KILBY STEP UP BOSS SEARCH
Caretaker Paterson set to miss out on role
Jim Paterson is set to be overlooked for the East Kilbride job after the club chose to open up an application process last week.
The 40-year-old has been in caretaker charge since November, but instead of appointing him on a permanent basis, Paterson will now be competing against a host of applicants, expected to include the likes of former Irvine Meadow boss and EK local, Brian McGinty (pictured, far right).
Reacting to the news, Paterson said: “It’s a strange situation for me having to apply for it, but what can I do? It’s a difficult one.
“The club are always going to want to have the best manager in place.
“I’ve always said I want this job and that hasn’t changed.
“The club have been respectful. They showed me and Dean Shanks (the assistant manager) the statement before it went out and checked we were okay with it.
“They encouraged us to apply for it and I accept they want to make sure they get the best person for the job that is out there.
“I’ve addressed the situation with the players and their focus is on themselves and doing what they can to win matches, because they can’t do anything about what happens off the pitch.”
Paterson stepped into the role in November when Stuart Malcolm left for League One
Forfar. Malcolm was in interim charge at EK for four month before he was confirmed as the successor to Brian Kerr in February last year.
A club spokesman said: “Despite a disappointing League campaign in 2019/20, the club remains undeterred and dedicated to our ambition of promotion to the SPFL, and this recruitment process is intended to leave no stone unturned so that we can identify the best possible managerial candidate to take us forward.
“The board will spend the next fortnight gathering applications from interested parties, and will then prepare a shortlist of candidates for further review.
“The club will make no further comment or speculate on parties linked with the role, fully respecting the confidential nature of the recruitment process, and will only comment further when the exercise has been concluded in full.”
EK host BSC Glasgow in the league on Saturday. Turn to page 67 for our preview.