Celtic completed the 2022/23 campaign by securing the domestic treble with a 3-1 win over Championship side Inverness in the Scottish FA Cup final on Saturday.
The Hoops can now turn their attention to the transfer window with a view to improving their playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Ange Postecoglou has been linked with a move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur but the Australian remains in post with the Scottish giants for now and one of his first moves this summer should be to brutally ditch outcast James McCarthy.
What's the latest on James McCarthy's future at Celtic?
Earlier this week, 90min reported that Major League Soccer teams Houston Dynamo and Colorado Rapids have both shown an interest in signing the central midfielder.
Their second transfer window opens on the 5th of July and it could provide the Republic of Ireland international, who has two years left on his current contract, with a chance to finally depart Parkhead.
Celtic must now take advantage of the interest in his services by sanctioning a departure as the 32-year-old must never play another game for the club.
He offered very little to Postecoglou during the 2022/23 campaign as the former Crystal Palace man made five appearances in all competitions and played just 22 minutes of football in the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.
Former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie described the dud as "lost" earlier this season and stated:
“Now, he does not look fit when he comes on. He obviously is not match fit.".
This was highlighted by the fact that the Irishman lost 67% of his duels in the league in his limited minutes on the pitch, which suggests that the liability found it difficult to compete in the middle of the park.
The £14k-per-week flop came into the current campaign off the back of ten outings in the top-flight in 21/22. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.72 and that placed him 26th in the squad, which shows that the dud was a million miles away from being one of the club's top performers.
McCarthy is reportedly earning more per week than fellow midfielders Reo Hatate and Matt O'Riley, who both rank in the top three of Celtic's performers for average Sofascore ratings this term, and this suggests that the Hoops are not getting their money's worth from him.
Therefore, the former Wigan Athletic man should be ruthlessly sent packing this summer, whether that is to the MLS or elsewhere, to ensure that he does not play another game for the club and to offload his wages from the bill.
Adam Wheater, the wicketkeeper-batsman, is to return to Essex three years after leaving for Hampshire
ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2016
Adam Wheater has been playing for Hampshire solely as a batsman•Getty Images
Adam Wheater, the wicketkeeper-batsman, is to return to Essex three years after leaving for Hampshire. Wheater, who had already gone on loan to Essex after losing the gloves at Hampshire, has signed a two-year contract.With Hampshire preferring Lewis McManus as their wicketkeeper for the second half of the season, Wheater was asked to play as a specialist batsman – something he did creditably, scoring a maiden first-class double-hundred in July after which he reiterated his desire to keep wicket.During Wheater’s previous spell at Essex, where he made his first-class debut in 2008, his path was blocked by James Foster and he eventually bought himself out of the final year of his contract to move to Hampshire ahead of the 2013 season. That caused some controversy, when Wheater was preferred to club favourite Michael Bates because of his batting.Foster remains Essex’s first-choice keeper but, at the age of 36, he has already begun to look at opportunities outside the game, taking up the post of cricket professional at Forest School last year. Wheater, who was rumoured to be a target for Essex, will now be considered next in line.”It’s great to be back at Essex, where I started my career,” Wheater said. “I’d like to thank Hampshire for their understanding of moving to Essex and wish them every success in the future.”The signing will bolster Essex’s squad for an expected return to Division One of the Championship. With only one team set to go up, the Division Two leaders are 20 points clear of Kent – who have only one game remaining – and need just a handful of bonus points from their last two fixtures to seal promotion.Wheater made seven first-class hundreds in his four seasons with Hampshire, as well as two in List A cricket. In 2016 he averages 47.22, with a high score of 204 not out, but after McManus was granted an extended run behind the stumps, Wheater made it clear he would prefer to seek opportunities elsewhere rather than play as a specialist batsman, despite a year remaining on his contract.His loan move to Essex was announced last week but it has swiftly been made permanent. He joins Varun Chopra – who will also return on loan from Warwickshire after signing a three-year deal – in making a comeback to the county.Essex’s head coach, Chris Silverwood, said: “To be able to bring Adam back to the club on a permanent basis is brilliant for us, he comes into the squad with Division One experience, which is exactly what we need should we get promoted.”
كشفت تقارير صحفية عن إمكانية إقالة توماس توخيل من منصبه كمدير فني لفريق بايرن ميونخ الألماني.
