New coaching duo at helm of Saints Women
Reynolds and Candy combo set out goals
St Johnstone WFC this week confirmed the appointment of its football management team moving forward.
Jamie Reynolds and Kevin Candy, already familiar faces at the club, have been tasked with leading the Perth squad to success.
Both have expressed their excitement and eagerness to build on the good work already put in place at the Scottish Women’s Premier League 2 side.
They will be in charge for this weekend’s league trip to Queen’s Park.
Reynolds said: “Firstly, on a personal level, I’m very proud to be announced as manager of St Johnstone FC Women’s team.
“I’d like to express my thanks for the faith put in me to drive the group forward and hopefully help the football club achieve what we want to achieve.
“Since I joined the club at the start of the year, Mark Nisbet has allowed a gradual transition process to the point where Kevin Candy and I can take the reins of the football side of things, to allow him to return his full focus to his role of general manager at the club.
“I believe strengths lie in differences, and since meeting Kevin at the turn of the year, it’s become clear that the skill set that I can bring to the management team will compliment Kevin’s strengths and provide a really strong support for the group of players, alongside John Fettes, Calum Brodie, Kerri Stewart and Mark in his general manager role.
“We‘ve seen massive strides in the second half of the season within the group.
“We’ve bolstered the squad, increasing the competition for places, and that coupled with the togetherness we share gives us a really strong foundation for the remainder of this season.”
Candy admitted stepping into a full managerial role was not on his radar when first joining the club.
But he said: “After working with Jamie for just a couple of weeks it became clear that we really complemented each other in terms of skill sets, aspirations and standards.
“The establishment of our new management team has simply been an extension of this natural meshing and I’m both delighted and humbled to be given this honour along with Jamie.
“In a comparatively short space of time we have seen a huge improvement in our onfield performances, and the buyin we’ve received from the players plays such a big part in this.
“As a club we are ambitious but remain humble, we go about our work with vigour whilst not making too much noise about it. It’s a well-used cliché, but we are very much on a journey just now and it’s one that’s only just beginning.”
Following the departure of Murdo Steven earlier in the season, club general manager
Mark Nisbet took over first team football duties on an interim basis.
To assist him in this role, he appointed Reynolds as head coach and Candy as assistant manager.
Over the last few months, a positive relationship has developed between the management team and players which has led to Reynolds and Candy being handed the reins permanently.
Nisbet will now return to focusing exclusively on his role as club general manager, developing the club off the field.
Reynolds and Candy will continue to be assisted by coach John Fettes, goalkeeper coach Calum Brodie and physio Kerri Stewart.
Nisbet said: “I’m excited to announce the appointment of Jamie and Kevin as the managers of the team. They both have great qualities and areas of expertise that will aid and support the players and club move forward both on and off the pitch.”