Kelty scoop

Fergie fever takes hold in Fife after new boss move

Kelty Hearts chairman Ian Thomson insists Barry Ferguson fever has already taken hold in Fife.

Ferguson, 40, and his assistant Bob Malcolm were swamped by supporters at New Central Park on Thursday as they met the playing squad following their confirmation as the new management team of the Lowland League leaders.

Thomson has already been inundated with media requests and punters looking to secure season tickets, while hospitality for all-but two of Kelty’s matches for the whole season have now been snapped up.

The Fifers have also been forced to put on an extra supporters’ bus for today’s Scottish Cup clash against Peterhead, despite the fact Ferguson does not officially take the helm until Monday.

Thomson was acutely aware that the appointment of the former Scotland and Rangers captain would make waves but, after 40 years at the helm of Kelty, even he has been taken aback by the furore.

“It has been an absolute roller-coaster for us,” said Thomson.

“We finally got it over the line on Thursday. Within a few hours of the announcement we had a couple of hundred supporters come down to training to see Barry, which was just crazy.

“It was a great experience. He met the players, met the rest of the committee and all those fans came down and got their pictures taken with him.

“We have been inundated with all sorts of requests. We’ve had to put on another bus to go up to Peterhead.

“Like every other club at this level, the chairman also ends up in charge of

hospitality, so I’ve been dealing with that.

“It is in meltdown.

“We’ve now only got two games from now until the end of the season where the hospitality suite isn’t sold out.

“We’re fielding so many calls about buying season tickets, so the excitement has been immediate and we are loving every minute of it.

“When you appoint someone like Barry Ferguson you realise the impact it is going to make. But can you prepare for it? Probably not. The furore has all been a bit surreal.”

Thomson is adamant that luring Ferguson to Kelty following his departure from Clyde last year will be a shot in the arm to football in Fife, while illustrating the potential platform afforded to young coaches by the Lowland League.

“When there is someone like Barry Ferguson, who has so much to offer to the game, just sitting in the house, we made the decision to make him our number one target,” continued Thomson.

“It is brilliant for Kelty, brilliant for Fife and the whole of the Lowland League that he was ready to accept the offer.

“To have someone of Barry’s stature come down to the grassroots to get back into the game is a major coup to everyone involved in the game at this level.”

Kelty claimed the East of Scotland title last season in their first campaign since cutting ties with the Junior ranks and have hit the ground running in the Lowland League, sitting ahead of East Kilbride at the summit by virtue of a superior goal difference.

And Thomson believes Ferguson has been buoyed by the positivity as he seeks to build on the fine work done by former boss Tam Courts, who resigned last week.

“Normally when you bring a new manager in, they are usually coming into clubs that are further down the league or in real trouble,” added Thomson.

“However, Barry has come in and said ‘this isn’t broken, so there’s not much I need to fix.

“He’s a happy chappy, coming into a club that is well-run, ambitious and everything is really positive looking forward.”

Pictures: SNS. The appointment of Barry Ferguson as Kelty Hearts manager has been hailed as “brilliant” for Fife.

Assistant boss Bob Malcolm.