Category Sports News

“Follow the Hearts and you can’t go wrong”.

The line from the Edinburgh club’s anthem seems a tad out of place these days as it bellows around a gloomy Tynecastle.

The Hearts board are about to lurch into a third managerial search in three years, the mood accentuated with a faint flirt at a relegation play-off fight fading amid the backdrop of a bottom-six finish.

It’s quite the tumble from a season which started with bumper crowds and European football, culminating in the exit of Neil Critchley last month.

But with Tony Bloom bidding just under £10m for a big wedge in the club, there’s perhaps even more importance on getting the next appointment right.

Names will fly as to who is among in the runners and riders to replace Critchley, with Kilmarnock’s Derek McInnes the fans ‘ front runners.

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson and the now Championship-winning Falkirk manager John McGlynn, are also in the conversation.

The latter has already taken charge of the club for eight months in 2012, so at least knows what it takes to do the job.

But what kind of person is needed to put Hearts back where their supporters feel they should be?

“We need a personality”, Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon told BBC Scotland.

“It’s tough at times at Hearts, especially when things aren’t going well. The fans are expectant and they’ll let us know if it’s not good enough.

” So we need to be able to deal with that and that goes for everybody at the club. “

Tough times have not been uncommon this season.

Steven Naismith departed in September after an eight-game losing streak, while Critchley’s tenure ended after blowing a shot at the top six during a five-game winless run.

Asked if the new boss needs to have a presence, forward Alan Forrest said:” Yes, I think so.

Being a bit of a character and having a skin thicker than the solid stone walls of Edinburgh Castle is one thing, but a football philosophy that backs it up is also required here.

The Gorgie side sit in the odd position of having a goal difference of zero. Five teams have scored more than them, while only Celtic, Rangers and Hibernian have conceded fewer goals.

Delving into the data, the stats show that Hearts don’t make the most of their possession and chances, something articulated with Lawrence Shankland’s goal tally sitting at a modest seven for the season.

While Hearts are eighth in the Premiership table, looking at the xG (expected goals) points table, the Tynecastle side should currently be fourth on 51 points.

“I think the message is clear for the players, playing a positive style”, said Forrest.

“Every player wants that, playing on the front foot, so it’s just about that for me, being positive and taking the game to teams”.

For caretaker Liam Fox, the mission for the new boss is simple.

“They need to win games first and foremost”, he said. “I know that sounds really simple, but it’s not for me to sit here and tell you what a Hearts manager is.

Brian McLauchlin, BBC Sport Scotland

The sense of urgency to appoint a successor to Critchley has slowed after the threat of being dragged into a relegation fight eased with Saturday’s win over Ross County.

However, don’t doubt work is going in behind the scenes to ensure who is given the nod is the right person to take over.

Saturday’s match at home to Motherwell is an ideal opportunity for the board to gather and finalise either a preferred candidate, or at least whittle it down to a couple of names.

Over the past few days, McInnes has leapt towards the top of the pile in terms of supporter satisfaction.

The 53-year-old has always been a regular when the Hearts job is available. Given that he led Kilmarnock to Europe last season and spent eight years at Aberdeen, it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Northampton’s 20-year-old forward Henry Pollock will tour Australia with the British and Irish Lions this summer, but former England captain Owen Farrell, the son of head coach Andy, misses out.

Pollock’s inclusion marks a warp-speed rise to the top of the game. The flanker, who only turned 20 in January, had played only one Premiership game before the start of this season.

Farrell, a three-time tourist in the past, has only just returned to fitness with French side Racing 92 but the 33-year-old had aspirations to represent the Lions once more.

Elsewhere, Ireland’s first-choice fly-half Sam Prendergast misses out with Scotland’s Finn Russell and England pair Fin Smith and Marcus Smith preferred as stand-off options.

Scrum-half Tomos Williams and flanker Jac Morgan are the only two Wales players included, a low for a Lions tour in the modern era.

Ireland captain Caelan Doris, who was a near-certainty to be picked and a captaincy contender, will miss the tour after suffering a shoulder injury in Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton last weekend.

Backs

Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)

Elliot Daly (Saracens/England)

Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England)

Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)

Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)

Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland)

James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England)

Garry Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland)

Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England)

Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England)

Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)

Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)

Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales)

Forwards

Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland)

Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England)

Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England)

Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland)

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England)

Ben Earl (Saracens/England)

Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)

Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England)

Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (capt)

Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales)

Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England)

Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)

Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England)

With the Lions squad announcement made in front of a live audience for the first time, it was Pollock’s inclusion that generated the most noise from about 2,000 fans inside Indigo, a venue within London’s O2 Arena complex.

His eye-catching line breaks, dogged breakdown work and confident, abrasive on-pitch persona, complete with pre-planned try celebrations, have made him the breakthrough star of the season.

After returning from winning the under-20 Rugby World Cup in South Africa last summer, Pollock has become a key part of Saints’ back row, scored two tries on his England debut against Wales in March and run amok in Northampton’s run to the Investec Champions Cup final on 24 May.

Pollock, who is the youngest player in the squad, faces considerable competition to make the Test team, but he has excelled at every level so far in his rise towards the top of the game.

