The Michigan football team recently added former Charlotte head coach Biff Poggi to the 2025 coaching staff, and the Wolverines are expected to formally introduce him as the new associate head coach. Poggi was on the Michigan staff under Jim Harbaugh, and he was an associate head coach for the Wolverines then as well. Poggi […]
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BARRY FERGUSON set high standards as a Rangers player — but one manager didn’t quite understand.
Now that my old team-mate is caretaker boss at Ibrox, the current squad would be foolish to make the same mistake.
Paul le Guen was cut from the same cloth as Philippe Clement in that both men failed to learn and understand what was expected at the club.
Certainly not before it was too late.
In December 2006 the Frenchman took umbrage to what Barry had to say in the dressing room after we had just drawn 1-1 with Inverness Caley Thistle.
Le Guen had been praising the players for getting a point on the road. But our captain was having none of it — and he made his feelings known.
Within days of his outburst, Barry was being stripped of the captaincy and told he would never play for the club again.
Le Guen felt undermined and wanted to make an example of our best player.
A lot was going on at the club at the time. In many ways, it’s similar to what’s happening now in that results were nowhere near good enough — and the manager didn’t seem to get it.
Fans will remember, after I scored against Motherwell a few days later, I celebrated by holding up six fingers to the crowd.
It was my way of showing solidarity with my team-mate and captain.
Within days Le Guen was gone, Walter Smith was brought back, and everything changed overnight.
A manager was appointed who understood what was expected each and every time a Rangers team ran on to the park.
And that’s what they’ve now got again.
Barry may not have the top level experience that a lot of managers out there have — and there may be people surprised the club has decided to appoint him, even as an interim.
But they’re getting someone who gets it. Someone who knows what the club is all about.
And right now that’s a whole lot better than the guy who has just left the premises.
It’s not about lacing up the brown brogues and rocking up at Ibrox.
It’s about having a real appreciation of what’s demanded at a club of Rangers’ size.
Barry is a born winner who isn’t prepared to accept second best, regardless of who he’s up against.
I was there, in that dressing room, when he stood up for what he believed in 19 years ago. And I’d bet that if he was in that situation all over again he’d do exactly the same thing.
It wasn’t about him that day, it wasn’t about any individuals.
It was about the football club. It was about giving everything to represent the supporters who would have given their right arm to be wearing the jersey.
I’ve never been one to go along with the theory that Rangers simply need ‘Rangers men’ involved somewhere.
But at a time like this, Barry may just be precisely what’s required to give the place a lift.
Having guys like Neil McCann, Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor alongside him is an extension of that. They’ve all won trophies at the club.
They’ve all experienced good times, and bad, at Rangers so they will be going in with their eyes wide open.
I remember Greegsy around that same time, when le Guen was playing Lionel Letizi ahead of him, and it looked like he’d have to move on.
But he knuckled down and proved him wrong and went on to become one of the club’s greatest-ever goalkeepers.
Neil and Doddsy have been managers at clubs too, so they’ll be more than capable of coaching the squad out on the grass along with Barry who also has coaching experience, let’s not forget.
This an appointment that can only make things better — it certainly can’t get much worse.
I’ve been saying it for months that Clement should have be shown the door.
And while I genuinely take no satisfaction from anyone losing their job, he really only had himself to blame.
He should have been bulleted after losing to Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup, if not before.
But when supporters are walking out of Ibrox after watching the team go 1-0 down to St Mirren early in the second-half, the writing is most definitely on the wall.
The club has now bought itself some valuable time to look around, assess what is out there and make a more long-term managerial appointment.
The likelihood is that search will be done in conjunction with the takeover.
But I’ll tell you one thing — Barry may only have been asked to take the team until the end of the season, but there’s no way in the world he’ll be thinking this is just a short-term thing.
Trust me on this, I can guarantee he’ll be thinking this is the opportunity he’s been waiting for.
He’s maybe not been involved in management for a number of years but he’ll still have that desire burning inside.
And the prospect of being Rangers manager will excite him.
He’ll take things one step at a time, sure. But he’ll know that he’s the man in the box seat and if things go well he could land the job on a permanent basis.
That’s how he thinks.
He didn’t step aside for anyone as a player and he’ll want to make it’s as difficult as possible for Rangers to appoint someone else.
