Latest news with #ex-Ibrox
The National
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
Wrexham complete transfer of second ex-Rangers striker
The ex-Ibrox ace has penned a three-year deal with the English Championship club, backed by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Windass joins Wrexham having been made a free agent just days ago after his Sheffield Wednesday contract was terminated by mutual consent. Josh Windass will be helping to fuel our next season in the Championship. 🔴⚪ #WxmAFC — Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) July 23, 2025 On signing for Wrexham, Windass commented: 'I'm looking forward to getting going. I've spoken to the manager, who has showed me his plans for the season and what he expects from the group, and I've really bought into that. 'I'd describe myself as honest and hard-working, I like to contribute goals and assists from midfield and that's what I'm looking to bring to Wrexham. 'First and foremost, I want to get into the team and earn the respect of my team-mates – I want to be professional, be someone to look up to and then get the team as high up the league as possible.' Read more: Windass - who played for Rangers between 2016 and 2018 - becomes the second former Rangers player to sign for Wrexham this summer. The Championship side signed Ryan Hardie for an undisclosed fee from Plymouth Argyle earlier in the summer transfer window. Wednesday confirmed Windass' exit, along with that of striker Michael Smith, in a statement which read: "The Owls can confirm that the current contracts of Michael Smith and Josh Windass have been terminated by mutual consent," a statement read. "Both players leave Hillsborough with immediate effect. "Smith made 127 appearances for the Owls, scoring 33 goals, since signing in June 2022. "Windass posted 182 appearances, scoring 53 goals, having joined Wednesday – initially on loan – in January 2020. "Sheffield Wednesday thank Michael and Josh for their services and wish them well for the future."
The National
17 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Ex-Rangers chief 'preferred candidate' for major Newcastle job
The Athletic reports that the ex-Ibrox employee is set to be chosen by Newcastle chiefs as the man they want as their new sporting director. The Premier League club are on the lookout for a new candidate after Paul Mitchell left the club. Previous reports suggested interviews would take place with several candidates. Arsenal assistant sporting director Jason Ayto is thought to have been one of those who held discussions with Newcastle over the post. It has now been claimed that Wilson - who spent almost four years at Ibrox - is the preferred candidate for Newcastle, who will look to take the chief football officer from Nottingham Forest. The report suggests Wilson has a strong relationship with Eddie Howe and co-owner James Reuben, which helped swing the job search in his favour. Read more: Despite Newcastle's reported interest, it's claimed no approach has been made to Nottingham Forest for Wilson. The experienced sporting director served on the board for a period at Rangers during his tenure between 2019 and 2023. He had previously worked for Southampton and Huddersfield in high-ranking positions. Upon leaving [[Rangers]] in 2023, Wilson said: 'I would like to thank the players, led superbly by captain James Tavernier, and the manager Michael Beale, as well as all those who have come before them in the three and a half years I have spent at [[Rangers]]. "I would like to thank Douglas Park, Stewart Robertson and the Board for their support. I wish John Bennett - a true Rangers man - a successful chairmanship. This is a great club, and there are so many reasons for Rangers to face the decades ahead with optimism and pride. 'Thank you for your support. I wish everyone associated with Rangers nothing but the best for the future.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Cool cat' Curtis ignites Martin's Rangers reign
While several new faces have arrived at Rangers at the dawn of a new era, Russell Martin has continually reiterated his openness to be surprised by members of the squad he inherited. It would be fair to assume Findlay Curtis files into that category after the teenager was trusted to start on the left of Martin's attack in his first competitive match in charge of the Ibrox club. The first leg of the Champions League second-round qualifier against Panathinaikos was just a sixth Rangers appearance for the 18-year-old. It was only his second start. "He has the athleticism and talent to play in his team for sure, but he also has the character," Martin explained pre-match. With Rangers looking nervy and vulnerable for the majority of a first half Martin described as "uncomfortable", Curtis eased growing tension by demanding the ball, driving inside, and unleashing a stunning strike to ignite Martin's reign. A first goal in senior football, it was a moment that swung momentum and had former Rangers wide men waxing lyrical. "Brilliant, son. He's a cool cat this kid, I tell you," ex-Ibrox winger and coach Neil McCann said on Premier Sports. "That's a fantastic finish, I love that," was the view of Peter Lovenkrands on BBC Sportsound. Visit our Rangers page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views Get Rangers news notifications in the BBC Sport app Martin's Rangers 'far from finished article' Martin said Curtis "had some tough moments" in the opening half, but on his first start on the European stage, the youngster responded to almost single-handedly shift the mood and the course of the game at Ibrox. Six minutes after opening the scoring, another delicate touch and driving run from the teenager resulted in Panathinaikos' Georgios Vagiannidis picking up a second yellow card. That sending off allowed Rangers to take control of a contest that was overwhelming them in the opening period, and Curtis' replacement, Djeidi Gassama, sealed a vital two-goal first-leg win with another fine strike. "We expected it to be tough, they are a really good team," Martin told BBC Scotland. "We had some uncomfortable moments in the first half. "We were far from the finished article, but the players showed character and a willingness to fight and to run for each other. And, as the game went on, they started to look after the ball better." 'Perfect result doesn't tell full story of match' In a difficult opening period, Curtis was not alone in toiling. After a bright opening few minutes, Rangers ceased any control by continually giving up possession as the visitors spurned multiple chances. Panathinaikos side had managed 22 touches in the opposition box at the interval, while Rangers were on just six. The hosts had goalkeeper Jack Butland, restored to the starting line-up after being dropped at the end of last season, to thank for at least three excellent saves. Martin hailed Butland as an "outstanding goalkeeper" before challenging his players to approach next week's second leg, which will be shown live on the BBC, with "the same mentality and the same willingness to run and more". Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson expressed caution despite a "perfect" first-leg result. "Maybe [the result] doesn't tell the full story of the match," he added on BBC Sportsound. "Until the sending off, Panathinaikos were well in the game. "Rangers have put themselves in a great position, but it's not over yet. European football is difficult and Panathinaikos will feel they have something to prove." Have your say What did you make of Rangers' display in Martin's competitive debut? What did you think of Curtis' performance and Gassama's impact? And what about Butland's response to returning to the side? Send us your thoughts
