New Shotts gaffer targets glory days
New Shotts boss John McKeown this week admitted his challenge is to bring back the glory days back to Hannah Park.
The newly installed Bonny boss had been part of the backroom staff at Cambuslang Rangers after leaving Cumnock at the start of the 2017/ 18 season after the Lang earned promotion to the new Premiership.
However, despite enjoying his time away from management, McKeown, who was also in charge of Wishaw, believes the opportunity to be the main man again was too good to turn down.
He said: “I left Cumnock at the start of the season and when the opportunity came up at Cambuslang I was happy to take it.
“I always said to them that I would stay until the end of the season but if an offer came up I would be looking to get back in.
“When I spoke to the Shotts committee, I was very impressed. You could say it’s a wee bit of a sleeping giant because of the success they’ve had over the years like winning the Junior Cup.
“We now have the chance to come and change the fortunes.
“I really enjoyed playing up in Shotts years ago. There was always a good crowd. We have got to get that back.”
“The club has massive potential and opportunities like this don’t come along that often so it was one I had to take.”
McKeown was an interested observer in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Beith in the West of Scotland Cup before heading off for a week’s holiday.
Caretaker Andy Scott will remain in charge until the end of the season but McKeown admits he has already started making plans ahead of next season.
“I haven’t been off the phone,” he said. “I’m a Junior football fanatic. I’m completely obssessed. It took a couple of years to get it right with Wishaw and Cumnock but we got there.
“I’ll have a good background team behind me and we will get it right.
“I don’t have a particular style. At Wishaw and at Cumnock especially we played good football but first and foremost you have to win.”
The Junior league reconstruction will see Shotts plying their trade in League One alongside traditional central league rivals and teams from Ayrshire.
The four leagues of 16 is an idea that pleases McKeown although he admits the addition of the Ayrshire sides could be promotion more difficult.
He added: “The teams from Ayrshire will certainly make the leagues more competitive. I think it will be good for the Junior game and it will be interesting to see how it goes.”