Latest news with #RhysMcCabe
Daily Record
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Dundee v Airdrie: Dens Park opener will be a good gauge for Airdrie, says boss
Rhys McCabe is looking forward to taking on Premiership opposition Rhys McCabe reckons Saturday's Premier Sports Cup opener at Dundee will tell him exactly where Airdrie are, ahead of their Championship season opener. The Diamonds head to Dens Park in their Group C curtain-raiser on Saturday, and are no strangers to stunning Premierhsip opponents in this competition. McCabe reckons he's a couple of players short of where he would like his squad to be, and says the Tayside clash is a good gauge as he prepares for the visit of Ross County on August 2. He said: 'The first game is Dundee, which gives us that taste of Premiership opposition, so it gives us a good marker, in terms of where we're at, what we still need to do, and what we need to work towards. 'You then start to filter through the teams and the gulf in quality will be probably a lot wider. 'Squads are back at different times, they've been together a wee bit, and there are no fully-settled squads in terms of signings and stuff, so it is a little bit false. 'But it is competitive, so we have to make sure we're ready for it, and I imagine every other team will do the same, and go into it with the mind-set that we're looking to progress. 'It's important for the club and the supporters to do well in the competition. The opportunity to potentially go further in a competition at any level is really good. If you progress, further down the line you never know, you might get a big oppostion. 'Historically we have done really well, so it's important that we try and maintain that, and attack the competition.' On his squad, McCabe said: 'I still think we're a bit away. We're a couple of players short from what I would like, having that competition for places in every position. 'Should we get a few injuries, suspensions or anything like that, you're scratching at a very young and inexperienced bench and squad – but the young boys who have come in during pre-season have done really well. 'We sold Ben Wilson, Lewis McGregor and Adam Frizzell are away, who were key members of our team. 'We've managed to bring in the likes of Euan Henderson and Jamie Barjonas, and we were delighted to get them in. 'But you've almost got to replace the numbers, which is a 23-goal involvement striker, and a captain who led by example almost every week. We will try to bring the right players in.'
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Premier Sports Cup extension agreed as broadcaster picks up Challenge Cup
An improved deal will see Premier Sports extend their League Cup coverage and title sponsorship until summer 2031. The four-year extension for a competition that kicks off with group stage matches this weekend comes as the broadcaster has also secured rights for the KDM Evolution Trophy [formerly the SPFL Trust Trophy] for the first time. Advertisement Premier Sports will now show a minimum of four games from the Challenge Cup this season, with the option to show further matches. The Premier Sports Cup deal extension comes after last season's competition welcomed record crowds of 440,697, culminating in a dramatic final which Celtic won 5-4 on penalties, following a thrilling 3-3 draw with rivals Rangers. Neil Doncaster, SPFL group chief executive said: 'We place great value on our long-standing partnership with Premier Sports and it's brilliant news that we've agreed a major extension for the Premier Sports Cup for a further four years. 'Premier Sports continue to be a fantastic supporter of our game, with their high-quality coverage of SPFL matches, and their ongoing commitment is a real boost for Scottish football. Celtic won the competition last season -Credit:SNS Group READ MORE: West Brom hit kid signs Motherwell loan deal Advertisement READ MORE: Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe: 7-0 derby win wasn't as important as building fitness 'We look forward to working together to build on the success of the Premier Sports Cup in the seasons ahead. 'We're also happy to confirm that fans will now be able to enjoy coverage of the KDM Evolution Trophy on the channel for the first time as we welcome our new competition format. 'Crucially, these latest deals also underpin record prize money for clubs in the Premier Sports Cup and the KDM Evolution Trophy this season.' Premier Sports will stream 25 group stage matches live from the competition, alongside five group stage live TV broadcasts, and live coverage of the latter stages. Advertisement The announcement also comes as the SPFL have agreed changes to its long-term broadcast deals with Premier Sports and Sky Sports to allow two post-split, bottom six matches to be shown live on Premier Sports from season 2025/26. They signed a five-season contract last year for Premier Sports to show 20 live Premiership matches per season in the UK and Ireland, which has now risen to 22.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Pressley on transfers, having 'nothing to prove' & Airdrie
Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's League Cup group opener at home to Airdrieonians on Saturday. Here are the key lines:Pressley's appointment last month divided opinion among the supporters. Five weeks on, he says: "I am not sitting here feeling I need to prove anything to anybody".When asked if that makes it even more important to get the new season off to a winning start, he said all managers are under pressure to win games."All I can do is continue to work hard with my staff, with our players and hopefully in time begin to convince people we can do something that is right here," he of the start of their group campaign, he said: "It is the balance for us, we know the importance of winning the game but equally we know the importance of getting all our players up to speed for the start of the new league campaign."After bringing in six players so far, he says they probably need "another five or six" but adds there is nothing imminent on that points out that while they have "good cover" in defence, the are "very thin on the ground" in midfield and wide was full of his praise for Airdrieonians manager Rhys McCabe, adding: "We are going to give them the utmost respect."Team news: Charlie Reilly is out with a shoulder injury.
