EK take Humph in coup
really teach folk. My journey in footba l l has been different. I never played or managed at the top level but was 10 years in a finance company, a team leader at 24, managing people, addressing groups, productivity. “Most footbal lers never lea r n these transferable skills. “After Gretna, I didn’t want to go back into an office. I love being on the training pitch. “I never said I wanted to be a manager but inside me I knew the right time would come.” He still had doubts when the call came to join City, with the side f lirting with relegation back to the Lowland League. He admitted: “It was a r i sk . I w a s talking to Peter at Falkirk a nd s a id , ‘ What if I get Edinburgh relegated? Where would I go from there?’ He told me it wouldn’t make me a bad coach.
“So I thought, ‘Right I can do this.’ I’ve done harder things – taken Falkirk in a Cup Final, had great seasons with Hibs youths.
“The realisation of the task didn’t hit me until two or three games in. I thought: ‘I have risked everything.’”
That seems distant now from their view at the top of the table and looking ahead to an Irn Bru Challenge Cup quarterfinal against Alloa next month.
But McDonaugh said : “There’s no real secret. It’s everything you do. It’s not just signing players, it’s how we train, the intensity we train at.
“The support staff too. When I joined there was no physio or doctor about the place – now they are in three times a week.
“Pl ayer s l i ke Danny Handling say they didn’t get the level of care they are now getting even at full-time clubs.
“This is a professional club and I expect things to be done to a standard.” East Kilbride have signed former Motherwell winger Chris Humphrey – just days after he announced his retirement.
The Jamaican, who made 132 appearances for the Steelmen between 2009 and 2013, put pen to paper with the Lowland League side before yesterday’s Scottish Cup clash with Spartans.
Last week the 31-year-old, who last played for English Nat ional League side Ba r row in Februar y, announced he was hanging up his boots due to injury.
He tweeted: “I’ve been playing for the last year or so with a lot of pain and I have decided I can’t play through that pain anymore.
“I would like to thank all the fans at every club I have been at, whether you have cheered me or booed me. I’ve appreciated you all over my career and I’ve always given 100 per cent every game.”
However, Kilby have now persuaded him to play on in Scotland’s fifth tier.
Interim manager Stuart Malcolm, taking charge following Brian Kerr’s move to Partick to become Gary Caldwell’s No.2, said: “Chris has been training with the squad and has looked sharp.
“It’s a deal the club have been working on for a week or two and Chris is a player we feel can signif icantly improve our options with his quality and experience.
“We are delighted to complete the deal.”