Gints desperate to prove Medda are in a different league after strong start
THERE’S a misconception among Irvine Meadow supporters that normal service has resumed and the crisis is over.
Some might think it an understandable one in light of new manager Brian McGinty having overseen two massive cup wins in his three games at the helm that preceded the somewhat unlucky reign of Ross Wilson, stretching over 13 competitive outings and which hitherto yielded up a mere handful of victories over 90 minutes.
There is no denying the twin appointments of Gints and his No.2 Stevie Aitchison (both former Medda players) appear to have lifted morale on the terraces as well as out on the pitch, however the soon-to-be 41-year-old boss wants to play down the expectations of any followers thinking the good times are on the way back.
Speaking in the aftermath of the 3-2 West of Scotland Cup victory over derby rivals Kilwinning Rangers, the East Kilbride-based gaffer insisted: “It’s a great feeling to have competed so well against a couple of tough opponents and still be going strong in the main Cup competitions but truth is both Stevie and I have our sights trained on other aims.
“We believe a club of Irvine Meadow’s stature in the game has to be playing at the very top Junior level – the Super Premier Division – which maybe explains our disappointment over two points being dropped in the 2-2 draw with Cumbernauld United that was sandwiched between the two Cup ties.
“League reconstruction at the end of this season means a top-six finish will get us into the promotion reckoning, but we have a lot of ground to make up if we are to get there so putting points on the board particularly against those teams in and around us in the table is a necessity.
“Kello Rovers coming to Meadow Park in the league this week is therefore huge for us and is shaping as a mustwin game.”
FIVE changes were made to Medda’s starting lineup for the trip to Kilwinning and McGinty refuses to rule out further tweaks ahead of facing Kello.
He said: “Stevie and I always felt there was a nucleus of a team here and we promised from day one to give players a chance to impress and they have grabbed it with both hands not least of all against Kilwinning when the guys brought into the team were excellent.
“Those changes were made because we wanted to set our stall out to play in a certain way but Kello represent a different challenge so we may want to tweak things again this week.
“What is encouraging is the positivity shown in our three games up to now but nobody should be getting carried away because our promising start can easily be undone by thinking we are now the finished article.
“As far as I’m concerned the honeymoon is now over and the real hard graft is about to begin with four home league games between now and Christmas as well as our Scottish Cup trek to face Dyce.”
IN other Super First Division contests , tabletoppers Petershill will be out to make amends for their surprise weekend defeat at the hands of Whitletts Vics by stretching their unbeaten league record to 10 games when taking to the road to face Kilsyth Rangers.
Second-placed Cambuslang Rangers will not find it easy to stay on the Peasy coat-tails against an improving Troon down at Portland Park but an even tougher gig awaits third placed Renfrew in heading through to take on a Larkhall Thistle side that ran out 4-1 winners in the West of Scotland Cup clash between the clubs on Saturday.
Meanwhile, St Rochs have revealed a willingness to listen to offers for bustling front man Baboucarr Mussa placed on the transfer list at his own request after his failure to hold down a regular jersey has led to him submitting a transfer request.