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      Neil Warnock takes first job outside England as he makes stunning return to management at 75

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      NEIL WARNOCK has been named the new manager of Aberdeen.The 75-year-old has been out of work since leaving Huddersfield earlier this season.
      Neil Warnock has been appointed Aberdeen’s new managerCredit: Aberdeen FC
      Warnock has managed nearly 2000 games during his storied career
      But now he has moved north of the border to join the Scottish Premiership side.
      Speaking about the appointment, Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack said: “From the moment we first spoke with Neil his enthusiasm for managing Aberdeen was infectious.
      “He has had an incredible career in management, not only in terms of volume of games and winning promotions, but also of coming into clubs at short notice and making an immediate impact.
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      “We look forward to Neil, Ronnie and the team pushing hard in the remaining four months of the campaign as we still have a huge amount to play for both in the SPFL Premiership and the Scottish Cup.”
      Warnock’s first game is set to come on Tuesday night when Aberdeen travel to Rangers.
      The Scottish outfit sit just one point adrift of the top six ahead of their trip to Ibrox.
      They are also into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup where they will play Bonnyrigg Rose on Saturday.
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      Warnock’s last job came at Huddersfield where he helped them survive relegation, before he departed in September.
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      Best Neil Warnock quotesHere are some of the most memorable Neil Warnock quotes:
      “I don’t think we’ve got a discipline problem. It’s the players who are thick who are causing the problems.”
      “Matches don’t come any bigger than FA Cup quarter-finals.”
      “When I pass away, I don’t want clapping or a minutes silence. I want a minute’s booing at Bristol City.”
      “The money players are on these days is immoral, but you can’t knock it.”
      “My wife will be glad about Mourinho coming to Bramall Lane because he’s a good looking swine, isn’t he?”
      “I remember the day when they sold Brian Deane and Jan Aage Fjortoft. It was like when President Kennedy got shot.”
      “Forget the boring Premiership; this was a cracking advertisement for the Championship.”
      “For many years I have thought he (El Hadji Diouf) was the gutter type – I was going to call him a sewer rat, but that might be insulting to sewer rats.”

      A number of names had been linked with the Aberdeen job, including ex-Celtic boss Neil Lennon.
      Former Sunderland and Stokes manager Alex Neil was another named mooted.
      What next for Jose Mourinho? Dave Kidd takes a look at The Special One’s options
      But perhaps the most left-field candidate in the frame was ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere.
      The 32-year-old, who took over as Arsenal U18s head coach in July 2022, is understood to have applied for the position.
      But Aberdeen wanted someone with more experience – and there are few more seasoned than Warnock as he approaches 2000 games in management. More

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      Premier League legend Neil Warnock set for shock return to management and could be in place for huge clash on Tuesday

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      ABERDEEN are set to name Neil Warnock as their new manager until the end of the season, according to reports.The Scottish Premiership side sacked Barry Robson earlier this week with the team languishing in eighth in the league.
      Neil Warnock looks set to take over as Aberdeen bossCredit: Getty
      Warnock has enjoyed incredible longevity as a manager
      Without a permanent head coach, they earned a 1-1 draw with champions Celtic on Saturday.
      But now, according to BBC Sport, Warnock is preparing to take charge for the remainder of the campaign.
      And he could be in place for Aberdeen’s clash with Rangers on Tuesday.
      The Scottish outfit sit just one point adrift of the top six ahead of their trip to Ibrox.
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      They are also into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup where they will play Bonnyrigg Rose on Saturday.
      Warnock’s last job came at Huddersfield where he helped them survive relegation, before he departed in September.
      A number of names had been linked with the Aberdeen job, including ex-Celtic boss Neil Lennon.
      Former Sunderland and Stokes manager Alex Neil was another named mooted.
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      But perhaps the most left-field candidate in the frame was ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere.
      The 32-year-old, who took over as Arsenal U18s head coach in July 2022, is understood to have applied for the position.
      But Aberdeen wanted someone with more experience – and they are now set to appoint Warnock, who is closing in on 2000 games in management. More

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      Aberdeen considering shock move for veteran manager to replace sacked Barry Robson in Pittodrie hotseat

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      ABERDEEN could make a shock move for legendary veteran boss Neil Warnock. SunSport understands the Dons board are considering whether to now turn to someone who can take control until the summer after sacking Barry Robson. 
      Dave Cormack, AberdeenCredit: Willie Vass
      Neil Warnock could be in the frame for Aberdeen jobCredit: Getty
      And should they go down that road, it would bring Warnock, 75, firmly into the frame. 
      The Englishman is out of work following his departure from Huddersfield in September but this week announced he’s ready to get back into the dugout again if the right opportunity arises. 
      Robson paid the price for poor results around Aberdeen’s European campaign, with his side trailing third-placed Hearts by eighteen points. 
      And they have failed to pick up since the winter break, losing to the Jambos and drawing with both St Johnstone and Dundee. 

