Latest news with #StevenNaismith
Scotsman
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Ex-Hearts manager Steven Naismith invests six-figure sum in Glasgow sports injury app
'The demand on players has never been greater and the margins of winning are finer than they have ever been' – Steven Naismith Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. 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 Scotland international footballer Steven Naismith is backing a Glasgow-based sport-tech platform. Naismith, who won more than caps for the Scotland national team before retiring from playing in 2021, has provided a six-figure funding injection to ScribePro, an app and online portal that records medical interactions in real-time for athletes and clinicians. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In addition to his investment, the former Heart of Midlothian manager will take on an ambassadorial role with the company, introducing the system to football clubs and national associations from his experience as both a player and coach. He will also consult on the technology's future development. ScribePro chief executive Jonny Gordon with Steven Naismith. The fresh funding injection will enable ScribePro to progress its expansion plans, which include increasing its market share and enhancing the platform's features. Recent additions to the software include custom reports that can be sent between national associations and clubs, while an upcoming update will include using data to provide average return-to-play timelines for specific injuries. The venture was founded by Jonny Gordon, a consultant in emergency medicine and Scotland Men's A team doctor, and David Lowe, an academic consultant in emergency medicine and co-director of EmQuire Research. Naismith said: 'I've had a good relationship with Jonny for a long time, working with him right through youth and senior levels with the Scotland team and then into management and coaching. The demand on players has never been greater and the margins of winning are finer than they have ever been, which only makes products like ScribePro more important. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'From my experience as a player - when I had some injury problems myself - I know the process of sharing or even accessing fitness and injury data could be clunky, to say the least. And I'm looking forward to helping develop the platform further, supporting the decisions managers make with players and working with clinicians on recovery programmes and availability. ScribePro chief executive Jonny Gordon with Steven Naismith. 'More players are beginning to understand they have a short career and, while they might make good money, they retire and still have half their lives ahead of them. In the age of social media there are so many opportunities for players to get involved with, but it's important they get involved with something they believe in.' ScribePro is currently used by 11 national associations across football, rugby and cricket, including the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Rugby Union. The team has also successfully delivered projects for the FIFA Club World Cup and the Rugby League World Cup. Internationally, nine national football associations use the platform while the company recently signed its first partnership in American football. Since its last investment round in 2022, ScribePro has grown from two contractors to a team of eight full-time staff and a 260 per cent increase in the number of squads covered. The firm also moved into new offices in central Glasgow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gordon, chief executive of ScribePro, said: 'I've known Steven for about 20 years and his experience in football as a player and a manager at both club and international levels are exceptional. His career reflects many of the fundamental parts of our business - innovation, excellence, and player care - making him a perfect match for us. It's a real privilege to have him involved with ScribePro and he will input into the service's future design, helping take us to that next level. Jodie Sinclair is the founder and chief executive of Theo Health, another sports tech venture that has secured investment. Picture by Stewart Attwood 'While football and rugby are our main focus, the technology can be used across any sport. Clubs and national associations across the world have been very receptive to using the platform and we have received fantastic feedback, which also helps to drive further development of the product.' He added: 'Steven's investment and new role are testament to what we're trying to achieve with ScribePro, making it the number one choice for digital medical management in sport.' Smart shorts Meanwhile, another Scottish sports tech start-up has raised £1.2 million and teamed up with Xander Schauffele - two-time major winner, Olympic gold medallist and the world's number three ranked golf player. