Marccanbea vital spark for Lie as Mackie rings changes
NO.1 FOR JUNIORS
ARTHURLIE boss Chris Mackie is tipping new striker Marc McKenzie to be a roaring success with the Barrhead club next season.
The ambitious gaffer is remaining coy to a large extent over his plans for an expected raft of newcomers about to descend on Dunterlie after retaining only four of last year’s squad.
However, he had no such reservations when discussing the merits of those new signings whose identities have been the talk of social media in recent weeks.
And on 31-year-old McKenzie, someone who has never previously played at Junior level, he waxed lyrical about the prospects in store for Lie fans.
He said: “There is a slight adjustment to be made when first coming into the Juniors, but that will not present a major problem for Marc whose qualities are well known to me as we previously played together with Albion Rovers.
“He also had a spell at Clyde and in total has accumulated over 400 senior appearances so you won’t be surprised to hear he is one very dedicated professional for whom giving his all on the training pitch and winning games on a Saturday mean everything.
“He can play up through the middle or in a wider role and I’m pretty sure his exciting style of play will soon establish him as a fans favourite.”
Mackie also confirmed former Troon and Auchinleck Talbot playmaker Colin Spence, Chris Lennon from Cumbernauld United, as well as ex-Pollok trio Michael Daly, Chris Walker and Kieran McAleenan among his list of summer recruits.
“Word leaked out when we were closing in on deals for these players, but that’s maybe due to a lot of other clubs also having them on their signing radar,” said Mackie.
“They are a five-strong core of very experienced Juniors who I imagine will provide the spine of our new-look side and I’m particularly keen to see what Spenny brings to the table.
“I look upon him as a midfieldgeneral type possessing the ability to pick a pass but even more important is his willingness to take control and organise the guys around him.”
Talbot legend Spence is determined to make the most of his latest move after his transfer to Troon did not go as well as expected.
The 32-year-old said: “This will be the first time I’ve played for a club outwith Ayrshire and I’m both excited and looking forward to the new challenge.
“There were opportunities for me to move elsewhere, but one meeting with the manager Chris sold me on Arthurlie as his enthusiasm and desire to be a winner is very infectious. He has decent ideas about the players he wants to bring together and form an Arthurlie team.
“Another aspect where he differs from other managers is in presenting every player with a print out of his mapped-out pre-season schedule of training sessions and games.
“If his comprehensive list is anything to go by, then I can’t see fitness being a problem for anyone in our dressing room.”
Hurlford United, one of the teams credited with an interest in Spence, have completed the signing of ex-Dumbarton midfielder Allan Jenkins whose last club was Ballymena United in Northern Ireland.
United manager Darren Henderson has further strengthened his playing options by snapping up Beith flank player Calum Watt who was previously on the Blair Park books.
BEITH’S engine-room battler Tommy Martin is thought to be a target of Rob Roy whose depleted defensive ranks following the departures of Craig Buchanan (Pollok), Sean McCall (Cambuslang Rangers) and Kevin Green (Queen’s Park) could bring about a move for Petershill’s experienced stopper Kevin Nicoll.
Young centre-back McCall is one of five definite new faces arriving at Somervell Park, along with Jordan Love (Gartcairn), Cammy Lawson (Lanark Utd), Paul Hewitt (Johnstone Burgh) and Adam Boyle (East Kilbride Thistle).
Yet another Super First Division side apparently set on bolstering their playing hand ahead of the new season are Cumbernauld United.
Their latest additions are striking duo Justin Begg (Maryhill) and Willie Wells (Irvine Meadow), goalkeeper Jordan Brown (Rob Roy) and Andy Sinclair (Thorniewood United).
Meanwhile, back in the fold at Central First Division outfit St Roch’s is goalscoring frontman Daryll Naismith, who turned out last season with crack amateurs West Park United.