New bosses move in at Bankfoot and Blairgowrie

Jun 19 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THERE have been two very notable managerial changes taking place over the course of a week.

The personalities concerned are Robin Wood, Bankfoot and Billy Mackay, Blairgowrie.

This means in effect that four of the big county’s seven clubs will have new men in charge. The others being Jock Pearson at Luncarty and Barry Brittain at Coupar Angus.

Robin Wood has had two stints as the Bankfoot team manager plus one as the assistant which equates to a total of 14 years.

Robin has been tireless in his efforts and he must take great credit for the amount of promising young players he has recruited for the Bankies and introduced into the junior game. Robin has the satisfaction of leaving his successor with a very strong squad of players.

Robin is remaining with the Bankies as he was appointed to the post of club chairman at their agm and he will no doubt put as much enthusiasm into this new challenge as he did as manager.

Billy Mackay arrived at Davie Park after having played in top class senior football with Rangers and Hearts. Billy went on to serve Blairgowrie as their team manager for 22 years. There is no doubt his greatest achievements were to win the North League Championship and promotion to the premier league.

Billy has for the past few years combined the roles of manager along with that of club president.

Billy will continue to have a duel role with the club as he continues as president and has been appointed as Blair’s first ever director of football.

Blairgowrie vice president Derek Scott said: “Billy’s contribution to the well being of Blairgowrie both on and off the field has been immense.”

Taking over the respective managers’ positions at Bankfoot and Blairgowrie are Ian Duff and Ross Graham and they both have excellent CVs.

Ian Duff was signed for Celtic as a young player and spent three seasons playing with their youth teams. Two of his team mates at Parkhead were David Moyes, now manager of Everton and Jim McInally, manager at East Stirling.

Ian went on to play junior football with Jeanfield Swifts, Bankfoot and Newburgh and was assistant to Robin Wood last season. Ian is very much looking forward to this fresh challenge.

Ian will be assisted by coaches Russel Brown and Fraser Brown and he expects that ex Saint Jim Weir will also lend a hand when he is available.

Ian’s first piece of action in his new role is likely to be to add to his squad. He has his sights set on a few players and expects to have them on board in the near future.

Ross Graham had a senior spell with East Fife and played in the junior game with Lochee United, Kirrie Thistle and Blairgowrie. Since he gave up playing a season ago Ross has been doing a bit of coaching and like his Bankfoot counterpart is very much looking forward to the challenge of being manager of Blairgowrie.

Bankfoot held their AGM on Monday and the following appointments were made: Chairman – Robin Wood; vice chairman – Donald Macdonald; treasurer – Graham Wilks; secretary – Ian Wood; committee – Stewart Angus, Kenny Clark and a new addition Mike Martin. Mike Martin played with the Bankies for a number of seasons. Mike was a goalkeeper. His son also played in this role for the Bankies but was forced to give up the game due to an injury.

CLUB AWARDS

Jeanfield Swifts: Player of the year – Steven Watt; players player of the year – Ronald McDonald.

Blairgowrie: Player of the year – Paul Ireland; players player of the year – Craig Ferguson; top goalscorer – shared between Jamie Duncan and Alan Cruickshank.

Kinnoull: Player of the year and players player of the year – Steve McAllister; leading scorer – Jon Kelly; Jim Whyte clubman of the year – Scott Addison.

Luncarty programme editor Grant Ritchie is to be congratulated on winning the Soccer Club Swop Shop Scottish Non League Programme of the Year competition. This is the second year he has taken part, he was third last year.

Coupar Angus’ new manager Barry Brittain will get his first taste of the junior game over the weekend of July 25-26 as Coupar are to stage a tournament at Foxhall Park.The competing teams and arrangements will be announced next week.

There are two important AGM’s being held over the next few days. The Scottish Junior AGM takes place tomorrow (Saturday) at the Ardrossan Civic Centre, Glasgow Street, Ardrossan and it kicks off at 2pm.

The East Region AGM takes place on Tuesday night at Inverkeithing High School, commencing at 7pm.