Latest news with #ex-Rangers
The Herald Scotland
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Jo Potter's surprising Rangers exit may suit both parties
Potter won four trophies at Rangers with a double each season and although there were questions asked that the team with the biggest budget in the league did not claim the championship, the understanding is that internally Potter retained the full support of the club. Indeed, the Ibrox side were keen to keep her rather than take the fairly meagre compensation on offer from Crystal Palace as she looks to take the London club back up to the top flight. There were accusations among some of the support that Rangers lacked the mentality to get over the line in terms of coping with the pressures that go hand-in-hand with winning a Championship. To that end, this parting of the ways may suit both parties. And while people will point to the lack of a title, particularly given Rangers' resources, Potter was influential in helping to establish the foundations of an under-20 side while the staff for the women's side went up by 30%. Jo Potter won four cups while at Rangers (Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group) Affable, articulate and straightforward to deal with, there was always a suggestion of Potter appreciating the magnitude of the job in Scotland to properly elevate the game and the profile of the women's game. At times she offered some compelling insight on this, all the more so since her time with England came before the burst of interest that the Lionesses have enjoyed since winning the Euros. There was always a sense that she would cut her managerial teeth in the SWPL before heading back across the border. But it is no bad reflection on the SWPL to have key personnel in terms of players and managers attracting attention. Fran Alonso claimed a bold move to the States on the back of what he achieved at Celtic – short-lived and also without winning a title – while there remains a pathway for players to head to the riches of England. The current crop of exciting young players who are emerging into the national team will all harbour quiet ambitions of going on to play at a level where things on and off the park feel significantly elevated from what they are in the SWPL. Read more: David Murray accuses Celtic's Peter Lawwell of 'revelling' in Rangers' demise Manager admits defeat on ex-Rangers star 'out of his price range' As the league still struggles to find its feet in terms of moving towards an entirely professional structure which still feels light years away, the reality is that the pull of England will always be seen as life changing. One suspects she would have given a huge seal of approval to the decision to play as many home SWPL games as possible at Ibrox this season. Aside from illustrating the club's commitment to the women's game, it also facilitates supporters who are at ease with Ibrox and its surrounds. Aside from anything else, the example of Arsenal south of the border would show that it is a massive step in the right direction. AND ANOTHER THING Elena Sadiku's gig at the Euros in her Swedish homeland will offer the Celtic boss the chance to get inside a tournament that some of her charges did not. As Scotland find themselves on the outside looking in again this summer as another major competition kicks off, Sadiku at least will have a ringside seat. The Celtic manager will work with Swedish TV to cover the tournament, which kicks off in Switzerland next week. It will also provide an opportunity to keep her profile high on the back of a year in which she found it elevated through a FIFA Best nomination and Champions League participation with Celtic. It will be interesting to see, however, what effect it may have on Celtic's pre-season schedule – and whether she is back from media duties to oversee the countdown to the season kicking off. This week the club announced a parting of the ways with seven players while discussions are ongoing with another three. One of those released scored the goal that took Celtic into the Champions League this season. Sadiku had suggested at the back of the last campaign that the players who had not improved were those that she had not signed for Celtic. Of those released this week, Sadiku did not sign any of them. The confirmation this week that Stewart McGuire is the new Head of Women's Football Operations should signal the beginning of the foundations going down for the start of the new season. One can only assume there has been a list of targets left on his desk. AND FINALLY Save us the hand wringing over the Swiss women's team losing to FC Lucern's under-15s. Having also lost 2-1 to under-15 side FC Solothurn as they prepare for the Euros, there has been much laughing and pointing across social media as obviously this clearly identifies just how poor the standard of the women's game is, right? The only thing it shows is the difference in physiology between male and female athletes. It is not about skill or tactics or ability but rather a differential in muscle mass, strength and testosterone levels. In the same way that male and female tennis games focus on different attributes – Serena Williams said it was two different sports – women's football cannot be held up and compared to the men's.
