Victory would only be start for Rothes

For a time, Rothes Football Club must have felt as if they were wading through quicksand. The whipping boys of the Highland League–they were beaten 11- 0 and 12-2 by Brora Rangers and Clach in August 2015 – and struggling to make ends meet off the park, the future of the club looked bleak.

Through no shortage of hard work, investment and a unified vision for the club, the only way for Rothes now is to move forwards.

Victor y against Buckie Thistle in the Highland League Cup final today would be their first silverware since the North of Scotland Cup in 1979.

For manager Ross Jack, an experienced coach with stints at Ross County and managerial roles at Elgin City and T ur riff United, winning the trophy today would be a way-marker, not an end-point.

“Even if we win, we don’ t rest on our laurels ,” said Jack. “We need to push on. What’ s the next target? What’s the next achievement? Getting to the final is one thing , the next is to win it.

“We’ re trying to build a new legacy, a new history here. The committee have done an unbelievable job – Richard Forsyth Sr and Jr are around the club steering us in the right direction. The fans have responded great.

“It’s not just the team on the pitch. It’s the work off the pitch to get us to this level. We work well together. It’ s a building process but the foundations are strong now. I want to get better as a manager, I want the players to improve. If we can do that as a collective, then we will move forward.”

Jack, who hails from the Black Isle, started off as a striker for County in the Highland League, before playing in England with Ever ton, Norwich and Lincoln City.

Dundee, Dunfermline, Kilmarnock and Ayr United were all stop-off son his return to Scotland, before he turned his hand to coaching in the mid-’90 s.

After stints working for the Scottish FA, Scottish Institute for Sport and County, Jack go this first senior break as Elgin boss in 2009. He took the team to the League Two play-offs in 2012 during a five-year stay at Borough Briggs, before a second-place finish and an Aberdeenshire Shield triumph during his four seasons with Turriff.

“I feel like I’ve learned a lot along the way. You make mistakes and learn from them. It’s not all rainbows, roses and Champagne. There’s blood, snotters and tears along the way and it’s how you react from these.

“The boys responded to (assistant) Jim Walker and I and we’re very fortunate. The boys have been outstanding.

“I’ m in football to win things. Developing a culture of winning, that’ s what I’ m about and I’ ve said to the boys I don’ t want this to be a one-off. We need to show some consistency and get there on a regular basis.”

He has moulded together a younger squad.

“It’s an ongoing project. We’ ve introduced some younger boys, so that bodes well for the future,” he said. “I think the average is around 22 or 23, which is fantastic.

“Winning would be a massive step in the right direction for Roth es. For far too often recently they were the whipping boys, so to turn it round the way they’ve done has been remarkable.

“It’ s a massive task. Buckie had a fantastic result against Brora; to beat the champions on their own patch is a remarkable achievement. We know how tough it’ s going to be.”

● Today’s game is subject to a 10am pitch inspection at Kynoch Park.

DRIVEN: Manager Ross Jack says there is no danger of Rothes resting on their laurels despite the progress made.