      Warnock has long made his desire to work in Scottish football clear and has a home north of the border. 
      Despite his advancing years, he remains hungry to stay in football. 
      The massively experienced gaffer has a reputation as a firefighter and has been called in by several clubs over the years to steady the ship. 
      Aberdeen have placed coaches Peter Leven and Scott Anderson in charge for this weekend’s clash with Celtic while they plot out a plan for the future. 
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      But the experience of last season, where Robson won the gig on the back of a caretaker campaign while chairman Dave Cormack and CEO Alan Burrows searched for a long-term appointment, has them considering a high-profile stop-gap.
      Robson’s record as boss
      Bringing in someone with a wealth of experience until May would let them make a serious attempt to save the season, while also buying valuable time to sift through candidates. 
      Cormack is now looking for his FIFTH manager since taking over in November 2019, having dispensed with Derek McInnes, Stephen Glass, Jim Goodwin and now Robson. 
      So the Atlanta-based businessman knows he must get this appointment right and that could mean waiting until the summer for the right candidate to be available.

      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page  More

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      I was a pro football star who won major trophy & qualified for Europa League – but I gave it all up to become a LAWYER

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      A PRO football star who won a major trophy and qualified for the Europa League has told how he gave it all up to become a lawyer.Scott Stevenson was a junior player for St Johnstone when the Perth side won the Scottish Cup in 2014.
      Scott Stevenson pictured in Linlithgow kit
      The former St Johnstone star is now a lawyerCredit: SWNS
      The Saints beat Tayside rivals Dundee United 2-0 at Celtic Park to win a place in qualifying for the 2014-2015 Europa League.
      St Johnstone beat Swiss side FC Luzern on penalties before losing out to Slovakia’s Spartak Trnava in the third qualifying round.
      Just months later, Scott gave up full-time professional football for a drastic career change.
      He said: “I played professionally for St Johnstone for two years until they won the Scottish Cup in 2014.
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      “I have since played part-time while pursuing my legal career for clubs such as Albion Rovers, Stirling Albion, East Kilbride, Linlithgow Rose and Gartcairn.”
      Scott is now urging young players to think of plan-B careers if their football dreams do not go to plan.
      He said: “These are tough decisions for a young person with a head full of stardust to make.
      “But they are decisions which could shape their future, for good or ill.
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      ”Footballing stardom is the ultimate prize. But there are things I wish I’d thought about before I signed my first professional contract.”
      Scott added: “The day a young footballer signs his first professional contract is an unforgettable occasion.
      “It vindicates the long car journeys to games, the cold hours on the touchline for parents and the relentless honing of the young hopeful’s unique skills.
      “But in the euphoria surrounding it, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that it is a binding document.
      “Great care should be taken to ensure that the terms and conditions within it are in the youngster’s best interests.
      “The ideal contract duration at this stage in a career would be two to three years.
      “It is enough time to create some job security and to develop within the team, but also short enough to allow for a different career path if things do not go according to plan.
      “The footballing life is notoriously short-term and young people may come round to the view that university or an apprenticeship might be better for their long-term prospects.”
      It comes after a Newcastle United cult hero who starred at the World Cup revealed why switched careers to become a greengrocer. More

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      Ex-Rangers star Ryan Kent to have contract Fenerbahce ‘FROZEN’ because he’s refusing to leave club

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      FENERBAHCE have reportedly frozen Ryan Kent’s contract after the winger rejected several transfer offers this month.The ex-Rangers star could now stay in Istanbul but with no wages in a shock twist, despite many reports linking him with several clubs.
      There’s been a huge update regarding Ryan Kent’s future in TurkeyCredit: Getty
      He could now stay in Europe for the rest of the seasonCredit: Getty
      Kent, 27, has been linked with English Championship clubs Cardiff City and Hull City, while there was also talk over a move to Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb.
      It was also claimed that Kent had agreed terms with former boss Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq after a fee of £3.4million was tabled.
      However, those links have since led to nothing and Kent remains out-of-favour in Turkey after starting just one league game all season.
      He hasn’t featured since November after being frozen out of the squad – and now his wages have too.

