John celebrates in Spanish sunshine
JUNIOR team boss John Hughes celebrated in the Spanish sunshine last Saturday as his Maryhill side avoided relegation from the Super First Division thanks to Yoker Athletic losing out in their final league match against Petershill.
Stephen McGladrigan (2), Luke Crerand, Jordan Murch, Paul Murphy and Ian Gold were on target in an emphatic 6-0 Peasy win that ensured the Whe Ho did not pick up the necessary point to take them above Maryhill in the standings on goal difference.
A number of Maryhill play- ers took in the Holm Park proceedings so Hughes was not short of regular poolside updates out in Benidorm though it wasn’t until the fourth goal went in that he felt relaxed enough to treat himself to a celebratory drink.
He said: “It was more a sense of relief rather than euphoria and I’m so happy for my players and people involved behind the scenes at Lochburn Park like Gordon Anderson and Gordon Boyd now that our survival is assured
“And I have to be satisfied to have stayed in the Super First Division…even if just by the skin of our teeth…considering just where Maryhill were positioned when I took over the reins.
“This was my first ever sea- son in Junior football and an extremely tough one given how things panned out as well as a steep learning curve in many respects.
“If nothing else I should be better prepared for the challenges lying in wait next season and that’s why I intend to be calling the shots by making early close season moves to bolster our playing squad.
“Success is never guaranteed when a team is being put together but I can promise supporters here and now that Maryhill will be a whole lot stronger if our targets come on board.”
Hughes is resigned to losing Gavin Stokes amid growing whispers the erstwhile Petershill midfielder is reputed to have agreed a signing deal to join Kilbirnie Ladeside, while Liverpool-born goalkeeper Jack Baker is reputed to be on Rutherglen Glencairn’s radar to replace former Junior internationalist No.1 J.C. Hutchison who is moving back East to Fauldhouse United.
The Hill gaffer insisted: “Both players were excellent for us last season and I make no secret of wanting to keep them here but the alleged contract offers made to them are simply out of Maryhill’s league.”
Meanwhile, Kilbirnie’s newlyinstalled boss Budgie McGhie is believed to have made a further recruit in highly regarded Greenock midfielder Corey Hughes, while Super Premier Division big guns Hurlford United are said to be close to capturing the signature of exStranraer, Gretna and Morton midfielder Alan Jenkins.
An on the lookout for a new club is Vale of Clyde full-back David McKay who can be contacted on 07920828586.
The pronounced increase of comings and goings on the Junior scene is not restricted to the playing front as word has it that recently resigned East Kilbride Thistle boss Billy Campbell has agreed to rejoin his former club Cambuslang Rangers as part of Paul McColl’s backroom team.
The Jags have filled their vacant post with the appointment of a quartet of former players which sees Alan Patterson assuming the manager’s chair assisted by Billy Dolan, Stephen McClung and Paul Bain, while yet another surprise move sees legendary St Anthony’s figurehead James McKenna come back into the Juniors as co-boss at Shettleston along with Keith Docherty of Broomhouse Amateurs.
Central League Cup quarterfinal: Benburb 3 Lesmahagow 0.