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The move will see Glasgow-based Theo Health continue the development of a smart clothing platform designed to empower elite athletes and their strength and conditioning coaches with lab-grade data in real time. Schauffele joins the venture as both an investor and one of the founding 'Alpha Athletes' in an elite testing programme that aims to support athletes around injury prevention and recovery. Theo's chief executive and founder Jodie Sinclair had been scouted for a US soccer scholarship before suffering an injury that side-lined her for three years and ended her competitive sporting career. She said: 'There was no feedback during my recovery - I had no way of knowing if I was doing the right thing, or making it worse. Theo is the system I wish I had when I was injured, one that makes recovery measurable, progress visible and elite performance possible again. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'After a couple of years in stealth mode where we deliberately stayed under the radar, focusing on IP protection, product development and building a world-class team, it's great to now be back in the spotlight.' The firm's first product - the Theo Alpha Shorts - embed inertial measurement units within high-performance compression wear to track movements in real time: from depth and tempo to balance, symmetry and knee alignment. Each garment connects seamlessly to a modular 'brain' - a compact, removable unit that delivers 'elite-level insights'.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Shankland in top bracket of Hearts legends'
Lawrence Shankland has elevated himself to legendary status at Heart of Midlothian, according to his former head coach, Steven 29-year-old Scotland striker signed a new three-year contract at Tynecastle earlier this week to end months of speculation surrounding his was out of contract and had turned down earlier offers to stay in the Scottish by committing himself to Hearts, Naismith - a former Hearts player and head coach - believes Shankland is now up there with the likes of John Robertson and Craig Levein."Him signing this deal puts him right in the top bracket of Hearts legends," Naismith said on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound. "He's up with the rest of them and that's only going to get better as he scores more goals. "For the club and fans, it's as big as any signing that's going to come in."While many Hearts supporters had resigned themselves to a future without Shankland, Naismith says he was "calm" over the contract situation and says a drawn-out process was inevitable given the striker's goal-scoring two of the past three league seasons, he has scored more than 20 league goals, bagging 68 in total."When there's a player at that age performing at that level, they are going to take their time and see what's out there," Naismith added."I was very calm about it all. Shanks was going to have interest because his levels were so high, but I also did know how much he loves Hearts and how well he was liked."
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Shankland & Bloom deals show Hearts mean business'
So, after 18 months of 'will he or will he not' sign a new deal, Lawrence Shankland has - finally - agreed to remain at it's the news every Hearts fan was looking for. Their talisman striker and captain is back to lead the line for the new his own high standards, last season was a major disappointment for the 29-year-old. Only nine goals in total for the season, but five of those came very late constant media questioning on whether he would leave the club must have been lingering on his mind and had an impact on his the close-season, however, Shankland has had time to think. In between getting married and a short holiday, it became evident his family made it clear they wanted to remain in Scotland with Tynecastle by far the preferred those 18 months, he has played under three different managers with Steven Naismith and Neil Critchley both shown the door with Liam Fox, who has also left the club, standing in as interim head coach in these cannot be overstated the influence Derek McInnes has had in making this deal happen. From the minute he stepped in the door at Tynecastle, re-signing Shankland was the top priority for the new Shankland is on form there are few, if any, better strikers in Scotland and this news, along with the Tony Bloom deal being concluded last week is an indication that Hearts mean the Hearts fans will once again turn out at Tynecastle, probably now with more expectation than hope, that the new season will be a successful one.
Daily Record
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
I was in the last Rangers team who faced Panathinaikos and we brushed off their missiles by dumping them out of Europe
