Latest news with #Rossiter
The National
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Forgotten ex-Rangers player seals move to overseas club
Jordan Rossiter was one of Steven Gerrard's first signings back in the summer of 2018, when he took over as manager of Rangers. He was one of a handful of signings from Liverpool as Gerrard tapped into his knowledge of the Premier League side's academy. However, things didn't work out in Glasgow quite like Rossiter hoped they would. The midfielder was plagued by injuries throughout his time as a Rangers player, which lasted until 2020 when he moved to Fleetwood Town. Rossiter made just 16 appearances for the Ibrox club, scoring once. Now, he has a new club following the expiry of his contract at Shrewsbury Town, having spent the second half of last season on loan at Oldham. He has moved to the League of Ireland to join Waterford. The 28-year-old commented: "I spoke to a few people here before I signed, so I knew it was a really exciting project here. I watched Friday's 2-0 win in the derby against Cork so I can't wait to get going now. 'I'm looking forward to working with John & Danny. I've obviously played against John's sides a few times when I was at Fleetwood & he was at Accrington Stanley. Read more: "I know what his teams are about – always going to be competitive & I'm looking forward to playing for him. 'I can bring a good bit of experience to the group. I just love playing football wherever that is, so whether that's Liverpool, Rangers or Waterford, I just want to enjoy my football, so I'm looking forward to getting out there on the RSC pitch.'
Irish Examiner
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ex-Liverpool and Rangers midfielder Jordan Rossiter joins Waterford
Former Liverpool and Rangers midfielder Jordan Rossiter has joined League of Ireland side Waterford. Rossiter was hailed as the heir to Steven Gerrard's throne when he made his Reds debut at 17 but has been without a club since being released by Shrewsbury Town in May. Now 28-year-old, he links up with fellow Liverpudlians John Coleman and Danny Ventre at the RSC. The duo were appointed by the club's Fleetwood Group owners to manage the team in May after a run of six successive defeats cost Keith Long his job. Waterford's 2-0 win over Cork City last Friday lifted the Blues up to seventh in the table above Galway United. A debut could be afforded to the new capture in Friday's FAI Cup tie against non-league St Mochta's. Rossiter joined his hometown club Liverpool at just six years of age, spending over 13 years at the Reds before moving on. Jordan Rossiter's first words as a Blue 👇#WaterfordFC — Waterford FC (@WaterfordFCie) July 14, 2025 During his time at Anfield, Rossiter was first named on the Liverpool bench in their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League at the end of 2013. In September 2014, Rossiter made his first-team debut in Liverpool's League Cup match against Middlesbrough at Anfield age just 17, where he opened the scoring on his debut after just ten minutes – latching onto Rickie Lambert's through ball before finding the back of the net. In August of the 2015/16 season, Rossiter made his Premier League debut, coming on for then Brendan Rodgers' Reds away to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in a 0-0 draw. The following month, Rossiter made his European debut for Liverpool against French side Bordeaux as he played 80 minutes in their 1-1 draw in the French city in their Europa League group stage clash. He made another European group stage appearance against Sion in that 2015/16 injury hit season, before departing his hometown club to sign for Rangers FC in the Scottish Premiership for the 2016/17 season. Rossiter made 16 appearances for Rangers over the course of his three-year spell with the Scottish giants, before first Bury Town on loan & then Fleetwood Town secured his services. His move to Fleetwood was made permanent for the 2020/21 season, being made Fleetwood captain in 2021 for the Cod Army. He joined Bristol Rovers in 2022, before having spells at Shrewsbury Town & Oldham Athletic most recently. Rossiter said: 'It was a phone call with John Coleman & Danny Ventre. I know them both quite well, and just the way the club is going. "I spoke to a few people here before I signed, so I knew it was a really exciting project here. I watched Friday's 2-0 win in the Derby against Cork so I can't wait to get going now. 'I'm looking forward to working with John & Danny. I've obviously played against John's sides a few times when I was at Fleetwood & he was Accrington Stanley. "I know what his teams are about – always going to be competitive & I'm looking forward to playing for him. 'I can bring a good bit of experience to the group. I just love playing football wherever that is, so whether that's Liverpool, Rangers or Waterford, I just want to enjoy my football, so I'm looking forward to getting out there on the RSC pitch.'