The National
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
Jo Potter's surprising Rangers exit may suit both parties
The former England internationalist missed out on the SWPL title with two last day heartaches; Hibs nicked it from them at Ibrox last month while Celtic claimed it with a last minute goal the season before. Potter won four trophies at Rangers with a double each season and although there were questions asked that the team with the biggest budget in the league did not claim the championship, the understanding is that internally Potter retained the full support of the club. Indeed, the Ibrox side were keen to keep her rather than take the fairly meagre compensation on offer from Crystal Palace as she looks to take the London club back up to the top flight. There were accusations among some of the support that Rangers lacked the mentality to get over the line in terms of coping with the pressures that go hand-in-hand with winning a Championship. To that end, this parting of the ways may suit both parties. And while people will point to the lack of a title, particularly given Rangers' resources, Potter was influential in helping to establish the foundations of an under-20 side while the staff for the women's side went up by 30%. Jo Potter won four cups while at Rangers (Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group) Affable, articulate and straightforward to deal with, there was always a suggestion of Potter appreciating the magnitude of the job in Scotland to properly elevate the game and the profile of the women's game. At times she offered some compelling insight on this, all the more so since her time with England came before the burst of interest that the Lionesses have enjoyed since winning the Euros. There was always a sense that she would cut her managerial teeth in the SWPL before heading back across the border. But it is no bad reflection on the SWPL to have key personnel in terms of players and managers attracting attention. Fran Alonso claimed a bold move to the States on the back of what he achieved at Celtic – short-lived and also without winning a title – while there remains a pathway for players to head to the riches of England. The current crop of exciting young players who are emerging into the national team will all harbour quiet ambitions of going on to play at a level where things on and off the park feel significantly elevated from what they are in the SWPL. Read more: David Murray accuses Celtic's Peter Lawwell of 'revelling' in Rangers' demise Manager admits defeat on ex-Rangers star 'out of his price range' As the league still struggles to find its feet in terms of moving towards an entirely professional structure which still feels light years away, the reality is that the pull of England will always be seen as life changing. One suspects she would have given a huge seal of approval to the decision to play as many home SWPL games as possible at Ibrox this season. Aside from illustrating the club's commitment to the women's game, it also facilitates supporters who are at ease with Ibrox and its surrounds. Aside from anything else, the example of Arsenal south of the border would show that it is a massive step in the right direction. AND ANOTHER THING Elena Sadiku's gig at the Euros in her Swedish homeland will offer the Celtic boss the chance to get inside a tournament that some of her charges did not. As Scotland find themselves on the outside looking in again this summer as another major competition kicks off, Sadiku at least will have a ringside seat. The Celtic manager will work with Swedish TV to cover the tournament, which kicks off in Switzerland next week. It will also provide an opportunity to keep her profile high on the back of a year in which she found it elevated through a FIFA Best nomination and Champions League participation with Celtic. It will be interesting to see, however, what effect it may have on Celtic's pre-season schedule – and whether she is back from media duties to oversee the countdown to the season kicking off. This week the club announced a parting of the ways with seven players while discussions are ongoing with another three. One of those released scored the goal that took Celtic into the Champions League this season. Sadiku had suggested at the back of the last campaign that the players who had not improved were those that she had not signed for Celtic. Of those released this week, Sadiku did not sign any of them. The confirmation this week that Stewart McGuire is the new Head of Women's Football Operations should signal the beginning of the foundations going down for the start of the new season. One can only assume there has been a list of targets left on his desk. AND FINALLY Save us the hand wringing over the Swiss women's team losing to FC Lucern's under-15s. Having also lost 2-1 to under-15 side FC Solothurn as they prepare for the Euros, there has been much laughing and pointing across social media as obviously this clearly identifies just how poor the standard of the women's game is, right? The only thing it shows is the difference in physiology between male and female athletes. It is not about skill or tactics or ability but rather a differential in muscle mass, strength and testosterone levels. In the same way that male and female tennis games focus on different attributes – Serena Williams said it was two different sports – women's football cannot be held up and compared to the men's.
