Fresh £20m Rangers investment approved

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The club’s new American owners have approved of their proposed investment of $ 20 million, with new chairman Andrew Cavenagh stating that they will stay at Ibrox “for the long haul.”

The four resolutions were approved by the shareholders at a special meeting in Glasgow with 98% support.

One of those was for Cavenagh and his consortium, which includes the San Francisco 49ers’ investment arm, to be permitted to enter the Scottish Premiership club with additional funds.

After the takeover was finished last month, Paraag Marathe, the chairman of Leeds United, was appointed as vice-chairman and Cavenagh became the club’s new chairman.

Cavenagh cited three factors in his decision to invest in Rangers: the “supporters’ passion,” the stadium, which he claimed “gives the team an advantage,” and the competitions they compete in, including the league, the cups, and Europe.

Rangers, who finished second last season, have won the Scottish Premiership once in 14 years under the control of rival city Celtic.

According to Cavenagh, the controlling group’s goal is “to put the club in a position to win the league, win cups, and be more competitive in Europe.”

He added that he and his fellow investors are concentrating on building the club rather than making any profit.

He said, “We have a growth plan but no exit strategy.” After growth, “We’ll figure out an exit strategy.”

Russell Martin, a former Southampton manager, soon became the squad’s head coach and Kevin Thelwell took over as Everton’s sporting director this summer.

When asked how the $ 20 million will be spent, Cavenagh responded, “We will be transparent wherever we can be, but we will be opaque elsewhere, and this is one.”

Martin’s first competitive game is scheduled to be against Panathinaikos in Champions League qualifying next month, with the Rangers squad arriving for pre-season on Monday.

Marathe, who also serves as a senior executive with the San Francisco 49ers, said he would manage Ibrox through a period of transition.

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Sounds familiar: Was this said about Iraq in 2003, or Iran in 2025?

“Today, we have the greater power to free a nation by breaking a dangerous and aggressive regime. With new tactics and precision weapons, we can achieve military objectives without directing violence against civilians.”

That may sound like something said yesterday, following US strikes on Iran.

But it wasn’t.

Those words were delivered by United States President George W Bush on board the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003, as he marked the end of major combat operations in Iraq.

George W Bush, as US president, gives a thumbs up as he declares the end of major combat in Iraq on board USS Abraham Lincoln, on May 1, 2003 [AP Photo]

Now, with Israel and the US engaged in an escalating conflict with Iran, world leaders are using language and rhetoric that sound all too familiar, drawing eerie comparisons to the lead-up to the Iraq war more than two decades ago.

Familiar warnings, similar justifications

Israel and the US have claimed their military strikes are aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran, for its part, insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and meant solely for civilian purposes.

For more than three decades, a familiar refrain has echoed from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Iran is on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. In 2002, he urged the US Congress to invade Iraq, claiming Baghdad was developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). He also claimed Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons. The US invaded Iraq in 2003, but no WMDs were found.

The latest surge in inflammatory rhetoric from American and Israeli officials goes beyond Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions and missile capabilities. Increasingly, it hints at the possibility of regime change, a direction the US has a long and controversial history of pursuing in the region.

History repeating?

The war led by the US and its “coalition of the willing” left Iraq in ruins, with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed, about 4,500 American soldiers dead, and the country destabilised by deepening sectarian conflict.

Looking back, the rhetoric that paved the way for that invasion seems unsettlingly familiar. The US, along with the United Kingdom, tried to convince the world that Iraq had WMDs as the war progressed.

Celtic legend Clark dies aged 84

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Lisbon Lion John Clark, 84, passed away in the company of Celtic in tribute to him.

Clark won four league titles and numerous other notable awards while playing for the club in more than 300 games.

His greatest achievement, however, came in 1967 when Celtic defeated Inter Milan to become the first British team to win the European Cup.

“Greatness” is a word that people use, but for John Clark, it is a very fitting tribute,” said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

John’s contribution to our greatest day ever will be remembered forever in Celtic’s proud history.

After his professional playing days, Clark returned to the club to work in the youth organization. He made his Celtic debut in 1959.

In the 1966- 1966 season, he first worked for Aberdeen and then Celtic as Billy McNeil’s defensive partner before becoming assistant.

He also oversaw Cowdenbeath, Stranraer, and Clyde, but he once more returned to Celtic and spent almost 20 years as a kit man.

He spent more than four decades with the club.

“I know that John’s continued presence at Celtic for so many decades, which included myself,” Rodriguez said.

