Hibs announce Jamie McGrath
Hibs have announced a pre-contract agreement with Aberdeen midfielder Jamie McGrath. The 28-year-old has signed a four-year deal that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2029. McGrath was out of contract with the Dons in the summer. Since Emiliano Marcondes’s departure last season, Hibs have lacked a creative midfielder. Hibs will hope McGrath is the answer to their midfield issue, with the Irishman scoring 11 goals in 27 games this season. Manager David Gray said: “We’re delighted to have agreed a pre-contract with Jamie. He’s a player that we’ve admired for some time. He’s a creative player that will add extra quality in our midfield and in the final third.” A Republic of Ireland international, McGrath has made 13 appearances for his country, scoring four goals. He will continue at Aberdeen until the end of the current season before linking up with Hibs in the summer.
Brendan Rodgers: Glasgow pressure ‘doesn’t stop’
Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers loaned sympathy to his Rangers counterpart and added that the pressure of managing in the cauldron of the Old Firm “doesn’t stop”. Against the backdrop of a humiliating 2-0 defeat to Kilmarnock at Ibrox and a shocking 1-0 defeat to Queen’s Park, ending their Scottish Cup campaign, Rangers chiefs took decisive action and relieved their 50-year-old manager of his duties at the club on Sunday. Pressure on Philippe Clement had been mounting due to a string of below par performances from the Ibrox men, and with them wasting the opportunity to lessen the points deficit to 10 points against rivals Celtic at the top, it was clear the Belgians time at the club had come to an end. Rodgers has added his view to the events across the city and remarked that managing in Glasgow is no easy task, the constant expectation to return 3 points week on week can take its toll on even the most seasoned of football managers. Contrary to the opinion of the Rangers support, the Celtic boss highlighted that Clement has had some success in the continent and is clearly a coach who knows what it takes to win. The evidence of this is scattered infrequently throughout his time in Scotland, with a League Cup trophy to his name and good performances in European competition. “Like it is for any manager, I’m always disappointed when a manager loses his job,” Rodgers said before Tuesday’s Scottish Premiership visit by Aberdeen. “I’m disappointed for him as a coach. I think we all know the conditions up here. You have to be winning and show that consistency to win. “I’m always sad when another manager loses his job. Philippe has shown previous to coming into Rangers that he’s a very good manager. He’s won titles. “He’s not just a good coach, he’s a winning coach and has won. Like I say, we know the conditions up here.” Rodgers got the better of Clement in four of their seven Old Firm meetings, including last season’s Scottish Cup Final and this season’s League Cup final, which went to the wire with Celtic eventually overcoming their city rivals on penalties.