“I wasn’t certain, but I wouldn’t say I needed convincing,” said Farrell when asked whether Pollock’s barnstorming performance against Leinster at the weekend had clinched his place in the squad.

Owen Farrell could yet become a four-time Lions tourist, with Andy suggesting his son could be a late addition to the squad.

He has endured a difficult first season with Racing 92 in Paris – a groin injury hampering him on the pitch and the sacking of former England coach Stuart Lancaster disrupting the set-up off it.

However, Farrell’s ability to drive standards and cover both fly-half and inside centre could prompt his promotion into the Lions squad.

“Owen was in the conversation obviously, an experienced player like that, looking for his fourth tour and with his leadership qualities,” said Andy Farrell.

“But it got to a point, like with a few others, where he is still trying to find his way back to fitness.

Itoje had been touted as a future England captain ever since leading his country’s age-grade side to the under-20s World Cup in 2014.

However, it appeared that potential would go unrealised as ex-England coach Eddie Jones questioned whether Itoje was outgoing and vocal enough to own the dressing room, while Owen Farrell filled the role as captain for both England and Saracens.

Having succeeded Farrell as Saracens captain in August, Itoje became England skipper in January and is now afforded the ultimate honour of leading the Lions.

“I’m deeply honoured, humbled and I will do my best to do the role justice,” he said.

Doris, who was seen as Itoje’s main rival for the job, will miss the trip to have surgery on an injury his club coach Jacques Nienaber described as “quite serious”.

“As you can imagine, he is devastated,” said Andy Farrell on Doris. “He would definitely have been in the mix, such an experienced player and leader.

The world’s best sprinters head to China this weekend to compete for titles and qualification places for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.

You can watch the action on the BBC as Guangzhou hosts the seventh edition of the World Athletics Relays.

The mixed 4x100m and 4x400m relay events are set to make their global debut in Guangzhou, while athletes will compete in a total of six events, including the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay and the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay.

Olympic legends Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Wayde van Niekerk, Letsile Tebogo and Shericka Jackson will join 730 athletes from 43 countries in Guangzhou.

Canada’s men’s 4x100m gold-medal winning squad from Paris 2024 remains unchanged, led by the country’s joint-most decorated Olympian Andre de Grasse.

He and his team-mates will be battling for their nation’s first World Relays title after finishing second to the United States last year.

The USA squad includes Kenny Bednarek and fellow world medallist Erriyon Knighton.

Qualification places for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo are available on both days of action in Guangzhou.

The top 14 teams in each of the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m, as well as the 4x400m relay, will secure their place for September.

The two remaining spots in each event will be determined by the World Athletics ‘top list’, which is the global governing body’s points-based system of ranking athletes.

On Saturday, the top two teams in each of the four heats will progress to the final, while securing their qualification for the Worlds.

Saturday, 10 May

Mixed 4x100m relay heats

Mixed 4x400m relay round one

Women’s 4x100m relay round one

Men’s 4x100m relay round one

Women’s 4x400m relay round one

Men’s 4x400m relay round one

Sunday, 11 May

Mixed 4x100m relay final

Mixed 4x400m relay round two

Women’s 4x400m relay round two

Men’s 4x400m relay round two

Women’s 4x100m relay round two

Men’s 4x100m relay round two

Mixed 4x400m relay final

Women’s 4x100m relay final

Men’s 4x100m relay final

Women’s 4x400m relay final

So the first roar of the 2025 Lions has been heard – some old cats who have prowled this terrain before, some cubs who are experiencing this for the first time.

And Henry Pollock, a beast so rare it’s still difficult to find the right word for him.

Some big-name casualties. No Jamie George of England and no Dewi Lake of Wales.

Many folk will have had both of them involved but their places have gone to Ireland’s back-up hooker, Ronan Kelleher, and England’s Luke Cowan-Dickie.

Dan Sheehan was always going to be selected and he’s the very clear frontrunner to start in the first Test.

Hopes will not have been high in Wales, but two Lions is by a distance their lowest-ever total.

There was mention of Blair Murray as a bolter at full-back and more talk of Taulupe Faletau possibly coming in for the desperately unlucky Caelan Doris, who misses out.

Marcus Smith is in at 10 and as cover at 15, with Blair Kinghorn likely to miss the first two or three games because of his commitments with French club Toulouse.

Elliot Daly is another who can deputise as 15. Scotland would have been hoping to get Tom Jordan picked in that utility role but it’s fallen to Daly instead.

There was a world of speculation around the 10s.

A big campaign had formed around Owen Farrell, sparked in part by Johnny Sexton, the Lions assistant coach, who said previously that he would pick him in his Test squad.

Through injury and lack of form in France with Racing, Farrell Jr – son of boss Andy – doesn’t make it. Wonder what Sexton made of that in the selection meeting. His man – out.

Farrell Sr may not have wanted the circus of having his son in the squad and, quite possibly, Owen wouldn’t have wanted to be part of it either. Intrigue there.

