Latest news with #Motherwell
BBC News
an hour ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Rangers squad 'will look different' come Panathinaikos clash
Russell Martin believes his Rangers squad will "look different" by the time he takes charge of his first game next Ibrox defender Martin kicks off his tenure against Greek side Panathinaikos in the Champions League second qualifying round, with the first leg on 22-23 July."I think the squad will look different," the head coach, who has yet to make a signing, told Rangers TV. "We will have some players in by then, so the earlier we can do that, the better, so they become ingrained in what we are trying to build culturally and in terms of performance."The players are back in on Monday, that's the most exciting bit. We will see what they can do, how we are going to have to adapt and tweak to make it really built-in and ready for us, and then the rest will take care of itself."Rangers will kick off their Scottish Premiership campaign against Motherwell - led by Martin's former Norwich City team-mate Jens Berthel Askou - but the Ibrox boss' main focus for now is on Athens side were the highest ranked of the three unseeded teams in the league path of the Champions League draw."A lot of people said to me it's maybe the toughest draw we could have had, but we have to play against and beat good teams if we want to compete in European football," Martin added."It gives us something to work towards and look at them, but the focus is going to be on us and making sure we are ready to compete against anyone by the time the game comes around."
STV News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- STV News
Martin expects new-look Rangers squad to be in place for Panathinaikos
New Rangers head coach Russell Martin expects a 'different' squad for the Champions League opener against Panathinaikos as he stressed the importance of early signings. Martin will open his Ibrox career against the Greek side in the second qualifying round in the final two weeks of July. 'I think the squad will look different,' he said in a club video. 'We will have some players in by then as well, so the earlier we can do that, the better, so they become ingrained in what we are trying to build culturally and in terms of performance. 'The players are back in on Monday. That's the most exciting bit. We will see what the players can do, how we are going to have to adapt and tweak to make it really built-in and ready for us, and then the rest will take care of itself.' Martin was speaking after the William Hill Premiership fixture announcement handed him a trip to Fir Park to face Jens Berthel Askou's Motherwell side. 'We have a big fixture before that to really focus on and then we can start really preparing for Motherwell and focusing on that,' he said. 'But wherever we go we want to be ourselves, we are going to try and be the team we want to be all the time. 'It's exciting, it's against an old team-mate of mine in Jens. We played together at Norwich many, many moons ago and we have stayed in touch. 'We know him, his character and personality and how he will have his team ready, so it will be tough. 'But they are all tough. We need to focus on ourselves and what we are going to be in the next four or five weeks, and making sure we are really ready to attack every challenge, whether it's the European game before that or the start of the league season.' Panathinaikos were the highest-ranked team in the three unseeded teams in the league path of the draw. Martin said: 'A lot of people said to me it's maybe the toughest draw we could have had but we have to play against and beat good teams if we want to compete in European football. 'It gives us something to work towards and look at them but the focus is going to be on us and making sure we are ready to compete against anyone by the time the game comes around.' 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
BBC News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Which club has the toughest start?
Opta have crunched the numbers to rank the difficulty of each Scottish Premiership club's first four fixtures of the 2025-26 to their data model, St Mirren have the toughest start, followed by two clubs helmed by new managers, Dundee and for the easiest, Hibernian and capital rivals Hearts should got off to a flier, right? Take a look below to see where your side places...
