some good recommendations. Having Daizen and Ina here as other Japanese players has also helped me. The club even has an excellent interpreter who has helped me on and off the pitch. 'I plan to learn English myself, having started studying in Japan.I will study more when I get to Scotland but at the moment the language seems very fast!' Yamada insisted he's a quick learner though – on and off the park. He knows he's following in the footsteps of several Japanese smash hits with Celts but wants to be his own man. The frontman – who is part of his national squad – has admired the likes of Kyogo and Daizen Maeda at Parkhead. But it's a Frontale legend he looks up to the most. Yamada broke into he first team towards the end of club hero Yu Kobayashi's 14 year stint in Kawasaki, in a period where his side secured promotion and merged as regular J-League winners and Asia Champions League competitors. Yamada picked up a lot from his mentor and he's hoping it pays dividends for the Hoops. When asked about his own heroes, he said: 'There is player called Yu Kobayashi who played for Kawasaki. 'I used to watch him when I played for the academy. When I went to the top teams I used to watch him closely. 'I liked him personally and also his mentality. He's one of the players I admired.' Yamada got a taste for glory in the Asia Champions League – and he'd love a repeat in the European one. Frontale charged all the way to the Final last season, beating top sides from China before running into big spending Al Ahli. It proved to be a step too far as Riyad Mahrez and co were too strong and lifted the trophy with a 2-0 win. Yamada savoured the run though and he's determined to help Celts get to the group stages in Euro version. The Hoops face a perilous play-off in less than a month and the striker admitted it would be special to stroll out against the cream of the continent. He said: 'Obviously the Champions League is something that I have admired. I have been dreaming of playing there. 'If the team is doing well in the tournament then that would be great. And if I can be involved in those great results then that would be something I would be individually grateful for.' Yamada has his own dreams but he is determined to be a team player. It's early days for the attacker but the first impression was positive and he's out to impress more in the coming weeks. The hitman just wants to play his part and he said: 'It's more about the collective of the team. 'I have high confidence I can score goals at that level but without my team-mates I cannot score so I need to improve my connections and communications with the rest of the team. 'That's what I need to improve quickly.'
Daily Record
31 minutes ago
- Daily Record
No need for Celtic transfer panic yet as Rangers get unanimous Jury verdict with Panathinaikos predictions
Our Record Sport quartet debate four big questions in Scottish football from European action to transfers ahead of the big kick-off Do you fancy Rangers to come through against Panathinaikos? KEITH JACKSON: A two goal start from the first leg certainly gives Russell Martin and his men a bit of breathing space in scorching Athens but the job is only half done. It could be a long night on Wednesday and especially if the Greeks score early. But if Rangers strike first they could take the sting out of a potentially tricky tie. CRAIG SWAN: The two-goal cushion earned at Ibrox is priceless and, provided they can see off an expected early thrust from the Greeks, it should be a big enough buffer. GRAEME YOUNG: Yes. Their current fragility is cancelled out by their willingness to go for the jugular. Russell Martin won't camp in and they are a threat on the break and that will see them through. MICHAEL GANNON: Rangers can finish the job but it won't be a comfortable night. The Greeks have to go for it and there will be opportunities on the break. Where are Celtic placed heading into the new campaign? KEITH: With some serious work still to do in the transfer market. Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kuhn have gone without being adequately replaced and Jota will be on a treatment table for the rest of this year. As things stand Brendan Rodgers has every right to make demands of his board. CRAIG: The start of the season and the end of the transfer window are two different places. The squad will be stronger by August 31. But it's not fully equipped yet and getting through the Champions League qualifier is vital. GRAEME: The mood music over transfers has been brooding but the product on the pitch has been harmonious bar the gaffe-filled second half against Ajax. Benjamin Nygren appears capable of a Matt O'Riley impact. If they get their marquee signs right then all will be well. MICHAEL: With a strong squad in a lot of places and gaps in others. Brendan Rodgers knows he's short of attackers but there's time to fill in the blanks. Can Hearts make a genuine push to split the Old Firm under Derek McInnes? KEITH: That's precisely what Derek McInnes will be hoping to achieve. With Rangers going through another summer of transition and Celtic slow off the blocks in the market he'll believe there is an opportunity for Hearts to lay down a meaningful early marker. With no European football to distract them and Tony Bloom's financial muscle, why can't they get involved in the argument? CRAIG: They can make a push towards it, but it's a tall order for the new manager to actually do it in his first season at the club. It's a building job. Derek McInnes should be afforded patience on that front. GRAEME: It will be tough. Odds of 16/1 for title glory appear bookie bait but Hearts boast a criminally underrated manager who is embracing a brave new dawn. The computer says yes in the coming years but finishing third has to be the main target. MICHAEL: Hearts should be ambitious but it's tough to take on the big two. It the Jambos finish third it's a good achievement. Who is best equipped to make a splash in the Premiership of the promoted sides, Falkirk or Livingston? KEITH: Falkirk have been catching the eye for some time on their journey up through the leagues. Fingers crossed they'll be a breath of fresh air now they're finally back in the top flight. CRAIG: Tough call. John McGlynn has a vibrant young team and David Martindale is a maestro at Livi. Perhaps both can, but it's going to be some scrap again at the bottom. GRAEME: Falkirk, John McGlynn has the air of an accidental hero about him but there's nothing lucky about his success with the Bairns. Their willingness to play their own daring way will once again yield results. MICHAEL: Livingston will be back like they were never away and as tough as ever, especially at home. Falkirk will surprise a few teams and don't bet against them staying up.