Steven Naismith got a taste of the cauldron of noise at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium during Gers run to the UEFA Cup final in 2008 THE last time Rangers faced Panathinaikos in Athens Steven Naismithhad to sprint up the tunnel to avoid being hit by coins and glass bottles. And that was just in the WARM-UP. As a wet-behind-the-ears 21-year-old, he was blown away by the atmosphere at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium. There were only 16,000 inside the ground that night in 2008 as Walter Smith 's side secured a 1-1 draw to progress in the UEFA Cup. It was the start of their memorable run to the final in Manchester, which ended in defeat to Zenit St Petersburg. Now, 17 years on, Gers are gearing up to take on the Greens again – this time in a crucial Champions League qualifier next month. This game will be played at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, which will house 75,000 fanatical supporters. And if the atmosphere is anything like what it's like at their home ground, Naismith says Russell Martin and his side are in for a baptism of fire. It will be the new gaffer's first competitive action since taking over at Ibrox. After a home leg in Govan, they'll attempt to reach the next Champions League qualifying round and eventually the lucrative group stage. But Naismith knows it won't be easy in the Greek heat, having experienced it himself as a player. The former Rangers forward said: 'That was one of the most hostile places ever. It was on the run to the UEFA Cup Final. 'I remember Gate 13. That is where the tunnel is and all the Ultras gather round it. Naively, I was laughing and joking coming out for the warm-up. 'But the next minute, there were glass bottles, coins, all sorts getting launched at us. Every time you went near the tunnel, you had to sprint in and sprint out. 'It was really hostile, that's my biggest memory of it. The night turned out to be really good for us, with Nacho Novo coming on and scoring to make it 1-1. It was a brilliant environment to play in but very hostile. 'When you look at the teams Rangers could have got, it's definitely the toughest opposition. On top of that, you've had a takeover, a new manager and a squad rebuild that needs to happen.' Naismith stood up to the challenge against Panathinaikos that night and helped Rangers qualify. And he says ties like these are where new boss Martin will really find out about his players' character. Naismith believes individuals can either thrive or wilt under the pressure, which is the true test of being an Old Firm player. He said: 'You can talk about an atmosphere but until you're in it and experience it, it's just words. 'When you do experience it, it's a case of what way are you going? Are you intimidated or do you think this is good? 'That's the real root of whether you're going to be a success at Rangers or Celtic. It's about mentality. Do you go into that environment in Athens and think I'm up for that, I like a bit of this? 'Or do you say, don't give me the ball because I'm scared? If it's the latter, you won't be a success. 'And that can be players with great ability. For the last 30 years, Rangers and Celtic have signed players who are brilliant in other leagues but can't hack it here. 'It's all down to mentality. That's been a problem for Rangers. To say players have hidden is unfair. They just can't hack it. 'Philippe Clement made a point of buying younger players to develop. But younger players rarely have that mentality straight away and are ready to go. 'That's where they become safe. When they're 1-0 down at home with 10 minutes to go and they don't want to make a brave pass or shoot from a tight angle. It's tough.' Martin will be under the microscope from the off as Rangers manager, with Champions League qualifiers sandwiched between Scottish Premiership games. Financially, it's vital for the club and its new American owners to be dining at Europe's top table. But Naismith insists Martin's first priority has to be the bread-and-butter domestic games – where Rangers have fallen well short in recent years. He said: 'As important as Champions League and European success is – if Rangers miss out on this one but make the next 10 – that's proper success. 'You have to understand where Rangers are at just now. I think that success domestically has to be the first aim. Of course, it's not as clear-cut as saying it's one over the other – because Rangers can have both. 'But what won't be accepted is what's happened in previous years where it has been: 'Oh we've done well in Europe but we're 10 or 15 points behind in the league'. 'That just won't what has to change. Rangers have to beat the other teams in the Scottish top flight. If you look at the points they dropped against teams from the middle to low end of the table last season, it was unacceptable. 'That's how the gap goes from being four points – where there is still pressure on the team at the top – to that big a gap where it becomes easy and the team at the top can cruise.' ● Steven Naismith was speaking courtesy of William Hill and the Warm-Up, SPFL title sponsors.