Whether that happens, only time will tell.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
A BLAZE has erupted at a home in Inverness.
Firefighters raced to Ord Terrace after the alarm was raised at around 6.44pm tonight.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) dispatched three appliances to the scene, and the fire has since been extinguished.
A police cordon has reportedly been put in place, sealing off the road.
It’s not yet known if anyone has been injured.
An SFRS spokesperson said: “We are still in attendance at Ord Terrace, Inverness.
“The fire has been extinguished.
“We mobilised three appliances.”
Police Scotland has been contacted for comment.
More to follow…
For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun.
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JJ CHALMERS and his cycling legend pal Sir Chris Hoy hope to land TV roles together at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – after captivating fans with their coverage of last summer’s Olympics.
Ex-Royal Marine JJ was part of the BBC’s presenting team in Paris, while determined Sir Chris critiqued performances just months after revealing he has prostate cancer.
Six-times Olympic gold medal winner Sir Chris, 48, later revealed his illness was terminal after spreading to his bones, and said he had two to four years left to live.
But that has not stopped him embracing sporting opportunities.
JJ, 38, says: “Chris and I are very good friends and I had a sense of the circumstances he’d been living through for quite a while.
“But Chris was so determined that he would make it to Paris. He kept saying that he wanted to be there. I’m so glad he made it as he did such an amazing job.”
Asked if they hope to work together again covering track cycling at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome when the Commonwealth Games returns to Glasgow next year, JJ adds: “Oh, God, yeah.
“We did the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow in 2023, but I’m delighted The Commonwealth Games are coming back. They are an amazing event.
“I adored the Birmingham Games. Chris worked at the (2014) Glasgow Games, but I wasn’t even in broadcasting the last time they were here, so that’ll be special.”
Edinburgh-born JJ — real name John-James — was seriously injured in a 2011 bomb blast in Helmand Province which killed two of his comrades.
He suffered a broken neck, crushed eye socket, shattered eardrum, a “mangled” elbow and lost two fingers.
But he rebuilt his life after more than 30 major operations and went on to win cycling medals at pal Prince Harry’s inaugural Invictus Games in 2014.
Incredibly, it was his devastating injuries that saw him fulfil a childhood ambition to become a TV presenter.
The married dad-of-two says: “I’d always wanted to get into TV but had no idea how.
“But when I did the Invictus Games, it involved being interviewed on telly.
“So my entry into the industry was providing an insight to competitions like the Paralympic Games.
“Now I’m seen as a presenter first and foremost, then a presenter with a disability after that.”
JJ became a true household name in 2020 when he made it to the quarter finals of Strictly Come Dancing with professional partner Amy Dowden.
And he believes the long-running BBC show still has a future, despite the bullying storm involving pro Giovanni Pernice and actress Amanda Abbington.
JJ says: “I’ve got no personal insight into those circumstances.
“But obviously, I’ve been through the Strictly process myself.
“It is a difficult process, it isn’t just a bit of fun. It’s a tough gig to do. I certainly felt it both physically and mentally, too, because of the social media battering you take.
“There’s a lot of noise when you’re on that show as everyone’s got an opinion. So you have to have a very thick skin to survive it.
“But when it actually starts running, it’s just a pure joy on a Saturday night. And you only had to watch this year’s 20th series to realise how much people still enjoyed it.”
JJ has pushed his body to its limits throughout his career and would love a shot at Celebrity Gladiators — though he reckons his surgeon would rule it out. He explains: “I’m in pain all the time, it’s just to what degree.
“My body is restricted by the level of pain I can endure.
“So, yeah, it stops me doing some stuff in life but, equally, I try not to let it stop me.
“It’s a choice. If I want to go out and exercise, whatever that might be, I’m going to pay for it later.
“Equally, exercise is good for my mental health, so you’ve got to strike that balance.”
He adds: “Gladiators is one of the few shows that you can sit down and watch with the whole family.
“In a world where everyone’s now watching their own thing, it has that ability to bring people together to sit down and watch together.
“I’d be so up for doing it, but my body would never be able to stand it. My surgeon would also immediately say no.”
Despite his own condition, JJ insists he has nothing but admiration for how Sir Chris handled his terminal cancer diagnosis, while his lawyer wife Sarra, 40, discovered she has incurable multiple sclerosis at the same time.
