Latest news with #Robertson
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Cardiff City star being eyed by 12 Championship clubs as European interest emerges
Cardiff City star being eyed by 12 Championship clubs as European interest emerges Cardiff City are facing a big turnover of players this summer Alex Robertson of Cardiff City (Image: Cardiff) Reports claim up to 12 Championship clubs are keeping tabs on Cardiff City's Alex Robertson this summer. The midfielder signed for the Bluebirds last year but his first season in south Wales unfortunately ended in relegation. Brian Barry-Murphy is the man now at the helm at Cardiff City Stadium and Robertson will know his new boss well, having worked with him during their respective times at Manchester City. Robertson has been putting in extra training in his native Australia, training with new Portsmouth signing Adrian Segecic. He was filmed on Joner Football's YouTube channel doing some drills. When asked by the host of the channel about his stint at Cardiff, Robertson said: "Good, really good." Robertson's future could be the subject of speculation though, with The News in Portsmouth stating that the former City starlet will have talks with Barry-Murphy this coming week. The News report that a dozen second-tier outfits are keen on the midfielder, with one of the three relegated sides from the Premier League included in that list. Former club Pompey are said to be in the mix, with European and MLS interest also cited. Article continues below Robertson still has three years left on his Cardiff contract. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. Barry-Murphy is set to revamp the Bluebirds squad in the coming weeks, with the new man hoping to put his stamp on things after arriving from Leicester City. Michael Reindorf has already left for Newport County on loan, while Roko Simic is also edging towards the exit door in the Welsh capital. "My belief is the smaller the squad, within reason, the more it aligns to having a culture of improvement and players having a strong opportunity to play," Barry-Murphy said when asked about the summer window. "It allows the younger players the opportunity to grow and play. If we have too many players and they don't play then it's a contradiction to the way I see it. "So have a strong squad from the players who are here, then complement it with the players coming through from the academy and the younger ones. Article continues below "Then, adding quality then means we can be specific on what it looks like to have an elite team in this division." Players will be heading to the exit door next week. All nine out-of-contract stars will be leaving for good, while the two loan players they had last season, Will Alves and Sivert Mannsverk, have returned to their parent clubs. Four will return to the fold from their respective loan stints away - Eli King (Stevenage), Joel Colwill (Exeter City), Ryan Wintle (Millwall) and Ryotaro Tsunoda (KV Kortrijk).
Vancouver Sun
15 hours ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Ottawa supporting B.C. in creating jobs in China
VICTORIA — B.C. Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez expects to save hundreds of millions of dollars in interest payments on the purchase of four ferries from China thanks to a low-interest loan from a Canadian government agency. 'It's a huge deal,' said Jimenez, who hailed the loan as 'an extraordinary show of support' from the Canada Infrastructure Bank. 'It provides enormous savings for us over the term of the agreement,' the Ferries boss told Gregor Craigie of CBC Victoria. 'If we fully exercise the loan, we'd be saving about $650 million in interest charges.' The $1 billion loan — $690 million for the vessels and a further $310 million for electrification infrastructure — comes with an interest rate of 1.8 per cent, significantly below the Bank of Canada rate of 2.75 per cent and the prime rate of 4.95 per cent. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The loan would appear to cover much of the cost of the purchase. While Jimenez has declined to disclose the exact price tag, he says that the rival European bids would have cost $1.2 billion more or roughly 'double' what Ferries will pay China for the four vessels. Jimenez discussed the favourable terms the same day as news of the loan was broken by Bill Curry of the Globe and Mail. The bank finally confirmed the loan, though the bank and ferries had signed the agreement on March 28 and the first of four payments was advanced on May 22. The news prompted an immediate response from federal Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, whose Liberal government has been critical of the decision to purchase the ships from China as opposed to domestic shipyards. 'Robertson has asked for a briefing from the Canada Infrastructure Bank's CEO on the kind of considerations this decision raises,' said the statement from his office. Fair to ask why a federal agency for promoting Canadian infrastructure is putting up a $1 billion low-interest loan to underwrite shipbuilding jobs in China. Robertson, who represents a Vancouver riding, should also seek a full accounting from his federal cabinet colleague, Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland. Just last week Freeland expressed 'great consternation and disappointment' about the China deal in a letter to her provincial counterpart, Mike Farnworth. She sought assurances that no federal funding for B.C. Ferries would be used to fund any part of the contract with China. The letter made no mention of the $1 billion loan from the infrastructure bank. The lapse justified Premier David Eby's response to Freeland that the federal minister should 'mind your own business.' Freeland and Robertson are not the only