Ross helps Cammy be local hero
Cammy Bell reckons he has a Light Blueprint for success at Annan – thanks to Rangers’ sporting director.
The former Ibrox keeper admits he has leaned heavily on what he has learned from Ross Wilson for his new role as director of football at his hometown club.
Bell jumped at the chance after realising it was time to hang up the gloves while playing with his one- year- old son Charlie.
More than a year after his last competitive appearance, operations were becoming more routine than a trip to the dentist.
But now he has Annan’s future in his hands and he reckons the only way is up as he targets the Championship.
Bell said: “The timing of this could hardly have been better.
“Retiring from playing was a really hard decision, But I have had four operations on one knee alone and I really couldn’t get another one for my long-term health.
“I also had a hernia operation earlier this year and eight weeks after it I should have been feeling better. But my wee boy Charlie jumped on me and I had to tell him to get off because the pain was too much.
“That was the moment I realised I had to reevaluate where I was at.
“My family is the most important thing to me and I knew I was fighting a losing battle with my fitness.
“I was going into training with Queen’s Park, trying to perform at the levels I had before, but I couldn’t do what I used to. It was just the right time to step away.”
But as one door closed another opened and 34-year- old Bell said: “Now it’s about focusing on this new role at a club which means so much to me.
“I love Annan Athletic. I’ve lived in this town for all but four years of my life.
“All I wanted to do as a 10-year- old kid was go and watch Annan play – and that was in the East of Scotland League.
“Now I see Annan as a sustainable League One team easily and there’s no way we can’t play in the Championship at some point.
“You have got to be ambitious.
“When this opportunity came up Ross said it would be huge for me.
“He is a friend and I have spent a lot of time watching and learning from what he is doing at Rangers. He has been phenomenal for me.
“To see what he is achieving at Rangers and the way that he does it has given me that bit of inspiration that I needed to do this.
“We had a conversation about structure. It can be the same at any club, whether it’s Rangers or Annan Athletic.
“Of course there’s a difference with finances and scale – but the principles can be the exact same. A lot of what I have taken from Ross I will be looking to implement at Annan.
“I’m looking at 10-15 years, trying to make it a sustainable football club at a good level.
“People may leave but the structure must stay the same.”