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic close to two more summer transfers but Lennon Miller and Balikwisha made to wait
The Scottish champions are ramping up their summer business with the countdown to the new campaign already underway Celtic are on the brink of snapping up Callum Osmand and Benjamin Nygren as they ramp up their summer transfer drive. The deals follow the official unveiling of Kieran Tierney last week with Ross Doohan also expected to join the Hoops from Aberdeen to provide cover for first-choice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. Osmand is reportedly in the building at Lennoxtown to finalise his move from Fulham. And the 19-year-old has fuelled speculation over his imminent arrival after eagle-eyed fans spotted the striker has started following Celtic on his Instagram page. Nordsjælland forward Nygren has six months remaining on his deal, however, the Danes will cash in now and the Premiership champions have reportedly agreed a £1.7million fee. And Sport Bladet now claim that personal terms between the versatile attacker and the Double-winners have been agreed. With the future of Nicolas Kuhn up in the air and Jota sidelined for the start of the campaign, it appears unlikely Nygren will be the only new face coming through the door. Michel-Ange Balikwisha has also been linked with a switch from Royal Antwerp - with reports in Belgium suggesting the 24-year-old is keen to make the move. However, Voetbal Primeur claim that talks have reached a deadlock over the £5.1m asking price Antwerp have placed on Balikwisha. Lennon Miller has long been on Celtic 's radar with Brendan Rodgers an admirer of the Motherwell midfielder - but the Hoops are far from the only club looking to secure a deal. There has already been interest from Serie A and the Bundesliga while EPL new boys Sunderland have also been mentioned in regards to the new Scotland international. But dad Lee insists that there will be no urgent movement for the 18-year-old. Speaking at the launch of the SPFL fixture list, he said: 'He's back to Motherwell on Monday. Nothing has happened as yet. Yes, there's speculation and talk on Twitter etc but it's a different club every day. "It's quite funny watching it and seeing how it's progressing but essentially nobody has made any bids for him 'Yes, he would like to further his career down the line but we'll just need to see what happens.' Pressed on what clubs his son could join, Miller Sr added: 'It's so difficult to say, 'This club are interested, that will be a good one for him. 'Is that a good environment for him to be in? Is there a pathway? Are you going to play there? Are there players ahead of you? 'There's so many different things that come into the equation. There's so many different layers. 'Listen, clubs have been interested in Lennon since he was 14. There's always been talk and people wanting to take him here, there and everywhere. 'We've always had a focus on stay at Motherwell, do your time, and see where it takes you from there."
STV News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- STV News
Lennon Miller faces 'exciting but nervous' time as he considers next move
Lennon Miller's dad says it's an exciting time for the Motherwell star as he considers his future but admits his son is nervous about choosing his next move. Lee Miller, who played for Aberdeen, Dundee United and Falkirk among others in a long career, says all the boxes have to be ticked to give Lennon the best opportunity to continue developing. The 18-year-old was Motherwell's stand-out player this season, captained the team and won both major Young Player of the Year awards before winning his first Scotland cap in the recent friendly against Iceland. His star has been on the rise for some time, and it's expected that he will leave Fir Park this summer to take the next step in a career that could take him to the very top of the game. New Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou has already said that he is planning for life without the midfielder. 'I think as a footballer and parent of a footballer, there's always decision to make,' said Miller. 'Lennon's next move is so important. 'A lot of players will get sucked into just moving to a massive club and saying 'I've arrived'. 'But there needs to be, and there has been, a lot of thought process about his next move because it's a development move again. 'Everything so far has gone to plan, and it's what we kind of planned out for him in terms of playing lots of games for the first team and doing well. And it's on him. There was a pathway there for him at Motherwell. 'The next one is so important. He has to play. He has to develop. He has to then kick on again. 'I think everybody saw that with Scotland. No disrespect to Motherwell players but once he's round about better players, top-class elite players, he can kick on again in my opinion. 'I think he has that inner belief. And it's not arrogance, just a belief. 'He just wants to play football.' Miller said Lennon has remained calm amidst all the speculation, and hasn't let the focus affect his game. And while Motherwell haven't received any concrete offers for the midfielder yet there are stories in the media about his future almost on a daily basis. 'He's back to Motherwell on Monday,' Miller said. 'Nothing has happened as yet. Yes, there's speculation and talk on Twitter etc but it's a different club every day. 'It's quite funny watching it and seeing how it's progressing but essentially nobody has made any bids for him 'Yes, he would like to further his career down the line but we'll just need to see what happens.' He acknowledged the number of players now plying their trade at top-level clubs across Europe and wouldn't rule out following in those steps. But most important is finding the right place to continue playing on a regular basis. 'It's so difficult to say 'This club are interested, that will be a good one for him',' he said. 'Is that a good environment for him to be in? Is there a pathway? 'Are you going to play there? Are there players ahead of you? 'There's so many different things that come into the equation. There's so many different layers. 'Listen, clubs have been interested in Lennon since he was 14. There's always been talk and people wanting to take him here, there and everywhere. 'We've always had a focus on stay at Motherwell, do your time, and see where it takes you from there. 'So it's exciting times but also really nervous. 'You want to make the right decision and give him the best advice. 'But ultimately it's his decision at the end of the day.' Lee Miller appeared courtesy of William Hill and the Warm-Up, SPFL Title Sponsor. 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