politicians who've tried to take some distance from the B.C. Ferries purchase. When the decision to go with China was announced earlier this month, Farnworth put out a critical statement as well. He also maintained that B.C. Ferries is independent of government, a claim not supported by the evidence. The chair of B.C. Ferries is Joy MacPhail, a former NDP cabinet minister. When Premier John Horgan installed her as chair in 2022, she immediately fired CEO Mark Collins (at a severance cost in the $1 million range) and replaced him with Jimenez. The board of the B.C. Ferry Authority, which 'oversees the strategic direction of B.C. Ferries in the public interest,' includes Marie Della Mattia, who managed the NDP's re-election campaign, Claire Trevena, a former NDP transportation minister and advocate of building ships in B.C., Gary Coons, a former NDP MLA, and Laird Cronk, the former head of the B.C. Federation of Labour. The notion that they would have endorsed a strategic direction at odds with the NDP government is nothing short of preposterous. Besides, Jimenez says the New Democrats were being kept in the loop as far back as last summer. 'This is really a B.C. Ferries decision and a B.C. Ferries managed process,' Jimenez told Jas Johal of CKNW radio last week. 'But certainly we have been keeping the province aware of this procurement for well over a year — helping them understand what the timelines look like, helping them understand what criteria we're going to use to evaluate the winning bid, how we would incorporate Canadian content into our evaluation criteria. These conversations have taken place over many, many, many, many months — as far back as last summer.' Jimenez says it is too late to reverse the deal without severe penalties. 'The contract is signed,' he said. 'But the question I would put to people is what options would people say we should go with? If the option was you should just build domestically — well that's not possible. 'The (Canadian) yards themselves have told us, I'm sorry, we don't have the capability to deliver your ships in your time frame and we (B.C. Ferries) don't have the luxury of waiting.' Perhaps the need for a fifth, backup ship provides a way out for senior governments. The request was turned down by the independent ferry commissioner. But the federal and provincial governments could ask for bids to construct the fifth ship with as much Canadian content as possible. It could then be leased to B.C. Ferries as a replacement vessel. vpalmer@
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fabrizio Romano confirms Atletico Madrid decision on Andy Robertson
Atletico Madrid are planning a change of transfer direction in the coming days following an update from Liverpool. Diego Simeone is rumoured to be looking at several transfer targets to bolster his squad following a disappointing FIFA Club World Cup campaign. Advertisement Atletico Madrid's group stage exit in the USA has sharpened focus on what Simeone needs to do in the summer transfer market. Left back has been highlighted as a key area to be improved with Andy Robertson emerging as Simeone's rumoured No.1 option. Atletico Madrid receive Andy Robertson transfer update From the start of their interest in the Scotland international, Atletico Madrid outlined their stance of looking for a cut price deal, with the 31-year-old into the final year of his contract at Anfield. Initial estimates claimed Liverpool would accept an offer in the region of £5m, as a cheaper option to Aston Villa's Lucas Digne, but that was not accepted by Los Rojiblancos. Advertisement Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has since offered an update on the situation with a hint that patience has run out in Madrid as Robertson delays his call. 'We don't expect Andy Robertson to go to Atletico Madrid anymore,' Romano stated on his YouTube channel. 'Robertson was a candidate, a strong candidate, for Atletico Madrid. They had concrete conversations, then the player was taking his time to decide his future, also out of respect for Liverpool, where he's still loving the club, the fan base and all the people at the club. 'It's important to say Atletico Madrid, as I told you several times, wanted to pay a very small transfer fee or a free transfer for Robertson from Liverpool, so that was not possible.' Robertson's apparent desire to stay on Merseyside has enabled Simeone to explore other options on the left side of his defence with a possible bid incoming for Atalanta's Matteo Ruggeri next month.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Another Liverpool Exit Expected as Club Confirm £40m Deal
Liverpool Land Milos Kerkez in £40m Deal as Robertson Faces Crucial Decision Liverpool have confirmed the £40 million signing of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, making the Hungary international the latest piece in Arne Slot's reshaping of the Premier League champions. The 21-year-old joins a wave of ambitious summer business already completed, with Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz arriving for a combined £145 million. Advertisement 'It's a real honour for me, a privilege to come to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, [the] biggest club in England,' Kerkez told 'I'm just really, really happy and excited.' Though the deal had appeared to stall momentarily, trusted journalist David Ornstein confirmed the delay was due to minor formalities. Now completed, Kerkez returns to Hungary before reporting for pre-season at the AXA Training Centre. Strategic Move Strengthens Left Flank Liverpool's intent to upgrade both fullback positions has been clear. Frimpong's arrival offers electrifying pace on the right, while Kerkez addresses growing uncertainty on the left. At 1.8 metres