Sproule scores stunner

Bristol City 2 – 1 Southampton

“Sproule collected the ball on the halfway line; ran, ran and ran some more before cutting inside and drilling beyond Kelvin Davies’ diving body with a sweet left-foot shot.”
http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10327~37678,00.html

Since the last update

Bristol City completed the signing of Ivan Sproule

Ivan signed a 3-year contract
Aaron Hughes moved to Fulham

“I’ve worked with the Manager before with Northern Ireland and I know that when he goes about a job he’s fully committed to it,” Hughes said. “I knew where he wanted to take Northern Ireland, he was successful and he’s got the same ambition with Fulham.
“Possibly the perception is that Fulham is a nice little London club, but when you get down here and have a look around, you realise that it’s bigger than many people think, which impressed me a lot. I always knew that Fulham was a good club and all things considered, it was a perfect move for me,” he said. “As far as move down here is concerned, I’m quite excited about living in the area and I think it will be a really good Club to play my football at and do well at.
“There is certainly a lot of potential; I know there are a lot of good players here already and hopefully we can fulfil that potential. I know how the Manager thinks and the way he wants Fulham to go. I’d like to be around here as long as I can and do really well. I’ll give everything every game and hopefully that will be enough. I hope to fit in and be part of a good team because, like I say, there are good players here already.”
LS: ‘I am delighted that we have been able to bring Aaron to Fulham. As my Captain whilst I was Manager at Northern Ireland, I saw his obvious leadership skills and his qualities as a player which are widely recognised, so I’m delighted that he becomes my first signing of the summer. He’ll bring some much needed depth to the squad and a level of commitment and tenacity that forms an integral part of my philosophy for next season’s campaign.’
And Lorry also completed the £4M signing of Steve Davis

‘I am pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement between the two clubs to enable me to play for Fulham next season. It was decision that took a lot of consideration as I have been at Aston Villa throughout my playing career, so leaving was not an easy choice to make. However, I discussed the move with the Manager and we talked about his plans here, which really impressed me, so although it’s sad to be leaving Villa, I know this is the right decision for me and my future.’
LS: ‘I am delighted that we have been able to bring Steven to Fulham. He is a young and exciting player and one whose signature reaffirms my ambitions for this Club. I made him the youngest player to Captain Northern Ireland with good reason – his commitment, passion and enthusiasm for the game are hard to rival, and I know that he will bring real quality to our squad. It was a slow start to the window for us, but now we’ve begun to add some new faces which is good for everyone here so I’m looking forward to some hard work on the training pitch and, of course, to the start of the season.’
Royston signed a 1-year deal at Rangers after being released by West Ham

Finally, Sunderland have had a £3M offer for Baird accepted by Southampton.

Since the last update

Bristol City completed the signing of Ivan Sproule

Ivan signed a 3-year contract
Aaron Hughes moved to Fulham

“I’ve worked with the Manager before with Northern Ireland and I know that when he goes about a job he’s fully committed to it,” Hughes said. “I knew where he wanted to take Northern Ireland, he was successful and he’s got the same ambition with Fulham.
“Possibly the perception is that Fulham is a nice little London club, but when you get down here and have a look around, you realise that it’s bigger than many people think, which impressed me a lot. I always knew that Fulham was a good club and all things considered, it was a perfect move for me,” he said. “As far as move down here is concerned, I’m quite excited about living in the area and I think it will be a really good Club to play my football at and do well at.
“There is certainly a lot of potential; I know there are a lot of good players here already and hopefully we can fulfil that potential. I know how the Manager thinks and the way he wants Fulham to go. I’d like to be around here as long as I can and do really well. I’ll give everything every game and hopefully that will be enough. I hope to fit in and be part of a good team because, like I say, there are good players here already.”
LS: ‘I am delighted that we have been able to bring Aaron to Fulham. As my Captain whilst I was Manager at Northern Ireland, I saw his obvious leadership skills and his qualities as a player which are widely recognised, so I’m delighted that he becomes my first signing of the summer. He’ll bring some much needed depth to the squad and a level of commitment and tenacity that forms an integral part of my philosophy for next season’s campaign.’
And Lorry also completed the £4M signing of Steve Davis

‘I am pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement between the two clubs to enable me to play for Fulham next season. It was decision that took a lot of consideration as I have been at Aston Villa throughout my playing career, so leaving was not an easy choice to make. However, I discussed the move with the Manager and we talked about his plans here, which really impressed me, so although it’s sad to be leaving Villa, I know this is the right decision for me and my future.’
LS: ‘I am delighted that we have been able to bring Steven to Fulham. He is a young and exciting player and one whose signature reaffirms my ambitions for this Club. I made him the youngest player to Captain Northern Ireland with good reason – his commitment, passion and enthusiasm for the game are hard to rival, and I know that he will bring real quality to our squad. It was a slow start to the window for us, but now we’ve begun to add some new faces which is good for everyone here so I’m looking forward to some hard work on the training pitch and, of course, to the start of the season.’
Royston signed a 1-year deal at Rangers after being released by West Ham

Finally, Sunderland have had a £3M offer for Baird accepted by Southampton.

