That’s my boy

Clark thrilled son Cameron has settled in to new role at ’Frew

Renfrew boss Colin Clark has a couple of reasons to be proud.

Tipped to be battling relegation, the New Western Park side sit fourth in the Super First Division ahead of this afternoon’s tie with Largs Thistle.

But it is the side’s left back spot that, on a personal note, will give him the biggest reason to raise a smile — with son Cameron slotting into the role.

The ‘Frew manager confessed he didn’t ever really consider signing his boy, but some gentle persuasion from co- boss Martin Ferry and long-serving coach Jimmy Quigley convinced him that bringing him on board would be a wise move.

Cameron has long been around the club, training with his dad’s side while pursuing his own career with Livingston. But opportunity knocked for the juniors when it became apparent that Livi would be open to letting him out on loan under the watchful eye of his father.

Since making his debut in last month’s win over Irvine Meadow, the youngster has gone from strength to strength.

And the elder of the Clarks revealed he has been delighted with the strides the full-back has been making.

He told Express Sport: “Cameron has come in on loan from Livingston and, to be fair to him, he has done really well.

“In all honesty, the move had nothing to do with me. It wasn’t like I had to convince him, it was the coaches that had said to me.

“Cameron has trained with us quite a lot anyway and Martin and Jimmy said we should bring him in on loan. It wasn’t something that I had really considered, but circumstances meant that it was possible and it is a good opportunity for him.

“Livi had originally wanted him to go to an East Region side that was closer to them. But, once they knew we wanted to take him, then there were no problems.

“He came in for the game against Irvine Meadow and he was comfortable and played well.

“Since then, he has played the full 90 minutes in every game and I am delighted for him and how he has fitted right in.

“It is an opportunity for him to get games under his belt, but we are all pleased with the progress he is making.

“He has handled it all very well. It can be difficult, I imagine, with your dad as your manager, but he seems to be coping.”

Renfrew head into today’s game on the back of a tricky run of form which saw them suffer their first league defeat to league leaders Petershill and knocked out of the Scottish Cup on penalty kicks to Troon.

Clark insists that clubs across the league will be thinking that the bubble has burst down at Renfrew, but has called on his side to prove them wrong.

He added: “We are constantly drumming it in to them that people think they are not good enough to be up near the top of the league.

“Because we haven’t won for three games, there will be clubs assuming that this is little old Renfrew back looking to avoid the relegation.

“Our budget might show that our ambitions are about staying in the league, but our position shows that we are able to mix it at the top.

“We have been unlucky in the games that we haven’t won, and we have sometimes been lucky when he have. This league is like that and it is all about us managing to put together a run between now and New Year to see where our battle will be fought.

“We have taken a few of the boys out of the 21s and they have done really well.

“They are still learning and there are things they will need to get better at, and they know that.

“Sometimes they will need to learn the hard way, like they did letting the result slip against Petershill.

“But it is a good learning curve and, hopefully, they realise that they need to perform for the full 90 minutes.”