Latest news with #ConferenceLeague
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Aberdeen secure £8million in funding as club announce plans for new Cormack Park revamp
Chairman Dave Cormack, director Tom Crotty and other investors have poured more money into the coffers at Pittodrie Aberdeen bosses have confirmed they have secured a lucrative £8million in investment in order to enhance facilities at their Cormack Park training complex. During the Pittodrie side's AGM back in December, chairman Dave Cormack had revealed his intention to build a new full-sized indoor pitch at the training base in Westhill, just outside the city. And following the huge cash influx from Cormack, director Tom Crotty and fellow investment, the Dons will now create a 4G pitch which will be used by all of the their men's and women's teams as well as by academies, the Aberdeen FC Community Trust programme and by local junior and amateur sides Chief executive Alan Burrows said: 'This latest injection of funding, approved at our last Annual General Meeting, takes the total investment from Dave, Tom and their colleagues to over £25 million in the last few years. 'We're incredibly grateful to our investors for the new funds, which will provide a significant portion of the capital required for these improvements at Cormack Park and our stadium, while also being able to continue to invest in the squad and the football operation. 'Our training facility at Cormack Park is fantastic, and the addition of a full-sized, indoor arena and additional operational space will take it to a whole new level, opening new possibilities for our men's, women's, academy and community programmes. 'In addition, we have recently been able to more than double the investment in our scouting and talent ID department across the continent. This is only possible with the support we get from our investors and our fans through AberDNA memberships.' Aberdeen will compete in either the revamped group stages of the Europa League or Conference League next season after shocking Celtic to lift the Scottish Cup last month - their first triumph in the competition for 35 years. Boss Jimmy Thelin has already strengthened his squad with four signings this summer and more are expected to follow. Chairman Cormack has also highlighted the success of fan engagement and the club's player training model in helping keep the club achieve financial stability. He added: 'We continue to make good progress towards achieving long-term financial sustainability of the Club with record season ticket sales, AberDNA memberships and markedly increased commercial and retail revenues. 'Combined with the additional funds generated, successful player trading is integral to this goal and remains a major factor in our recruitment. We have spent the last twelve months studying the market and refining our strategy in this area. 'This has complemented some of the squad planning work that we have undertaken, which in part has highlighted the need for adjustments in our own structures and the need for additional capital and operational investments if we are to continue to make progress and challenge ourselves to drive more success on and off the field. 'Together with our investors, I remain committed to driving Aberdeen FC forward and continuing to make our supporters and the region proud of its football club.'
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Maresca faces make-or-break Chelsea spell as internal view on progress emerges
Enzo Maresca is gearing up for a huge second season in charge of Chelsea, where progress has been difficult to assess in the wake of constant personnel changes Enzo Maresca is facing a huge second season at Chelsea. The expectation levels are so high at Stamford Bridge that internally Maresca's first year in charge is still only seen as being 'on par.' Chelsea won a European trophy with the Conference League success, qualified for the Champions League and, arguably most impressively of all, provided a sense of calm among the chaos. They would never admit it, but working for a club which has spent more than £1billion in the era of joint owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali takes a clear, calm head. It is still regarded as something of a circus by people looking in from the outside and that is why Maresca's first 12 months deserve respect. But, realistically, it is actually the next 12 upon which he will be judged. When Maresca took charge, the club were open about his being a two-year season with the Club World Cup sandwiched in the middle. It is difficult to plan and prepare when you do not know your calendar, dates and what the summer and beyond will even look like. That should buy Maresca some time and understanding but we all know that it is not how it works in football - and that is why it is such a big year ahead for the Italian coach. This is a manager still finding his way in his career. He gained a big reputation for working with young players while at Manchester City 's academy and it says much about him that Liam Delap always wanted to join Chelsea because of his time working there under Maresca. Maresca also steered Leicester to promotion but one of his problems at the King Power was he made himself rather difficult to like. The football was not edge-of-the-seat stuff and he was rather aggressive and defensive. The Leicester never really took to him and it has been a similar story at Chelsea. You would have though by now, in this age of PR gurus and style, that someone would have got hold of him with a few bits of advice. In fairness, Maresca is probably ignoring them. Instead, Maresca finished the season by telling those who doubted him and Chelsea to 'f*** off' in his final press conference of the Premier League campaign when they won at Nottingham Forest to clinch a Champions League place. If he thought that would really bring a siege mentality among the fans he again was mistaken. The fans were happy enough but they are a long way from loving the manager in the way they did with a Jose Mourinho, Thomas Tuchel or even Antonio Conte in his peak. They have still carried on spending and £30m on Delap looks good business and they are close to a £50m deal on Jamie Gittens. Others have arrived and done so without much fanfare because they are players for the future. The Chelsea model is young players, long contracts and a long term vision. The teenage prodigy Estevao Willian, 18, is regarded as a generational talent in Brazil but Maresca has been rather dismissive of him as a first team player next season. They do sign and loan out a lot. They also have one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. Moises Caicedo is a brilliant player but too many other big signings are yet to fulfil their potential. Chelsea flirted with a title race last season and could have gone top - albeit briefly - just before Christmas. Then they fell away badly in the second half before finishing with aplomb. This season could be defined by how they recover from the United States. If they can hit the ground running in the Premier League and start with Crystal Palace, West Ham and Fulham then it could be a big year. If they have a hangover from their gruelling summer then it could be a difficult second year for Maresca.
