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Scotsman
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
42-goal former Rangers striker drops major retirement hint as he reveals future coaching plans
The 37-year-old enjoyed successful spells at both Rangers, Kilmarnock and Hearts in previous years. Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Former Rangers and Hearts striking hero Kyle Lafferty admits he is considering calling time on 20-year career after lifting the lid on his future coaching plans in a recent interview. The 37-year-old striker agreed a one-year deal with West of Scotland League side Johnstone Burgh last week, where he helped them win the Scottish Junior Cup for the first time since 1968 by scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout win over Tranent Juniors in May, but admits this coming season is likely to be his last. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Northern Ireland international has a storied career in Scotland, having played for numerous Scottish Premiership sides. Joining Rangers in deal reported to be worth £3million from Burnley in the summer of 2008, he won three Scottish titles, two Scottish League Cups and a Scottish Cup during his time at Ibrox, but departed to sign for Swiss Super League club FC Sion in 2012 following the club's financial collapse. Former Rangers, Hearts and Kilmarnock striker Kyle Lafferty has committed his immediate future to Johnstone Burgh in the West of Scotland League First Division. | (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) Lafferty admitted his regret at leaving Ibrox, saying: 'The way I left was disappointing and I have thought about it over and over again and the situation a lot of players found themselves in. It was a difficult time and if I had the opportunity again I would stay and fight for the club and try to help them as much as possible.' After his spell in Switzerland, Lafferty spent time at both Palermo and Norwich City before returning to Scotland to sign for Hearts in 2017, where he scored on his debut against Elgin City. After bagging 12-goals in his first season at Tynecastle, the Enniskillen-born forward was re-signed by Rangers, where he spent just one further season before his contract was terminated by mutual consent. He scored a total of 42-goals during his two spells at Ibrox. Following short stints with Sarpsborg 08, Sunderland and Reggina, he then returned to Scotland by signing for Kilmarnock in 2012, where he was hugely impressive, scoring eight goals in just nine appearances. He left Rugby Park temporarily, joining Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta, but returned to Kilmarnock in 2021, where he helped them win promotion from the Scottish Championship. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad More recently he has spent time with Johnstone Burgh though, where he is moving into third - and potentially final - season at the club, and is hoping he can spearhead the James Y. Keanie Park outfit to promotion before he hangs up his boots as he opened up on his future plans to move into coaching.
Scottish Sun
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Celtic Treble hero told to find a NEW CLUB by his international boss as he demands positional change
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EX-CELTIC star Kris Ajer has been told to find a new club by his national team boss. The Norwegian defender left Celtic for Brentford in 2021 after making 176 appearances for the Hoops. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 2 Kris Ajer left Celtic for Brentford for a fee of £13.5million Credit: The Sun 2 After four years at Brentford, his national team manager has told him he needs to find a move away from the Bees Credit: Getty Life at Brentford started bright for Ajer, as he made 28 appearances in his first season in England. Injuries have hampered the 27-year-old's Brentford career since then however. Ajer has been playing out of position when he has been fit in recent times, with manager Thomas Frank using the six-foot-five Norway international as a right-back. Ståle Solbakken, manager of the Norway national team, has told Ajer he needs to leave Brentford and England if he wants to improve. He told NRK: "He can be a very good and stable centre-back, and he was today, but he has to change clubs. "He cannot play right-back in every third game if he is to be a proper, safe and good centre-back. Because he has all the prerequisites. 'I think Ajer would have been better suited to playing centre-back in another league. "He has had some tough injuries in England. He will never be a super right-back, at the same level he is as a centre-back. "At the age he is now, I think he is allowed to put his foot down. You can't be a 'cover' right-back at his age now." Ajer has played less than half of the minutes available to him this season with Brentford. Celtic ace Vakoun Bayo dances for his team-mates but Kristoffer Ajer isn't impressed He was originally a midfielder in his early days at Celtic, but matured into a fine central defender for the Hoops. Ajer won three league titles, and the same amount of Scottish Cups and Scottish League Cups during his time in Hoops as he won the treble-treble. He netted the Hoops a whopping £13.5million transfer fee when he left for the Bees. Manager Thomas Frank looks set for Spurs after the sacking of another ex-Celt, Ange Postecoglu, with the Aussie linked with the Brentford job. Whoever takes the job will likely have a fight to keep Ajer at the club. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Glasgow Times
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Neil Lennon in James Forrest quip after incredible career
The Pars boss watched on as the most decorated Hoops player of all time struck against St Mirren on the final day of the league season to ensure he had scored in each of the last 16 seasons. Lennon gave Forrest his debut at the age of 18 and would go on to rely heavily upon him across two spells as manager. The 33-year-old now has 26 winners' medals - 13 Scottish Premiership titles, eight Scottish Cups and five Scottish League Cups and that scoring record just ensure his name was etched further into club folklore. Lennon has huge admiration for him and has been so proud to see what he has gone on to achieve. He even joked he might be tempted to try and get him to drop down a division. He said: "It's wonderful. I'm so proud of him. "You couldn't write a better story when he got the last-minute goal against St Mirren. What a player. He was like that when he was 18. He's so humble. He's never changed. He shies away from all the spotlight and just gets on with his football. "He's one of the most exciting players Celtic have had for forever, really. Jamesy would drive at you from the left, he'd drive at you from the right. He's a great finisher. He had his ups and downs with injuries, but if you talk to every player or every manager who's worked with him, he's just been a joy to work with. "I think James respects what I did for him in his career. I managed him twice, and he always delivered. I loved him. I loved watching him play because he was different. He wanted to take people on. That was his remit when he was younger. I said I want you to run at people, and he was brilliant at it. "He was a really good finisher as well. I'm delighted for him. He's had a mega career. It is incredible that he is Celtic's most decorated player. You wouldn't he just shrugs his shoulders and wants to get the next one! "The consistency he has had and the talent. He's not lost that change of pace either. He can do a number on you from a standing position. He still has that wee electric burst to get away from people. "His finishing has always been top-class with both feet. You could play him anywhere along that front three, or even now, as he's getting older, you could play him as a 10. I'll maybe try and get him here. I'll have a chat!"
