Buffs face vote on move from historic Abbey Park
NEW YEAR could kickstart a new beginning for Kilwinning Rangers.
The Premiership outfit will stage a ballot next week to decide whether to continue playing their matches at Abbey Park – their home round since 1929.
The vote will decide whether to relocate to Kilwinning Sports Centre in the Pennyburn area of the Ayrshire town at the start of next season.
Some Buffs supporters have already voiced their opposition to the proposal.
However, gaffer Chris Strain reckons Kilwinning’s migration is forced on them and is about trying to build for the future rather than escaping the past.
He said: “The many successes down through the years and, in particular, the magnificent 1999 season will forever be part of the Kilwinning Rangers folklore.
“But there comes a time when you have to park up nostalgic thoughts and take stock of what’s best for the club.
“That time is now when we have dressing rooms built in 1983 that are on their very last legs and, along with many other parts of the ground, are requiring major refurbishment to the tune of almost £100,000 just to bring them up to scratch.
“Abbey Park is draining away monies that have to be set aside for essential repairs and this in turn means less investment is available for the team.
“And you will also need to find the same £100,000 sum again if Kilwinning Rangers are to be made ready for licensing as many other leading Ayrshire clubs have done already.
“To run the risk of being left behind by doing nothing would be a horrendous mistake, opinion.”
However, the Ayrshire side’s off-the-pitch turmoil appears to be having little impact on Strain and his playing charges who chalked up a sixth win in seven league outings last weekend. And the 2-0 defeat of Cumnock promotes the Buffs up to fourth place in the top flight standings.
The Buffs next face a top-of-the-table clash this Saturday away to secondplaced Clydebank, who ran out 2-0 winners when the teams met earlier this season.
Strain recalled: “That was our first league defeat and it sparked a bit of a form slump that saw us shed a lot of points, so it in my humble would be pleasing to get our own back on the Bankies.
“That is easier said than done because they are a very well organised outfit with a number of flair players. However, our guys have shown some good form of late and have put themselves into a decent position, albeit we have played considerably more games than the teams around us in the table.
“The defensive work of Craig Pettigrew, David Syme and Joe Coleman has brought four clean sheets in our last seven league games and if they can keep the back door shut again then I wouldn’t bet against Bryan Boylan or Ryan Nisbet pinching a goal at the other end.”
‘‘ You have to take stock of what’s best for the club