Jags chief: Job was too big for Gary
East Kilbride Thistle director Peter Kelsall reckons the manager’s job at the Showpark was too big for Gary Hamilton.
Hamilton stunned the Jags hierarchy last month when he resigned from his post via WhatsApp while he was on holiday in Lanzarote.
The message was sent after Thistle, who are battling relegation in West Region League One, lost 4-0 to Lesmahagow.
Kelsall brought Hamilton, 48, to the club in the summer after being swayed by his ‘five-year vision’, but within seven months Hamilton had taken them second bottom of the table and decided his time was up.
“I think the job was too big for him eventually,” said Kelsall.
“It’s very disappointing because I was the main instigator in bringing him here.
“He’s a young guy who said he loved the club, but he’s walked away.
“You’d have to ask him why he did it like that.
“Some guys come in and think it’s going to be a doddle, but Junior football isn’t easy.
“He came in from the amateur game, but I thought he would be a good fit. I don’t have any regrets because we like to give young managers opportunities.”
The manner of Hamilton’s exit also sticks in the throat of Kelsall, who, along with chairman Brian McMullan, have helped bring new life to the Showpark in recent years after a torrid time in the early 2010s, which included their social club – the club’s main source of income – burning down in 2012 and a change of ownership.
Kelsall added: “If you make a promise, you’ve got to stick with it.
“Managers will come and go, but myself and the committee have been here for seven years now and worked hard to try and take the club forward.
“But Gray never said anything to us face-to-face about leaving and the committee still haven’t heard from him since.
“He was on holiday and just chucked it. I was very surprised.
“The WhatsApp message was the first we’d heard of it and we had no inclination he was thinking of leaving, nor did any of the coaches.
“It was strange because he was messaging the guys asking for score updates while the Lesmahagow game was going on.”
The pair clashed publicly in October when Hamilton accused Kelsall of breaking a promise on funds for players and it appears this was the start of a breakdown in their relationship.
However, Kelsall said: “It was made clear to Gary the money for players would be in reward for our league position or a bonus at Christmas, not just for bringing in players.
“It would be irresponsible of us to just throw money at players in our position.”
Kelsall and chairman McMullan have installed Stevie McPhillips – who was Hamilton’s assistant – as the new Jags boss until the end of the season.
“The coaches that Gary brought in are going to stay with us until the end of the season at least, so they see something positive in the group that’s there,” said Kelsall.
“Stevie will take the job on and is happy to do so. This league has always been tight, where a couple of wins or a couple of defeats can really change your position in the table.
“It’s a dog-eat-dog situation we are in and it’s going to be hard, but I think we’ll be okay.
“We’ve got games coming up against teams around us.”
Thistle’s clash with Kello at the Showpark on Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, but they will hope for better luck this Saturday when they travel to Keppoch Park to face second place Glasgow Perthshire, kickoff 1.45pm.
Kelsall said: “The boys played really well against Royal Albert in the last game and deserved to win, so hopefully Stevie and the guys can keep that going.”
• The News contacted Hamilton for comment, but he did not respond.