A PLACE In The Sun star Danni Menzies was JJ Chalmers’ “rival” when they were kids, he jokingly revealed.
The pair, inset, were at Strathallan School, Perth, together. Danni, 36, later became godmother to JJ’s son James, five.
JJ, who lives in Edinburgh with wife Kornelia and also has a daughter Hayley, eight, says: “I went to school with Danni.
“We used to have a pretty fierce rivalry in our design and technology class.
“But she’s now godmother to my son, so we’re as tight as they come.”
JJ says he would love to one day land a high-octane hosting gig with Danni.
He adds: “We have presented the Edinburgh Tattoo together, but we would love to do a wonderful adventure-type programme or something like that.
“Live telly especially is my happy place, which is a bit of a random thing because, let’s be honest, it’s about the most terrifying thing you can do in broadcasting – but I adore it.”
While JJ and Kornelia have been married since 2015, his mate Danni still does not appear to have found Mr Right.
He says: “Do you know what? She deserves the perfect man – and one day she’ll find him.”
JJ says: “Both Chris and his wonderful wife Sarra have been unbelievably stoic and unbelievably hopeful throughout all of it.
“And it’s because they’re doing everything they possibly can to take on this battle. Chris knows what it’s like to dig in, get on with something and live with hard circumstances as he’s done it all his life.”
Now JJ is excited by the prospect of reuniting with the most successful Olympic cyclist of all time on future projects.
He says: “When it comes to sport, I’m just an enthusiast. I’m not going to sit next to Chris Hoy and try to tell him anything about bikes or riding them. But I can get the information out of him for the viewer at home.
“Not that Chris needs much encouragement as just talking about cycling brings him sheer joy.
“In fact, it makes him happier than just about anything, so of course I’m looking forward to working with him again.”
THE first 750 schools in England to trial the government’s free breakfast clubs have been revealed.
Thousands of primary school children will get a free meal, whilst parents will receive at least 30 minutes of free childcare.
The full list of schools to take part in the pilot was released on Sunday.
Rachel Reeves announced the scheme in her Labour conference speech last year, giving the Education Secretary £7million to get it kick started.
Addressing the Liverpool conference last year, the Chancellor said: “I will judge my time in office a success if I know that at the end of it there are working-class kids from ordinary backgrounds who lead richer lives, their horizons expanded and have the chance to thrive.
“That starts by taking the first step to deliver on our manifesto commitment to introduce free breakfast clubs in every primary school across England.
“With funding set aside to begin running free breakfast clubs in up to 750 primary schools with primary aged pupils next year ahead of a national rollout that will follow.
“This is about investing in education so we can invest in our economy too.
“Investing in the next generation so we can proudly say that they have had a chance to do better than those which came before it.
“The work of change has begun. The British people put their trust in Labour – and we will repay that trust.”
Under the plan, every primary school child in England will be eligible for free breakfast clubs before class – paid for by imposing VAT on private schools.
Some 750 primary schools will receive the clubs funding from April ahead of a wider national rollout.
The scheme is expected to save parents up to £450 a year, with the pilot impacting around 180,000 children.
Phillipson told The Mirror at the weekend she hopes it will keep kids “fuelled up and ready to learn”.
Meanwhile, the pilot will allow the government to “test what works in different schools” across the country.
She said: “I promised free breakfast clubs to working families and I’m delivering.
“I know just how many families are struggling at the moment and this will make a really big difference to supporting children’s life chances.
“But I also grew up in a tough area, we didn’t have it easy. I know just how scarring the impact of poverty can be on children and this will make a big difference in tackling the unfair disadvantage that holds back too many of our children in too many of our communities.”
The Education Secretary is yet to announce an official date for the scheme’s national rollout.
She said this will depend on the passage of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill currently going through Parliament.
Here is a full list of schools that will trial the breakfast scheme.
THE Vamps’ Tristan Evans has married his fiancée Nikki Banner just three weeks after announcing their engagement.
The loved-up couple, who are expecting their first child, tied the knot at the weekend in a ceremony attended by his bandmates.
I’m A Celebrity star and guitarist James McVey shared pictures from the big day on Instagram and wrote: “A beautiful day full of love.”
