Newmains get the ball rolling
Management put players through paces
Newmains United’s new management team are on the ball, as they became the first county side to kick-off pre-season training.
Their first session at Victoria Park on Monday night took place under the watchful eye of manager Kevin Muirhead and assistant Donald Mckinlay, who were in optimistic mood as they set out their stall.
Kevin said: “Things are going well. We had a squad meeting last Saturday to outline to them our intentions and how we were planning to go forward.
“It’s a bit early for junior teams but I was keen to get them in for a chat and get the guys together.
“The response has been very good; the players are starting to get the idea we’re talking about. We had a good turnout for the first session.
“We have retained eight players from last season, and I was hoping to retain goalkeeper Gareth Hallford, but he has opted to move to Dalry Thistle.
“He was a big asset last season and a big loss to the club, but he goes with our best wishes.
“Now we’re in the market for a goalkeeper.”
Former Hamilton Accies backroom technician Muirhead added: “We have retained eight players from last season and are talking with 16 trialists. We had eight in on Monday night and expected another eight on Wednesday night.
“We’ll go through the usual preseason activity, and assess their fitness, then move on to pre-season friendlies.
“Myself and my assistant Donald Mckinlay sat down with Paul Mcmahon, who runs the Newmains United amateur side, to see how best we can utilise this facility to nurture and bring on players.
“Club chairman Bill Carrigan, committee member Stewart Mcmillan and I talk daily, we’re happy to keep pushing the club forward as we keep looking for the right kind of player.
“Guys of the park here work really well for the club – and with a community interest as well, as they try to get the people of Newmains to know who and where are, and get them through the gates on a Saturday.”
Chairman Bill Carrigan said: “We want to involve the community as much as we can, not just in a footballing sense.
“We are looking at plans to enhance the facilities, including the creation of a kitchen facility, so that we could offer Victoria Park as a community facility.
“We’re also having talks with Epilepsy Scotland to involve them in our 10th birthday tournament on July 16/17, and share in the proceeds in the memorial of a former player who recently died from an epileptic fit.” Pre-season fixtures