It has been a great privilege for everyone to have him join us as a member of the club for so long. We were so moved by it. John has made a significant contribution to the club thanks to his wisdom, knowledge, and genuine love for Celtic.

Clark was described as a “very dear friend and colleague,” according to Peter Lawwell, chairman of Celtic.

John, along with his great team mates, did so with such grace and humility, as Lawwell noted, “he was actually a hero to me and so many others.”

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  • Scottish Football
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Celtic legend Clark dies aged 84

SNS

Lisbon Lion John Clark, 84, passed away in the company of Celtic in tribute to him.

Clark won four league titles and numerous other notable awards while playing for the club in more than 300 games.

His greatest achievement, however, came in 1967 when Celtic defeated Inter Milan to become the first British team to win the European Cup.

“Greatness” is a word that people use, but for John Clark, it is a very fitting tribute,” said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

John’s contribution to our greatest day ever will be remembered forever in Celtic’s proud history.

After his professional playing days, Clark returned to the club to work in the youth organization. He made his Celtic debut in 1959.

In the 1966- 1966 season, he first worked for Aberdeen and then Celtic as Billy McNeil’s defensive partner before becoming assistant.

He also oversaw Cowdenbeath, Stranraer, and Clyde, but he once more returned to Celtic and spent almost 20 years as a kit man.

He spent more than four decades with the club.

“I know that John’s continued presence at Celtic for so many decades, which included myself,” Rodriguez said.

It has been a great privilege for everyone to have him join us as a member of the club for so long. We were so moved by it. John has made a significant contribution to the club thanks to his wisdom, knowledge, and genuine love for Celtic.

Clark was described as a “very dear friend and colleague,” according to Peter Lawwell, chairman of Celtic.

John, along with his great team mates, did so with such grace and humility, as Lawwell noted, “he was actually a hero to me and so many others.”

related subjects

  • Celtic
  • Scottish Football
  • Football

Celtic ‘giant’ & Lisbon Lion Clark dies aged 84

SNS

Lisbon Lion John Clark, 84, passed away in the company of Celtic in tribute to him.

Clark won four league titles and numerous other notable awards while playing for the club in more than 300 games.

His greatest achievement, however, came in 1967 when Celtic defeated Inter Milan to become the first British team to win the European Cup.

“Greatness” is a word that people use, but for John Clark, it is a very fitting tribute,” said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

John’s contribution to our greatest day ever will be remembered forever in Celtic’s proud history.

After his professional playing days, Clark returned to the club to work in the youth organization. He made his Celtic debut in 1959.

In the 1966- 1966 season, he first worked for Aberdeen and then Celtic as Billy McNeil’s defensive partner before becoming assistant.

He also oversaw Cowdenbeath, Stranraer, and Clyde, but he once more returned to Celtic and spent almost 20 years as a kit man.

He spent more than four decades with the club.

“I know that John’s continued presence at Celtic for so many decades, which included myself,” Rodriguez said.

It has been a great privilege for everyone to have him join us as a member of the club for so long. We were so moved by it. John has made a significant contribution to the club thanks to his wisdom, knowledge, and genuine love for Celtic.

Clark was described as a “very dear friend and colleague,” according to Peter Lawwell, chairman of Celtic.

John, along with his great team mates, did so with such grace and humility, as Lawwell noted, “he was actually a hero to me and so many others.”

related subjects

  • Celtic
  • Scottish Football
  • Football

McIlroy taking ‘positive vibes’ into pre-Open break

Images courtesy of Getty

Rory McIlroy says he’s “excited” to take a break before the Royal Portrush Open Championship in July.

The 36-year-old did well over the weekend to place in a tie for sixth place in the Travelers Championship, but he won’t play until the Scottish Open on July 10 or 13, a week before Portrush’s final significant return.

After winning the Masters and winning his first career Grand Slam in April, the world number two from Northern Ireland feels he did not take enough time out of the sport.

After winning the emotional match at Augusta and the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, McIlroy and Shane Lowry tied for seventh place in the Zurich Classic, and he and he were back in action just 10 days later.

At the US PGA Championship and US Open, he then cut a frustrated figure.

It will just be better for me mentally to take a little break and return to my neck of the woods, he said, “more so than anything else.”

I’m excited for that, and I’ve already mentioned that I probably haven’t had enough time to reflect on what transpired in April.

McIlroy shot a better round than his 65 on Sunday, while McIlroy’s winner, Keegan Bradley, shot a better round than McIlroy’s, who finished three shots back of him for sixth place overall.

It was a good way to wrap up the week, McIlroy said, “kind of good, positive vibes going into a couple of weeks’ break here to get ready for Scotland and The Open.”

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