UPWARDLY MOBILES
Kilby boss Martin sends spy to film rivals on his phone as he targets place in SPFL
The staff at Buckie Thistle were probably left scratching their heads.
After all, why would a bog standard Highland League game be filmed by a guy in the corner on his mobile phone?
It’s hard to imagine there’s a big YouTube demand for highlights of their clashes with Wick or Deveronvale.
But little did they know that it was Kevin from Milton of Campsie – a roofer turned super-spy – recording it.
And that night, an email with videos of Buckie’s set-pieces would be winging its way from Kevin’s phone to East Kilbride boss Martin Lauchlan.
Well, if there’s a chance you might have to face them in an SPFL pyramid play- off game, you have to do your homework, right?
That’s how thorough Lauchlan is. Being first is all that matters to him.
After a playing career that was riddled by under- achievement , Lauchlan is hellbent on ensuring the same won’t happen as a coach.
As a teenage winger at Partick Thistle, he was chased by the likes of Celtic and Middlesbrough.
He was a Scotland youth player who had the talent to go on and win full caps for his country.
But a move to St Johnstone backfired big time on Lauchlan.
Ostracised by Sandy Clark, he lost four years of his career in Perth – and never recovered.
That regret, the feeling of what might have been, still irks him today.
His East Kilbride side clinched the Lowland League title last weekend and now have their sights on the SPFL.
Using his vast array of contacts in the game – he played alongside current Premiership bosses Paul Hartley and Alan Archibald – he’s built a squad at EK full of youth, energy and promise.
And you don’t win any league by eight points without being meticulous.
Which explains why his pal Kevin was so keen on those Buckie Thistle corner kicks.
As he looked back on his time as a player, Lauchlan told MailSport: “I know I underachieved. I should have done more. I made the wrong move by going to St Johnstone when I had lots of clubs after me.
“I was waiting on Celtic who were supposed to be ready to pay £100,000 for me. But Ferg us McCann wouldn’t pay the money for a player who was so young.
“I should have gone down south. Middlesbrough would have been the best move – they were in the Premier League with Gazza, Juninho, Emerson and Fabrizio Ravanelli in their squad.
“I could have gone there for £ 3k a week on a five-year deal. But I thought St Johnstone – if I played regularly – might be a better step in my career.
“Unfortunately, the day I signed I knew I’d made a mistake. It was gut instinct, I just wasn’t feeling it.
“Sandy was the manager but it was Paul Sturrock, who had just left for Plymouth, who signed me.
“I wasn’t Sandy’s player so he wasn’t interested in me and I hardly played. I was due £ 30,000 after 10 games but played nine and wasn’t picked again.
“Sandy ruined my career. When I got to the club, his assistant manager didn’t even know what position I played in. They held me there, fined me, it was a horrible time in my life.
“St Johnstone was a nightmare move for me, I hated it. The club could have treated me better. For four years I hated getting out of bed in the morning to go and play football. I tell my players now to love the game. They need to work hard but enjoy it.
“As a player, it was constantly in my mind that I’d underachieved but that regret is what drives me as a coach.
“I won’t underachieve as a coach. I’m not saying that I’ ll be the best manager in the world but I’ll be the hardest working.
“That’s why I had my mate Kevin watch Buckie. He’s a roofer but was working up there.
“So I got him to video their set-pieces and email me them – just in case we get them in the play-offs.”
As well as creating a winning team, Lauchlan has helped forge a terrific team spirit among players on washers for wages.
By constantly scouting players in the lower leagues and SPFL Under-20s set-up, he’s been able to bring in the likes of Dom McLaren, Fabio Capuano and Kieran Gibbons.
He’s also helped to rehabilitate former Jags winger Adam Strachan, who has been a revelation since making a move to K-Park.
And Lauchlan cites pal Hartley as a major influence on his approach.
He said: “When I dropped down to the Junior ranks the spark wasn’t there for me to play at that level.
“It was my good friend Paul who probably ignited the coach in me.
“We played together at St Johnstone, although he couldn’t get a game either under Sandy. We also went to the same school, Holycross. He’s older than me and was in my brother Jim’s class.
“At St Johnstone, Paul and I would go and watch so many games. We’d go to see Stirling Albion v Gretna on a cold Tuesday night.
“Every game that was on, we’d be there. That’s why Paul’s knowledge of the game is so great, he knows his
market better than anyone. We talk football all of the time because we have a real passion for the game.
“I knew from a young age how I’d like my team to play football. I also knew that I’d never treat players the way I was treated.
“That four years at St Johnstone was frustrating but I watched so many other games. I learned a lot. It effectively ended my playing career but probably kicked off my coaching career.”
After a successful spell at Rossvale Juniors, the 36-year- old took on the role at East Kilbride because the club matched his own lofty ambitions. But Lauchlan won’t rest on his laurels. He said: “When I took the Rossvale job they were one of the worst Junior teams around. They were second bottom and 33/1 outsiders to win the league. They had no players but I told the board I’d win the league within a year – and if I didn’t I’d chuck it.
“I also told them I’d have 25 players at training on the Tuesday night.
“They weren’t paying any money but I got the players in and we’d won the league by February, 26 points clear.
“I just utilised my contacts in the game. I’d get boys from Thistle, aged 17 or 18. We never spent a penny.
“After being promoted, we were top of the league. I asked the club to pay £ 30 for an indoor pitch to get a Scottish Cup tie on and they said they couldn’t afford it.
“I was watching players every night but the club’s ambitions didn’t match mine. They said they’d struggle financially in the higher league because they’d need to pay two linesmen. At that point I resigned and walked out.
“Then the East Kilbride job came up and it ticked every box. It was a project and were 25 points behind. I took on the challenge knowing it would be a tough job. I’ve called in favours, I’ve grafted and we’ve got the reward by winning a league for the first time in their short history.
“Where do I see myself in a few years’? I want to take East Kilbride as far as I can and I’m well on my way to getting my coaching badges.
“But I admit I’d love to go back to Thistle one day. I feel like I’ve got unfinished business at that club.”