Daily Mail
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
THE ATHENS ACID TEST: Steven Naismith says Panathinaikos powderkeg will show Russell Martin which players are fit to wear the Rangers jersey
A change of venue for the return leg of Rangers ' Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos doesn't alter a simple fact. Athens' Olympic Stadium, set to be confirmed as the temporary home for the Greeks while their own ramshackle Apostolos Nikolaidis ground is being renovated, will still not be a place for the faint-hearted. Coming a week after his Ibrox tenure gets under way with the first leg in Glasgow, the task which will then await Russell Martin as he seeks to get off to the perfect start in his new role can safely be described as testing. It's not just a stern examination of their ability which awaits his recalibrated side. Without showing the requisite nerve and character in a white-hot atmosphere, they'll flounder on foreign soil. Steven Naismith gets the theory that Martin would be better off having drawn Brann or Servette at this juncture. He just doesn't fully subscribe to it. Because whatever transpires in the final week of next month, he contends that his former Norwich City team-mate will know there and then which players have the mentality to cope with wearing the shirt and who among them simply aren't officer material. 'When you do experience it, it's a case of what way are you going?' said the forward who helped Walter Smith's side to a 1-1 draw away to Panathinaikos in 2008. 'Are you intimidated, or do you think this is good? That's the real root of whether you're going to be a success at Rangers or Celtic. 'It's about mentality. Do you go into that environment and think 'I'm up for that, I like a bit of this' — or do you say, 'Don't give me the ball because I'm scared?' If it's the latter, you won't be a success. 'For the last 30 years, Rangers and Celtic have signed players who are brilliant in other leagues but can't hack it here. It's all down to mentality. That's been a problem for Rangers. 'Philippe Clement made a point of buying younger players to develop, but younger players rarely have that (mentality) straight away. 'That's where they become safe when they're 1-0 down at home with 10 minutes to go and they don't want to make a brave pass or shoot from a tight angle.' No one would ever accuse Naismith of falling into that category. Having signed for Rangers from Kilmarnock in 2007, he never looked fazed by the added scrutiny and expectation. Some 18 years on, though, that trip to Athens is still recalled as a rare occasion where he felt close to being out of his comfort zone. 'That was one of the most hostile places ever,' he recalled. 'It was on the run to the UEFA Cup final. 'I remember, even from the warm-up. Gate 13 where the tunnel is, that's where the Ultras are. Naively, I was laughing and joking coming out for the warm-up. 'But the next minute, there were glass bottles, coins, all sorts getting launched at us. Every time you went near the tunnel, you had to sprint in and sprint out. 'The night turned out to be really good for us with Nacho (Novo) coming on and scoring to make it 1-1. 'It was a brilliant environment to play in, but very hostile.' That tie came in mid-February after Smith's side had parachuted in from the Champions League. Rangers were already seven months into a gargantuan season in which two games a week became the norm. This time around, Martin first must mould a new side. He then needs to get them charging out the blocks. 'That's the toughest part, how early it is,' Naismith warned. 'The Old Firm have both been put out in early rounds in the past. 'You can train as much as you want and have friendlies, but you can't replicate that intensity of competitive football. 'It's going to be really difficult. But Russ has said the two things he has to do is get results during this initial period. And recruitment has to be much better than it has been. 'That's what can set Russ and the new ownership to get off to a good start.' Rangers' continental form has rarely been a concern of late. In numerous seasons going back to that run to Manchester in 2008, they've dispensed of some stellar names, primarily in the Europa League. It's been their failure to deal with the bread and butter games on the weekends that follow that has resulted in such a paltry return of trophies. As important as making inroads in Europe will remain under the new regime, Naismith contends that that alone will never be enough to constitute meaningful progress. 'I think success domestically has to be the first aim,' he explained. 'It's not as clear cut as saying it's one over the other, because Rangers can have both. 'But what won't be accepted is what's happened in previous years where it's been: 'Oh we've done well in Europe but we're 10 or 15 points behind in the league'. That just won't wash. 'That's what has to change. Rangers have to beat the other teams in the league. 'If you look at the points they dropped against teams from the mid-to-low end of the table, it was unacceptable. 'That's how the gap goes from being four points — where there is still pressure on the team at the top — to that big a gap where it becomes easy and that team can cruise.' Ultimately, as Martin will no doubt appreciate, that's what did for Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale and Clement. No Rangers manager viewing a yawning gap to Celtic is ever long for the post. Notwithstanding an arduous first test, though, Naismith saw enough in the three years he shared a dressing room with Martin at Carrow Road to believe this latest chapter doesn't have to end in tears. 'When you look at the teams they could have got, it's definitely the toughest opposition,' he added. 'On top of that, you've had a takeover, a new manager and a squad rebuild that needs to happen. 'You have to understand where Rangers are at. Russ coming in will make it an enjoyable place to play football for the players. But, of course, there will be expectations in terms of what he wants from them. The style will change and there will be mistakes within that. 'Over time, I've got no doubt that he'll be a success. At every club, he's made them a better team and improved players. 'The proof of that is the sale of players he's worked with. They've moved on for a profit compared to when he brought them in.' *Steven Naismith appeared courtesy of William Hill and the Warm-Up, SPFL Title Sponsor.
