Clark hails remarkable turnaround

Renfrew return to top flight after 11 years

Three seasons ago, Renfrew were homeless and hopeless as they lived out the back of a car.

But, this week, manager Colin Clark has hailed his “special” group of players after they sealed a return to the top flight of Junior football, following a sometimes tumultuous 11 seasons away from the big boys.

May 2014 saw the doors close on Western Park – but it also marked an inevitable relegation to the third rung of the Junior ladder, following a difficult season both on and off of the park.

A ground share arrangement with Johnstone Burgh while New Western Park was under construction, wasn’t always rosy as the Keanie Park pitch took a battering and Renfrew had nowhere to train.

However, from the moment the doors opened on their new facility in 2015, the only way has been up for Clark and Ferry’s men as they beat the odds to join the likes of Auchinleck Talbot, Hurlford United and Glenafton in the new-look Premier Division next season.

But even this campaign hasn’t been without its nerves.

The ’Frew co-boss, who shares the reins with Martin Ferry, was forced to watch the scores roll in for the past three weeks, hoping that results went their way.

Renfrew had been the first team to finish the Super First Division campaign as they set their rivals a target to beat in the promotion push. But it wasn’t without its nerves as both Irvine Meadow and Troon continued to rack up the wins and close in on Renfrew.

Ultimately, Medda’s failure to win by two clear goals against Rutherglen Glencairn on Saturday was enough to get Renfrew over the line – completing a remarkable reversal in fortunes for the once ailing club.

“I’m just happy for everyone at the club”, Clark told Express Sport, “This isn’t about the management team, this is about the players, the committee and the people who have put the hard work in behind the scenes over the course of this journey.

“From where we were, it is unbelievable. We had always had ambitions of getting the club back into the top flight but even we have surprised ourselves by just how quickly we have managed to do it since opening the new ground.

“There were some real dark days along the way but, no disrespect to Johnstone Burgh, it was a really horrible period for us. We were without a ground, without a base, we were searching for training facilities every week and, basically, keeping all the equipment in the car.

“We had gone into the season before knowing that there was every chance that we would be leaving the old ground. We all loved the place, but we had to go. Circumstances dictated that we always sort of knew we would get relegated that season. There is no worse feeling than that, and you find yourself questioning what is next.

“Dropping down a level and without that home was never going to be easy. We had to club together and I think we really forged a bond and a can-do attitude throughout that time. We had to just get on with it.

“Going into the league wasn’t going to be easy, but we managed to consolidate our position and got promoted at the second attempt.

“We managed to do that again this season – and we have surprised ourselves.

“But this is a special side we have got here. They have shown amazing resilience at times this season. It hasn’t always been easy, but we don’t have any individuals here. They have all pulled in the same direction and there has been no lack of quality.”

Clark and Ferry both marked 10 years at the helm of the club this season, but the duo have never had the opportunity to pit their wits against the best Junior sides in the country.

It has been 11 seasons since the club stuttered to relegation, a long way away from their famous Scottish Cup triumph over Carnoustie Panmure just five years beforehand in 2001.

But, instead of taking any form of credit for the club’s resurgence, Clark pointed to the infrastructure at his disposal.

He said: “The new facilities have undoubtedly helped us as a club. The surface is great, we can train on our own ground and the players are well looked after both on and off the park.

“We still can’t compete financially with a lot of sides. We probably had the third smallest budget in the division last season, but we have shown that you don’t always need money to be the best you can be.

“We can’t afford to simply go out and buy players. We have had to rely on a lot of loans, not just this season, but over the last few years.

“We have been lucky that the signings we have made have more often than not turned out to be very successful for us, but the facilities play a part in getting them to the club in the first place.”

One of those loanees was Clark’s own son Cameron, who arrived from Livingston in the early stages of the season.

The full back has been a revelation over the course of the campaign, and the gaffer admits the family affair makes the success a little bit more special.

He added: “I was pleased to get him involved and especially see the impact that he has managed to make this season. He probably had something to prove to the other boys. He didn’t want to just be seen as the manager’s son. His inclusion has always been more than justified and I feel he has acquitted himself brilliantly.

“It has been fantastic to share promotion with him. It is up to Cameron now to kick on. He is heading back to a Premiership side now hopefully a better player. What an opportunity for him.”

But instead of enjoying the break, Clark insists there is no time for him to rest on his laurels.

As the players now go off to enjoy their summer holidays, the Renfrew management team are already beginning to plot their next step as they look to make the side competitive in the top flight.

With a short holiday planned later in the summer, Clark revealed there is no time like the present to get the ball rolling.

He laughed: “I might get some golf in, but, in all seriousness, there won’t be much time to have a break from the football.

“We need to be pro-active and go out there and look at players, identify guys that we would like to sign, as well as players we want to offer contracts to.

“This is actually one of our busiest periods. The summer is never easy, and it never stops.

“We want to give this team the best possible chance to succeed, and if bringing in some new players is the way to do that then that’s what we will have to do.

“There will be some difficult decisions to make at times, but every single one of them will be made with the best interests of the club and the team.”