Scotsman
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Ex-Celtic title winner 'set' for shock departure just 11 days on from trophy glory
The former Celtic boss helped the club win their first trophy in 17 years just last week. Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ex-Celtic title winning manager Ange Postecoglou is set to be sacked from his role as Tottenham Hotspur boss just 11 days on from helping the club win their first trophy in 17 years, according to a new report. The popular Australian head coach spent two trophy-laden seasons at Celtic Park, leading the club to two Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish League Cups and a Scottish Cup before leaving for the North London club in the summer of 2023, replacing Antonio Conte in the Spurs dugout following a brief interim period with Ryan Mason as caretaker manager. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 59-year-old endured a difficult domestic campaign at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this year, finishing the English Premier League season in 17th place, but was able to end the club's 17-year wait for a trophy last month when he guided them to a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao thanks to a first-half goal from Brennan Johnson. Former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart is congratulated by ex-boss Ange Postecoglou during the pairs time together at Celtic Park. Cr: SNS Group. | SNS Group Asked if he would like to continue his project at Spurs, Postecoglou said: 'I've had such a laser focus on winning this [Europa League]. Whatever happens, happens. We are still building this team, it is still very young, we need to add experience. My thought process has been trying to build a team that can be successful for a long time, but I am manager, it is not in my hands but it doesn't affect me, if it did you would have seen it.' A report from journalist Miguel Delaney claimed it was looking very likely that the Aussie boss will be sacked by the club. While he cited the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy hadn't made an official decision on Postecoglou as of Friday, his chances of staying at the club had fallen below five percent in the last few days, with his departure from Spurs expected at some point. However, it looks as if Levy has now came to a conclusion over the future of the ex-Hoops boss after a report on Sunday claimed they had to decided to sack Postecoglou, with Spurs ready to 'formally announce' his departure in the coming days as they 'press ahead with finding a new manager.'
Scotsman
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hibs pay tribute to long serving stars as pair depart with SWPL winner statuses
A fond farewell has been bid by Hibs to the players, one after 11 years of service. Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hibs have wished a fond farewell to Shannon Leishman and Lia Tweedie who's long associations with the club have ended. Leishman has said her goodbyes to the team she grew up supporting after 11 successful years and over 150 appearances. She trained with Hibs Women before she was 16 years old and made her senior debut in 2014 versus Rangers, departing with a league winners' medal after nine appearances for Hibs and then spending the second half of the 2024/25 SWPL campaign on loan at Motherwell. She helped guide the Lanarkshire side to a first-ever top six finish and the Scottish Cup Semi-Finals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That adds to four domestic cups won in Leith, having also played UEFA Women's Champions League football with her childhood club. Head coach Grant Scott has wished Leishman the best for the future. Hibs reaction to long serving player exits He said: 'Shannon has been a dedicated servant to Hibernian over the past 11 years. Coming through our Academy, Shannon has from a young age always set an example for others to follow and her commitment to being the ultimate professional has helped us to many successes over the years. More than all of that, she's a great person whose presence will be missed. We thank her for her contributions and wish her all the best for the future.' It comes after Tweedie's exit was also recently announced. Over two stints at Hibs, the forward won seven trophies in total, including a couple of Scottish Cups and four Scottish League Cups. She made a substitute appearance on the final day of the season against Rangers as league glory was secured. Scott said: 'I want to thank Lia for her outstanding contribution to Hibernian. She is a great person who has deservedly picked up plenty of winners' medals with the Club. 'From coming through the Hibs Academy to performing on the European stage and winning silverware, Lia has always remained a fantastic servant to this Club and will be a big loss to the group – both on and off the pitch. I wish Lia the best of luck with what comes next for her in her career.'