Daily Record
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe: 7-0 derby win wasn't as important as building fitness
The Diamonds ran riot against their Lowland League neighbours Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe shrugged off a 7-0 Monklands derby win over Albion Rovers and insists the result is irrelevant at this stage of the summer. A sparkling performance from the Diamonds saw them run riot at New Broomfield, with goals from Lewis McGrattan, Sean McGinty, Craig Ross, Chris Mochrie, Cammy Cooper (2) and Dylan MacDonald. But McCabe says coming through another game unscathed – following a 2-1 defeat against Welsh side Penybont last week – was m ore important than defeating their neighbours from the Lowland League. He said: 'At this time of the season the result is irrelevant. 'I was pleased to get boys minutes, to get through the game with no injuries is a big plus, and it was a well worthy exercise, especially in that first half. 'I know [Rovers boss] Sandy Clark really well, and he has a young, energetic side, with a lot of trialist who had a lot to prove, so in terms of the intensity of the game and how it was played I was really pleased. 'We looked to improve on last week, which was our first game back after the summer, after loading the boys' legs, in terms of their fatigue levels, and then building on that again – could we add a bit more quality. 'We knew the fitness has been pretty much drilled into them from pre-season, so I thought there were loads of good things, the young boys came on and kept that freshness really well.' McCabe added: 'The result, for me, is irrelevant, but I was really happy with the performance levels, energy levels, and everything that we had targeted before the game. 'It's probably a good guide for our young boys, to experience what a match tempo is like and how quickly the ball needs to move, as opposed to academy or in training. 'It was a really good exercise for both teams. Albion Rovers' boys will have sen the level we're operating at, and that's something they're trying to strive towards. 'But in terms of the game itself, it never really felt like a pre-season game,. I've played enough of them in my career where it's a bit slow and lethargic, but I think there was great intensity in the game and for both sides it was a worthy exercise.' Airdrie have a bounce game against Premiership side St Mirren on Tuesday, and McCabe said: 'Hopefully that will get the boys a little bit sharper than what they were on Saturday, which was really good, and gradually improve every week.'
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Walsall snap up popular Airdrie defender as ex-Aberdeen man is 'over the moon'
Airdrie have announced their third exit of the day after defender Mason Hancock decided to join English side Walsall. The Englishman was a popular player at the Diamonds and had spent the past five years in Scotland, having come through the youth ranks at Pittodrie and then gone on to play for Abroath and Stirling Albion. Advertisement Hanock becomes the third player to depart after striekr Ben Wilson and winger Lewis McGregor both left for undisclosed fees, joining TNS and Coleraine, respectively. The 22-year-old old made 29 appearances in the Diamond last term under boss Rhys McCabe, scoring four goals, but admits he is thrilled to get a move back down south on a two-year deal. Hancock told the Walsall website: 'I'm over the moon to be honest. I can't wait to get started. Pre-season and the beginning of the season can't come quicker for me. Hancock in action for the Diamonds -Credit:SNS Group 'I've been in Scotland for five years now and it's always been the plan to get myself back down south into the EFL. Advertisement 'I've made a name for myself up there and it's about time I came down and did it down here. 'The way the gaffer talks, he wants to bring in young players that are hungry and really kick them on so everything that he wants this club to stand for fits right in with everything I want to do with my career and where I am now. In my opinion, it was a no brainer to make my decision and come here.' An Airdrie statement read: "Following the expiry of his contract, defender Mason Hancock has opted to move back home to England and has joined Walsall FC. "Mason leaves the club with our thanks for his efforts and our best wishes for the future." READ MORE: Airdrie midfielder joins Coleraine as club pull in another undisclosed fee READ MORE: Airdrie announce Ben Wilson exit as striker joins The New Saints for club record fee
