Clyde boss praises Rangers for link-up
Harvey’s verdict on‘null and void’prospect
Clyde boss Danny Lennon has praised Rangers for a working relationship that sees the Ibrox club’s youngsters loaned out to the League One club.
Zac Butterworth and Kane Ritchie-Hosler are the latest duo to head to Broadwood for the rest of this season, and join Jack Thomson, while injured Matthew Shiels heads back to Ibrox.
Lewis Jamieson has also joined on loan from St Mirren, and Lennon says this is a situation that will suit all three clubs, but most importantly the players themselves.
It’s a partnership that works well; Clyde get access to players they wouldn’t easily attract, and the youngsters are given valuable, competitive experience.
Lennon said: “Rangers have been terrific, they’ve been a pleasure to work with.
“Obviously like they all do, the bigger clubs, they have good quality youngsters in there, so I think we will be good for one another.
“They bring an abundance of energy, they’re very good technicians, and they just need that test and that experience, so I’m looking forward to the guys there.
“St Mirren have been a pleasure to work with this year also, with young LJ coming in there, Josh Jack and Jay Henderson when he was here.
“We have good relationships there and it’s an important fit for all parties - both clubs plus the player, but the player is the most important, and we hope we can help develop and help these young kids fulfil their potential.”
Meanwhile, Lennon says his side have so many games to play in such a short period of time they need to be careful not to abuse the players.
It’s not a term the Bully Wee boss uses lightly, but he points out that players will need recovery periods between games in what will be a hectic schedule, now that the League One season is back on.
And Lennon says “certain Championship clubs” could have done more to help those in their tier.
Clyde host East Fife on Saturday, with a trip to Montrose seven days later, following a midweek Scottish Cup second round tie at Highland League side Keith, and Lennon warned that they need to be careful.
He said: “We’re looking forward to it, it has been a long time coming.
“I know there has been a lot of work and a lot of talk behind the scenes to make that happen.
“As much as we’re excited to get back and get playing, and feel privileged to do so, I’m not overly happy in terms of the amount of games that we’ve got to cram in a certain period of time, because players’ welfare needs to come into consideration as well.
“It’s not so much the games coming thick and fast – we welcome that – what you really have to look at now is the way the players are recovering, how quickly they can go again.
“We must have a great deal of duty of care with the players in terms of the games and not abusing them.
“I don’t use that word lightly, but that’s what it’s bordering on.”
Lennon added: “We’re also looking at why certain Championship clubs aren’t willing to help the lower league clubs in League One, in terms of the amount of time for the play-off positions etcetera.
“I think there has to be a bit of give-and-go not just in football but all of society, and a bit of sporting integrity put upon there.
“I just feel that League One and League Two have been treated very much differently.”
Rutherglen Glencairn boss Willie Harvey says declaring the West of Scotland League null and void would be a “slap in the face” for clubs, and a wasted season.
West of Scotland League bosses have given a deadline of April 3 to restart full contact training or they’ll scrap the season.
Harvey says that would be a major blow to clubs who stuck it out throughout the pandemic and got changed for games in all weathers.
Glencairn will start noncontact training at Glasgow
Green on Monday, and Harvey said: “I think they’ve had to put a time-stamp on it, because we can’t keep going from week to week, wondering if it’s happening or not.
“Null and void would be a big blow, it would feel like a wasted season, a wasted year, where you took the vote to stay and play through conditions that really were not conducive to football, getting stripped and ready outside in the cold.
“I think it would be a wee bit of a slap in the face, now that we are coming into this sort of weather where it’s a bit milder and it’s not as big a concern getting ready outside, compared to the conditions we have had.
“We’ve been allowed to go back to training next week, on Monday, so we’re going to bring the lads in to Glasgow Green again, and get them started, so it’s a case of taking it from there.
“It’s non-contact, but it’s better than nothing, it brings the players in and gets them involved with each other again.”
With restrictions easing and dates issued for the return of aspects of ‘normal life’ Harvey says there is hope, but doesn’t reckon fans will be in before the end of this season.
He said: “I know they’re talking about the FA Cup final getting 20,000 fans, but I really don’t see the credibility of bringing in fans now, with a few games to go.
“It’s all right saying that because of vaccinations and ‘R’ rates being low and things like that, but at our level of football I really feel that they could have had us back earlier.
“With the size of our grounds and the crowds we’ve got, it could have been marshaled.
“They might have a trial period of a few games or a few weeks, which would be decent enough and maybe allow us to get some coffers into the bank before the start of next season.
“I know there will be a lot of people who are bursting to get out and watch football again.”