Kilby press on with new manager process
PAUL THOMSON
East Kilbride Football Club insist the coronavirus pandemic won’t impact on their process to appoint a new manager – with the club hoping to unveil their next gaffer within a fortnight.
The vast majority of the sporting world is on lockdown for the foreseeable future, with COVID-19 wreaking havoc across the world.
Last week the Scottish Football Association suspended all games from grassroots level, all the way to the top of the sport and Kilby’s Lowland League campaign is now at a complete standstill.All training at K-Park has been called off on the advice of club doctor, Sam Miller, with players told to stay away.
However, work will push on at K-Park to finally find a replacement for Stuart Malcolm, who left the club in November last year.
An EKFC spokesman said: “The club can confirm that the recruitment process for the vacant manager position remains ongoing, with the aspiration of an appointment by the end of March.”
Meanwhile, the man in caretaker charge of Kilby, David Proctor, hopes his side will be able to finish their season, but admits clubs remain in the dark over how things will pan out.
Kilby are the reigning champions in the Lowland League, but they are set to lose their crown with leaders Kelty Hearts a massive 31 points ahead of seventh-place EK.
There’s between five and seven games remaining for sides in the Lowland League season and Proctor said: “It’s a case of wait and see at the moment.
“At the level we are at, we need to take our lead from the Scottish FA.
“There aren’t large numbers of fans who attend games in our league, so whether we could complete be in a position to complete our games at some point soon, I don’t know.
“There’s still three cup competitions to play out and it could be that they take a hit and we can still get the league season finished.
“We are lucky to have the advice and expertise of Sam and the club will continue to look to him for guidance.
“It is an unprecedented time.” A physiotherapist at Hairmyres Hospital in the town, Proctor added: “It’s been business as usual for me.
“As a health care official, you look after yourself at work and trust in the advice we are given.”