ويتراجع بايرن ميونخ في ترتيب الدوري الألماني خلف المتصدر باير ليفركوزن بفارق 5 نقاط.
كما تعرض بايرن ميونخ للهزيمة بهدف دون مقابل أمام لاتسيو في ذهاب دور الـ 16 لدوري أبطال أوروبا.
ووفقًا لصحيفة “تايمز” البريطانية، مستقبل توخيل أصبح معلقًا بخيط رفيع، وإذا ساءت الأمور بالنسبة لبايرن ميونيخ في الدوري الألماني، أو إذا فشلوا في العودة أمام لاتسيو في مباراة الإياب، فقد نشهد إقالة توخيل في منتصف الموسم.
يفيد التقرير أيضًا، أن بايرن ميونخ أيضًا قد يعين هانز فليك مدرب الفريق ومنتخب ألمانيا السابق، بصفة مؤقتة حال إقالة توخيل.
وأشارت الصحيفة إلى أن بايرن ميونخ يتطلع للتعاقد مع تشابي ألونسو، مدرب باير ليفركوزن الحالي.
تشابي يقدم أداءً مميزًا في قيادة ليفركوزن، ويعد الإسباني هدفًا أيضًا لنادي ليفربول الإنجليزي.
وسيغادر يورجن كلوب منصبه كمدرب لليفربول في نهاية الموسم، ويرتبط النادي الإنجليزي بمفاوضات لضم تشابي ألونسو.
لعب ألونسو مع بايرن ميونخ بين عامي 2014 و2017، كما سبق ولعب لصفوف ليفربول أيضًا.
من جانبه أكد توماس توخيل أنه لا يخشى على مستقبله، متحدثًا بعد الهزيمة أمام لاتسيو، وقال: “لا، أنا لست قلقًا بشأن مستقبلي أو إقالتي المحتملة”.
وأضاف: “لقد فعلنا كل شيء من أجل عدم خسارة هذه المباراة، لقد كانت في أيدينا، في مرحلة معينة توقفنا عن الإيمان، ليس لدي أي فكرة عن السبب”.
وصرّح المدير الرياضي لبايرن ميونخ، كريستوف فرويند: “بالطبع يعاني توخيل من الوضع، وهو أمر صعب للغاية بالنسبة لنا جميعًا، ونحن جميعا في نفس القارب، الأمر ليس سهلاً، لكننا سنخرج من هذا الأمر معًا، هذا هو هدفنا”.
Sheikh Jassim Hamad Bin Al Thani's Nine Two Foundation could walk away from the Manchester United ownership race if they feel that they will not eventually win the battle, journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed.
What's the latest on Man United's ownership situation?
There is still no clear picture on who will eventually win the battle to acquire ownership of Man United, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's consortium's bid potentially allowing the Glazer family to retain some shares, whilst Sheikh Jassim's bid would see his group complete a full purchase.
It has now been mooted that the Nine Two Foundation, Jassim's group, could eventually pull out of the race, rather than waiting to be rejected, if it does not appear that their bid will be successful.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs revealed that the drawn out process could lead to them ending their pursuit of Man United.
"I don't think the Nine Two Foundation will necessarily want a scenario whereby they're rejected," he stated.
"I think it's more likely that they'll do everything in their power to win. If they feel like the process is just not geared towards them winning because the Glazers want to stay, and with time running out because they don't want this to overshadow the whole of the summer window, at that point I can see the Nine Two Foundation feeling like it's more in their interests to just walk away.
"That would be normal because they're looking at making a world record sale and are pushing to get in as soon as possible because they know how important the early part of the window is.
"If it gets to a point where they no longer feel like they can buy the club because the Glazers are looking in a different direction or the process is just not geared towards getting anything done that benefits them, and quickly, at that point I don't think the Nine Two Foundation would just wait to watch somebody else come in and be rejected. I think they would pull out of the process first."
What next for Man United?
Erik ten Hag's side will be aiming to build upon their season of progress, which has seen them win the Carabao Cup, secure a top-three finish and reach the FA Cup final, but they will need reinforcements in the transfer window.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.
The ownership situation will need to be resolved quickly in order to facilitate this, as they aim to complete a number of big signings, and the outcome of the takeover could determine who they target in the window.
