NO.1 FOR JUNIORS Sneddon back in the saddle at Wishy after Brogey’s shock exit
HOPING to prove again there is life in the old dog yet is highly acclaimed former Junior boss Rab Sneddon, who has agreed to take charge of Wishaw for today’s Scottish Junior Cup fourthround clash with Forth Wanderers.
Persuading the 65-year-old to come out of retirement has to be seen as a real feather in the cap of the Lanarkshire outfit in light of the legendary Pollok gaffer having overseen no fewer than three Super Premier Division title triumphs during his time at Newlandsfield that followed on from successful managerial stints with Blantyre Vics, Shotts Bon Accord, Maryhill and Bellshill Athletic.
And speaking last night, Rab revealed how he hesitated only briefly when leading Wishaw club official Bill Kilgour phoned him this week asking for his help.
“I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of people thinking I’m totally out of touch with the Juniors considering I was last in a dugout in 2013 when Stevie Docherty’s resignation at Pollok left Franny McNeil needing a hand with a playing squad containing the likes of Richie Barr, Iain Diack and Willie Howie.
“There was to be no fairytale ending back then because my last ever game was a defeat by Petershill j ust before the club appointed Tony McInally so I more or less faded away into the background afterwards.
“And a spectating role at various games has been my lot ever since however over the past year or so I have helped my son Robert with the running of his Bellshill Athletic team but only with training sessions as he is very much his own man on match-days and doesn’t need me looking over his shoulder.
“Working alongside him and his players has been good for me as well as thoroughly enjoyable and he was the person whose opinion I looked for when Bill phoned out of the blue this week with his request.
“Robert said I should go for it and try to help Wishaw over their temporary blip and his approval meant everything so I went along and met the players for the first time when taking charge of their midweek training session.
”And my first impression is very favourable because if the approach and enthusiasm in today’s game is on par with their application at training then I believe the team can do very well.”
Sneddon seconded the training-ground assistance of one-time Shotts Bon Accord full-back Paul Burns, surprisingly ousted from his managerial post at Lanark United this week, and the Scottish Junior Cup medal winner will also be alongside him in the dugout at The Beltane this afternoon.
Rab added: “I simply couldn’t do everything on my own so it was great to have Paul available to help, but whether he now throws his hat in the ring for the manager’s job after getting a taste of how things operate at Wishaw is up to him.
“My own position is that I am only here on an interim basis until the club makes an appointment and I have given my word to hang around until then be it just for today’s cup tie or longer if the club officials ned time to consider their options.
“I got a real lift from working with the players this week and I don’t expect things to be any different today, particularly as a victory would put Wishaw into the Junior Cup’s last 16 and a meeting with Yoker Athletic next Saturday.
“Forth are a complete unknown quantity to me so I will be turning to some of my contacts in the Junior game for word on them however for sure it will be more the case that we will try to make the most of our own strengths rather than set our stall out to counter what the opposition has to offer.”
THE wizened gaffer owned up to being left surprised at Wishaw’s parting of the ways with erstwhile team boss John Brogan.
He said: “Results were good under Brogey and he’ll be a hard act to follow for whosoever comes along next however I imagine Wishaw might be inundated with applicants given there are a number of out-of-work managers desperate to get back in the game.”
Wishaw have refuted suggestions of an approach to their former manager John McKeown (currently coaching Cambuslang Rangers ) however their search for a successor to Brogan could take an unusual twist depending upon the outcome of today’s Cup encounter because terracing whispers reckon Forth boss Jamie McKenzie is on their radar.
Meanwhile in another surprise development, Dunipace’s management team of Gareth Alexander and Craig Cowan have tendered their resignations with the Denny based club sitting third from bottom of the Central Second Division pile.