IS MACCA ABOUT TO ROAR AGAIN?

MACCA IS BACK IN THE FRAY

Saying the fun is about to start (well the new season gets underway next Saturday?) evokes a wry smile to the face of Tony McInally, about to take on arguably the toughest gig of his career as Darvel manager.

Not many in the game, myself included, were of this opinion when the vastly experienced Macca was named as successor to Mick Kennedy as recently as early May after the latter resigned his Recreation Park post to take over as Lowland League club East Kilbride F.C’s new manager.

To all intents and purposes, the former Shotts Bon Accord, Pollok and Cumnock gaffer looked to have landed firmly on his feet by inheriting a squad that finished third top of the Premier Division pile last season following on from being crowned 2021/22 title winners.

But that was before the guts of the Vale’s dressing room was ripped out by a series of Kennedy instigated close season transfer raids , stealing away defensive stalwarts Cameron Eadie Andy McDonald, and Chris McGowan, midfielders Craig Truesdale and Andy Sirling along with goalkeeping pair Lyle Avici and Chris Truesdale.

And having the well-to-do Ayrshire club’s previous 31 strong playing riches further decimated by Jordan Allan electing to join Pollok, Jordan Kirkpatrick and Ross Meechan (both Stenhousemuir), Lewis Morrison (Hurlford United) on top of Ross Caldwell (retired), suggests Tony appears to have his work cut out to continue Darvel’s surfacing as a force in the game and at the same time , restore his own reputation that took a hit of sorts when Cumnock unceremoniously called time on his Townhead Park tenure all of 19 months ago.

One cannot emphasize enough the delicate position he finds himself “Doon The Brae” which is further exacerbated by a considerably daunting salvo of opening league fixtures which has Darvel coming up against no less than Glenafton ,Auchinleck Talbot , former club Cumnock and fierce derby rivals Hurlford United before mid-August .

At the ready by his side to help prepare for the challenges lying in wait are long standing assistants, Stewart Ralston his No 2 and goalkeeping guru , Brian “Biskits” Whelan while Macca has further strengthened his backroom team with the appointment of his former Pollok striker Davie Winters ,a Caledonian Braves coach for the past three seasons under Rikky Waddell.

Tony revealed, “ Wints had been coming to the end of his playing career at Pollok and back then I remember toying with the idea of a player/coach role for him..

“It didn’t come about for various reasons but I’ve kept track of his whereabouts ever since and wasted no time in taking steps to bring him on board once my move to Darvel was confirmed and I’m looking forward to seeing what his freshness and new ideas add to the mix.

The seasoned gaffer, 30 years managerial experience up to now, has not overlooked his side’s playing front and has offloaded a few of those not in his immediate plans ,most notably Darvel’s leading marksman from last time out, Allan McKenzie , who was sold to St Cadocs as a prelude to the acquisitions of former Junior Scotland striker Graham Wilson (Auchinleck Talbot) and fellow hitman Ally Small (Thorniewood United) while he remains ever hopeful of recruiting scoring sensation Jordan Moore of Cumnock despite his former club rejecting a substantial Darvel transfer bid..

Among other confirmed newcomers are Andy Leishaman (Auchinleck) Ross Barbour (St Cadocs), Danny O’Halloran , Stephen Bronsky and Dean Cairns (Rob Roy),Ross Urqhuart (Irvine Meadow), Leon Murphy (Glenafton) and goalkeeper Andy Wilson , recalled from a loan spell at Cambuslang Rangers to provide Leishman with competition for the gloves.

Tony’s single minded desire to be a winner can often rub people up the wrong way so he appreciates results like Tuesday night’s 3-1 defeat by Thorniewood United for whom Cody McLeod, Dan Kindlan and Josh Winton were on the mark with Ian McShane weighing in with Darvel’s counter, only supplies ammunition to those detractors willing him to crash to earth at yet another big club .

He insisted, “ The constant chopping and changing throughout the past seven weeks (not all of my own making) has not been without its problems but we now find ourselves with a very workable 17 man squad albeit we’ve never had all of them available at the same time, be it for a training session or pre-season game.

“A total of five trialists were needed to make up numbers against Thorniewood so our final friendly match at home to Threave Rovers tomorrow now takes on added importance for finally bringing everyone together as well as getting game time for Jamie Glasgow who has been on holiday and is yet to kick a ball for us.”

Tony added “ 17 players is not nearly enough going forward and we firmly believe two or three further additions are needed so we’ve put feelers out to other clubs but up to now there is nothing definite to report. “

He was not for naming names however my take on the current transfer scene is that Moore , also on the radar of newly promoted Gartcairn, remains Macca’s No 1 striking target while another Townhead Park ace on his wish list is battling midfielder Jamie Wilson.

DARVEL SIGNING TARGET JAMIE WILSON

Similarly looking to bounce back from a midweek friendly defeat are Petershill , heading up to face St Andrews United hard on the heels of a 3-2 reverse at the hands of Vale of Clyde, while ambitious Johnstone Burgh will be seeking to avoid a confidence denting fourth defeat on the spin (Auchinleck Talbot, Hurlford United and Largs Thistle have all turned over Jamie McKim’s men) no easy task when going up against Premier Division kingpins Beith at Bellsdale Park.

The meeting of arch foes Irvine Meadow and Kilwinning Rangers may not be for the faint hearted while sparks may fly at Barrfields where Largs Thistle await the visit of Kilbirnie Ladeside.

Heading further afield are Second Division Muirkirk hoping to have former Largs and Auchinleck star turn Keir Milliken among their travelling party for the trip East to take on Craigroyston.

The Second Division outfit playing squad is almost entirely comprises of players whom Kirk team boss Ross Cusack enlisted from the highly regarded Benburb Under 20’s he managed last season and he is desperate to instill some much needed experience into his young side,

Milky fits all the boxes in that respect as does his former Irvine Meadow team mate and current Muirkirk coach Dexy Wingate in whose direction Ross is threatening to throw a jersey.

WEEKEND GAMES: (various kick off times). Friendly Matches:

Troon v Ayr Utd X1, Arthurlie v Inverkeithing Hillhead Swifts, Giffnock S.C. v Port Glasgow, Irvine Meadow v Kilwinning Rangers, Neilston v Dunipace,

Whitletts Vics v Glenafton, St Andrews Utd v Petershill , Craigroyston v Muirkirk, Beith v Johnstone Burgh, Hurlford Utd v Ashfield, Lugar Boswell v Craigmark, Shotts Bon Accord v Vale of Clyde, Rutherglen Glencairn v St Anthonys, Dundee Utd X1 v Pollok , Vale of Leven v Yoker Athletic, Benburb v St Mirren X1, Caledonian Locomotives v East Kilbride Thistle, Glenrothes v Cumnock, Gartcairn v Dalbeattie Star, Darvel v Threave Rovers , Blantyre Vics v St Cadocs , Glasgow Perthshire v Glasgow Harp, St Rochs v Greenock, Newmains Utd v Forth Wanderers, Ardeer Thistle v Lugar Boswell, Carluke Rovers v Bonnyton Thistle, Glasgow Utd v Cambuslang Rangers, Largs Thistle v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Musselburgh Athletic v Renfrew, Clydebank v Jeanfield Swifts.

Regards

Jim O’Donnell