IOL News
26-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Halfway through the year, how ready are SMEs for the next six months?
As domestic demand recovers, SMEs that invest now stand to gain market share and avoid late-cycle competitive pressures. Image: Pexels As small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) approach the midpoint of 2025, they have been urged to conduct a comprehensive financial health check. This proactive audit is essential for navigating the current economic climate and ensuring sustained growth in the second half of the year, according to SME services provider Lula. 'The economic landscape continues to present a mix of challenges and opportunities for SMEs,' Garth Rossiter, chief risk officer at Lula said. South Africa's SME enterprises are the backbone of the economy, contributing over 50% to employment and 34% to GDP, and the macroeconomic outlook in which they operate is certainly improving. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index hit a five-year high in Q4 2024, while consumer confidence rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. 'Positive shifts are definitely emerging, power supply is more stable than before, and consumer spending shows signs of recovery. Despite lingering higher operating costs for businesses, the significant drop in inflation and declining interest rates make the future look brighter than it's been in recent times,' Rossiter further added. As domestic demand recovers, SMEs that invest now stand to gain market share and avoid late-cycle competitive pressures. Rossiter said that access to finance remains a key hurdle for many, with traditional lending models often not suiting the needs of smaller and early-stage enterprises. Global geopolitical events and domestic logistical challenges continue to impact supply chains and overall confidence. "The agility and resilience of South African SMEs are consistently put to the test. The halfway mark of the year is not just a calendar event; it's a critical juncture for self-assessment. A thorough financial audit now can identify areas of strength to leverage and weaknesses to address, ensuring businesses are optimally positioned to thrive," he said. .To gauge their financial health and strategies for the remainder of 2025, Rossiter recommended the following practical steps: Revisit Budget vs. Actuals: Compare your year-to-date income and expenses against your initial budget. Identify significant variances. Are revenues lower than projected? Are costs, particularly those influenced by inflation like fuel and utilities, higher than anticipated? Adjust your budget to reflect current realities and future projections. Assess cash flow: Cash is king for SMEs. Analyse your cash inflow and outflow patterns. Are customer payments timely? Are you managing supplier payments efficiently? Calculate your cash flow runway – how many months can your business operate with its current cash reserves? In South Africa's environment, where payment delays can be common, robust debtor management is crucial. Consider offering early payment discounts or implementing digital invoicing to accelerate receivables. Review key financial statements: Income statement: Examine your gross and net profit margins. Are they shrinking? This could indicate rising input costs or ineffective pricing strategies. Balance sheet: Understand your assets (what you own) versus liabilities (what you owe). Are your debt levels manageable, especially with current interest rates? Cash flow statement: Provides a clear picture of how cash is generated and used within your business. Look for trends and potential bottlenecks. Evaluate debtor days and working capital: Debtor days: How long does it take for your customers to pay you? High debtor days can severely impact liquidity. Working capital ratio: Do you have enough short-term assets to cover short-term liabilities? This ratio is vital for operational liquidity. Adjust for any seasonality in your business. External conditions: Interest rates: With current prime lending rates, assess the impact on existing loans and any plans for new credit. Explore fixed-rate options if suitable. Load shedding contingencies: Although greatly improved, consider any residual costs of power backup solutions (generators, UPS maintenance) and potential productivity losses that still affect your operational expenses and break-even point. Inflation and rand volatility: How are these impacting your procurement costs, pricing, and profitability? Re-evaluate goals and forecast:Based on your financial review, are your initial business goals for the year still realistic? Adjust your targets and create a rolling forecast for the next six months, incorporating anticipated revenue, expenses, and capital needs. This foresight allows for proactive decision-making. "This mid-year financial health check isn't just about identifying problems; it's about empowering small business owners with actionable insights," Rossiter said. For those who identify financing gaps or require funding for strategic growth, Lula remains committed to providing flexible, tailored solutions to support their journey toward a successful second half of 2025. BUSINESS REPORT
Boston Globe
25-06-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Locals looking for ways to protect Lake Winnipesaukee from harmful bacteria
