MANAGERS COME AND MANAGERS GO

TIME WAS UP ?

Both Tony Fraser and David Greig have a day job that puts food on the table and pays the bills.

Just as well I can hear their better halves say (like so many others?) and understandably if truth be told because one readily assumes their reward for managing Tier 6 First Division clubs ,Cumbernauld United and St Rochs respectively, is different in the extreme and more likely to be derived via the satisfaction felt at…doing a job they love…rather than from typically more tangible means!

Now one can imagine the First Division pair’s Club Treasurers and many others of their ilk will read this and immediately echo the previous “Just as well” sentiment considering the sheer commitment and devotion to the cause qualities essential for carrying out a team manager’s role nowadays which is attested by populist argument to equate, at the very least, to 15-20 hours on average per week… so if this figure is then multiplied by the current National Minimum Wage of £9.50??? Well you can do the sums yourself!

Neither side can lay claim to setting the heather on fire this season and a look at the league standings that shows both languishing in and around the basement area has supporters fearful of suffering a relegation fate come the end of season (United are third bottom with the Candy Rock just two places better off) however it still came as something of a surprise to hear of a recent `parting of the ways` between both clubs and their passionate gaffers.

In 42 year old Fraz’s case because he took it upon himself to tender his resignation whereas the more experienced Greggy’s departure was decidedly not of his own volition.

The convivial bond between Fraser a former Cumbernauld trophy winning captain during his playing career and Guys Meadow chairman George Watson did not deter him from making his decision to walk away along with assistants John Hughes and Chris Zok.

“We had put together what was felt to be a really strong squadr but results wise it just wasn’t working for us” admitted Tony.

“ I was knocking my pan in week in and week out trying to turn things around but it wasn’t happening and what made things worse was knowing the pain from losing games was felt more by me than some players .

“Overall our squad was as good as any in the First Division on a given day but they simply didn’t do enough in terms of application and doing themselves justice to make it their day more often than not.

”The club has turned to the ex-Thorniewood United management team of Jamie Nesbitt and Chris Dolan to take up the reins so I wish them well and sincerely hope they have better luck than me in their attempts to get the best out of the lads.”

TONY FELT HE HAD TO GO

Asking whether his first ever managerial stint (two years) has put him off taking up another hotseat posting evoked the response.

He said , “ I took the Cumbernauld United position knowing I would be learning on the job from my mistakes and I’m certainly the better from my time in charge so I certainly won’t shy away from showing an interest if or when the right opportunity presents itself.”

That won’t be at the James McGrory Park after St Rochs officials moved quickly to install Greig’s former backroom team of James McKnight and John Petrie at the helm, an appointment that met with the outgoing manager’s blessing

He insisted, “James is a former St Rochs team captain and both he and John have the best interests of the club at heart so they have my best wishes for the rest of this season and going forward.

“How can I say otherwise when players like them, supporters like them and now it would appear club officials have taken to them in a big way however I would warn both that likeability won’t save their necks if results are not going their way as I found out to my cost.

“Having only took up my latest stint (his third) in charge of the Candy back in late August, I was desperate to see the season out not least because I believe our situation could be turned around but the opportunity was taken away from me when I was called to a meeting following our recent 3-1 defeat by Blantyre Vics and more or less told that based on results my time was up.

Greggy added, “To say I’m gutted is an understatement because I’ve loved being back at St Rochs and will forever be grateful for the chance to take charge of the team again which maybe explains why right now it’s not in my head to look at any other management jobs.

”I’ll consider my future over the next few weeks and take it from there.” was his parting retort.

GREGGY …ST ROCHS THROUGH AND THROUGH

St Rochs` survival hopes did not improve in midweek after the Garngad outfit went down 2-0 to Benburb for whom Declan McDonald and Aiden Fellow were on target in a match played under the New Tinto Park floodlights and hard to think the task of points gathering for Messrs McKnight and Petrie will get any easier when the Candy head out to North Lanarkshire to take on fellow strugglers Shotts Bon Accord .

The fourth in the table Govan club’s latest triumph, hard on the heels of last Saturday’s resounding 6-3 battering of First Division league leaders Kilbirnie Ladeside allowed Paul Lovering’s men to leapfrog above Johnstone Burgh whom they meet in a `must win` Keanie Park clash tomorrow while the still out in front Blasties look odds on to bounce back at home to Cumbernauld despite the inspiration sure to come from Nesbitt and Dolan’s presence in the away dugout.

And yet another intriguing showdown is promised by the locking of horns between third placed St Cadocs and a Neilston side determined to take a third consecutive title challengers’ scalp following wins over Drumchapel United and Gartcairn.

Meanwhile, the depressing `bonkers` run of form that has seen Premier Division outfit Arthurlie win only one of their last ten outings (a 3-2 victory over Darvel at that) has brought the curtain down on the 8 month long managerial reign of Craig Palmer.

Previously a coach under erstwhile Barrhead bosses George Fotheringham and Andy McFadyen ,one time Dunterlie full back Palmer and loyal No 2 Ryan McCardle have overseen meritorious victories over Beith and the aforementioned Darvel as well as a scintillating 11-1 crushing of Petershill but the other side of the coin has brought twin league defeats at the hands of near certain relegation certainties Cambuslang Rangers and a recent 5-0 roasting from Largs Thistle.

However the straw that proverbially broke the camel’s back was last weekend’s 2-1 reverse at home to fellow basement occupiers Troon which left his side teetering above the relegation drop-zone ,a mere one point and one place above long time doomed looking Petershill.

