Sandy ) Like every team were targeting finishing the top half of the league, but in this league every game is a hard one, every team in this league will take points from one another. We have set ourselves targets and by the eighteenth game of the season we hope to be at least mid-table.
Question) The departure of Kenny Black how do you feel about it?
Sandy ) Kenny and I managed too bring success too the club in the last two years and I had hoped to continue the partnership for as long as possible, but when the opportunity was given to him there was no way I could stand in his way, it's a great opportunity for him and I wish him all the best.
Question) Ian Constable seemed too be an ever present fixture with the team but no one really knew much about him was there any specific reason for his departure?
Sandy ) When we decided too develop the reserve squad, we have basically taken on the commitment to play an extra 20 games a season and unfortunately Ian could not commit too taking on these extra fixtures due to his flourishing business and other commitments. In fact I'm happy that over the last two season Ian has not came in too play more often, if the fans saw him and started taking notice it really means we have another injury to contend with and that we can live with out! Ian was a great servant too the club and was always there when I needed him he will be missed by the club. I am sure the addition of Paul Green will also benefit us.
Question) Scot sport First we haven't seen you being interviewed on it very often is there a reason?
Sandy ) I am interviewed after every single game but I don't know why they choose not to show it, On Sunday having Owen on the show they probably thought it would come down to us echoing each other.
Question) On too Owen Coyle and his addition to the management team how was this brought about?
Sandy) In truth when Kenny left there was only going to be one choice, the only thing that delayed it for so long was we had some things to sort with Dundee United, I wanted someone flamboyant and larger than life and Owen fits the bill nicely.
Players
Question) Some of the players that we thought did so well have been missing for large periods of this season is there any reason for this.
Sandy) We can speak about individual players and I know the fans are concerned about particulars so who should we speak about?
Question) Lets start then with the worrying news concerning Thomas Hoey is there any further update on his condition?
Sandy ) It gave us all a fright, he was in the initial preparation stages for training when he started complaining about severe pains in his chest, our Physio Paul Green phoned an ambulance straight away and he was taken to hospital, Dr Dunn our club doctor has told us it was a virus that constricted his heart slightly and with a week off training he will come good once again. We take no chances with this kind of thing.
Question) Alan Gow can you tell me what's been happening with him?
Sandy) Alan is a fantastic addition to the squad and as you saw on Saturday he can turn a game in our favour very easily. It was unfortunate he received the injury to his thigh early in the season and in truth it is an injury we have to nurse along very gently, we really don't want to cause a secondary tear and possibly force Alan in to having an operation at such an early age.
Question) Why wasn't he brought on during the Queen of the South game?
Sandy ) I really thought the ground was to heavy to risk him during Queen of the South match, we want him in the team and fit but I am not willing to take chances with him he means that much to the team.
Question) David Dunns absence from the squad hasn't went with out notice is there any reason for this in particular?
Sandy ) David was last years fans player of the year and deservedly so but at the beginning of this season he has been lacking in some self confidence and his foot injury has caused him to miss some training. He is a clever and exciting player who gives us the added benefit of being able to score from mid-field, his games in the reserves have shown us he is beginning to get back to fitness and will soon be fighting for his position back in the squad.
Question) On the Broomfield Stomp it was mentioned that Willie McLaren and Martin Hardie don't seen to be able to last the full ninety minutes at the moment can you explain why?
Sandy) Martin Hardie first of all has actually been out of first team football since February this year, that is an awful long time for any one to be away from the game and that kind of recovery doesn't come over night. I think the fans will agree he has been a good addition to the team and he has managed to take a lot of pressure of Marvyn Wilson who was our work horse last season in our run up to the championship. Martin is getting there and we will begin to see the difference.
Willie McLaren lack of fitness comes from being absent from some training sessions, this is a tough league and Willie comes with a fantastic reputation from the second division as we all know. Managers have been warned of his pace and direct play so he is watched very closely on the park, this can lead to players such as Willie picking up more than your average share of little injuries.
Question) You mentioned Marvyn Wilson earlier, he seems to be a favourite of the fans this season and apart from a few loose passes hasn't put a foot wrong, his form has been fantastic.
Sandy ) Marvyn last season was trying to juggle two jobs, most fans will have noticed that he was able to sort things out and concentrate on football round about the Christmas period, perfect timing for our run to the Championship last season and he has brought that form with him in to the first division.
Question) To go back a bit, it has been suggested that there were a number of scouts at Saturdays game versus Clyde, how does this make you feel?
Sandy ) I can only say it is a good thing in my opinion, it shows that we are doing something right when we have Premier league clubs looking at some of our young players, it doesn't mean we will accept offers put in for players or allow them to go training with clubs for weeks on end as the players mentioned are far to important to the club.
Question) Jerome Varielle was played on sat and looked sharp when he came on he is another player the fans rate very highly.
Sandy ) We have felt that Jerome has been missing a little bit of confidence for a little while now, but of late we have seen a vast improvement in his play during the Reserve games, his shot on Saturday against Clyde was perfect an attacker could not have hit a shot better. In fact Jerome himself thinks he hit it a little to well when a slight slice would have sent it in to the net his shot hit of the keepers chest with a lot of power. His position for at least two or three chances in the second half is what we have been looking to get from him and he is another that will be fighting for a regular starting place now.
Question) On to Mark Roberts an enigma a players the fans love to hate, we know he has all the skill and talent but when he is on the park he seems to be very uninterested.
Sandy ) If the fans could see the effort that Mark puts in during training there would not be many who would question his part in the team, he gives us 100%. Saturdays game I think the fans saw the other side of Mark and we hope that will continue. One assist and a good goal is a big bonus to us.
Question) Are there any other players you would like to mention?
Sandy ) Yes, there are a couple. Kevin Christie came to the club as a right back but since we were forced to switch him to the centre back position I have seen a different player, we brought him in to play on the right but he has proven to be a good addition to the middle of the defence.
Lee Hollis was given his chance against Queen of the South due to Mark McGeown pulling a back muscle, the young lad who everyone at the club considers another of our bright talents has not put a foot wrong since coming in to the team, the deflection on Saturday was the only thing that prevented him from having his first shut out, which I think he deserved.
Question) Are there any players in our reserves we should be watching out for?
Sandy) I think we have done well with the players we have brought through so far but I will mention Stephen McDougall as a player we hope to get a lot out of. Unfortunately he has picked up a similar injury to Martin Hardie or I think we would have given him a run in the first team by now especially while Willie McLaren was injured. He is a player with as much pace as Willie or Alan Gow and can kick the ball with either foot.
Question) I think you have given me more than enough to be getting on with but is there any thing you would like to pass on to the fans?
Sandy) Like all fans I some times think ours expect a little to much when you consider we have only been running for two years, but that is fans all over no matter what team you follow. We have set our targets for this season and our aim is to stay comfortably in the first division and if we can put together a good run over the next few weeks, we could be sitting comfortably in mid-table. As I said earlier this is a tough league, there are games we know we should have won this season and it is when we walk away from games thinking we had nothing to offer that is when I will begin to get worried. There are games however that no matter how hard you try no matter what you do the ball will just not go in to the back of the net, Queen of the South was one of them, we had the chances to win it and as long as we have those chances we know we can win games. We need the fans to get behind us and we will try to drive them that way.