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Rangers boss Steven Gerrard's fortune in the bank revealed as he boosts value of personal company after Saudi spell
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER Rangers manager Steven Gerrard boosted the value of his personal company to almost £10million last year. The Liverpool legend set up Steven Gerrard Promotions during his playing career to channel his off field income from the likes of sponsorship deals. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 1 Steven Gerrard during his spell as manager of Al-Ettifaq Credit: Getty And new figures show he is continuing to rake in the cash more than eight years after he hung up his boots. Accounts filed at Companies House for the 45-year-old's firm show it has reserves of £9,828,095. That includes an investment portfolio worth more than £6.7 million, cash held in a bank account and money owed to it by debtors. The company made a profit of more than £1.5 million for the year up to March 31, 2024, and its value increased by almost £800,000 on the previous year's figure. Gerrard, who left Rangers to become Aston Villa manager in November 2021, is secretary and co-director of the company along with his brother Paul. The ex-Ibrox boss has his own clothing brand called SSG Apparel and has used his social media accounts to endorse a number of products including scented candles. Accounts have also shown Gerrard has given away more than £40,000 to good causes over the last three years through his charitable foundation. The Steven Gerrard Foundation was set up in 2011 to provide additional funding for a range of children's charitable organisations and projects. The former midfielder was appointed Rangers manager in June 2018 and guided the club to their first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years in 2021. He was sacked by Aston Villa in October after just 11 months in charge following a poor run of results. After a spell managing in Saudi Arabia, he was linked with a return to Ibrox earlier this year before the club appointed Russell Martin as their new manager. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Russell Martin urged to shake-up Rangers transfer strategy as ex Ibrox star open up on differing English mentality
The former Ibrox frontman is worried about the lack of local talent in the current squad Russell Martin has so far limited himself to shopping in the English market. But Andy Little reckons the new Rangers boss could do with browsing the aisles of the Scottish summer sales. Joe Rothwell, Max Aarons, Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga have all followed new gaffer north of the border. But so far the only Tartan import is Lyall Cameron, who was signed on a pre-contract from Dundee by former coach Philippe Clement. Little, though, is concerned there by the lack of local flavour in the team. The ex-Ibrox utility man broke through back when Walter Smith was the man in charge of a team containing Scotland stars Allan McGregor, Davie Weir, Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller plus a host of other dependable homegrown recruits. But Cameron is now joining a squad where Scots are very much in the minority, with Liam Kelly, John Souttar and Connor Barron the only first-team regulars. Little, though, believes that small contingent will have a big role to play this season. He said: "We had very experienced, natural born winners in the team and consistent performers. "They were typically home-grown which I think is important. I think a huge volume of Russell Martin's recruits should be home-grown because it's a football club that you have to understand is a little bit different. "I played down south in England and there is a different mentality. There are so many games you just have to get over a defeat or a draw quite quickly. "You certainly didn't get the same uproar after a bad result as you did in something as a player you have to get used to. The new manager has a bit of experience of that as a player here." Little's Ibrox breakthrough coincided with a time when the club was Champions League regulars, reaching the group stages three times in five years. It's now Russell's task to return the club to that stage but Little admits: "I think it's getting harder and harder to do that. "Financially we're so far away from the top teams in Europe, in England especially. It's a money-driven sport now and Rangers and Celtic will need to keep performing above themselves in terms of budget to get in there. "They need to outperform where they should be to progress into Champions League football and that's very, very difficult. To be honest, I've really enjoyed watching Rangers in the Europa League. "We've had some fantastic times and really memorable runs and matches. The last Champions League campaign was a bit of an embarrassment really, as a club. "Celtic have had their troubles as well. I think the second tier of European football can actually be the better place to be.' Martin will have to hope he enjoys better luck on the injury front that predecessor Clement. The Belgian's Ibrox tenure was beset by a succession of fitness set backs to key men. If there's anyone who can sympathise with that it's Little, who was forced to at 29 as his body broke down. He said: 'I honestly believe certain players are built to play 50 games a season and never have a problem, and others just aren't. "I really do believe that. Looking at my own example, I worked harder than anyone else and I know that for a fact. I did everything I could to stay fit and be fit. I did whatever it costs to do that. "I went to Italy to get a gumshield fitted at one point, because I was told it would realign my posture and stop me getting hamstring injuries. It didn't work! "So I believe you're either built to be a professional athlete, or you're going to struggle to perform and perform and perform. "From a recruitment point of view, I think it's key to try and find these players that can cope with a very intense schedule at Rangers. You'll be playing Thursday-Sunday-Thursday-Sunday and it's not just that. "You have to come in and perform at 100 percent. You can't come in and just play at 70 or 80 percent, where I think you can do that at other clubs and get away with that. You're under so much pressure and scrutiny. "I think the club needs to do so much better from a recruitment point of view. That's a no-brainer. But there is also a massive element of luck with injuries." * Andy Little was speaking as he promoted his business Gallus Sales & Lettings and the opening of his new high street store on Paisley Road West near Ibrox Stadium. For more info on his business life after football visit