      That’s according to TRT Sports – who claim Fenerbahce have taken action after Kent rejected several offers this month, despite the club accepting the bids.
      It’s a bizarre turn of events as it was suggested last month that the wideman had asked to leave the Turkish giants just days before the window opened.
      Kent has started eight games for Fenerbahce since his free transfer switch in June.
      He spent five years at Ibrox – one season on loan – and was a fan favourite in Govan, helping the Gers win the Premiership title in 2020/21 and reach the Europa League final the following year.
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      But Fenerbahce fans don’t rate him as highly in Turkey.
      And it all went from bad to worse when the Istanbul outfit crashed to a devastating 6-1 loss to FC Nordsjaelland in November, their heaviest defeat in 31 YEARS.
      Some branded him the worst footballer they have ever seen following his flop performance and that was his last outing in a yellow and blue shirt.
      He has been on the bench on a couple of occasions but he has well and truly fallen out of favour under manager İsmail Kartal.

      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page  More

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      Abandoned stadium that shares unique link to Rangers’ ex-chairman and a by-election is now home to Sainsbury’s

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      FOR a generation of modern day football fans, Douglas Park is a Rangers director and former chairman.A wealthy motor trade businessman with a fleet of luxury coaches used by clubs around the country, and various car dealerships selling the latest models on four wheels.
      Douglas Park, home of Hamilton Accies from 1888 until 1994Credit: Scottish News and Sport
      This is also Douglas Park – of Rangers and motor trade fameCredit: SNS
      This is NEW Douglas Park formerly known as Ballast Park – opened in 2001Credit: Scottish News and Sport
      But some of those very cars now park up on the Scottish football site that once shared the same name – right in the middle of Hamilton.
      New Douglas Park is home to Hamilton Accies, and has been since 2001.
      Before then, ‘old’ Douglas Park – the original – was where the Accies played, but it’s now a car park serving shoppers, right next door.
      Meet the new ground, same as the old ground? Just about in geography terms, but very different in reality. It was called Ballast Park in its’ infancy and only has two stands for a start.

      In 1994 the club sold off their ground for £6m to a retail park after 108 years there. Developers built Sainsbury’s, McDonalds and a bingo hall on the site.
      Via ground sharing agreements at Firhill in Glasgow and Cliftonhill, Coatbridge throughout the 90s, Hamilton eventually moved back to where it all began and made a VERY short move north.
      Their new ground – now named just like so – borders their old one at the back of the supermarket – and from the former pitch turned car park you can see the floodlights of the current stadium quite clearly from the penalty box of old one.
      You can hear the cheers, moans and groans of fans on a busy matchday too – although not legendary fan ‘Fergie’.
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      Real name Ian Russell, he honed an infamous reputation for his barracking from the stands – and everyone was a target.
      He became a figure of Scottish football folklore for his loud heckles and language known throughout the country amongst fans and players alike.
      Accies tried to silence him by banning him during their travelling time and Russell ended up in court on a breach of the peace charge and fined £100.
      He said: “When the team is doing badly I can’t control my mouth. If the Accies were doing better, I wouldn’t have to swear.”
      The notorious Accies fan died in 2009, aged 71, with his beloved team in the top flight.
      A huge council car park nearby used to serve the old ground and is still used by buses and supporters’ cars now, but with John Rankin’s team in League One packed Premiership-style attendances have been few and far between recently.
      But fans truly made a noise during the nomadic days with Hamilton re-located for seven years while the new base was built.
      It even became a political campaign in 1999 when an independent by-election candidate Stephen Mungall stood on the promise to bring the club back to town – and picked up more than 1,000 votes.
      The supermarket can be seen taking shape behind goalscorer Marc CorcoranCredit: John Kirkby – The Sun Glasgow
      The Douglas Park pitch is now parking baysCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
      Famously outspoken Accies fan Fergie (real name Ian Russell)Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The primary school teacher picked up more votes than the club had ‘home’ supporters at the time.
      But now chasing promotion back to the Championship – though 11 points off League One leaders Falkirk, those bigger away crowds could soon be back in south Lanarkshire.
      But only if plastic pitches are allowed in at that stage. There is talk synthetic surfaces must be replaced by grass in the top division in future and Accies have used TigerTurf and various other plastic alternatives for the last 10 years at the 23-year-old ground.
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      To a generation of supporters its’ where Accies have always been, tucked behind Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, but the ghosts of the past are just a mishit shot at goal and a few parking bays away.
      Hamilton fans queue up for the first game at the new ground – a friendly vs Sunderland on July 28, 2001Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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      Former Celtic star Stuart Gray dies aged 50 after agonising cancer fight as Hoops stars to pay tribute vs Ross County