STV News
19 hours ago
- Business
- STV News
Murray: Newspaper tycoon wanted to merge Celtic and Rangers into one club
Sir David Murray has revealed that former newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell wanted to merge the Old Firm into one club. The ex-Rangers owner says he received a phone call from Maxwell in the late 1980s, not long after he had taken control of the Ibrox club. The controversial media proprietor, who owned the Mirror Group Newspapers from 1984 until his death in 1991, told Murray he planned to buy Celtic and asked if he would be interested in merging the two Glasgow clubs. In an interview with the BBC, Murray said: 'Shortly after I bought the club, I got a phone call at my house and my son answered. A voice said 'Is David Murray there' and it was Robert Maxwell. 'So I went to the phone and he said 'I am thinking about buying Celtic and we can put both Celtic and Rangers together as one and be a big force'. 'I told him 'I don't think you know the script up here, I don't think it's practical and I don't think it would work' and that was the end of the story. 'He wanted to merge Celtic and Rangers.' In another interview that was released on Monday, Murray, who is promoting his new autobiography, says he has apologised to Rangers fans for selling the club before it collapsed into financial ruin. He sold the Ibrox side for £1 to businessman Craig Whyte, and was at the helm when Rangers gave £47m in tax-free loans to players and staff between 2001 and 2010. The HMRC brought a case against Rangers centring on the club's use of Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs), which were also used by other clubs. The EBTs enabled the club to pay players, managers and directors through the tax-free loans, but HMRC argued the payments were earnings and should be taxable. Two tribunals – in 2012 and 2014 – ruled in Rangers' favour. But the Supreme Court found in favour of HMRC after an appeal in 2015. The club had been bought in May 2011 by Craig Whyte after Sir David initially struggled to find a buyer willing to take on a potential 'big tax case' bill. Mr Whyte was later cleared of fraud in relation to the takeover. Under Whyte's ownership, Rangers went into liquidation in February 2012 – just a year after the sale. The tipping point for administration was a £9m tax bill due to HMRC, and total debts reached more than £100m. The club was admitted to the third division of Scottish football. Murray, speaking to broadcaster Ewen Cameron and Up Next Studios, said he has apologised to Rangers fans and staff for his part in the collapse. 'I have apologised, but I did a lot of good things for the club. If you want to remember the negative, that's their choice,' he said. When asked if the EBT scandal led to Rangers' downfall, he answered: 'That plus Craig Whyte. 'The interpretation of the EBT by HMRC and Craig Whyte… I think they could have survived the first one but not the two put together.' He added: 'Craig Whyte was a mistake – I'm prepared to admit that. But on the evidence of the money, what he was going to do, it seemed the only course of action.' Sir David continued: 'I was disappointed for the fans first of all and I was also so disappointed for the people that worked there – people who had been so loyal to me – and all of a sudden their jobs were in jeopardy. 'How many plates can you spin? The average Rangers fan doesn't care about my other businesses – but so many in Scotland – a joiner in Fife a haulage firm in Melrose – were affected by the banking crises.' Sir David's autobiography Mettle is out on Monday, and all proceeds will go to the Erskine Charity. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
a day ago
- Sport
- The National
John Souttar trains with ex-Rangers mates in injury boost
The centre back had hernia surgery following Scotland's friendly games against Iceland and Liechtenstein, having delayed it instead of going under the knife after the domestic season ended. That was signed off on by the club which proved to be controversial with the fan base since it made him a doubt for the two-legged affair with Panathinaikos. The club appeared relaxed about the situation, insistent the 28-year-old was expected to be fit and ready to face the Greeks when the first leg comes around on July 22. Read more: He was in Portugal and was reported to have started light running as he stepped up his fitness bid. That has been continuing and Souttar has now been pictured training with two former Gers teammates - John Lundstram and Tom Lawrence - at the high performance multi-sports hub Campus in Quinta Do lago in the Algarve. Lundstram shared a picture of the trio all smiles outside the facility, with four blue love hearts. The majority of the Rangers squad are back in pre-season training at Auchenhowie but Souttar has been given some extra time to get himself up to speed before joining them. John Souttar continues his injury recovery as he trains with ex-Rangers teammates Tom Lawrence and John Lundstram (Image: Instagram/johnlunny7)