In 2024, Winnipesaukee saw Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up For some, the high levels served as a wake-up call about water quality issues threatening New Hampshire's largest lake, a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike and home to summer camps that families have attended for generations. Advertisement 'This lake is the center of this region. It is the reason that people come here from all over the world,' said Manley, an owner of Bob Manley of Meredith, N.H., is rowing across Lake Winnipesaukee in June to raise money for environmental conservation efforts. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Lake Winnipesaukee contributes about $17 billion to the state's economy each year, according to Advertisement 'I don't think you could stress enough how important it is for us to save this body of water,' said Manley. He is rowing to raise money for the The organization has been tracking water quality at Winnipesaukee since the early 1980s. In that time, it has seen the levels of phosphorus increase and, with it, record-high levels of cyanobacteria blooms, according to Bree Rossiter, conservation program manager. A view of Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Cyanobacteria is a naturally occurring algae-like bacteria found in low levels in all of New Hampshire's lakes and ponds. It's one of the oldest living organisms on Earth, but when it grows quickly, it can be toxic, causing skin rashes, respiratory and gastrointestinal distress, and in rare cases, death to people 'In 2024, we had the most amount of cyanobacteria blooms that we've ever seen on Winni,' including in parts of the lake that typically don't harbor the potentially toxic blooms, Rossiter said. Ice coverage on the lake has lessened in recent years, said Rossiter, noting that 2023 saw the shortest period of coverage since the 1800s. That has allowed sunlight, which helps cyanobacteria grow, to penetrate the lake earlier in the season. Intense rainstorms have created runoff flowing from lawns into the lake and bringing along nutrients that fuel the cyanobacteria's growth. Leavitt Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee, which had been closed in 2024 for pollution. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Thanks to climate change, the region is Advertisement 'It's just kind of a recipe for disaster,' she said. Meanwhile, phosphorus levels in the lake are about 300 percent higher now than they were prior to European settlement, according to the alliance's data. There's been an uptick over the past 10 years, Rossiter said, and phosphorus levels in the lake's water have grown to about six parts per billion. The more phosphorus in the water, the more algae and other plants can grow, often leading to murkier water. Andrea LaMoreaux, president and policy advocate at NH Lakes, a nonprofit that works on lake preservation and restoration, warns that Lake Winnipesaukee is not alone in water quality issues. Around the state, she said, increased algae levels, decreased transparency, and large cyanobacteria blooms are signs that lakes are approaching a tipping point, where conditions could get much worse – and remediation could be significantly more difficult. A gull on a dock piling at Lake Winnipesaukee. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff As lakes age, they naturally start filling in thanks in part to materials carried in by streams. The amount of plants growing in the water increases, and clear water becomes murkier. Over time, lakes turn into ponds, then marsh, until eventually they become meadows and, finally, dry land. But people are accelerating that process by adding more nutrients to lake water from sources like agriculture, fertilized lawns, and stormwater runoff, according to the Since the 2000s, LaMoreaux said, cyanobacteria bloom sightings have been on the rise, a trend that's been accelerating in recent years. 'What's new is that last summer, Lake Winnipesaukee bloomed almost lakewide two times,' she said. 'I think that's what caught people's attention. . . . The big pristine lake all of a sudden is having cyanobacteria.' Advertisement Amanda McQuaid, director of the University of New Hampshire Lakes Lay Monitoring Program, said the tipping point for more algal growth and cyanobacteria typically happens when there's about 10 parts per billion of phosphorus in the water. 'Unfortunately, a lot of our lakes kind of dip in and out of that range,' she said. (The Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance is trying to limit phosphorus to no more than eight parts per billion in that lake.) McQuaid said human development around lakes can contribute to the problem, pointing to the flurry of development after the COVID-19 pandemic. Impervious surfaces like roofs, parking lots, and driveways deflect water instead of allowing it to be absorbed into the ground, and the runoff carries nutrients into the water, feeding algae, bacteria, and plants. Leaky lakeside septic systems are another culprit. Winnipesaukee is a highly developed lake, with private properties dotting much of the shoreline. That limits where the Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance can conduct mitigation projects. Bob Manley rowed in Lake Winnipesaukee. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff But the alliance also works with property owners to provide recommendations about how to be more lake friendly, like getting their septic system pumped, avoiding fertilizers, or adding a buffer of native plants to their shoreline to filter polluted storm water runoff. Still, the uptick in cyanobacteria blooms last summer disrupted small business on and around the lake. Peggy Ames is the fifth generation innkeeper at Ames Farm Inn in Gilford, N.H. Last summer she had to explain to her guests why they couldn't swim in the lake. Advertisement She said that if the blooms continue, visitors could go elsewhere. 'People don't want to come up here and not be able to enjoy the water,' said Ames. But, she said, the blooms caught people's attention, and it could push them to take action. 'It woke people up to knowing that this is a resource we do need to protect,' she said. Amanda Gokee can be reached at
