THE PIE’S THE LIMIT

PYRAMID MINNOWS HAVE BIG PLANS Ambitious Darvel target a spot in the Championship within the next decade

THE chairman is the brains behind the world famous Kilmarnock Pie while the gaffer founded the Black Rooster chicken restaurant chain.

And together John Gall and Mick Kennedy believe they have a recipe for success at Darvel Football Club.

The Ayrshire minnows will take their place in the newlyestablished West of Scotland League in the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid when the season finally gets the green light.

But Kennedy has already set a shortterm plan he hopes will see the ambitious club work their way into the SPFL proper within five years. Within 10 they want to be in the Championship. The Vale have ruffled a few feathers with their summer signing splurge which has seen ex-Hamilton and St Mirren midfielder Jordan Kirkpatrick joined by former Buddies and Ross County playmaker Ian McShane. The duo join ex-Dunfermline ace Ryan Thomson, East Fife skipper Daryll Meggatt and Rangers youngster Ross Perry at Recreation Park. Not bad for a club more used to the lower rungs of the juniors and from a town with a population of just 4500.

But thanks to the business acumen of chairman Gall – MD of Brownings the Bakers – and the dugout nous of Kennedy, the club are confident of achieving their lofty goals.

Kennedy said: “When I came in last year the plan was to make Darvel the best club in junior football within three years.

“But then the pyramid system kicked in and changed the dynamics. We want to be in the SPFL in the next three to five years, then to try to get up to the Championship within 10.

“We want to build a core group over the next few years who are young and hungry.

“We put a journey in front of them and say, ‘Go and achieve that.’ It’s a chance to be part of something exciting. Everything we do football wise I’d say is up there with part-time Championship clubs.

“How we look after players, sports science stuff, strength and conditioning coaches.

“The players have everything they need to be the best they want to be.”

Darvel’s progression has raised eyebrows across the Scottish football map.

But Kennedy insists it’s all built on a solid foundation and business plan.

“If people think there’s pots of gold here then they are wrong,” he said. “Yes, we have one of the top budgets at our level but it’s not throwing outrageous money at players.

“The chairman supports us in terms of improving the infrastructure which is crucial.

“But we have a successful lottery, advertising boards, we have an ex-pat supporter out in America who supports the club to a degree and the gates have gone from 60 to 300 on average.

“We hope to take that to 500-600 soon.”

Darvel are just one of a number of hungry clubs outside the top four divisions looking to shake up Scottish football in the coming years.

Kennedy added: “Clubs like Kelty Hearts, BSC Glasgow, Bonnyrigg and then under that Auchinleck, Pollok, Kilwinning, ourselves … within the next five to 10 years I think we will see change.

“It should have a positive impact on the clubs at the bottom of the SPFL to reinvigorate themselves.

“Surely that can only be good for Scottish football.”