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The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
What Motherwell chairman saw in Jens Berthel Askou
He was determined though that the new man in the dugout would be someone who would be willing and able to pick up where Wimmer left off, and implement the aggressive style that he wants Motherwell to be known for. Having whittled down a huge list of prospective candidates to land on then FC Copenhagen assistant manager Berthel Askou, he is certain the club have got the right man to do just that. Speaking on the 'Well Society's 'Our Club, Our Podcast', MacMillan said: 'We want to be ambitious, and we make no secret of that. I'd love to see Motherwell winning the cup again. 'I'm not promising anyone that is going to happen next season, don't misunderstand me, but there's nothing wrong with having that ambition and we want the manager to feel that too. (Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) 'I don't want to be in a conversation where we're just feeling that we need to low block constantly and try to navigate other teams. It's about how we impose ourselves, and you need to have a bit of confidence about you to do that. And I think he's got that. Read more: 'There were about 100 applications that came in for the role, and some really good ones as well. 'We were pretty clear that the style of football, that journey we had been on with Michael, was really positive. 'So, first of all, it was right, what profiles do we think are aligning with that, what profiles do we think will allow us to continue on that journey and not have to kind of rip it up and start again? 'From there, there was an automatic sifting process for some of the profiles, and from there we do a kind of deeper dive into them. 'There are data analysis sets that are created by an external body that allows us to dig in a little bit more to their stats in terms of PPDA, xG and all these sorts of things, that allows us to see if this is a manager who plays on the front foot and doesn't just talk like that, he enacts it on the pitch. 'We go through that process, and ultimately Jens came through a contact and landed in my phone. So, it wasn't one of the initial applications that came through the emailing the club type of route. 'There is a lot of that, a lot of things that get done through network, and that's probably been a bit of a learning curve for me over the past few months as well, and building and growing that network is really important, for sure. 'We went through that process, and ultimately we landed on Jens. There were some really good people in there, but ultimately I think we found a good guy.' As well as his preferred style of play, MacMillan found that Berthel Askou's values in terms of hard work and discipline – both on and off the pitch – aligned with those the board are trying to implement within the team and within the club. 'I think he's a very honest character,' he said. (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) 'Probably in terms of the Danish aspect, there's a no-nonsense, tell it like it is type of style, and we really like that. There's no beating around the bush, you get what you get, which we really liked. 'He likes to play football on the front foot, which is really important, press high up the pitch and be aggressive in terms of how we equip ourselves on the pitch. That style is going to continue, for sure. 'I think the fitness aspect for us is something we want to continue with the players as well. That leads into the profiles that we bring into the club too. 'One of the things we've been quite focused on, and that was coming through with Michael too, was how do we get the stats of the players up to a level that we feel they are able to leave everything on the pitch? 'It's a really boring stat, but most teams on average will run about 95 -98 kilometres over the 90 minutes between the 10 outfield players, and ultimately what Michael was working to - and it will be similar with Jens - is getting that to 105-110 kilometres, because ultimately what that means is that if you run that extra 10 percent, you have an extra man around the ball. 'So, again, that was what we wanted to see from the profile we brought into the club. High energy, and we'll see where that takes us. "But it's exciting for sure.'