Ten Hag's top priority is Harry Kane, whilst there have also been strong links with Mason Mount, and it has been mooted that if Jassim's group wins the battle, the Qatari owners could target Neymar.
A quick resolution from the Glazers is necessary, regardless of the decision, as the process continues to drag on with no end in sight.
It was hard to work out which captain was more stunned after South Africa’s incredible win over Australia in Durban
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Oct-20162:38
We could’ve made Miller’s job easier – du Plessis
It was hard to work out which captain was more stunned after South Africa’s incredible win over Australia in Durban.But it was left to Faf du Plessis to sum up a result that looked highly unlikely when Australia ran up 371 batting first at Kingsmead, and even more so when a middle order stumble left South Africa needing a miracle – duly provided by a thumping innings from David Miller.”To win a game like that when you’re supposed to lose, when you’re down and out then you have someone put their hand up and take you across the line, it’s as good as it gets,” du Plessis said. “I don’t have any words to be honest.”I think there’s a lot of people if you asked them 3-0 to South Africa against the No. 1 team in the world, they would have possibly laughed. It just shows which direction we’re going as a team at the moment, we’ve played some really good cricket in all formats and I’m really excited about what lies ahead.”I’m just out of words, I’m so happy at the moment because I never would have thought 3-0 would have been possible against this Australian side.”Steven Smith bore the thousand-yard stare of a captain who has now lost seven of his past nine matches in charge in all formats. All he had asked for, from his batsmen in particular, had been achieved, still he ended the night in defeat.”I wanted the top four to get the bulk of the runs, someone to go on and get a hundred, we had two blokes do that,” Smith said. “It’s a very tough loss. Today was our quarter-final to keep us in the series and when you get to halfway and you’ve got 370 on the board, you don’t lose too many games with 370 on the board.”For them [bowlers], it’s about trying to bowl their best ball as much as possible…we just haven’t been able to do it as well as we would have liked.”It hasn’t gone to plan so far, that’s for sure. I’m sure the guys will be able to take a lot out of playing against these South African batters. There’s some quality batters in their line-up and you’ve got to learn to play against the best if you want to play international cricket.”1:46
‘Was trying not to show any nerves’ – Miller
Much has been written and said about Australia’s understrength bowling line-up on tour, which again copped heavy punishment throughout. But du Plessis was pointed in stating that could not take anything away from his team’s achievement.”I think as an international team you cannot use that as an excuse, never,” he said. “I’ve been part of a South African team when we had no Dale Steyn and no Vernon Philander in our Test team, and you can’t use that as an excuse.”You have to find a way as a team to try and compete against the best teams in the world and we didn’t in that series against England and it would have been a lot different with the two of them playing.”But you can’t use that as an excuse, you have to find a way as a squad to try and compete. There’s a little bit of inexperience there but they would be the first guys not to blame their weakened attack. They’re the No. 1 team in the world and they know they still have to put up a good fight against us.”
Sheffield United are expected to face some competition should they reignite their interest in Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara, according to Sheffield Star journalist James Shield.
Which clubs want to sign Glen Kamara?
The Finland international is set to leave Rangers this summer, after falling out of favour with under new manager Micheal Beale, who recently suggested that the midfielder has "been around here too long" and that the club "will probably sell him this summer".
Kamara has received a lot of interest from Ligue 1 sides in the past 12 months, with a proposed £10m move to OGC Nice on the September deadline last season falling through, whilst Nantes have registered interest in the 27-year-old ahead of this summer window.
Sheffield United were interested in the midfielder during their last Premier League campaign under former manager Chris Wilder, however, budgetary restrictions prevented a move from materializing, however with the player's value falling to just €6m (£5.1m) interest could be reignited ahead of their return to the top-flight.
The former Finland 'Player of the Year' has also been identified as a target for Turkish giants Besiktas and Super Lig champions Galatasaray, according to reports, who will be competing in next year's edition of the Champions League.
Would Glen Kamara be a good signing for Sheffield United?
As previously mentioned, Kamara was a player that the Blades considered signing during the 2020/21 campaign, and with the majority of the same recruitment staff in place at the club, it is very much a possibility that the midfielder, who has been lauded as an "aggressive" player in the past by journalist Josh Bunting, could be considered by the club again.