The Citizen
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Mid-year financial check for SMEs: Tips to prepare for the next six months
'A thorough financial audit can now identify areas of strength to leverage and weaknesses to address, ensuring businesses are optimally positioned to thrive.' It is essential for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to conduct a comprehensive financial health check as the year reaches its midpoint. This financial health check is important for navigating the current economic climate and ensuring sustained growth in the second half of the year. Garth Rossiter, Chief Risk Officer at Lula, said the economic landscape continues to present a mix of challenges and opportunities for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). ALSO READ: Political events happening in June expected to affect South African SMEs Macroeconomic outlook for SMEs Rossiter said that the macroeconomic outlook in which SMEs operate is improving. 'The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index hit a five-year high in Q4 2024, while consumer confidence rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. Annual inflation has dipped below 3%, and the consensus appears to be that inflation will remain at lower levels for 2025; this will support the argument for lower interest rates,' he added. He highlights that the power supply is more stable than it was in the previous year, and consumer spending is showing signs of recovery. 'Despite lingering higher operating costs for businesses, the significant drop in inflation and declining interest rates make the future look brighter than it's been in recent times.' Access to finance for SMEs Rossiter notes that access to finance remains a significant hurdle for many SMEs, as traditional lending models often fail to meet the needs of smaller and early-stage enterprises. The global geopolitical events and domestic logistical challenges continue to impact supply chains and overall confidence. 'The agility and resilience of South African SMEs are consistently put to the test,' he added. Tips to check if your business is ready 'The halfway mark of the year is not just a calendar event; it is a critical juncture for self-assessment. A thorough financial audit can now identify areas of strength to leverage and weaknesses to address, ensuring businesses are optimally positioned to thrive,' said Rossiter. ALSO READ: Challenges and opportunities for SMEs in 2025 To measure SMEs' financial health and strategies for the second half of 2025, Rossiter recommends the following: 1. Revisit budget vs actuals: Compare your year-to-date income and expenses against your initial budget. Identify significant variances. Are revenues lower than projected? Are costs, particularly those influenced by inflation like fuel and utilities, higher than anticipated? 'Adjust your budget to reflect current realities and future projections.' 2. Assess cash flow: Analyse your cash inflow and outflow patterns. Are customer payments timely? Are you managing supplier payments efficiently? Calculate your cash flow runway – how many months can your business operate with its current cash reserves? 'In South Africa's environment, where payment delays can be common, robust debtor management is crucial. Consider offering early payment discounts or implementing digital invoicing to accelerate receivables.' 3. Review key financial statements: A. Income statement: Examine your gross and net profit margins. Are they shrinking? This could indicate rising input costs or ineffective pricing strategies. B. Balance sheet: Understand your assets versus liabilities. Are your debt levels manageable, especially with current interest rates? C. Cash flow statement: Provides a clear picture of how cash is generated and used within your business. Look for trends and potential bottlenecks. 4. Evaluate debtor days and working capital: A. Debtor days: How long does it take for your customers to settle their accounts? High debtor days can severely impact liquidity. B. Working capital ratio: Do you have enough short-term assets to cover short-term liabilities? This ratio is vital for operational liquidity. Adjust for any seasonality in your business. 5. External conditions: A. Interest rates: With current prime lending rates, assess the impact on existing loans and any plans for new credit. Explore fixed-rate options if suitable. B. Load shedding contingencies: Although greatly improved, consider any residual costs associated with power backup solutions (e.g., generators, UPS maintenance) and potential productivity losses that still impact your operational expenses and break-even point. C. Inflation and rand volatility: How are these impacting your procurement costs, pricing, and profitability? 6. Re-evaluate goals and forecast: Based on your financial review, are your initial business goals for the year still realistic? 'Adjust your targets and create a rolling forecast for the next six months, incorporating anticipated revenue, expenses, and capital needs. This foresight allows for proactive decision-making.' NOW READ: Entrepreneurship a solution to youth unemployment – but there are challenges