Ireland’s Sam Prendergast also had a bandwagon, but the wheels fell off in a disastrous display against Northampton on Saturday.

There’s no getting away from it – the strength in the back row is immense and there were always going to be big names missing out.

Flanker Jack Willis is one of them. He’s been sensational at Toulouse but if Farrell was prepared to wait for Kinghorn, then he hasn’t afforded the same latitude to Englishman Willis.

Mainly because he doesn’t have to. He has more than enough artillery without him. Maybe the dramatic rise and rise of 20-year-old England back rower Pollock put paid to his chances also.

Scotland will be very happy to have eight – one short of their all-time high – but the many fans of winger Darcy Graham will be crestfallen.

The wee man has X-factor and is in flying form. He was strong in the Six Nations, offers real pace and is as brave as a lion, only he’s not a Lion.

That’s an eyebrow-raiser because Ireland’s Hansen hasn’t played since the middle of April and doesn’t have the gas that Graham offers.

Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park was always a shoo-in and England’s Alex Mitchell was nailed-on to be the second scrum-half.

There was a lot of debate around who the third and final nine would be – Tomos Williams or Scotland’s Ben White? The Welshman has won the race.

England World Cup-winner Matt Dawson went White on a podcast during the week, reckoning that his style of play might best suit what Farrell is looking for. Williams, though, is a terrific player. Smart and dynamic.

Women’s football stars Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis have announced the birth of their first child together.

Chelsea and Australia striker Kerr and West Ham and United States forward Mewis posted a picture on Instagram of them together with their newborn son.

“Our little man is here, Jagger Mewis-Kerr,” read the caption on Kerr’s social media page.

The couple announced they were expecting a child in November.

Their social media post received homophobic comments from some users, which were roundly condemned within women’s football.

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor called the abusive comments “unacceptable”, while Blues captain Millie Bright said she wanted to see “more done” by social media companies to tackle abuse.

The post announcing the birth of baby Jagger received positive comments from numerous figures in women’s football, including Bright and Kerr’s Australia team-mates Katrina Gorry and Caitlin Foord.

At 10pm on Thursday evening, thousands of Manchester United and Tottenham fans may well find themselves plotting routes to Bilbao.

The Premier League teams go into their semi-final second legs – against Athletic Bilbao and Bodo/Glimt respectively – as favourites to progress.

Should they complete the job, they will secure a place in the final, which will take place at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on Wednesday, 21 May.

Of the 49,600 tickets available, the finalists will each receive 15,000.

These tickets – as part of Uefa’s ‘fans first’ scheme – are the most affordable, starting at 40 euros (£34).

Tickets for the general public are split into three categories, with prices ranging from 65-240 euros (£55-£204).

At the time of writing, the cheapest direct return flights that involve travelling out on the day of the game would cost anyone going from Manchester more than £1500. The return flight is the day after the match.

If you wanted to fly out the day before the game, the cost rises beyond £1700.

Flights from Manchester on Monday, 19 May are sold out.

There is the potential for a coach journey at a return cost of more than £200. Starting from Moss Lane East on the morning of Tuesday, 20 May, with changes at London Victoria and Paris, the journey would be almost 32 hours. The cheapest return journey takes roughly 38 hours and 25 minutes.

Return flights from London, travelling out on matchday, could be slightly cheaper for Tottenham fans, should they make the final.

At the time of writing, travelling from Stanstead to Bilbao on the Wednesday then returning to Gatwick on the Thursday would cost just over £1500.

Heading out a day earlier would cost more than £1600.

There are no flights available from London on Monday, 19 May.

For a coach journey, a return ticket would cost more than £180.

The journey – which would take more than 25 hours – would begin early afternoon on Tuesday from London Victoria, with a stop in Paris. The cheapest return journey leaving on Thursday takes 32 hours.

Travel expert Simon Calder is a frequent visitor to Bilbao – and typically pays £150-£200 for a return journey from London.

He told BBC Sport: “There are many other ways to reach Bilbao. In particular, Biarritz in France is well placed for fans who want to see something of the Basque region en route to Bilbao.

“There is a routing via Basel in Switzerland. From Biarritz airport you can walk to the city’s rail station in about 20 minutes, and board a train to the border town of Hendaye. From here a narrow-gauge railway runs to San Sebastian, from where there is another narrow-gauge train.

“Supporters who want to travel by train should be able to cover the ground for about £200 one way.

“From London St Pancras International on 20 May, the cheapest morning Eurostar train to Paris Nord is £110. After crossing the city to Paris Montparnasse, the lunchtime train to the Hendaye costs £75. From here, it’s those little trains once again.

The recommended route to San Mames is via public transport or walking.

There are several different transport methods to get to the stadium, including underground, train, tram or bus.

San Mames’ official website recommends walking, giving fans a ‘unique experience’ and taking in the sights.

San Mames is close to to the city centre. To get to the stadium, it is only a 20-minute walk or 9-18 minutes on public transport.

Hotel prices in the city centre range between £850 and £13,345. There are cheaper alternatives about a 35-minute drive away in towns such as Bakio, Bermeo and Mundaka.