Latest news with #NeilGraham
Daily Record
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Concerned Buddies say support for Palestinians is more important than ever
Councillor Neil Graham said the decision to lower the flag was a 'victory for common sense', arguing the decision to retain it in Paisley was nothing more than 'gesture politics' and a 'fringe issue'. Claims that flying the Palestinian flag in Renfrewshire is nothing more than 'gesture politics' has been dismissed by local campaigners who say the show of solidarity is more important than ever. Paisley 4 Palestine – which last year successfully campaigned for the flag to be flown in civic spaces in Renfrew, Johnstone and Paisley - said it was disappointed in the decision to lower it in Houston Square and at Renfrew Town Hall. It comes days after councillors agreed to a change in policy, flying the flag only from Renfrewshire Council headquarters where it is alternated with the Ukrainian flag every fortnight. Councillor Neil Graham said the decision to lower the flag was a 'victory for common sense', arguing the decision to retain it in Paisley was nothing more than 'gesture politics' and a 'fringe issue'. But local campaigners say his statements only serve to prove how 'out of step' he and many other politicians are with ordinary people. John Kelly, a founding member Paisley 4 Palestine, said: 'Our view is that politicians are clearly out of step or behind the curve in relation to their constituents, especially the young. 'The reality is that Paisley people keep talking about Palestine. As the slaughter in Gaza continues on a daily basis, more and more people from all over Renfrewshire and beyond, young and old, are coming together to show their solidarity and to try to bring attention to the plight of Palestinians. 'Renfrewshire has always been proud of its radical tradition so it is no surprise that Buddies are saying 'not in my name' at the atrocities taking place in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. These voices will only get louder.' John pointed to a host of activity outwith Paisley 4 Palestine which shows the strength of feeling locally. This includes a coffee morning at St Charles' RC Church which raised over £1,700 for Medical =Aid for Palestine, with Gig for Gaza at The Bungalow also raising £3,500 for the same charity. Paisley Artist Art By Dev has also painted two huge billboards in Neilston Road urging people not to look away from the humanitarian disaster taking place. Paolo Nutini also added his name to a campaign from Choose Love which saw people from the arts call for the cessation of arms sales to Israel. Councillor Graham, Renfrewshire Conservative group leader, said: 'I have been appalled by the scenes in Gaza and the innocent civilians who have been caught up in this conflict. I hope that aid can get to those who need it most. 'Of course, such a conflict is not a fringe issue. However, the flying of certain flags very much is. At a time when council tax has soared, I believe Renfrewshire residents want us to focus on issues we can truly impact upon like our roads, our schools and our social care services. 'While, like others, I want to see an immediate ceasefire, I believe the time has come for the council to stop spending so much time on what flags are flying.'
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Louis Varland's tenacious play
The Case For Neil Graham as Next Stars Coach The Dallas Stars, Western Conference Final runner-up from the past three seasons, are against all odds looking for a new coach to start the 2025-26 season. 1:55 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Harrison Bader's excellent running catch
The Case For Neil Graham as Next Stars Coach The Dallas Stars, Western Conference Final runner-up from the past three seasons, are against all odds looking for a new coach to start the 2025-26 season. 1:55 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Cut adrift! Anger as Scottish Rugby 'brutally' axe youngsters as part of new strategy
Scottish Rugby have been accused of showing 'disrespect' and a 'lack of care' towards young players after announcing major cuts to their academy system. As part of the new restructure and pathway system designed by SRU performance director David Nucifora, some age-grade teams have seen their number of official academy players cut in half. Whilst the SRU insist the overall academy structure will be improved and better funded, it has left dozens of young players across the country fearing they have been cast adrift. The players who have been cut from the academies and released back to domestic club rugby were notified last week via a standardised email, with no personal feedback as to why they have been let go. Players and parents were invited to join a Zoom call on Tuesday night with Kenny Murray, Scotland Under-20s head coach and head of player transition, and Neil Graham, the SRU's head of game development. The plans were laid out more formally and in greater detail by Murray and Graham, but concerns have been raised to Mail Sport about how the whole process has been handled. 'The whole thing has been brutal,' said one source, whose anonymity has been protected due to their continued involvement with Scottish Rugby. 'I know a boy who left school in S5. He wanted to focus on rugby full-time and pursue a career. From the feedback he had from coaches, he felt it was achievable. 'Now it's just kind of been ripped away really unexpectedly. If he had known this would happen, he would probably have stayed in school and focused on his education. 'From what I can gather, this has come from the very top of the SRU. Even our coaches have been dumped into the s*** as well. They didn't know this was happening until last week.' In an off-the-record briefing with journalists last week, Nucifora laid out his vision for how he wants to revamp the pathway system. Despite still being based in Australia and only visiting Scotland during certain periods of the year, he has been entrusted to set the new structures to improve player development. Nucifora will rely on coaches and talent-spotters in the SRU to help inform decisions of which players are promoted through the system. After players are initially identified in the domestic club game, they will then embark on a six-year pathway towards playing for Glasgow Warriors, Edinburgh and, ultimately, the national team. The National Talent Pathway will consist of players aged between 16-19, with another three-year academy block outlined beyond that. Nucifora was reluctant to commit to exact numbers, but sources have indicated to Mail Sport that it could be around 15 players at each level when numbers were previously closer to 30. These players in the academy system have access to various support structures which aim to improve their physical and technical development. But the numbers will now be greatly reduced to align with Nucifora's masterplan, essentially a streamlining of the existing academy system. Nucifora, who previously worked in a similar role for Ireland, has been criticised for overseeing the project from afar. With the SRU currently cutting back on foreign imports in a bid to get more Scottish youngsters playing for Glasgow and Edinburgh, there is also concern that they are cutting too many players adrift. 'How can you possibly be trusted to improve player pathway and development when you're not even in the country? He should be on the ground and going out in the field to watch these players,' another source told Mail Sport. 'You are dealing with young boys at the start of their career in rugby. They are 16, 17, 18, 19 years old. Because they are so young, a lot of them haven't really developed the resilience yet to deal with stuff like this. 'They have been told to go back into the club system and keep performing. They have been told the SRU will still be watching and there's always a way back for them, but I don't buy it. 'They have just been binned. The whole process has been poorly handled. The SRU have shown disrespect and a lack of care towards these young guys by just tossing them aside. 'I've seen guys like Henco Venter at Glasgow being cut because they don't want so many foreign players in Scotland, but they are making huge cuts to the academy. It doesn't really make sense.' A spokesperson for Scottish Rugby said: 'If any of our recent communications with age-grade players hasn't been appropriately delivered, that was never our intention and we will look at improving this area in the future. 'Our new High Performance approach will deliver more focused individual support to players with genuine professional or international-level potential. This will be complemented with additional support delivered locally to identified clubs and schools. 'Whilst no one is guaranteed a place, the talent pathway opportunity remains open to all players with potential and it will be normal for those with the right aptitude to leave and re-join the programme, at times, as they develop.