The Gers no.18 produced the worst season of his career in the past campaign according to WhoScored, with an average rating of 6.46 across 22 appearances in the league making him the lowest-ranking player in the squad which started over ten games this season.
The 5 foot 11 central midfielder suffered an injury-ridden season by his standards this campaign, missing just under a month's worth of football due to first a knee injury and then an ankle problem a month and a half later. That issue occurred around the time Beale was appointed and stopped the Finland international from breaking into the new manager's team.
The 27-year-old dynamo had enjoyed two stellar campaigns before this season, averaging a 6.90 rating in the 2020/21 campaign before recording a 6.96 average rating in the 2021/22 season, showcasing that the midfielder has the quality, but wasn't able to showcase it this year for a variety of factors.
As Sheffield United prepare for their first campaign back, the signing of Kamara could prove to be a very shrewd piece of business by manager Paul Heckingbottom.
نجح فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي في تسجيل الهدف الأول بشباك نظيره بلدية المحلة عن طريق وسام أبو علي.
المباراة تقام على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي في خضم منافسات الجولة الخامسة المؤجلة من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز “النيل”.
وسجل وسام أبو علي هدفه الأول في مسيرته مع الأهلي بعد انضمامه خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية الجارية.
تشكيل الأهلي لمباراة بلدية المحلة في الدوري.. عمر كمال وأبو علي أساسيان
وآحرز آبو علي الهدف في الدقيقة الخامسة من عمر اللقاء بعد انفراده بمرمى بلدية المحلة مستغلًا تمريرة رامي ربيعة، ليسدد أرضية زلحفة تسكن الشباك.
ويخوض الأهلي مباراته وهو محتلًا المركز العاشر في سلم ترتيب الدوري، إذ خاض 6 مباريات فقط ويتبقى له 8 مواجهات.
ويملك الأهلي 14 نقطة، بعد أن فاز في 4 مباريات وتعادل في مواجهتين، إذ حقق الفوز على المصري 4-0، وعلى الإسماعيلي 3-1، المقاولون 2-1، وبنفس النتيجة أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا، بينما جاء التعادل مع سموحة 0-0 والجونة 1-1.
وعلى الجانب الآخر، بلدية المحلة يحتل المركز الثالث عشر في ترتيب جدول الدوري المصري برصيد 13 نقطة من 13 مباراة. هدف وسام أبو علي أمام بلدية المحلة
Chelsea and Inter Milan are set for key transfer discussions involving several different players, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Who are Chelsea linked with?
The two huge clubs could end up being busy together during the summer transfer window, with various individuals potentially moving from one to the other.
For Chelsea, this summer represents a huge period in their recent history, with Mauricio Pochettino coming in as manager and looking to turn their fortunes around. For that to happen, the right signings need to come in, though, and it is also a case of getting rid of the dead wood, allowing the Argentine to work with exactly the players he wants to.
It remains to be seen who will come in, but Romelu Lukaku could possibly return from his loan spell at Inter, while Andre Onana has been continually linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
Romelu Lukaku for Inter Milan
Are Chelsea and Inter set to discuss transfers?
Taking to Twitter, Romano provided an update on the current situation, saying that Lukaku's future is a big talking point in the coming days, but also mentioning other players who could head either way:
"Chelsea and Inter are set to schedule a meeting in the next days, as called yesterday.
"Understand Inter will ask about Kalidou Koulibaly as priority target. Romelu Lukaku’s future, main topic; but Trevoh Chalobah for Inter, Andre Onana for Chelsea will be also discussed."
This is an encouraging update from a Chelsea perspective, suggesting that the club are working hard on sorting both incomings and outgoings early in the transfer window – it hasn't even officialy opened yet (June 14).
Lukaku's future is arguably the most intriguing piece of business out of those mentioned, with the Belgian a striker with so much pedigree, but also someone who there are still doubts over.
His cameo in the Champions League final against Manchester City summed up why his critics often don't rate him, with two huge spurned missed in Istanbul, and at 30, it may be more beneficial for Chelsea to sell him permanently – potentially to Inter – and look to bring in a younger striker this summer.
