Former Rangers defender begins new adventure
Former Rangers defender Ross Perry has revealed that he was lured into signing for Darvel because he felt stale in the professional game.
The ambition shown by the Junior side also made it difficult for him to turn down their advances.
The Ayrshire club have their sights set on working their way through Scottish football’s pyramid system and eventually becoming a SPFL side.
To that end, this summer they have put in a new playing surface, and upgraded their dressing rooms to be up there with the best in the UK.
That has been facilitated, thanks to investment of around £50,000 by John Gall of Brownings The Bakers, who manufacture the legendary Kilmarnock Pie.
29-year-old Perry now wants to make sure they produce just as tasty a product on the pitch in the next 12 months.
He spent eight years on Rangers’ books after signing in 2006, but he only played 29 first-team games in a troubled period for the club due to their financial problems.
One or two eyebrows will have been raised when people saw I’d signed for Darvel
He won a Division Three Championship medal in 2013 following loan spells with Oxford United and Falkirk.
He left Rangers for Raith Rovers and his career since has taken him to Northampton Town, Brechin City, Clyde, Albion Rovers and Dumbarton.
But the Darvel challenge has really whetted his appetite.
“One or two eyebrows will have been raised when people saw I joined Darvel,” Perry admitted.
“I’ve been a professional footballer for a decade so it’s understandable to ask why I wouldn’t want to stay at that level.
“But when you become aware of the ambition of this club, and their plans for the next two or three years, then everyone will appreciate the decision.
“When I had initial discussions with Darvel, I was impressed. Then I met the manager, Mick Kennedy, and he absolutely sold it to me. He is extremely ambitious.
“We first want to win promotion to the SJFA West Region Premiership and do well in the Scottish Cup. Then it will hopefully be a matter of building on that, season to season.”
New manager Kennedy has also attracted former Dundee, Alloa Athletic and Ayr United stopper, Daryll Meggatt, to their set-up, as well as former Clyde winger, Eddie Ferns.
“Mick
has been
highly successful in the Scottish amateur game,” said Perry. “It’s a natural progression for him to take this next step, and he really believes he can deliver good times to the club.
“Mick has an infectious personality, and a big part of the pull was wanting to play for the manager. That is vital.
“You need to work for good people, and everyone at Darvel is striving towards the same goal and are all pulling in the same direction.
“There has been some big investment made, and the new dressing rooms are frightening. I think they based them on the ones at the new Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur.
“You have your own personal locker and personal phone charging point. It’s all to the highest of standards.
“On the park, I probably felt a wee bit stale in the professional game and needed something fresh to stimulate me again. I’ve been given the ideal opportunity.
“I’ve signed a one-year contract, but I don’t regard that as being a move for a year, and then going back into the professional game.
“I see this being a working relationship for a few years to come.
“The Ayrshire junior game has a brilliant reputation, and the atmosphere generated at some of the games is as good as anywhere.
“I know for sure that you need to be mentally strong to handle it, and it is a challenge I’m looking forward to.
“We could all see what happened to Auchinleck Talbot last season in the William Hill Scottish Cup when they defeated Ayr United before going on to play Hearts.
“They also retained the Scottish Junior Cup, so they deserve enormous credit.
“Financially, it was a very lucrative campaign for them, but we are striving to catch them and, ultimately, overtake them.
“Of course, that doesn’t happen overnight. But the hard work has started. We will not rest.”
Perry looks back with fondness at his career, and said: “I enjoyed the journey in the lower leagues with Rangers when Ally McCoist was the manager.
“It was an honour and a privilege to play for Glasgow Rangers, and that is something that can never be taken away from me.
“But now I just feel it is time for a change. I believe I have the best two or three years of my career ahead of me, and I want Darvel to benefit.
“Many of the players in the opposition sides will be of high quality. That’s all good and adds that extra edge – not that I think it will be needed.”