Sproule on route to Bristol

The BBC are reporting that Ivan Sproule is on the verge of joining Championship newcomers Bristol City for a ‘substantial’ fee.

Sproule feels victimised as Scottish refs endanger his NI career

Ivan Sproule, sent off for the 3rd time this season on Saturday, has hinted that he may leave Hibs as he feels he is being victimised by Scottish referees, and that the bans he’s getting from being sent off could jeopardise his international career. He told the Daily Record:
“I love Scotland and I really love playing for Hibs because they have been first class to me. But if things keep going the way they have been then I can’t see myself staying in Scotland for much longer. I definitely wouldn’t want to sign for another club in this country.”
Dougal also sent Sproule off during the 4-0 Edinburgh derby defeat to Hearts in April 2005 and the winger believes it’s become personal.
Sproule added: “It’s disappointing and my reputation got in the way of his decision on Saturday. It was a tackle that deserved, at worst, a yellow card. I have had time to think about it these last three days and it was one of those occasions where the referee just jumps on the bandwagon. He has sent me off before and I am sure that wasn’t for a bad tackle either. I just can’t understand it but it’s the kind of thing that will maybe force me out of Scotland.
“At the minute I am really annoyed and down about it. I would hate to leave Easter Road because the club have been fantastic to me. I have another two years on my contract but if things keep going the way they have been going, then I’ll have no choice.
“This time I feel I’ve been victimised because I don’t think anybody else on the park making the same challenge would have got the same result. That’s probably because it was just me and every single one of my team-mates came into the changing room and said that on Saturday.”

Sproule was genuinely shaken up as he claimed Saturday’s incident has wrecked his season and could do the same for his international career.
He said: “I’ve already missed four games this season and getting another ban could end up wrecking my international career. That’s what’s really getting to me at the minute. I’ve got international games coming up and it is something the manager is going to look at. I could be out for quite some time so it’s going to affect me in a lot of different ways.”
Sproule may have had the backing of all of his team-mates but he feels let down by the comments made by his manager after the game.
John Collins felt the challenge warranted a caution but then went on to say the player needs to “screw the nut”. Sproule added: “The gaffer hasn’t spoken much to me and that is entirely up to him. “All my team-mates have backed me. They have been fantastic and we are a close-knit team. “But the gaffer came out and said things in the press about tightening the nut, and comments like that are a bit unjust. I am not going to go on about personal issues and I have great respect for John Collins. He was a first-class player and is doing a great job as a manager but I seem to always get the rough justice. It’s really affecting me at the minute.”
Sproule has enjoyed a great season but he feels he has had one knock too many. He said: “I have a reputation for getting sent off and sometimes you have to be man enough to say when you are in the wrong. Maybe on one or two occasions I have deserved punishment but it’s got to the point now that it is hard to take on the chin. You think you should get a yellow card and the next minute you are fired the red. But if I get hit with another ban it is really going to have a big effect on what I decide to do between now and the summer. There are only so many times you can keep picking yourself up and dusting yourself down. My reputation seems to go before me. I put my hands up when I have done something wrong and I always have done because I am an honest lad. But we have the CIS Cup final and Scottish Cup quarter-final coming up and missing all these league games is going to affect my form. I don’t mind having a reputation for being somebody that is committed or someone that gives 100 per cent. But if you are somebody who keeps picking up red cards for nothing it puts areal dampener on your season.”

Sproule feels victimised as Scottish refs endanger his NI career

Ivan Sproule, sent off for the 3rd time this season on Saturday, has hinted that he may leave Hibs as he feels he is being victimised by Scottish referees, and that the bans he’s getting from being sent off could jeopardise his international career. He told the Daily Record:
“I love Scotland and I really love playing for Hibs because they have been first class to me. But if things keep going the way they have been then I can’t see myself staying in Scotland for much longer. I definitely wouldn’t want to sign for another club in this country.”
Dougal also sent Sproule off during the 4-0 Edinburgh derby defeat to Hearts in April 2005 and the winger believes it’s become personal.
Sproule added: “It’s disappointing and my reputation got in the way of his decision on Saturday. It was a tackle that deserved, at worst, a yellow card. I have had time to think about it these last three days and it was one of those occasions where the referee just jumps on the bandwagon. He has sent me off before and I am sure that wasn’t for a bad tackle either. I just can’t understand it but it’s the kind of thing that will maybe force me out of Scotland.
“At the minute I am really annoyed and down about it. I would hate to leave Easter Road because the club have been fantastic to me. I have another two years on my contract but if things keep going the way they have been going, then I’ll have no choice.
“This time I feel I’ve been victimised because I don’t think anybody else on the park making the same challenge would have got the same result. That’s probably because it was just me and every single one of my team-mates came into the changing room and said that on Saturday.”

