his week’s appointment of Kevin McGoldrick as the new manager of Rob Roy was not exactly greeted with raucous approval and acclaim by supporters of the famous old Kirkintilloch club.
Hardly surprising one might say given the 50 year old has been off the footballing radar completely since his 2019 stint in charge of Kilsyth Rangers despite being well known in most necks of the East Dumbartonshire woods ever since bursting onto the scene as a local prospect with crack juvenile outfit Campsie Black Watch.
Morton’s signing of the young McGoldrick led to him being capped for the Scotland Under 16 side which famously reached the Final of the 1989 World Cup , and he went on to play at Senior level with Queens Park and East Stirling prior to fashioning out a highly regarded coaching reputation with the Spiders, Stenhousemuir and East Fife among others.
His is clearly a decent C.V. by anyone’s standards so why the perceived lack of excitement among Rabs followers ?
“I’m one of them being a born and bred Kirky boy but there is no denying I’ve came out of nowhere with no recent credentials to my name whatsoever and need to start earning my spurs all over again “ he admitted last night en route to training and a first meeting with his new playing charges.
“The sad passing of my Dad Tommy in early 2020 knocked the floor from under me and I lost all my energy and enthusiasm but recently the old feelings have come back and getting a call to help out at Rob Roy , the club on my doorstep, only rekindled my desire to get back into the game.
Letting my intentions be known saw me invited in to talk with the Roy officials and I’m ab solutely delighted to be afforded this opportunity.”
Kevin added “I’m also taking over from Stewart Maxwell, someone who was extremely popular with the fans after the fantastic job he did of retaining Rob Roy’s status as a Premier Division side during his eight years here.
“It’s the normal way of things for a new manager to come in when the previous incumbent has been sacked or has quit because of results but as everyone knows Maxi left of his own accord to take the Pollok job and I’m fortunate in that respect because by all accounts he’s left some pretty decent foundations for his successor. “
Kevin has wasted no time in carrying out some teambuilding of his own , installing ex-Queens Park team mate Danny Ferry as his No 2 and Stevie Kidd as goalkeeping coach.
He insisted, “Danny and I played at Queens Park and did our coaching badges together while Stevie worked alongside me at Kilsyth Rangers so I know only too well what they bring to the table.
“ I’m keen to see how the players respond to our approach and ways of doing things and cannot wait to get working with them out on the pitch once the initial meet and greet formalities are over though that could take some time as there are all of 29 players on the books .
“Too many bodies by my reckoning however we’ve not seen the guys in action this season so every single one of them deserves the chance to play their way into our thoughts going forward and believe me when I say they will get it.”
KEVIN CAN WIN THEM OVER
Kevin went on to say ,”This is a very exciting time for Rob Roy with the new playing facility in Kirkintilloch about to be opened this coming week which I think will be warmly welcomed by people in the town.
“The club owes a huge debt of thanks o Cumbernauld United for affording us the use of Guys Meadow over the past few seasons but going through there for games doesn’t have the same appeal as playing out of our own ground in the heart of Kirky again.
“I’m sure many supporters who have stayed away will now come flocking back which only leaves the little matter of putting out a team…and a winning one at that … for them to enjoy.”
Last night’s training session allowed the new gaffer to make preparations for tomorrow’s West of Scotland League Cup encounter away to Hurlford United even though Kevin has already spoken to his Blair Park counterpart Darren Henderson who thinks the chances of the game beating the icy cold snap and going ahead are extremely slim .
Their all-Premier Division clash is arguably the pick of the Second Round listing which has potential crackers (needing to pass early morning pitch inspections) in Beith hosting the visit of Shotts Bon Accord and Glenafton awaiting the visit of a Kilbirnie Ladeside team , themselves under new management after Shaun Dillon walked away from his Beith coaching post to assume the reins at Valefield following last Saturday’s resignation by erstwhile boss Thomas Molly.
And can the mighty but injury ravaged Auchinleck Talbot suffer a never before heard of third Cup elimination in successive weeks when going up against First Division promotion contenders Johnstone Burgh assuming Beechwood Park is deemed playable ?
Supporters being asked to contact their clubs only increases the likelihood of frost bound pitches failing to pass muster which could mean bumper crowds in attendance at the astro-grass staged contests of Gartcairn v Blantyre Vics , Renfrew v Rutherglen Glencairn and Yoker Athletic v Rossvale.
Meanwhile ,one hears of a provisional game being arranged should the `Postponed` signs go up at the tie between Forth Wanderers v Drumchapel United as well as the Arthurlie v Pollok contest in the Premier Division.
The strong going Drum, linked with an alleged signing move for David Goodwillie this week, were thought to have booked the Donald Dewar Centre for testing themselves against Stewart Maxwell’s troops but word now is the game is going ahead at Nethhercraigs (Kick Off 12 noon) .
PLAYING TOMORROW( Kick Offs 1.30 PM): P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Cambuslang Rangers v Irvine Meadow, Darvel v Petershill, Arthurlie v Pollok.PDM Buildbase First Division. Benburb v Bonnyton Thistle ,
Thorniewood Utd v Whitletts Vics.PDM Buildbase Second Division. Muirkirk v Wishaw, Glasgow University v Ardeer Thistle, Maybole v Greenock, Kilsyth Rangers v Maryhill.PDM Buildbase Third Division.Girvan v Royal Albert, Larkhall Thistle v Lesmahagow, Dalry Thistle v Bellshill Athletic,Vale of Leven v Irvine Vics, Port Glasgow v Newmains Utd ,Vale of Clyde v Saltcoats Vics, Lanark Utd v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Carluke Rovers v Lugar Boswell.PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. St Peters v Rossvale Academy, Campbeltown Pupils v Glenvale, Harmony Row v Threave Rovers, Easterhouse F.A v Eglinton.West of Scotland Football League Cup. KilsythAthletic v Clydebank, East Kilbride Thistle vBSC Glasgow, Kilwinning Rangers v Thorn Athletic,Gartcairn v Blantyre Vics, Beith v Shotts Bon Accord, Auchinleck Talbot v Johnstone Burgh, Kello Rovers v Neilston, Cumbernauld Utd v Finnart, Troon v Ashfield, West Park Utd v St Cadocs, Glenafton v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Hurlford Utd v Rob Roy, Renfrew v Rutherglen Glencairn, Yoker Athletic v Rossvale, Cumnock v Craigmark, Forth Wanderers v Drumchapel Utd.
Regards
Jim O’Donnell
About Author
Superb coverage. Known Goldie from the days at the Blackies. Now there was a successful and we’ll run club.