New manager is aiming for a top four finish
’Gow welcome ambitious Schoneville
New Lesmahagow boss Neil Schoneville has set his sights on a top four finish in next season’s West of Scotland League Conference A, and hopes there are exciting times ahead.
The 38-year-old defender has taken over at Craighead Park after Robert Irving moved ‘upstairs’ to the committee, alongside assistant manager Alan Colquhoun and coach Nicki Paterson.
Schoneville and former Motherwell, Hamilton and Albion Rovers midfielder Paterson will also be registered as players in what the gaffer hopes is a 15 or 16-man squad.
To that end, he has already secured Kyle Weir, Lewis Hill, Jordan Brown, Darren Lygate, Gary Nicholson, Glen Eadie and captain Jordan Whitefield on extended contracts, and hopes to tie up another eight this evening.
Lesmahagow will start training on May 17, ahead of a July 17 league start, and Schoneville is working hard behind the scenes.
It’s exciting times for the South Lanarkshire side, and Schoneville said: “It’s fresh blood in the place, we’re going to try and get it interesting and exciting and see what we can do there.
“The target is top four, that’s what we want to get, and that gets us into the Championship for the next season, so that’s the main aim.
“I’m buzzing to get going; it has been busy trying to get players, so it’s been non-stop for the last week or so.
“I’ve got seven re-signed; Jordan Whitefield was already signed on a three-year deal and he’s the captain, so he’s in, and I’ve got another eight coming up tonight, so hopefully we’ll have 14 or 15 after that.
“We’ve got another couple we’re waiting getting back to us – new players – so we’re waiting on them coming back to us, and I’ll be signing on as a player as well for emergencies.
“Nicki, who is my coach, he will be signing on as a player as well, so that’s another option.
“I’ve spoken to quite a number of guys to try and bolster the squad up a bit, so fingers crossed we get them – there are a couple of good players there that we’re trying to get, which will give us competition for places.
“We should have a good base there.”
The management team have a wealth of experience between them. Schoneville has played for Rutherglen Glencairn, Larkhall Thistle and Gartcairn, and spent last season on loan at Bellshill when Lesmahagow withdrew.
Goalkeeper Colquhoun has played for a number of junior clubs, including Lanark United and Carluke Rovers, while Paterson has played professionally.
Being an existing player at ’Gow made it easier for Schoneville to take the reins from legend Robert Irving, but says the veteran gaffer is available for advice should he need it.
Schoneville said: “It’s a good opportunity and it’s very exciting. I knew what kind of players were there, and I didn’t have to actually go and have a look at them.
“Me and Alan have about 50 years’ experience between us of junior football, and Nicki has 20 years in professional football.
“He played for Motherwell, Hamilton, went to America for about 15 or 16 years, came back here and has played with East Fife, Stenhousemuir and Albion Rovers, so Nicki brings the professional side to the club and give it more of a feel.
“Robert is on the committee, so he will be there if I need him to lend a hand, for me to chat to and ask questions, so it’s good to have him there.”
It will then just be a case of getting started, and Schoneville said: “July 17 is the start date, so hopefully we get he go-ahead and we’re good to go, to get back to a bit of normality and maybe get fans back into the grounds as well.”