The newlyweds looked over the moon at their nuptials with American Nikki wowing in a white off-the-shoulder bridal gown.
Drummer Tristan, 30, swapped his usual low-key indie style for a smart black suit with rock star detailing including a red rose on the lapel.
Roses also adorned their triple tiered wedding cake which oozed golden icing and was topped by giant rings.
The band rocked out at the after party with Tristan joining them behind the kit as the wedding party went wild on the dance floor.
It was only shortly after the couple announced their baby news in December that the couple shared their engagement with fans.
The American actress wrote: “Forever looks good on us.”
She then followed it with a single red heart emoji followed by a sparkling ring emoji.
Their pregnancy reveal saw actress Nikki share snaps of her scans to delighted fans.
Nikki wrote: “Growing our love story, one tiny heartbeat at a time.
“Baby Evans coming April 2025.”
The pair first went public with their relationship in May last year.
Prior to meeting Nikki, drummer Tristan had a short fling with OnlyFans and Celebs Go Dating star Lottie Moss.
Their relationship only lasted four months before they split and went their separate ways.
Before that Tristan was in a long term relationship with hair and makeup artist Anastasia Ings, before they split in 2018.
BARRY FERGUSON started SWEATING with excitement during his first interview as Ibrox boss as he prepared for his first day as Rangers manager.
The former treble-winning captain returned to Ibrox as interim boss after Philippe Clement was sacked on Sunday.
The Belgian’s backroom team of Stephan van der Heyden, Colin Stewart and Alex Rae were also axed – paving the way for an Ibrox reunion in Ferguson’s staff.
He brought back old team-mates Allan McGregor, Billy Dodds and Neil McCann to take the team until a permanent successor is found.
They kick-off as caretakers against Kilmarnock on Wednesday.
And Ferguson is relishing his chance at managing his boyhood heroes, after starring as player, captain and Hall of Famer.
He’s pledged to give fans ‘something new’ and insisted the “flat” squad needs confidence from his new-look coaching team.
He said: “It’s been a whirlwind 24 hours but I’m just happy to get it done, get my staff together and get into the training ground to get going.
“I’ve not been here in the training centre for a while and there have been changes.
“Training will be tough but enjoyable. It’ll be a certain standard which I would expect.
“It’s serious when it comes to 90 minutes, its all about winning at Rangers – that’s how I was brought up and that’s how I want my players to be.
“You have to win every game – the demands and expectations are put on you here to win games, and I don’t think we’ve won enough this year.
“It’s been inconsistent – look at Europe, come performances have been top class. Domestically – that’s your bread and butter, that’s what you have to win most weeks.
“There have been too many bumps in the road so it’s my job and my staff’s job to get a level of consistency from the players.
“They are a good group, they just look a bit flat at this moment in time but its our job as a staff to get that confidence back up.”
Ferguson admitted he didn’t think the call would EVER come – but he’s formed a coaching set-up until the end of the season with some ex-team-mates and Issame Charai.
He added: “If I’m honest I didn’t think it would ever come – I’ve been happy doing what Have been doing in the past few years since I came out of coaching as a club ambassador, I’ve enjoyed that role.
“When I was asked it was a job I couldnt turn down – albeit its only three months i know that.
“But its my job to get a kick out this group of players and when I’ve watched them there are really good players so its our job as a staff and mine as a manger to get the best out of them.
“I’m going to be the manager, I have brought in Billy Dodds and Neil McCann who have had previous experience as managers, I played with them and know their characters and know how good they are on the training pitch, and obviously Allan McGregor everyone knows what he did with the club.
“I’m excited with my staff – when I asked them I was unsure if I could get them but they were great and the first point was ‘desperate to come and work for you’ and thats what I want.
“I’ve spent a bit of time with Issame and we spoke about players and the way I want to take the teams forward.
“He will just need to obviously get used to a new coaching team coming in.
“But he’s eager and has a good work ethic about him and that’s important to me, so I’m looking forward to bringing him in with the staff.
“I played under some fantastic managers I learned so much off.
“But I’m my own guy, I have a certain way of playing and you’ll see it straight away and that’s what we’ll work on, on the training field.
“We only have one day preparation before Kilmarnock which is not ideal, but it is what it is.
“I’m not complaining. I’m in a fantastic position but you will see certain differences on Wednesday night.