Meanwhile, seeing both Kalidou Koulibaly and Trevoh Chalobah head to Italy would divide opinion, with the former an experienced head who could come good and the latter a big young prospect,
Onana would surely be an upgrade on Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy between the sticks at Chelsea – Pep Guardiola called him "exceptional" before the Champions League final – so hopefully his arrival is confirmed sooner rather than later.
Andrew Gale, Yorkshire’s captain for their back-to-back Championship victories in 2014 and 2015, is the county’s new Ist XI coach – but director of cricket Martyn Moxon says it is not a return to the insular days of old
David Hopps14-Nov-2016
Andrew Gale won back-to-back Championships as Yorkshire captain. Now he is taking over as coach•Sarah Ansell/Getty Images
Yorkshire’s director of cricket, Martyn Moxon, has vowed there will be no retreat to the insular ways of old after the county responded to the loss of Australian coach Jason Gillespie by promoting Andrew Gale from the ranks.Such assurances were conveyed to the first-team staff minutes before the official Headingley unveiling of Gale, who as Yorkshire’s 1st XI captain was one of the key figures in a renaissance which has brought two Championships in three years and supplied England with a steady stream of players. His opening words? “I bet this surprised you.”Gale has been an inspirational and respected figure as Yorkshire’s captain. His pride in the county has been unstinting, his sense of unity strong, his expectations expressed in straightforward terms that translated easily both within the squad and across the Broad Acres. His worth goes far beyond a playing-record of 8217 runs at 36.03. “I didn’t expect the opportunity to come as early as it has, but it is one that is too good to turn down,” he said.Nevertheless, Yorkshire’s history of self-sufficiency automatically invites the suspicion that they are sometimes overly tempted to trust their own judgment – it would certainly be in keeping with the political mood sweeping across the Western world – but Moxon has a broad outlook on such things and he welcomed the chance to scotch such a notion when he spoke to the players, many of whom had anticipated a high-profile appointment.”We are not seeing this as an insular appointment, absolutely not,” Moxon said. “I have mentioned that with the players. We don’t want to see this as ‘we know best’ and that we have been successful over the past five years so if we just keep doing what we are doing we will be fine. We know we need an open mind, we need to be looking at new ways of doing things and we need to keep moving forward.”Gale’s appointment was announced on the day of the Super Moon – the largest moon since 1948. Many astrologers contend that this is an omen, although they seem divided whether it is a sign of imminent prosperity or apocalypse.He immediately showed a willingness to question Yorkshire lore by advocating a root-and-branch examination, from junior cricket upwards, to address the county’s shortcomings in T20 cricket, an area to which Gillespie was unable to find a solution.”I think we could be a bit more dynamic in the way we play our one-day cricket,” he said. “At times we are a little bit one-dimensional. I don’t think we work hard enough on our skills in white-ball cricket and I also think we need to be a bit more fearless.”We are very traditional here in Yorkshire. The first thing you would teach a lad at 14-years-old is how to play a forward defence. You can make a career out of playing a scoop now. We need to change the mindset from top to bottom, right down to U-14s, U-15s. I know having played in the second team that there are other lads around the country who are a lot more skilful than our second team in the white-ball formats. Red ball is different – the lads know what they have to do – but from a white-ball perspective we are behind with our development.”There will be unworthy suspicions, too, that the choice of Gale, who has agreed a three-year contract, represents a cost-cutting measure only a week after Yorkshire, £22m in debt, protested that potential delays in the redevelopment of Headingley could seriously jeopardise their international future. “It’s nothing to do with the finances,” Moxon said, before adding light-heartedly, “Anyway, he might be on more money than Dizzy.”Gale has retired immediately, at 32, after first indicating at the end of the season that he wanted to prolong his career only to be persuaded by Moxon that the time was ripe. Michael Vaughan, the former England captain and a member of Yorkshire’s board, was another person who Gale used as a sounding board.He has immediate challenges, not least the choice of a successor for his own role as captain. Alex Lees holds the role in both limited-overs formats, but Gary Ballance is also an influential figure in a strong-willed dressing room and, if indications are that his England career is losing impetus, he is bound to receive serious considerationAn overseas player is also a priority. “It depends on what happens with England and we have one eye on that at the moment,” Moxon said. “But we are in the market for a top-order overseas batsman, I can say that for sure.”The appointment of Gale is a pragmatic response by Moxon, who was solely in charge of recruitment, after high-profile targets