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      FORMER Celtic star Stuart Gray has passed away at the age of 50 following a cancer battle, the club has confirmed. The son of Scotland and Leeds hero Eddie, Gray came through the ranks at Parkhead, spending six years at the Hoops in which he made 28 appearances.
      Stuart Gray made 28 appearances for CelticCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Stuart Gray in action for CelticCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The club paid tribute to their former midfielder – who was recently diagnosed with stage four cholangiocarcinoma – a cancer that forms in the bile ducts.
      The Hoops wrote: “Everyone at #CelticFC is deeply saddened by the news that former Celt, Stuart Gray has passed away after illness at the age of 50.
      “The Celtic players will wear black armbands in tribute to Stuart at today’s game against Ross County. Rest in Peace Stuart, YNWA”
      After loan spells at Bournemouth and Morton, the Scotland Under-21 cap then joined Tommy Burns at Reading.

      A talented left sided player, Gray’s career continued south of the border with spells at Rushden and Diamonds, Oxford Utd, Fleetwood Town and Guiseley.
      Former teammate Craig Burley wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Thoughts & condolences to Eddie Gray & family after the loss of his son and my former teammate Stuart Gray. RIP Stuart.”
      So too did Simon Donnelly, an old contemporary and pal from the Parkhead youth ranks, telling Celtic TV: “A really sad day. Terribly sad, Stuart was one of my first mates at the club, when I came here in 1992.
      “Fantastic player. It’s fantastic to see the fans to a man there standing to pay tribute to him.”
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      Gray was told that by the time this cancer begins to show symptoms, it is usually too advanced for surgery, which is currently the only known cure – with the situation complicated by the fact he was also suffering from a chronic liver disease.
      Fans and well wishers had raised £50,000 to help with his treatment via a GoFundMe page set up by his brother Nick.
      While some of the treatments for Stuart’s illness are widely available on the NHS, some of the newer and more experimental treatments are less readily available and very costly. 
      How Celtic broke the news
      Gray in action for the Scotland Under-21s
      Stuart Gray had raised almost £50k for his own treatment
      Stuart Gray plays for Morton
      He said recently how thankful he was for all the support, writing: “To all the people who have donated and sent messages and good wishes, I want to say how deeply thankful I am to each and every one of you. It means the world to me and my family to see the support we have. Love Stuart x”
      “Unfortunately, time is not on my side, and to wait for approval of these various experimental treatments, and then for the treatments to be administered by the NHS, will likely take years.
      “Accessing these drugs and treatments privately is costly and can be difficult. 
      “My family and I will be posting regular updates along the way and will be partaking in various fundraising efforts to help pay for any treatment that may be needed in the coming months and, God willing, years. 
      “Any help or support you can offer during this process would be appreciated more than you will ever know.” 
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      Celtic legend Scott Brown ‘approached’ by English club amid Ayr Utd manager interest

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      CELTIC legend Scott Brown appears to be a man in demand as he looks to resume his managerial career.With Ayr United reportedly considering Broony as the man they want as their new boss, an English club have now entered the fray.
      Brown could reportedly be offered a route back to English footballCredit: Reuters
      Scottish Championship outfit Ayr sacked Lee Bullen last week, and Brown has emerged as one of several contenders for the job.
      The former Scotland skipper immediately became the bookmakers’ favourite for the Somerset Park gig while a report claimed Ayr were “keen” to make him their next manager.
      Brown, 38, was axed by Fleetwood Town back in September.
      It was his first managerial role, and the spell came to an end after 16 months in charge.

      But according to the Daily Record, the opportunity for Brown to return to English football could be on the horizon.
      They claim that Forest Green Rovers have “made an approach” to Brown as they look to replace Troy Deeney.
      Watford legend Deeney was sacked after just 29 days in charge and the EFL League Two outfit are looking for yet another manager.
      Including caretakers, they’ve had four different managers since sacking Ian Burchnall almost exactly a year ago.
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      One of those, of course, was ex-Rangers star Duncan Ferguson who’s now back in Scotland in charge of Inverness CT.
      Forest Green find themselves in trouble at the bottom end of League Two.
      They sit second bottom on 19 points, and are six points adrift of safety.

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