“[Fans are] going to see a team with an attack-minded style of play and we’re going to try to win every single game.
“We’ll be aggressive – which was a part of my game as well. I don’t mean that in terms of tackling people or going over the top, i mean aggressive in the press.
“We just need to make sure we get it right.
“But when I look at the squad I do see a team that’s capable of winning games week in week out.
“I’m getting a bit sweaty here and ready to go, but every game we enter, we enter to win.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BEN WHITE has held talks with Thomas Tuchel over a potential England return.
The Arsenal right-back has not played for the Three Lions since March 2022 following an alleged falling out with former assistant Steve Holland at the Qatar World Cup.
Since then, White, 27, has ruled himself out of selection for the national team – missing the run to the Euro 2024 final in Germany under Gareth Southgate last summer.
But Tuchel – who officially began work as England boss on January 1 after his October 2024 appointment – has made contact with White to determine whether he should include him in next month’s World Cup qualifiers squad.
England face Albania on March 21 before taking on Latvia on March 24.
German coach Tuchel has spent the first seven weeks of his reign attending more than 20 live games across Europe and speaking to players in person or over video calls – including White.
Speaking at the 2026 World Cup draw back in December, Tuchel confirmed that he would reach out to White and that has now happened.
It is unknown what was said in the pair’s chat, as well as whether Arsenal would allow the player to join up with England having only just returned from a three-month lay-off after knee surgery.
But Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said back in March 2024: “As manager I want the best for him, personally and professionally, and he really needs to feel it.
“Hopefully he’s prepared to represent his country in the best way possible one day. That would be the best option for everybody. But that’s completely up to him.”
White would be competing with the likes of Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and Tino Livramento, but offers great versatility as a right-back, centre back and midfielder.
He has four caps, and made his senior debut on June 2, 2021 in a pre-Euros friendly against Austria. He was not included in the final squad before a late call-up for the injured Alexander-Arnold.
In England’s Qatar World Cup camp, White left early for “personal reasons” without making a single appearance – it later transpired it was down to a comment Holland made to him in front of the rest of the squad.
Upon returning to play for Arsenal, White was abused from stands in the Premier League with chants of: ‘You let your country down’.
Southgate – who resigned after the Euro 2024 final 2-1 defeat to Spain – later stressed it had nothing to do with the player’s relationship with Holland.
James Maddison is among those hoping for an England recall too, while Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner urged the new boss to hand Eberechi Eze a place in the squad.
Speaking after Saturday’s win over Fulham, Glasner said: “I have known him for a year now and he has a lot of potential. If he shows this then he has the potential to be a starter for England.
“In the last weeks and months, he’s had some struggles with injuries and it is now about supporting him to get back into his best shape.”
SWEET-toothed punters can grab a sharing tub full of tasty bites completely for free – provided they follow this guide.
It’s not too late to catch a complimentary tub of sweet treats from M&S worth up to £4 without spending a single penny.
Punters can go to their nearest M&S store and scan a gift code to take home any tub of bites they want, including the Double Chocolate Mini Bites, the Millionaires Mini Bites and more.
To be eligible for these free delicious treats, shoppers need to sign up to Prsnt.
Codes will then be released from 10am everyday, but only 4,000 are available per day on a first come first served basis.
Users therefore need to wake up nice and early to get in line so that they don’t miss out on the free nibbles.
To get the delectable snacks, shoppers also need to be an O2 Priority member in the UK aged 16 or above.
The rewards start coming today, February 24, and the deal will end on March 9.
To get the code, punters need to click “USE NOW” on Priority to reveal a unique code for M&S, and paste the code in the Prsnt app.
A £4 gift card for M&S will then be available to use with accounts – enough to purchase a nice tub of sweet treats.
There are about 100,000 codes available in total, and hungry redeemers will need to use their codes within 48 hours of getting them.
The easy voucher will be redeemable in all M&S stores in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Channel Islands including Simply Food & Moto service stations, but not in BP Connect or International stores.
The Boston Red Sox are expecting to contend for a playoff spot in the American League this season, and Alex Bregman is providing much excitement, but there is already a significant amount of injuries for Alex Cora’s team as of Monday. The Red Sox’s injury list includes catcher Connor Wong, outfielder Jarren Duran, infielder Romy […]
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