Inside Track: Inside Track again going with ICT, AS and BU
Inside Track with Joe Carroll
They’re up and running in the soccer leagues across the water and up North. It’s all a bit of a come-down from the World Cup, but for followers, a welcome relief from arguments centred on Infantino’s attempt to sell the biggest prize in the game.
There has been a lot of comings and goings in the off-season with nearly as many managers as players on the move. Twenty teams are lined up for the English Premiership – nine of them will have a new gaffer.
Arteta is staying put at Arsenal, and that’s not a surprise. The Italian led the Gunners to a long-awaited league success last season, and the question now is, can he go back-to-back.
JJ Gabriel, former Arsenal and Republic of Ireland player Seosamh Ó Cearúill’s son, and one of the hottest properties in the game, continues to impress at underage, and while he has trained with the Man U seniors, he may still be too young to wear the their jersey.
There was a slight change to the old order in Scotland last season, Hearts, not Rangers, taking second spot behind Celtic. There couldn’t have been a tighter finish, Martin O’Neill’s charges making it – on the last day – with only a short-head to spare.
Manager, Derek McInnis, shared in the Hearts’ devastation that day, his side deprived of the title by a late goal. He’ll be seeking revenge, but not with Hearts – this time he’ll be on the running the line with Rangers.
Inside Track’s focus on Scottish affairs won’t be on the Premiership, but instead on the second-tier Championship. That’s where Inverness Caledonian Thistle will be grinding it out. Having giving us a good run for our money last season, winning promotion, IT sees no reason to desert ICT.
As for Ballinamallard United and Accrington Stanley, the two others who had the spotlight shone on them in the 2025/26 season, we are, rather reluctantly, sticking with them.
Are Ballinamallard the only team in the Irish League based in Fermanagh, the county better known for its lakes, and the birthplace of the GAA’s most enterprising president, Peter Quinn? Then there’s that fine footballer from the past, All-Star Peter McGinnity?
As for Accrington Stanley, they can only do better than last year, having finished 16th of 24 in League Two. But that, believe it or not, was better than. the previous season. Back then they finished in 21st, just avoiding falling over the edge.
They can only do better this time. Can’t they?