Talbot vow to thrive in new set-up BADGE OF HONOUR
Henry Dumigan bleeds black and gold – so much so that even a lockdown does not stop his days being dominated by Auchinleck Talbot.
Turning 68 last Wednesday was the strangest of birthdays, his asthma and his wife Linda’s diabetes meaning he has stopped his part-time delivery job with the local pharmacy during the coronavirus crisis.
Yet the Talbot secretary revealed: “We’re still holding our commit tee meetings through WhatsApp group chat on a Sunday at the same time.
“The first one lasted an hour-and-three-quarters!”
This shutdown is al l the stranger given the biggest shake- up of the junior game continues to unfold.
Tuesday marks the deadline for applications to a new West of Scotland League sitting underneath the Lowland, with all 63 West Region junior clubs to make an application.
Two years after clubs backed a move to join the pyramid system, the plan is on the verge of being put into practice.
When asked if it is the biggest structural change in his 43 years at Beechwood Park, Dumigan
Tuesday is the cut-off for clubs to apply to join a new West of Scotland League, all with no end to the shutdown in sight. MailSport talks to four clubs.
Alan Robertson
said: “Without doubt it is. It is one of the biggest decisions we have had to make but it is made for the wellbeing of the club.
“We know it doesn’t please everybody but there were no options there. It was a no-brainer – we had to go for it. We held off to such times as we knew the
majority of clubs were going and we’re not going to be left behind.
“It would have been reckless of us to decide not to move then.”
Assurances that membership of the Scottish Junior Football Association and participation in the Junior Cup, which Bot have won a record 13 times, will be preserved made the decision much less difficult.
Having been a junior club since 1909 there’s a mixture of excitement and sadness at the change to come.
He said: “As far as Talbot is concerned, it is sad to leave the junior scene behind. However, everybody knew it was coming so we have to try to embrace it.
“There is a bit of excitement with fewer restrictions on how far you can go. The world is your oyster now for all clubs to progress within that system.”
Runs in the senior Scottish Cup – going as far as the last 16 last season – have shown the likes of keeper Andy Leishman could light up bigger stages.
Dumigan said: “That was a consideration as well – what if we don’t go? We will run the risk of losing our better players because they wi l l want to play at as high a level as they possibly can. This gives them the opportunity as well.”
Cove Rangers’ relentless rise – a side Talbot beat in the Scottish Cup this season – after coming out of the Highland League will trigger suggestions Auchinleck can follow suit.
Dumigan said: ”We don’t want to get too far in front of ourselves. There is a big difference between Auchinleck and Aberdeen.
“But we can compete at a good level and we will work hard to move up the leagues.
“It has never been a thing with Talbot to throw money around. There is a ceiling to how much we spend because the club’s wellbeing is more important than anything.”
With football in lockdown all clubs are facing f inancial uncertainty and Talbot are no different. Good cup runs have helped their bank balance but players and staff have still agreed to a suspension of wages.
Dumigan said: “Talbot will be f ine but there wi l l be implications. We are OK and we will survive but it is going to be difficult, even for us.”