Times
6 hours ago
- Times
Taxpayer appears to fund footballers' salaries for ‘R&D'
Taxpayers appear to have funded player salaries at a top-flight football club on the grounds they were working on cutting-edge research. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) demanded repayment from the Scottish Premier League team Dundee United last year after it claimed £1.27 million under the research and development tax credit scheme. The scheme, which is meant to support innovations for the public good in science and technology, has been subject to a high degree of fraud and error thanks to lax checks by the tax authority. Under HMRC's rules a company can apply for the public money only if it has attempted a genuine advance in science or technology to benefit the overall field, not just its own business. A report was prepared by Dundee United's tax consultant ZLX before the club's claim, which stated that its players spent 24 per cent of their time directly conducting research and development activities, across nutrition and data collection projects. This meant, the report claimed, this portion of their salaries could be partially recouped from the taxpayer as a research and development (R&D) tax credit under the scheme. The report also stated that 80 per cent of the club chef's time was spent on nutrition science research, which could also be used to make a tax credit claim. Eligible research under the scheme must deal with an issue of genuine scientific uncertainty, which an expert in the field would not easily be able to resolve. • HMRC overhaul: £8bn tax credit scheme faces reform For one of Dundee's projects, the document claimed that the eligible uncertainty was that 'league involvement, challenge in European competition, playing style and management are all likely to change'. Simon Brundish, a conditioning coach at Strength:Lab who has worked with Premier League football clubs as well as with the English and Belgian national teams, reviewed the details of the research projects set out in the document. 'There is nothing groundbreaking going on here,' he said. 'A radar profile for each player and each position using arbitrary thresholds created by coaches' 'expertise' is simply standard practice in professional team sport.' He said that if the club had been paying an external consultant large sums for these kinds of services on the grounds that it was revolutionary research, it was effectively 'buying snake oil'. The tax expert Dan Neidle said: 'Football players are not scientific researchers.' He added that if Dundee United had claimed a quarter of the players' salaries as R&D expenditure, it was a 'scandal'. 'It is no surprise HMRC are investigating,' he said. Stephen McCallion, the owner of ZLX, based in Glasgow, said that the claim briefing had not been submitted to HMRC and that ZLX had never been interviewed by HMRC in relation to the Dundee claim. When asked if he disputed that the Dundee claim included a claim for player salaries, he declined to comment, citing client confidentiality. • Specialist agents under scrutiny in crackdown on tax credit fraud There has been controversy around whether it is within the spirit of the scheme for football clubs to make large claims. In February The Times revealed that Premiership teams including Chelsea, Fulham and Nottingham Forest had made claims. After the story, disclosures under freedom of information by HMRC revealed that at least 33 professional football clubs were under investigation into whether £17 million had been wrongly claimed. Chelsea was paid more than £3 million in R&D tax relief and payments by HMRC between 2020 and last year, according to its accounts. Nottingham Forest claimed a tax credit of £607,000 in the 2021-22 financial year, while Fulham claimed £758,000 in credits between 2019 and 2024. After the reporting, it emerged that Brentford had also made a claim, worth more than £3 million. Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Brentford were asked if player salaries had been included in any way in their claims under the scheme. Brentford declined to comment. The other clubs were approached for comment. HMRC has not disclosed the identity of which 33 clubs were under investigation. Dundee separately declared HMRC's repayment demand in its most recent accounts. Concerns have also been raised about the role of tax advisers encouraging companies to make claims that skirt the border of eligibility, with at least one adviser promoting the scheme as 'free money from HMRC'. ZLX described itself on its website as having the 'know-how' to navigate R&D tax credits. It previously stated on its website that it could assist clubs in making claims under the scheme for research into 'stadiums-spectator interaction', 'media and multimedia' and 'Covid compliance measures'. The page including this information has been taken down from its website. The company was criticised in a recent Scottish court case for what the sheriff found was a proposal to make an R&D claim on behalf of a fruit and vegetable company for installing a fridge. HMRC has faced repeated criticisms for its handling of the R&D scheme as its cost ballooned from £1.1 billion in 2010 to £7.5 billion in 2023. Officials have been accused of failing properly to check claims being made, leading to a high rate of fraud and error, with resulting losses totalling £4.1 billion since 2020. Freedom of information litigation last year forced HMRC to reveal it had failed to take sustained action to crack down on misuse of the scheme for five years, despite being warned by officials as early as 2017 that the scheme was being extensively defrauded. McCallion has previously said that the sheriff repeated comments made by the defendant — which had not been taken seriously by the ZLX legal team — that it was 'not impossible for a football club to claim R&D tax credits'. He also said that 'those who have started this witch hunt on football clubs have little or no technical experience but instead are using this platform to further their own endeavours'. Dundee United was approached for comment. The club's accounts state that it is appealing against HMRC's repayment demand.