such as Paul Farbrace, the England assistant coach, and Richard Dawson, head coach at Gloucestershire – both former heads of the Yorkshire academy resisted overtures.There was even talk of Andy Flower, the former England coach, who is now in charge of England Lions, and Brad Hodge, the former Australian batsman who is making a name for himself as a T20 coach as assistant coach to Gillespie at Adelaide Strikers and with Gujarat Lions in IPL, also had his advocates.”Of course we were looking around and I’m sure you would expect me to do that,” Moxon said. “But when I appointed people like Dizzy or Farby it felt right. That is the biggest thing about this appointment: it feels right.Yorkshire’s 1st XI is an experienced group, especially among the bowlers, which has persuaded Moxon that continuity matters. “It’s important we keep that continuity and protect the environment that we’ve created, one that has been successful for us.”The qualities are the togetherness we have had in the group, the strong leadership we have had, everyone knowing their role, everyone enjoying each other’s success and an honesty within the whole group. It has been a true team on and off the field”What took up most of my thoughts was running the first team in the short term. It was clear to me he was the best man to do that. It was the least disruptive option. We want to avoid chopping and changing particularly when at a crucial period when the transition of the team is taken place.”Gale’s immediate conclusion when Gillespie confirmed that he would be returning full-time to Australia had been that the vacancy had come too soon for him. But he will take his Level 4 coaching exams as soon as possible – he is already Level 3 – and his involvement in coaching is already substantial.Jason Gillespie and Andrew Gale combined successfully as coach and captain•PA Photos
He is the joint owner of the Pro Coach Cricket Academy, which is based next to Yorkshire’s own academy at Headingley and which delivers a wide range of coaching clinics across the county for children and adults of all abilities – sometimes in alliance with Yorkshire. Yorkshire are expected to examine how that relationship exists to safeguard Gale from suggestions of any conflict of interests.”Initially we don’t need him to be a top-level coach,” Moxon said. “We need him to be a leader and a manager of men. He can do that. He will grow into the coaching side of things over the next couple of years. He is highly qualified in the way that he has led the team as captain over the past seven years and has expertise that we didn’t want to lose at the club.”Gale had admitted to Moxon and Gillespie in mid-season that he was not enjoying his cricket and was contemplating retirement. He had been disappointed to lose not just the captaincy, but only to make fleeting appearances in Yorkshire’s limited-overs side. His batting had become scratchy and his fielding was showing of signs of wear and tear. In September, he stared down an average of 21 in the Championship and resolved to carry on, but a coaching career was inevitable. It was just a matter of when and where.As potential coaches were openly discussed around the county, Gale was under no lllusions that his Yorkshire career was drawing to a close. He remained under contract, but he had averaging only 21 in first-class cricket in 2016 and Alex Lees had replaced him as Yorkshire’s captain in both limited-overs formats. His batting had become increasingly scratchy and his fielding was showing premature signs of age.”When I drove into Headingley a fortnight or so ago, as a player, I had the feeling of ‘here we go again'” he said. “Now I have driven here today with a real sense of excitement.”Obviously, I have experience at grassroots running my own coaching company, and I have worked with young batters as a senior player about how they can improve their game, but I know senior coaching is different. I am willing to learn on the job and I need to learn quickly.”Gale is too grounded to be overly concerned by the fact that he was not Yorkshire’s first choice. Most people are second choice to somebody, theoretically anyway. In fact, as club captain, he could hardly be unaware of the dead ends that Moxon came up against as he tried to find a replacement for Gillespie. But he also knows that when the applications came in, he was rapidly preferred.”I’m under no illusion that the club would have preferred an international coach, but Martyn’s philosophy was that if they couldn’t get that then they didn’t want too much change,” he said. “I know the players inside out so that transition should be easier than somebody we could have ended up taking a punt on: we could have ended up putting fires out in the middle of the season. The state that the club is in at the moment it just needs to continue the good work we have done.”Obviously, you are going to be more distant from the players. You are making judgments on their place in the team, and on their careers, but the relationship will naturally get further apart, but I know what makes the players tick and how to get the best out of them. Whether I’m captain or coach, that’s going to be the key in the short-term for this role.” I’ve never been frightened to make those decisions as a captain anyway. I guess there might be a few tough words but that’s part and parcel of the job.”