tall and with 61 Premier League appearances under his belt, the former AZ Alkmaar defender has adapted quickly to England's top flight. X: @LFC Advertisement His 2024/25 campaign yielded 2 goals and 6 assists, a marked improvement on his debut season. Importantly, he fits the mould of a Slot fullback — aggressive, technically sound, and capable of maintaining width while also operating inside when needed. Andy Robertson's Future in the Balance For Andy Robertson, this transfer creates a turning point. The Scot, who once defined Liverpool's counter-pressing identity down the left, is now considering his future while on holiday. Initial noises suggested a willingness to fight for his spot. But the club's decisive investment in Kerkez may have caused some introspection. Interest from Atletico Madrid offers Robertson a potential move to a less physically intense league, with the lure of more regular minutes. A switch to La Liga, where Trent Alexander-Arnold has already departed, would bring an end to an iconic Anfield chapter. Advertisement Should Robertson leave, Kostas Tsimikas, often the forgotten man in recent months, could see his Liverpool prospects dramatically revived. However, it's equally possible that Kerkez's arrival spells the end for both senior left-backs. Liverpool Send a Message This is not just about depth or rotation. Liverpool are signalling evolution. Slot's system demands more fluidity and athleticism from fullbacks than ever before. With Wirtz set to carry the creative burden in midfield and Frimpong and Kerkez providing thrust from the flanks, the squad is being tailored for sustained domestic and European success. The transition away from Klopp-era staples like Robertson and Alexander-Arnold might feel abrupt, but the moves align with a strategic overhaul — and Liverpool are executing it with purpose and precision.
The National
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Will the SNP give more than warm words to help Scottish journalism?
This week's Behind the Headlines comes from content editor Xander Elliards. To receive the newsletter direct to your inbox every week for free, click here. IT is easier to learn about Scotland's green hydrogen industry from German television than from UK broadcasters, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson told a room of journalists and editors at Holyrood on Thursday. The remark was a stark reflection on the state of Scotland's media – one that grew sharper as Robertson continued. The SNP minister, himself a former BBC journalist, lamented the near-absence of foreign correspondents with regular slots in Scottish newspapers, saying he could count them 'on one finger' – a reference to The National's David Pratt. He acknowledged the broader crisis: Shrinking resources, job cuts, and a media landscape struggling under commercial pressures. A meeting was held in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday to discuss the fledgling Scottish Public Interest Journalism Institute (Image: Gordon Terris) 'Cuts, shrinkages to the industry – they've all had significant wider impacts on our institutions, culture, and society,' he said. 'Nevertheless, it's heartening to hear about the potential of the new institute and how it could be utilised to help support and preserve our independent publications and local titles and to ensure that we have an industry well into the future.' Robertson's reference was to the fledgling Scottish Public Interest Journalism Institute (SPIJI), which is set to officially launch next month (or thereabouts). SPIJI was recommended by the Scottish Government's own Public Interest Journalism Working Group – formed in 2021 to tackle the pandemic-era and structural threats facing Scottish newsrooms. Chaired by The National's founding editor Richard Walker, the institute aims to follow models such as the Dutch Journalism Fund: An arm's-length, state-backed body that invests in media as a democratic necessity. READ MORE: Seamus Logan: Using an election as plebiscite referendum is just not going to fly But progress has been slow, not least because the SNP have been reticent to give the group anything more than warm words. Back in 2022, when the idea was supported by the Scottish Government, Robertson said: 'We want to do all we can to support the sustainability and diversity of public interest journalism in Scotland and we will be working closely with industry stakeholders to see how an institute could help to ensure the sector remains resilient.' All they can, it seems, except put their money where their mouth is. At the meeting in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, an array of Scottish writers, from freelancers and researchers to editors and reporters, spoke frankly about the state of the industry. One contributor described a vicious cycle: Falling print sales trigger cost-cutting and staff losses, quality declines, prices rise, readers abandon ship, and the spiral deepens. READ MORE: Assa Samake-Roman: We need to look at where our money vanishes to The cause is no mystery: Shareholders' pockets need to be lined, and public service journalism suffers. SPIJI offers an alternative. Its goal is to support local and independent journalism in ways commercial executives won't, and to defend Scotland's democracy by ensuring its citizens are informed. Because when the media falters, democratic accountability weakens. That's why the SNP's inaction on this matters. It is not enough to simply acknowledge the problem. If the Scottish Government truly believes a strong Scottish media is essential to a strong Scottish democracy, then it must do more than make speeches. It must fund that future. Our media needs more than warm words. It needs investment. Without it, who will tell Scotland's story?
