Boss reflects on New Central Park ‘journey’ Kelty ‘on the right path’ as targets set for maintaining standards
HE’S described his time at Kelty Hearts so far as “a journey” - and Michael Tidser believes that they’re on the path he wants them to go on.
The New Central Park player / manager joined the club in early 2020, when they were still a Lowland League side, and almost four years on finds himself in charge of a side sitting fourth in League One.
Tidser’s team have been easy on the eye on their way to six wins, and 21 points, from 14 league games played, scoring 22 goals in the process, during his first season in charge since he succeeded John Potter in the summer.
“I said to them at the start of the season it was a journey, and I want to take boys with me,” Tidser said.
“It’s been a journey since I started at Kelty to be honest with you.
“When I first went in the Lowland League, we obviously won that, then had to do it again through Covid (Kelty were awarded the 2019/2020 title on a points per game basis after the leagues were called due to the outbreak of COVID-19).
“Then the new manager came in, Thommo (Kevin Thomson), and that was a journey because we won League Two.
“Then there was a reset in the summer there with the guys leaving (Potter, sporting director Andrew Barrowman, and general manager Dean McKenzie), and now it’s up to me to take reins and try and take it in the direction I wanted it to go in.
“We’re on the path. “It’s just about maintaining that and keep striving to be better every single time we’re on that training pitch, and every single game we play.
“It’s testament to the lads and the staff. I’m just pleased for everybody at the club because it is a real team effort.
“There’s volunteers and people behind the scenes that probably don’t get the recognition they deserve, but I don’t take them for granted, that’s for sure, and I let them know.”
Tidser added: “I said in one of my first team talks right at the start of the season that we’ll need everybody.
“That’s a fact. “Whether you’re disappointed you’re not playing, or whether you’re not playing as many minutes, you will be used, and it’s down to them.
“The boys who have came in have been great. “That’s what I want. “I’d rather be in that situation than be right at the very start of the season when I had a really thin squad and was trying to get through those cup games at the start, and trying to bed in our ideas, in terms of a coaching staff.”