Scotsman
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hearts 'still in fight' to keep Lawrence Shankland as swithering striker told what his best option is
Hearts boss provides update on future of star striker 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... Derek McInnes has insisted that Hearts remain in the fight to keep Lawrence Shankland but admits a decision will need to be made soon on whether he stays or goes. McInnes has made retaining the Scotland striker one of his top priorities since being appointed the new Hearts head coach last month following a three-and-a-half year spell in charge of Kilmarnock. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Shankland has scored 68 goals across the past three seasons at Hearts since joining from Belgian side Beerschot in the summer of 2022, becoming the first player to score 20 or more goals in a single season for theTynecastle club in 31 years. He has also captained the side since taking over the armband from Craig Gordon following the goalkeeper's double leg break in December 2022. The 29-year-old is considering his options with reported interest from West Bromwich Albion in the English Championship as well as clubs in Saudi Arabia. McInnes feels, however, that penning a contract extension to remain with Hearts would be in the striker's best interests. Hearts are still fighting to keep out-of-contract striker Lawrence Shankland at the club next season. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) | SNS Group "We're in constant dialogue with Lawrence," McInnes told Sky Sports. "I've spoken to his agents as well several times through the past few weeks. Lawrence has obviously got a lot to consider. We think we are a really strong option for him. Whether we are the best option in Lawrence's eyes we need to wait and see. "There will come a point where we need to draw a line under it. Lawrence has got to look after himself, and I've got to look after Hearts. Hopefully we can find the solution because he is a player that I think can really thrive with us at Hearts. He's shown in the time here how important he is and you try not to let players like that leave without putting up the best fight you can. And we're in the fight for him. I believe we're a really srong option for Lawrence - the best option for him at this moment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "He's got the World Cup to try and get involved in at the end of next season. If he can score at least 25 goals in our Hearts team next season then I think it's a safe bet that he would be going to the World Cup with Scotland. There's loads of reasons why Lawrence could see this as a good option for him. Hopefully we're his best option and at the minute we're in the fight to keep him." Lawrence Shankland with the former Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes, who is now hoping keep him at Hearts. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) | SNS Group Hearts begin the new season in the Premier Sports Cup group stages next month before their William Hill Premiership campaign opens against Aberdeen at Tynecastle on Monday, August 4. The transfer window remains open until September 1 and while no deadline for Shankland has been set, McInnes admits a decision on his future will need to be made sooner rather than later.
Scotsman
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scottish Premiership fixtures: Spicy opener, controversial new rule, Rangers bid to buck trend, Oasis impact
SPFL fixtures day always provides talking points - and this year is no different 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... As someone pointed out on X, Hamilton Accies based at Broadwood, formerly Clyde's home, and Clyde playing at New Douglas Park, previously Hamilton's HQ. And only one Saturday 3pm kick off in the top flight on the opening weekend of new season, the thirteenth since the Scottish Professional Football League was established. Welcome back to the crazy world of Scottish football. A new season fixture list that is more of a suggestion than a schedule given the number of games that will likely need to be moved due to European football activities still managed to deliver a variety of talking points, including the new rule which allows all teams involved in European play-off round clashes to request a postponement of their matchday three clash on the weekend of 23/24 August without consulting the opposition. In short, an invitation for some early controversy and quarreling. Delicious! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some things though are set in stone. Russell Martin's Rangers revolution will kick off in the league at Motherwell at 5.30pm on Saturday 3 August. At least the pressure won't already be on the Ibrox side – Celtic do not begin their defence of the title until the following afternoon when hosting St Mirren, which – fitness permitting – is when Kieran Tierney is due to make a return to competitive Scottish football. The William Hill Premiership trophy, Championship trophy, League 1 trophy and League 2 trophy on display during a launch event for the fixture release at Four Winds Pavilion, Pacific Quay in Glasgow. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group Still, Martin could do with securing an immediate three points, something Rangers haven't done on the opening weekend since defeating Livingston under Giovanni van Bronckhorst in 2022. In each of the last two seasons they have been in catch-up mode following the opening weekend. In both cases they were looking for a new manager before the season was out. Clearly Martin is hoping to buck this trend. Much might depend on what happens between now and the league kick-off when it comes to signings, although whatever happens on that front Rangers' Champions League fate will also be a lot clearer by then. They will either be already out and preparing for a Europa League qualifier or they will have given the Martin era a boost by having overcome Panathinaikos in their Champions League second qualifying round tie. 