Sproule was genuinely shaken up as he claimed Saturday’s incident has wrecked his season and could do the same for his international career.
He said: “I’ve already missed four games this season and getting another ban could end up wrecking my international career. That’s what’s really getting to me at the minute. I’ve got international games coming up and it is something the manager is going to look at. I could be out for quite some time so it’s going to affect me in a lot of different ways.”
Sproule may have had the backing of all of his team-mates but he feels let down by the comments made by his manager after the game.
John Collins felt the challenge warranted a caution but then went on to say the player needs to “screw the nut”. Sproule added: “The gaffer hasn’t spoken much to me and that is entirely up to him. “All my team-mates have backed me. They have been fantastic and we are a close-knit team. “But the gaffer came out and said things in the press about tightening the nut, and comments like that are a bit unjust. I am not going to go on about personal issues and I have great respect for John Collins. He was a first-class player and is doing a great job as a manager but I seem to always get the rough justice. It’s really affecting me at the minute.”
Sproule has enjoyed a great season but he feels he has had one knock too many. He said: “I have a reputation for getting sent off and sometimes you have to be man enough to say when you are in the wrong. Maybe on one or two occasions I have deserved punishment but it’s got to the point now that it is hard to take on the chin. You think you should get a yellow card and the next minute you are fired the red. But if I get hit with another ban it is really going to have a big effect on what I decide to do between now and the summer. There are only so many times you can keep picking yourself up and dusting yourself down. My reputation seems to go before me. I put my hands up when I have done something wrong and I always have done because I am an honest lad. But we have the CIS Cup final and Scottish Cup quarter-final coming up and missing all these league games is going to affect my form. I don’t mind having a reputation for being somebody that is committed or someone that gives 100 per cent. But if you are somebody who keeps picking up red cards for nothing it puts areal dampener on your season.”

He gets the ball he scores a goal

Ivan Ivan Sproule!

With a young and inexperienced Hibs side drawing 0-0 at Kilmarnock tonight, John Collins introduced Ivan Sproule, and 5 minutes later:
“The little Irish winger picked the ball up on the right-hand-side of Killie’s box and, as the home defence backed off, he rifled a shot high beyond the flailing Combe.” (BBC)

Furthermore: “Sproule’s direct running down the right flank continued to create havoc in the Killie defence and he forced Combe into a good save on the hour mark.”
In the first half, “Deans Shiels wasted two glorious early opportunities for Hibs.”
That is all.

Sproule scores tap in

Like so.
It gave Hibs the lead at Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup. The game finished 2-2, so there will be a replay. Dean Shiels also started the match.

Goals and suchlike

– Healy scored 1 and set up 1 for Leeds as they beat Coventry 2-1 yesterday.

– Nottingham Forest are appealing against Sammy Clingan’s straight red card after 20 minutes of their 5-0 defeat to Oldham on New Years’ Day for an accidental collision.
– Chris Brunt scored his 8th goal of the season in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Barnsley on Saturday :-P

– Young left back Jeff Hughes has scored the winner in Lincoln’s last 2 games: 2-1 over Boston and 1-0 against Wycombe.

Lincoln skipper Northern Irishman Paul Morgan made his 200th league appearance for the club yesterday afternoon.

– After Collins, John telling us how Ivan Sproule would struggle to get back into the Hibs team after his 4-game suspension, Ivan started their 0-0 draw with Aberdeen at Easter Road today, his first possible game back. He seems to still be in a rich vein of form according to the BBC:
“Sproule was clearly relishing his return to the action and was deployed on either flank and was the inspiration of most positive Hibs attacks.”
He was replaced by Dean Shiels, also just back from a (1-game) suspension.

Collins throws the book at Ivan

The Hibs manager said:

“Four games out is a long time in football and there are some big matches coming up. Ivan is now out of the picture and out of my thoughts for the next four games, but rest assured he will be working extremely hard while he is suspended and he will also be heavily fined by the club. When I came to the club I said that discipline was the one area we had to work on, it’s very important to me and it can also be very costly for players. We have got others who can come into the team and Ivan will have to work very hard to get back into the team. That’s the nature of the game, whoever has got the jersey will want to keep it and if someone comes in and does well they will stay in the team.”
It’s not the first time that Sproule’s discipline has let him down since his move from Institute and the fiery winger has collected 20 cards in just 17 months in Scottish football. His latest sending-off means he will be hit with an automatic one match suspension for this weekend’s trip to Falkirk and Saturday’s red card also sent him through the disciplinary points threshold, earning him a further three-match ban.
Sproule today said he was disappointed with the inconsistency of referees, but Collins added: “It’s not the referee’s fault. Referees make a decision and, whether it is right or wrong, players have to get on with it. They’ve got to bite their lips and get on with their job – and their job is not to shout at the referee. It was disappointing and the sending off was a big blow for us and for Ivan.”
Meanwhile David Murphy has revealed Sproule apologised to his team-mates for the red card that killed off any faint hopes of a comeback at Ibrox. The Easter Road club were already trailing 3-0 through goals from Dado Prso, Libor Sionko and Barry Ferguson and Sproule’s folly quickly turned their task into mission impossible. “The sending off was disappointing and Ivan went round everyone to apologise for it,” said Murphy.