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
‘I still have shards in my leg', says ex-Rangers supremo Sir David Murray as he breaks 50-year silence on car crash hell
Sir David Murray is speaking in detail about the nightmare for the first time 'THE UNTOLD STORY' 'I still have shards in my leg', says ex-Rangers supremo Sir David Murray as he breaks 50-year silence on car crash hell SIR David Murray has revealed how he still has shards in his leg from the wreckage of the sports car that nearly killed him in a horror crash almost half a century ago. The ex-Rangers owner was just 24 when he had both legs amputated after the flash motor careered into a tree following a tyre blow-out in 1976. Advertisement 10 Sir David Murray has broken his decades long silence on his horror car crash 10 Ex-Rangers owner pictured with then-manager Walter Smith Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 10 Sir David Murray shared the details in his new book, Mettle Despite the horrific accident, he refused to let the ordeal define him and went on to become a towering figure in Scottish society through his metals business and Ibrox tenure. But everything could have been very different had medics not been able to save his life after he crashed near Longniddry, East Lothian, while driving home in his purple Lotus Elite after playing rugby. Speaking in detail about the nightmare for the first time in new book Mettle: Tragedy, Courage & Titles , he said: 'As I made my way along a dual carriageway, the front left tyre just blew. 'There was nothing I could have done. Advertisement 'The car lurched to the side, I left the road and smashed headlong into a tree. 'Memories of the exact moment are hazy. 'The vehicle was made of fibreglass and the impact forced the engine block right through the facia and into the driver and passenger seat. 'I was immediately shunted right through the door and lay unconscious and bleeding next to the wreckage. Advertisement 'A number of rugby supporters who had actually been at the game stopped their cars and raced to my side. 'There was lots of blood and they applied tourniquets with their ties to try to halt the flow. 'They somehow kept me alive and even though I can remember nothing about it, an ambulance was called and arrived quickly to take me 18 miles to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.' 10 A newspaper clipping from the time of Sir David's horror crash Advertisement 10 Sir David had his legs amputated following the crash Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd 10 The ex-Rangers supremo was able to phone his late wife Louise to tell her he was 'in a bad way' Despite his life hanging in the balance, Sir David was able to phone his late wife Louise from a payphone while on a hospital trolley and said 'you have to come. I'm in a bad way.' Incredibly, he lost 13 pints of blood on the first evening and medics immediately amputated parts of his 'mangled' legs through the knees. Advertisement Tragically, he then caught an infection which forced the docs to take off even more of his shattered limbs. He said: 'Louise, my family and friends took turns to sit by my bedside during the following days as I struggled to recover. 'The anaesthetist Ned Trench and a surgeon fought to give me a better chance of a partial recovery, but five days after the accident they were finally defeated after an infection set in. 'I ended up having a further nine inches of my legs removed.' Advertisement SIR DAVID MURRAY: A TIMELINE 1951 - Born in Ayr 1974 - Founds Murray International Metals aged 23 1976 - Loses both legs in a car crash 1984 - Awarded Young Scottish Businessman of the Year 1988 - Buys Rangers FC for £6million 1989 - Rangers win the first of a record-equalling nine successive league titles and buy first high profile Catholic, Maurice Johnston, for £1.5m from under the noses of Celtic. 1991: Walter Smith succeeds Graeme Souness as manager. 1992 - Wife Louise - mum of their two sons - dies after a cancer battle. 1993: Rangers sign Duncan Ferguson for a record transfer fee between British clubs of £4million. 1995: Paul Gascoigne signs for a club record £4.3m. 1998: Dick Advocaat is appointed manager and club break their transfer record three times that summer by signing Arthur Numan (£4.5m), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (£5m) and Andrei Kanchelskis (£5.5m). Murray declares that for 'every £5 Celtic spend, we will spend £10.' 