'We've got a lot of work to do, physically, tactically….the players haven't even been in the building yet, they come back on Monday,' Martin told Sky Sports as he reflected on Rangers' league programme schedule, which one can imagine some fans already taking issue with. 'Monday?! Celtic were back this week!! Idlers. Sack the board!' Note to Rangers supporters: Calm down, Celtic are not back in training and aren't expected to return to Lennoxtown until the start of July. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Delaying bleep tests and the like for a little longer feels very sensible given the sweltering conditions. Still, if it's not an inappropriate image to evoke as Scotland bakes under a pitiless sun, the publication of a new season's set of fixtures is like waking up to find newly fallen snow outside – it will never not enthral. Rangers head coach Russell Martin will hope to improve fortunes at Ibrox following a tough domestic campaign last season. Cr: SNS Group. | SNS Group Away from Rangers and Celtic, who I am contractually obliged to note meet for the first time in the new season on 31 August at Ibrox, Dundee will entertain Hibs at Dens Park - and yes, it's officially back to being called Dens Park – on Sunday 4 August. Steven Pressley's return to top flight Scottish football as manager of the hosts is sure to be a fascinating affair, as much for the reaction of the fans – both sets – as anything. But perhaps the first real box office clash of the new league season is on Monday 4 August at Tynecastle, where Hearts host Aberdeen. This fixture is always one to look out for but new Hearts manager Derek McInnes against his last-but-one team adds some added spice, even if it is a bloody Monday night. Still coming down from the high of a Scottish Cup win, Aberdeen fans might not be bothered about that inconvenience. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It does underline the difficulties when it comes to producing a balanced set of fixtures and one that satisfies everyone in all four divisions, which of course is never possible. The SPFL have worked in conjunction with GotSport, a sports management platform based in the United States. A 'fixture recipe', based on information and restrictions provided by the SPFL, is fed into an obligatory 'supercomputer' and out of it emerges things like East Kilbride v The Spartans, with the two newest SPFL teams meeting on the first Saturday at K-Park. Hearts will begin their league campaign against new manager Derek McInnes' former club Aberdeen. | SNS Group The supercomputer has its work cut out. Even the fact Oasis have reformed ends up having an impact, which is not something the Gallagher brothers probably considered when ending their feud. Due to the band's concert at Murrayfield on the weekend of the second round of fixtures, Hearts have been scheduled to play away – against Dundee United. It is not the only match between Hearts and Dundee United that has been impacted by events at the neighbouring rugby arena. The first meeting of the two clubs at Tynecastle next season will be played on Sunday, November 9 due to the Autumn Test between Scotland and New Zealand taking place at Murrayfield on the Saturday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Scotsman
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Steven Pressley's odd Dundee manifesto amid fan backlash - and why contract was signed on way to airport
Ex-Hearts and Celtic defender back in dugout after six year absence 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... As Steven Pressley tells it, he was sitting in a service station car park en route to the airport when he signed the contract signalling what he hopes will be a new beginning back in Scotland. There have been more auspicious starts in Dundee's long history of appointing managers. There have certainly been more popular appointments, although the Dens Park club under the present ownership haven't tended to factor in fan opinion when reaching such decisions. One need only remember Mark McGhee's arrival out of the blue in 2022. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Without Gordon (Strachan), it would be unlikely I would be sitting here,' he admitted when Dundee brought the former Aberdeen and Celtic strike out of cold storage – he hadn't managed at a serious level for five years. New Dundee head coach Steven Pressley is unveiled to the media during a press conference at Gardyne Training Centre on Friday. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) | SNS Group It's much the same story with Pressley, both in terms of the Strachan endorsement – he regards the Dundee technical director as a mentor – and managerial inactivity (he was last in the dugout in 2019, for Carlisle United). He has, though, been gainfully employed in recent times at Brentford as head of individual player development, which, he explained, meant he had day-to-day involvement with the first-team squad and similarly regular contact with new Spurs manager Thomas Frank. Nevertheless, Pressley felt he had run his course in this role. He claims that it was this sense of wanting to see what else was out there rather than an approach from managerless Dundee that lay behind him stepping away from the go-ahead English Premier League club. 'I didn't leave to come here, I genuinely didn't,' he said. One Dundee fan re-posted the announcement Pressley was leaving Brentford on X, adding the comment: 'Don't even think about it, Dundee.