If we behave then we can be winners

Arthurlie boss wants to end his side’s red card shame

Arthurlie manager Chris Mackie believes stamping out the club’s indiscipline will be key to their success next season.

The Barrhead side are preparing for their final league game of the campaign this afternoon where a win over high-flying Glenafton would cement fifth spot.

But Mackie admits he faces overhauling the squad in the close season in a bid to rebuild the culture of red cards at the club, which he reckons is costing them points.

‘ Lie have picked up a mammoth 21 red cards over the course of the year, but remain unbeaten in the last seven outings where they have managed to keep 11 players on the park for the 90 minutes.

Mackie said: “We need to rip it up and start again over the summer in a bid to change the mentality. For too long Arthurlie have got used to losing, being in a relegation dogfight, and certain behaviour has become acceptable over the course of time.

“There will be a lot of changes because I want to alter the mentality and that will be down to the recruitment policy. It will be a long process but I have already identified a number of players I would like to bring to the club.

“In order to facilitate that, a number of players will also be on their way out of Arthurlie, including those who have been here for a number of years.

“We just need to freshen things up in a bid to move this club forward and further up the table. If we do end up finishing in fifth then the fans will want to see an improvement on the park next season, which is top four – and I will have to deal with those expectations.”

Today’s opponents Glenafton, managed by former ‘Lie boss Craig McEwan, are still pushing for the Super League title, and games in hand could propel them to the top of the division in the closing weeks.

But Mackie insists he has no concerns about the Glens as he readies his side for the trip to Loch Park.

Instead he is focussing solely upon finishing the year on a high with a win in Ayrshire.

He added: “Glenafton will be going all out for the win because they know that they can still take the title. They have been playing well this season but I have already stressed to our players that this game is about what we can do.

“I spoke to the players a few weeks ago and I told them that I wanted us to finish fifth and get to the final of the Central League Cup.

“A win over Glenafton would get us into fifth and we still have a quarter final with Pollok to look forward to.

“I have high ambitions for this side and ending the season well will only serve to set us up for next season.”