Straight Talking

Neil Watt spoke candidly after this afternoon’s match with Annan and gave the website an update on the search for a new manager.

First, however, Neil focussed on the match itself and it was a frank assessment…

“The experienced players have let themselves and the club down this season. There is no doubt about that and they should be giving a lot more. There is a team spirit missing. The problem this year is if we go a goal up we can’t keep it and if we go a goal down we can’t get back into it. It’s not just a lack of belief it’s deeper than that. It’s a lack of mental strength as a group. Individually there are some good players but they are not a good team and that has been evident since the start of the season.

“In nearly all the games we’ve been running teams close. I know we’ve been unlucky on certain occasions but over the piece you are not unlucky all the time and there is a definite lack of mental strength.”

Turning his attention to the search for a manager Neil gave an update that didn’t pull any punches either about the task ahead:-
 
“Hopefully we’ll have someone in place by the middle of next week. What is positive is that there have been a lot more applications for the job this time than there were previously.

“Without doubt the new manager will have much work to do and that’s fairly obvious. It will be tough as he will have no time to work with the players as we are set to go onto two games a week until April from a week on Tuesday. So any new man will be limited in what he can do with the players on the training pitch and he will not have a budget to bring in emergency loans as virtually every club is looking for a fee. Simply, the club can’t afford to add any more to the squad.”

Neil concluded, “Whether it is an experienced candidate or not the situation will be the same as it was for John McCormack last season. The person will be offered a contract to the end of the season as we are not in a position, at present, to offer anything other than that. Whoever comes in will be hoping it works out for the longer term and that they can make a positive impression but that may not be down to them as it might be down to the club’s finances.”