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Reader, they thought about it to the extent that they offered Pressley the job to the evident anguish of a huge volume of supporters. Threads on the main Dundee fans' forum might extend to 30 or 40 pages if a particularly contentious game, for example, is being discussed. The one covering Pressley's appointment currently sits at 149 pages – and counting. Little wonder he was so keen to get the contract signed in case managing director John Nelms changed his mind. "I actually signed the contact for this job on the way to the airport," he recalled. Pressley and his wife, June, were setting off for a silver anniversary trip to Vietnam. "As soon as I signed, I discussed it with my wife and said, 'Look we're going to have to cut this short'," he added. It was originally meant to be 18 days. They did 11. "She's been with me for 25 years so she's lived the football life, she understands,' he said. He confirmed that they remain married. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad New Dundee head coach Steven Pressley is unveiled to the media during a press conference at Gardyne Training Centre on Friday. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'I like to remain in my own bubble' Such commitment does not tend to apply to the post of Dundee manager, where it feels like an achievement to reach the equivalent of a cotton anniversary – two years. Tony Docherty, his predecessor, didn't even get to that despite a top six finish in his first season and keeping the team up in his second, despite challenges. A proportion of fans were unhappy, that's true. But that isn't to say they welcomed who the club chose to replace him. While it might have served to further antagonise those Dundee fans already reeling from his recruitment, leaving the country seemed like a wise move for Pressley at the time. He might not have enjoyed reading what was being said about him. 'Honking,' claimed one fan in the local evening newspaper, with the word duly included in the front page headline. The time between the announcement and unveiling while Pressley crammed in sight-seeing visits to the Mekong Delta might actually have proved helpful, since emotions have settled somewhat. He claimed not to have seen any of the initial reaction. 'I have no social media,' he maintained. 'None at all. I never will have. Just because I like to remain in my own little bubble.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He followed this by issuing what some felt was an odd manifesto when managers often go out of the way to ingratiate themselves, especially when they are already portrayed as losing the public relations fight from day one. Pressley explained that he has learned from his Falkirk days. Some might recall him making grand claims, including ensuring fans they would stay up when he was appointed in February 2010 (they didn't). 'Like all management it very much depends on what lens you're looking through,' he said, when the negative reaction of many Dundee fans was put to him. 'If you are a Dundee supporter looking for a manager with a history of producing titles and winning honours then I'm not your man. I am not your guy, I don't profess to be your guy.' It was tempting to reply that no manager since Davie White won the League Cup with Dundee in 1973, two months after Pressley was born, had been "that guy" so it wasn't necessarily a problem. Still, it was a comment that made ears prick up. 'I hope I can demonstrate that moving forward but my career to date doesn't suggest that (I can win honours),' he continued. 'But certainly, from a development perspective and certainly from creating a style of play and the way a team performs, I feel I have demonstrated that over the course.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Steven Pressley is congratulated by Andy McLaren after netting a penalty for Dundee Utd against Rangers at Tannadice in October 1997. | SNS Group 0141 221 3602 'I'm a lot calmer, a much smaller ego...' No-one was picketing outside the Dundee training ground, where Pressley handled his first assignment in impressive manner. He looked smart in a Dundee tie and dark blue lightly checked jacket as well as chinos with a contemporary, ankle-showing cut. Now 51, it could be argued that he's a bit old for that now but then maybe it's the result of being among students. He has just finished a degree in strategy and management from the University of Liverpool, which has given him another string to his bow. Among the skills developed while studying was 'self-reflection' and how to be a leader. He didn't have to be the chest-thumping type character, who some might recall from his playing days. Hearts fans certainly do, given it was such theatrics that almost caused a riot when Pressley celebrated a Celtic win on his first return to Tynecastle since leaving to sign for the Parkhead side. 'When I was a player, I was generally a captain,' he said. 'And then I went from that to being a manager almost immediately. Almost, through your title alone, you can make people do things. Then you go into a job (at Brentford) which I was involved in for four years where you don't. You have to build relationships. I do think as a person I've changed a lot. I'm a lot calmer, a lot more controlled, a much smaller ego…' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He remembers wanting to take on the world when he was younger. Now it might be enough to get the better of the lot across the street, where of course he played when he was a younger man and which might account for some of the opposition to his appointment. He finished on the winning side in three out of four Dundee derbies in the second tier in 1995-96, under then Dundee United manager Billy Kirkwood – his head of recruitment at Dundee for the time being.
