IF Covid ravaged 2021 has been all about making the best of a sorry situation then Cumnock may just have given themselves the footballing equivalent of a vaccination jag.
Languishing, prior to last Saturday, as the 13th best placed club in the Premier League , whose one-off cutthroat format this season leaves little margin for error (7 teams are staring down the barrel of a relegation fate) was not a prospect for much festive cheer down in the Ayrshire hinterland.
But last week’s appointment of Brian McGinty as the latest occupant of the Townhead Park hotseat at least offers hope of a happy ending to the year particularly after he made the best possible start to his reign with a 2-1 weekend victory over Benburb that enabled his Nock side to move up to 12th spot in the standings.
Gints whose last managerial tenure ended at Irvine Meadow almost two years ago, was both delighted and keen to play down the euphoria of supporters in the wake of receiving a sharp reminder that his every waking hour (and several of the ones when he should be sleeping) are about to be consumed by the job of lifting this Cumnock team out of the doldrums.
He revealed: “ A win’s a win and the players deserve all the credit going for their response to myself and Aitchy (Assistant Manager Stevie Aitchison) arriving to take charge.
“If truth be told there was more substance than style behind us digging in to see the game out after we were put under the cosh by Benburb throughout the second half but that was only to be expected given the situation confronting us late on Friday night.
“I was already pacing up and down my living room and fretting over how to set our stall out with only 12 fit players at our disposal when my phone rang and Greg Ferry revealed he was going to be unavailable because of having to provide cover for a work colleague affected by Covid.
“I did eventually put my head on the pillow but my mind was still racing for several hours with thoughts of how Aitchy and I could possibly cobble things together with just 11 players, a barely half-fit Jamie Conn and a couple of our young Under 20 Development lads .
“Thankfully our experienced guys took it upon themselves to serve up a wonderful shift and their example rubbed off on others as everyone pulled together playing backs to the wall stuff .
“ I lost count of the number of times a Cumnock player put his body on the line to ensure our goal remained intact and the lesson I’ve now learned first-hand about the squad is it is packed with good characters willing to stand up and be counted…but there’s not enough of them.”
The former St Mirren, Hull City and Rangers signing took time away from the game following his Meadow Park stint but his return to the terracing slopes, purely on a watching brief this season, has sparked tentative approaches from clubs seeking his services which have not enticed him back into the game …before now.
He admitted: “ Cumnock getting in touch at the start of last week had the juices flowing immediately because I have nothing but fond memories of my time there as a player before joining St Mirren.
“The terrific relationship I enjoyed with people at the club and supporters convinced me to go down for preliminary talks and it’s no exaggeration to say I was blown away by the phenomenal changes to have taken place.
“But for whatever reasons , getting a successful Cumnock team on the park has not been one of them so Aitchy and I are focused on nothing other than taking up the challenge of coming here to put this right.
“My name might be on the manager’s door but this is a joint venture as Aitchy and I have known each other since Primary School age and I’d like to think we are a tried and trusted partnership who see the game the same way and put winning above how our teams play.
Gints added: “ We could have let Paul Burns and Laughlan Miller take the team for the trip through to Benburb but instead we made a point of meeting up with the players after last Wednesday night’s training session and instigating conversations to gently put our ideas across.
“A 2-1 win over the Bens is undoubtedly an impressive start but we’ll be disappointed if there isn’t better to come in the fullness of time.”
Next up for Cumnock is a trip through to Newlandsfield this coming Saturday which marks a return to former pastures for both men, McGinty coming back to the club where he battled relegation under the tutelage of John Richardson and Stevie Docherty in stark contrast to Lok playing legend Aitchison , a fans favourite who skippered the Southside giants to a veritable plethora of silverware prizes during 11 years spent at the heart of various Pollok backlines.
Gints continued: ” There are real good people at Pollok and it will be pleasing to see so many familiar faces again but Aitchy and I are only interested in building on the Benburb result by taking something from the game.
“If that damages Pollok’s title hopes then so be it as our only interest is to try and claim the three points on offer however matching up with Murdie McKinnon’s strong-going side is going to be difficult in the extreme even with Greg Ferry and Findlay Frye (free from a 2 game suspension) at our beck and call again.
“I like to have players of Findlay’s aggressive nature and all-out commitment for the tough games you face away from home in this Premier League and they don’t come much tougher than Pollok in their own backyard.”
Meanwhile, attracting someone of McGinty’s stature in the game is helping to overshadow a storm brewing between the fallen Ayrshire giants and their erstwhile gaffer Tony McInally.
The wording of a statement released by club officials in the wake of Macca’s departure read
“Cumnock Juniors Football Club can confirm Tony McInally and his management team have left the club by mutual agreement however seasoned campaigner Macca , alleged to have signed a new two year contract as recently as last summer has refuted this version of events and adamantly insisted he was “shown the door “
He revealed “It was not a mutual agreement, they sacked me and the fact I did not see it coming has left me pretty disappointed that I was not given the opportunity to build a team, like I was promised I would.”
PLAYING SATURDAY4th DECEMBER 2021 (Kick Offs 1.30PM unless stated): PDM Buildbase Premier League. Cumbernauld Utd v Rutherglen Glencairn, Auchinleck Talbot v Benburb, Bonnyton Thistle v Kilbirnie Ladeside , Glenafton v Largs Thistle, Rossvale v Beith, Hurlford Utd v Rob Roy Irvine Meadow v Blantyre Vics,Clydebank v Troon(Friday 7.30PM), Darvel v Kilwinning Rangers, Pollok v Cumnock.PDM Buildbase Conference League A.Shotts Bon Accord v Forth Wanderers , Craigmark v Arthurlie, Maryhill v Glasgow University,Bellshill Athletic v Whitletts Vics , Lesmahagow v Irvine Vics, Saltcoats Vics v Girvan, Muirkirk v Maybole, Johnstone Burgh v Lugar Boswell.PDM Buildbase Conference League B. Port Glasgow v Ashfield, Newmains Utd v Ardeer Thistle,Renfrew v Thorniewood Utd, Kello Rovers v Royal Albert,Renfrew v Glasgow Utd, Greenock v Dalry Thistle , Cambuslang Rangers v Glasgow Utd,
Carluke Rovers v Gartcairn.PDM Buildbase Conference League C. St Anthonys v Drumchapel Utd, St Rochs v Vale of Clyde, Wishaw v Neilston, Vale of Leven v Lanark Utd, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Yoker Athletic, , Glasgow Perthshire v East Kilbride Thistle, Kilsyth Rangers v Larkhall Thistle.PDM Buildbase Division Four. Campbeltown Pupils v St Peters, Glenvale v Harmony Row, B.S.C. Glasgow v Finnart, Kilsyth Athletic v Harthill Royal.
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