2000: Rangers smash transfer record by signing Tore Andre Flo from Chelsea for £12m. 2001: Murray Park is opened at a cost of £14m. 2007 - Knighted for services to business 2009 - Sir David steps down as Rangers chairman and as a member of the board, with the club having won 15 titles and 21 cups during his tenure May 2011 - He sells his controlling interest in Rangers for £1 to Wavetower Limited, owned by businessman Craig Whyte. Incredibly, Sir David said he still has some of the purple bodywork from his Lotus embedded in his upper limb - and the tree that took the brunt of the crash also still has the marks almost 50 years on. He said: 'How that tree is still standing I don't know, but remarkably it is. I recently stopped at the same spot again and nearly 50 years after the accident, there are still marks on the base of the tree. 'Equally amazingly, there are also still purple shards of the car's bodywork embedded in my upper leg. 'Revisiting the scene much, much later, I realised that just a few yards before the tree and a few yards after it, there was nothing but open fields.' Advertisement After he was stabilised, Sir David - who was once estimated to have a £500m fortune - was transferred to the Princess Margaret Rose Hospital in Edinburgh for ten weeks of intensive care. The budding entrepreneur was left pondering his future over and over again - but his inner steel drove him towards recovery and, ultimately, huge success. And he now uses his experiences to offer advice to others at their lowest ebb. 10 Under Sir David's stewardship, the Ibrox side saw a period of unparalleled success Advertisement 10 Sir David saw a period of great success along with manager Graeme Souness Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd He said: 'I must have spent days and hours wondering how I might cope with the rest of my life. 'I was still a young man, with a wife and young family and I was passionate about business and playing sports.' 'In life, I never try to look back. Advertisement 'We all have decisions to make – some of them big, reflective moments – and I am a great believer in the fact that you either turn left or you turn right. 'If anyone I know is ever in trouble or facing adversity, I always tell them that every problem has a solution and to always look ahead. 'Be decisive. Stay positive. I had no intention of quitting.' Sir David, 73, became a millionaire with company Murray International Metals and purchased Rangers for £6million in 1988. Advertisement INSPIRATIONAL LETTER AN inspirational letter from hero World War II pilot Sir Douglas Bader helped in the ex-Rangers chief's remarkable recovery from his double amputation hell. Sir Douglas wrote to the then 24-year-old Sir David as he faced up to a lifetime without his limbs following the horror crash in 1976. He still treasures the note sent to him out of the blue nearly 50 years ago and has it framed in his home. Bader was a highly decorated flyer during WW2 despite losing his legs during aerobatics in 1931. The letter read: ''I gather that you have got hold of the problem and decided to get on with life which is the only thing to do. 'Well done. 'That is the only attitude of mind to adopt. 'I just wanted to write to you and tell you how much I admire your courage and to wish you well.' Sir David added: 'I would later telephone the number he had left at the top of his letter to thank him for his encouragement and tell him exactly what it meant to me… and still does. 'Almost two months earlier, I had what Douglas Bader might enthusiastically have described as a rather miraculous escape. It was certainly life-changing.' Under his stewardship, the club embarked on a period of unparalleled success with iconic managers Graeme Souness and Walter Smith - and fan favourites Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup. He was also instrumental in the club smashing their sectarian signing policy by buying their first high profile Catholic player Mo Johnston from under Celtic's noses in 1989. Sir David faced further tragedy in his personal life when beloved first wife Louise - mum to their sons David and Keith - died from cancer in 1992. Dad Ian was also locked up for a spell before dying at 50. Advertisement 10 Sir David pictured with Richard Brandson 10 Sir David pictured with his mum, second wife Kae Tinto and son after being knighted by the Queen in 2007 Credit: Andrew Barr - The Sun Glasgow He split from second wife Kae Tinto in 2018 after seven years of marriage and is now understood to split his time between Perthshire and France, where he owns vineyards. He remains the chairman of Murray Capital Group and his sons play key roles in the running of the business. Advertisement - Mettle: Tragedy, Courage & Titles by Sir David Murray, is on sale Thursday July 3 from Amazon and all good bookshops. Preorder on Amazon here. Sir David is donating his royalties to Erskine Hospital.