Scotsman
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scottish Premiership fixtures: Spicy opener, controversial new rule, Rangers bid to buck trend, Oasis impact
SPFL fixtures day always provides talking points - and this year is no different 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... As someone pointed out on X, Hamilton Accies based at Broadwood, formerly Clyde's home, and Clyde playing at New Douglas Park, previously Hamilton's HQ. And only one Saturday 3pm kick off in the top flight on the opening weekend of new season, the thirteenth since the Scottish Professional Football League was established. Welcome back to the crazy world of Scottish football. A new season fixture list that is more of a suggestion than a schedule given the number of games that will likely need to be moved due to European football activities still managed to deliver a variety of talking points, including the new rule which allows all teams involved in European play-off round clashes to request a postponement of their matchday three clash on the weekend of 23/24 August without consulting the opposition. In short, an invitation for some early controversy and quarreling. Delicious! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some things though are set in stone. Russell Martin's Rangers revolution will kick off in the league at Motherwell at 5.30pm on Saturday 3 August. At least the pressure won't already be on the Ibrox side – Celtic do not begin their defence of the title until the following afternoon when hosting St Mirren, which – fitness permitting – is when Kieran Tierney is due to make a return to competitive Scottish football. The William Hill Premiership trophy, Championship trophy, League 1 trophy and League 2 trophy on display during a launch event for the fixture release at Four Winds Pavilion, Pacific Quay in Glasgow. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group Still, Martin could do with securing an immediate three points, something Rangers haven't done on the opening weekend since defeating Livingston under Giovanni van Bronckhorst in 2022. In each of the last two seasons they have been in catch-up mode following the opening weekend. In both cases they were looking for a new manager before the season was out. Clearly Martin is hoping to buck this trend. Much might depend on what happens between now and the league kick-off when it comes to signings, although whatever happens on that front Rangers' Champions League fate will also be a lot clearer by then. They will either be already out and preparing for a Europa League qualifier or they will have given the Martin era a boost by having overcome Panathinaikos in their Champions League second qualifying round tie. 'We've got a lot of work to do, physically, tactically….the players haven't even been in the building yet, they come back on Monday,' Martin told Sky Sports as he reflected on Rangers' league programme schedule, which one can imagine some fans already taking issue with. 'Monday?! Celtic were back this week!! Idlers. Sack the board!' Note to Rangers supporters: Calm down, Celtic are not back in training and aren't expected to return to Lennoxtown until the start of July. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Delaying bleep tests and the like for a little longer feels very sensible given the sweltering conditions. Still, if it's not an inappropriate image to evoke as Scotland bakes under a pitiless sun, the publication of a new season's set of fixtures is like waking up to find newly fallen snow outside – it will never not enthral. Rangers head coach Russell Martin will hope to improve fortunes at Ibrox following a tough domestic campaign last season. Cr: SNS Group. | SNS Group Away from Rangers and Celtic, who I am contractually obliged to note meet for the first time in the new season on 31 August at Ibrox, Dundee will entertain Hibs at Dens Park - and yes, it's officially back to being called Dens Park – on Sunday 4 August. Steven Pressley's return to top flight Scottish football as manager of the hosts is sure to be a fascinating affair, as much for the reaction of the fans – both sets – as anything. But perhaps the first real box office clash of the new league season is on Monday 4 August at Tynecastle, where Hearts host Aberdeen. This fixture is always one to look out for but new Hearts manager Derek McInnes against his last-but-one team adds some added spice, even if it is a bloody Monday night. Still coming down from the high of a Scottish Cup win, Aberdeen fans might not be bothered about that inconvenience. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It does underline the difficulties when it comes to producing a balanced set of fixtures and one that satisfies everyone in all four divisions, which of course is never possible. The SPFL have worked in conjunction with GotSport, a sports management platform based in the United States. A 'fixture recipe', based on information and restrictions provided by the SPFL, is fed into an obligatory 'supercomputer' and out of it emerges things like East Kilbride v The Spartans, with the two newest SPFL teams meeting on the first Saturday at K-Park. Hearts will begin their league campaign against new manager Derek McInnes' former club Aberdeen. | SNS Group The supercomputer has its work cut out. Even the fact Oasis have reformed ends up having an impact, which is not something the Gallagher brothers probably considered when ending their feud. Due to the band's concert at Murrayfield on the weekend of the second round of fixtures, Hearts have been scheduled to play away – against Dundee United. It is not the only match between Hearts and Dundee United that has been impacted by events at the neighbouring rugby arena. The first meeting of the two clubs at Tynecastle next season will be played on Sunday, November 9 due to the Autumn Test between Scotland and New Zealand taking place at Murrayfield on the Saturday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
