Latest news with #SPFLTrustTrophy
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie announce Ben Wilson exit as striker joins The New Saints for club record fee
The striker as left New Broomfield for the Welsh Premier League Striker Ben Wilson has completed a move from Airdrieonians to The New Saints in a club record fee for the Welsh side. The 23-year-old striker has joined the side the Diamonds defeated in the 2024 SPFL Trust Trophy final for an undisclosed fee, although it is understood to be worth six figures to Airdrie. Wilson made a big impression when he arrived in Monklands last summer, netting a hat-trick on his competitive debut in a thumping 8-0 win over East Kilbride in the Premier sports League Cup. He also netted in each of his first four games for the club. But the former Cliftonville man has now completed a switch to the Welsh Premier side, who unveiled the striker with an announcement video this afternoon. A club statement from Airdrie read: "Following a successful season in the Championship, striker Ben Wilson has moved to Welsh side TNS for an undisclosed fee. "Northern Irish frontman Wilson notched 17 goals in his solitary season at the Albert Bartlett Stadium, finishing as the side's top scorer following his move from Cliftonville last June."The 23-year-old's exploits caught the eye of Cymru Premier champions TNS, who were keen to add to their firepower ahead of another European campaign."We wish Ben the best of luck as he begins a new chapter in his career, and we thank him for some big moments in the season past."
The Courier
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Aidan Connolly reflects on 4 years at Raith Rovers and reasons behind Stark's Park exit
Aidan Connolly has aired his Raith Rovers frustrations, despite admitting it was 'time to move on' this summer. The 29-year-old was freed by the Kirkcaldy club last month after spending the past four seasons at Stark's Park. With a previous four-month stint in Fife after leaving Dundee United in 2016, the winger has spent a significant chunk of his career at Raith. And he is not the kind of person to bad mouth anyone following his departure. However, his disappointments are clear after scoring 39 goals in 177 appearances across his two spells. 'I loved my time at Raith,' Connolly told Courier Sport. 'I had four years there and in the first two years I was getting the game-time I wanted. 'Then there were changes at the club a couple of years ago – and then I wasn't getting the game-time that I thought I deserved, at times. 'So, it was time to move on this summer. The club has changed a lot from above and that's just the way it goes sometimes. 'But there was a lot of good people there and I wish them all the best for next season.' His 15 goals in season 2022/23, when he started 33 league games, stands out as a high point. But making just one start under current Rovers boss Barry Robson tells its own tale. 'It's hard when you're not involved weekly and you just want to enjoy your football,' he added. 'It's hardest when you feel like you deserve opportunities and you aren't getting them. 'It is tough. Even the season when we were pushing for the title (2023/24), I felt I could have had more opportunities. 'The fans would hopefully know from watching last season, that whenever I came on or whenever I played I made an impact. 'There was a period where I scored two goals in two games and then started the next game. And then I never had one start the rest of the season. 'That's tough for me. But I'm moving on now and going on to better things, hopefully.' Raith lifted the SPFL Trust Trophy in 2022 in Connolly's first season at the club and then finished runners-up the following year. The Championship title and promotion play-off push of the next season also proved what the club is capable of. 'Overall, it's been a really successful time at Raith,' Connolly said. 'Although, personally, I wasn't playing all the time, as a team we were always doing well. 'We'll just see what happens now. You want to go somewhere where you're wanted.'
Daily Record
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hamilton Accies goalkeeper exits after frustrating spell
Charlie Albinson joins Reghan Tumilty, Sean McGinty and Nikolay Todorov out the door at Accies Hamilton Accies have parted company with goalkeeper Charlie Albinson as boss John Rankin gets set to begin preparations for their League One campaign. The Accies boss will return from holiday tomorrow and it is expected the club will be able to finalise their list of retained and released players in the coming days. Lanarkshire Live Sport understands Albinson, 28, had a relegation release clause in his contract and is already working on a move to a new club. He joins a list of players to be released in the last few weeks, including SPFL Trust Trophy final hero Reghan Tumilty. Defender Sean McGinty has left to join local rivals Airdrieonians and striker Nikolay Todorov has also departed. Englishman Albinson joined Accies from Ayr United last summer and made 21 appearances. He fell out of favour at New Douglas Park and his last outing for the club came back on January 28 in a 3-0 home defeat to Raith Rovers. Where Hamilton Accies are playing league games next season is yet to be confirmed with the SPFL still to ratify the club's tenancy agreement with North Lanarkshire Council to play at Broadwood Stadium on a temporary basis. Accies announced in May they were leaving New Douglas Park after failing to secure a deal to buy the stadium from its current owners. Accies will play their 'home' games in the Premier Sports Cup next month at K-Park in East Kilbride after a deal was struck to host matches there while a new pitch is laid at Broadwood over the next few weeks. Rankin's men are due to travel to Lowland League side Caledonian Braves on June 20 for their first pre-season friendly, the same day the SPFL fixtures will be released. The clash is one of four pre-season friendlies planned although a full list hasn't yet been released by the club. Bellshill Athletic have announced they will play an Accies XI on Wednesday, July 9.