Metro
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Metro
Enzo Maresca sends transfer message to Chelsea defender
Enzo Maresca has confirmed at least two clubs have registered an interest in Chelsea youngster Josh Acheampong. The 19-year-old featured regularly in last season's triumphant Conference League campaign but is keen for more regular first team football. Acheampong started in Wednesday's Club World Cup win over ES Tunis and his versatility is likely to be of use to Maresca in the remainder of the tournament if Chelsea go deep into the competition. The player's long-term future, however, is less assured particularly with several high-profile European clubs monitoring his situation. When it was put to Maresca that both Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund 'liked' Acheampong the Chelsea boss did little to downplay their interest. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. He said: 'The clubs that you mentioned like Josh but we also like Josh. All the good players any club like good players. 'My plan with Josh is quite clear. I think potentially he can be a top defender for this club, it's on him to also have the right timing to do the things. 'We are full of young players full of talent, even defenders. The best plan for Josh is to be with us and I'll be very happy if he is with us.' Maresca was less emphatic when it came to discussing the future of Trevoh Chalobah who spent the first part of last season on loan at Crystal Palace. More Trending An injury crisis saw Chelsea controversially recall the 25-year-old who went on to play a key part in the Blues' successful end to a turbulent campaign. He said: 'In this moment all the players that are with us I don't want to lose them, but we have said many times that when the transfer window is open many things can happen, to buy a player or to sell a player. 'Trevoh came back to us in January, if we did a Champions League spot and top four spot it's also because of Trev, he helped us a lot. 'In this moment he also plays some games for us, we are happy with him. Anything can happen but not only for Trev but all 25 players in the squad.' MORE: Chelsea star could push for transfer after Arsenal and PSG interest MORE: Dortmund interested in £35m Chelsea star as Jamie Gittens transfer gets closer MORE: Arsenal consider surprise bid for £32m Chelsea star
Irish Independent
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Rory Gaffney comes off the bench to secure three vital points for Shamrock Rovers
This clash was heading towards a stalemate as Stephen Bradley's side looked like they may miss out on the chance to extend their lead out to 11 points, but a howler from Waterford 'keeper Stephen McMullan gifted Rory Gaffney the winner and gave the leaders the win they craved to take a big step towards the 2025 league title. Bradley got exactly the response he wanted from his side after Monday's derby humbling at the hands of Bohs, as Rovers secured a fifth successive win over the men from the south east, but more importantly, extended their lead at the summit by another two points and out to 11 with just 12 games remaining. After beating Bohemians and drawing with Shelbourne, Waterford's third game in seven days against Dublin opposition ended in a defeat, although John Coleman's side were well in this contest and twice went close to a first-half opener through Olujimi Olayinka and Tommy Lonergan. They remain in eighth and eight points above ninth-placed Sligo Rovers. The crowd of 4,014 at Tallaght Stadium was the Hoops' lowest home league attendance so far this year and around 300 fewer than last week's win against Cork City, with the clash also Rovers' final league game at home until August, on account of next month's Conference League and FAI Cup campaigns both beginning. The hosts started on the front foot and were inches from taking an early lead inside five minutes as the post denied Danny Grant a first goal since March 7, after a fine cross from Graham Burke. Blues centre-half Andy Boyle, making his first start since April 25 after recovering from a calf injury, was perhaps fortunate to escape a straight red card when he appeared to take Michael Noonan down just behind the halfway line, Rovers appealing that the four-time league winner with Dundalk was the last man back at the time. The Rovers teenage star would have been through on goal courtesy of Burke's through ball, but referee Paul Norton brandished a yellow card. The visitors came forward minutes later as Jesse Dempsey's excellent cross found Olayinka, with the former Arsenal academy midfielder seeing his shot saved by Hoops number one McGinty. But the ball fell