Craig revealed,” I’ve been aware of rumblings in the background and whispers over who was coming in to take my place for a number of weeks now.

“Things came to a head in the wake of the Troon game where the guys actually deserved to come out on top after playing well however I could sense there was a change in the mood among our club officials and speaking with them afterwards only confirmed my worst fears.

“There was no fall out as such but it was very obvious I had lost their backing and with it the chance to see out the season so it was felt best for both the club and myself if we called it a day then and there.

“Not inviting applications for the post indicates they always had someone lined up to take over but I’m long enough in the tooth to know that’s how this game works.”

PALMER GOES WITH HEAD HELD HIGH

As befits one of the potential giants of the game, Arthurlie’s vacancy was initially linked with the illustrious and available team boss likes of Murdie McKinnon, Davie Gormley and Budgie McGhie however there was no way Dunterlie officials could overlook a `one of their own `candidate, Barrhead born and raised Johnny Millar ,out of the game since an ill-advised stint at St Cadocs all of 27 months ago.

Yesterday brought the announcement of his appointment along with that of long-standing No 2 Stevie Convery and coaches Mark McLaughlin and Darren Ramsay.

The quartet will be assured of a rousing welcome when taking their places trackside for tomorrow’s vital clash at home to Largs Thistle whose climb away from the relegation trapdoor has been suitably boosted by the manner of last weekend’s 4-0 hammering of Petershill as well as the transfer from Stenhousemuir of their former acclaimed marksman Will Sewell.

Yet another striker moving back to former pastures is Beith’s out of favour front man Jay Mackay whose loan spell at Petershill has been ended by an audacious transfer swoop bringing him back down a Division to the club where he made his name, Rutherglen Glencairn.

28 year old Mackay (2 goals in three games) will be a notable absentee when the Peasy head out on the road to face an Irvine Meadow side ,totally rejuvenated since the shock resignation last month of erstwhile gaffer George Grierson.

His loyal assistant Kevin Deeney agreed to take up the reins on an interim basis and has made a great fist of it with three wins in the three games played since, his latest success, Wednesday night’s hard fought 1-0 defeat of Glenafton thanks to a goal from leading marksman Callum Graham.

Not surprisingly, Medda officials are not planning to rock the boat by upping and handing over the reins to anyone else therefore one can envisage the experienced Deeney’s credentials being further underlined with a win against their Glasgow visitors .

In other top flight games taking place, table-topping Beith are set to welcome back stopper Scott Rough from suspension for what promises to be a testing away game against Glenafton while fellow title challengers Darvel appear to have a much easier time of it awaiting the visit to Recreation Park of Premier bottom markers Cambuslang Rangers.

Pollok boss Stewart Maxwell will be hoping to build on last Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Cumnock when his former side Rob Roy make the trip through to Newlandsfield while Troon, showing more defensive steel since the loan capture of Darvel centreback David Syme are seeking to rack up a third win on the trot when Hurlford United arrive at Portland Park.

Meanwhile, the announcement earlier this week of Indigo United Communications taking up sponsorship of the West of Scotland League Cup coincided with the twin draws being made for this season’s Quarter Finals and Semi Finals which are as follows.

QUARTERS(to be played Saturday 18^th March)

Auchinleck Talbot v Gartcairn

Craigmark v Ashfield/St Rochs

Hurlford Utd v Drumchapel Utd/Kilwinning Rangers

Neilston v Clydebank

SEMIS(to be played Saturday 8^th April)

Craigmark/Ashfield/St Rochs v Neilston/Clydebank

Auchinleck Talbot /Gartcairn v Hurlford Utd/Drumchapel Utd/Kilwinning Rangers.

WEEKEND GAMES: (Kick Offs 2 PM unless stated): P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Darvel v Cambuslang Rangers, Irvine Meadow v Petershill, Arthurlie v Largs Thistle, Glenafton v Beith, Pollok v Rob Roy, Troon v Hurlford Utd. PDM Buildbase First Division. Rutherglen Glencairn v Bonnyton Thistle, Shotts Bon Accord v St Rochs, Blantyre Vics v Rossvale, St Cadocs v Neilston, Whitletts Vics v Thorniewood Utd, Cumbernauld Utd v Klbirnie Ladeside, Johnstone Burgh v Benburb.PDM Buildbase Second Division. Greenock v Maybole, Renfrew v Glasgow Utd, Ardeer Thistle, v Ashfield, St Anthonys v Yoker Athletic, Wishaw v Glasgow Perthshire, Kilsyth Rangers vCraigmark,GlasgowUniversity v Muirkirk. PDM Buildbase Third Division. Royal Albert v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Lesmahagow v Vale of Leven, Kello Rovers v Carluke Rovers, East Kilbride Thistle,v Dalry Thistle, Girvan v Larkhall Thistle ,Irvine Vics v Saltcoats Vics , Bellshill Athletic v Lugar Boswell , Finnart v Newmains Utd.PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Harmony Row v St Peters v Easterhouse FA, (Tonight 7.30PM), Thorn Athletic v Glenvale, Campbeltown Pupils v BSC Glasgow, Eglinton v Threave Rovers, Rossvale Academy v Eglinton.South Region Challenge Cup 5^th Round. Cumnock v Sauchie, Maryhill v Kilwinning Rangers , Gartcairn v Tranent, Auchinleck Talbot v East Kilbride F.C., Threave Rovers v Caledonian Braves, Clydebank v Stirling University, Drumchapel Utd v Vale of Clyde, Dundonald Bluebell v Spartans.

Regards

Jim O’Donnell