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie hero says no fallout in New Broomfield exit, as he dismisses Accies return rumours
Defender Craig Watson on leaving the Diamonds after a mostly successful four-year spell Craig Watson says there was no fallout at Airdrie and it was just time for something new, as he severed a four-year spell at the club. Watson didn't play as often as he would have liked last season, making only 28 appearances, and was made captain for a shadow team in their last home league game of the season, a 0-0 draw with Ayr United. The defender is looking for his next step, and hopes to have something sorted out within the next week or so, but is remaining tight-lipped. But the former Hamilton Accies and East Fife defender has fond memories of winning promotion to the Championship, winning the SPFL Trust Trophy and going into the Premiership play-offs, before fighting relegation at the end of last season. Watson, 30 and nicknamed 'Janny' said: 'It's just time to move on. It was a mutual decision, we shook hands, everything's left on good terms, and I wish the club nothing but success in the future. 'I had a great four years, but I just felt it was time for a new challenge in my career. 'It was great at Airdrie – at the end of every season there was something to play for, even in the final season. 'Though it's not the play-offs we would have liked to have been in at the start of the season, it was still meaningful, important games that you'll remember. 'It was a great time, a successful period. In the first year we got to the play-off finals, and had the lows of getting beat by Queen's Park, after being so confident going into it. 'We overcame that defeat and got promoted the next year, and followed that up with a cup win, which was great, to give the fans something to cheer about and remember. I was proud to be a part of that squad.' Watson can't say yet what his plans are for next season, but scotched online rumours of a return to Hamilton Accies. He said: 'There's nothing concrete just now, though I can't say too much. Over the next week or so hopefully things will be a lot clearer at my end. 'That's the first I've heard of Accies! I have ties with the club because that's where I came through the youth and made my first-team debut and what not. 'But that's just a rumour, I haven't heard anything. 'I want to continue playing at as high a level as possible. Championship would be fantastic, and I can't say anything at this moment in time, but hopefully in a week or two I'll be able to talk about it more.'
The Courier
05-06-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
First pre-season friendly of Neil Lennon's new Dunfermline Athletic era announced
Dunfermline will play Fife neighbours Kelty Hearts in a pre-season friendly. The match is thought to have been mooted as part of the deal that took Michael Tidser from Kelty to East End Park back in January for his short-lived stint as manager. It is the first of this summer's friendlies involving the Pars to be announced. Neil Lennon is scheduled to take his side the short journey to New Central Park on Saturday, July 5, with a 3 pm kick-off. The teams met last season in the SPFL Trust Trophy, with Dunfermline winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Chris Kane and Matty Todd. The Fifers begin their Premier Sports Cup campaign a week later with a glamour trip to face Hearts at Tynecastle. That game, which will feature Derek McInnes' debut competitive match in charge of Hearts, has been chosen for live television. Dunfermline are also expected to also play friendlies on the weekend of June 28/29 as well as the following two midweeks as Lennon prepares his side for his first full season in charge. The former Celtic and Hibernian boss, who took over for the last seven games of last term, recently penned a new two-year deal to stay on at East End Park. Kelty are also under new management, with defender Tam O'Ware being handed the reins permanently after a short stint as caretaker following the departure of Charlie Mulgrew in April. The League One side will also face Kirkcaldy & Dysart on June 28, Broxburn Athletic on July 1 and Clyde on July 8 before kicking off their cup campaign with a trip to Brora Rangers on July 15.