kindly towards Pádraig Amond at the back post, who looked certain to score had recent Ireland call-up Josh Honohan not held off the Blues skipper superbly before diverting the ball to safety when he realised Sam Glenfield was also hot on his heels. Honohan then broke forward on 21 minutes from left wing-back, cut back inside on to his right foot and unleashed a curling shot that looked destined for the far corner, but Blues 'keeper McMullan was equal to it with a superb stop. Rovers midfielder Mandroiu should have done better to hit the target after being teed up by Burke's short free-kick routine, before Olayinka saw his piledriver stopped by McGinty for the second time in the space of 15 minutes, in a lively opening half-hour in Dublin 24. Both sides continued to search for the opener as Mandroiu and Ireland U-21 striker Lonergan both saw efforts saved, with the latter opting to go himself rather than squaring across to an unmarked Amond, who was in disbelief that it wasn't put on a plate for him yards from goal, but neither could find a breakthrough with the teams going into the break scoreless. ADVERTISEMENT Noonan was finding his long runs forward towards balls over the top snuffed out by Blues 'keeper McMullan, who was doing a good job of keeping a high line to keep the Ireland U-19 international at bay. Waterford's Rowan McDonald found a pocket of space just before the hour mark but McGinty was again equal to it, on a night where both men between the sticks were on the top of their games. Noonan again went close on 72 minutes, this time with a header from Mandroiu's deft cross, but moments later, the breakthrough finally arrived. Mandroiu's shot from distance looked to be routine for the Waterford shotstopper, but he spilled it and allowed substitute Gaffney to pounce and fire into an empty net for his sixth of the season. Job done for the leaders, who take another step towards the title they have their eyes set on reclaiming. Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Cleary, Lopes, Grace; Grant (Kovalevskis 76), Healy, Watts (Byrne 65), Mandroiu (Nugent 88), Honohan; Burke (Gaffney 65), Noonan (O'Neill 88).
Scottish Sun
20 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
‘Delighted' Premier League club gets green light for 35,000-seater stadium redevelopment with stand to be demolished
There are more plans for further expansion in near future NEW LOOK 'Delighted' Premier League club gets green light for 35,000-seater stadium redevelopment with stand to be demolished NOTTINGHAM FOREST have been given the green light for a major stadium redevelopment which will see a stand get demolished. Forest put forward plans to their local council this week expressing their desire to bulldoze and rebuild the Peter Taylor stand. 4 Nottingham Forest have received the green light for a stadium redevelopment Credit: Benoy Architects 4 A new stand will be erected costing £130million and boosting capacity to 35,000 Credit: Benoy Architects The huge project costs around £130million — up £36m from its original estimates in 2019. And Forest's plans have now been approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council, allowing the club to move forward with building work. They will now rip down the Peter Taylor Stand and replace it with a new 10,000-seater terrace coming in at 38m high. That will boost the City Ground's capacity from 30,000 seats to 35,000. And it will also inject £13million a year into the local economy by creating hundreds of new jobs. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL CAR CRASH Fans claim Carabao Cup draw is 'rigged' as huge derby clash is handed out Forest revealed their 'delight at the news' in a statement on Friday. They added: 'We look forward to working closely with our partners on the next steps and will provide a further update in due course.' The rebuild comes at a perfect time for Forest, who defied expectations to qualify for the Conference League last season. The City Ground has seen multiple improvements since it opened in 1898, with the last of five rebuilds taking place in 1996. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS But once work is done on the new stand, Forest plan on another expansion. The longer-term plan is to develop the Bridgford Stand, eventually taking the City Ground's capacity to 40,000. Nuno Espírito Santo signs new contract but Nottingham Forest appear to make gaffe in statement announcing it 4 The City Ground was built in 1898 Credit: AFP 4 The last work done on it was in 1996 Credit: Getty An apartment block of 169 flats is also in the works to built next door. But that would not start until 2026 at the earliest.
