Greenock gaffers to call it quits
Mooney: ‘We can’t keep the club’s head above water’
WHAT a difference 11 months can make in Junior football circles…just ask Stevie Mooney and Stevie Dallas.
The pair have revealed they will be stepping down as Greenock’s management team at the end of the season, a year after taking up their posts and despite saving the club from back-to-back relegations.
The club’s stock rose after the duo helped secure a place in the Central League Cup final in the wake of Greenock’s relegation from the Super First Division.
A subsequent 7-1 Somervell Park finale mauling from Pollok did not affect Greenock’s new standing in the game and they were installed as one of the frontrunners for promotion from the Central First Division this time out.
But it was only last Monday night that safety was secured after fellow strugglers Vale of Clyde suffered a 2-1 defeat against Larkhall Thistle on the same night Greenock were going down 4-1 to Thorniewood United.
It was in the Robertson Park dressing room after the match that Mooney and Dallas told the players they would be quitting their management roles.
Mooney admitted last night: “I will forever hold a soft spot for Greenock Juniors in light of the many enjoyable times here in my first stint as manager.
“But Stevie and I simply can’t continue to hold the club’s head above water.
“It’s been nothing but hard work right from the start of this season with only a couple of elderly committee men in Alex Wilson and Billy Barbour to help out.
“And not being able to offer so much as the relative basics of training gear has led to us hitting a brick wall in our attempts to attract new players, which is why Dallas and myself have resorted to turning out for the team.
“I have to say the guys in our dressing room are a terrific bunch and our regard for them is such that we intend to hang fire and see things out until the end of season.
Taking over will be Thomas Molloy and Shaun Dillon. “It’s the right decision”, said Mooney. “They are both bornand- bred Greenock lads whose great contacts at amateur level down here will be a godsend for the club and I truly wish them every success for the future.”
Greenock have four league fixtures to fulfil, starting with a trip to Glasgow to face the Vale of Clyde – a must-win for the home side, said Mooney.
He added: “The best side we have played this season are Cambuslang Rangers, but they hit a wobbly patch after the turn of the year that enabled Larkhall Thistle and St Roch’s to close the gap.
“However, both of them are also showing signs of being affected by nerves and right now I wouldn’t like to hazard a guess as to which one of the trio will miss out on going up.
“At the other end of the table, Johnstone Burgh are already down and five teams are battling to avoid the remaining two drop spots.
“However Neilston have so many games in hand that I see them clambering clear, so my money is on Bellshill Athletic and the Tin Pail taking a tumble.
“It’s only fair that we continue to give our all and try to pick up points in what games are left, even if our No.1 aim is to try and go the whole way again in the Central League Cup.”