Former club captain Farquhar is new interim chairman of Wick Academy
Wick Academy have confirmed that former club captain Alan Farquhar has taken over as interim chairman.
He replaces Pat Miller, who had served as chairman since 2019. Vice-chairman Stewart Gunn has also stepped down from his role, with James More coming in as interim vice-chairman.
The Highland League side announced the changes on Thursday and said it is hoped that Farquhar and More “will bring fresh ideas and energy”.
In a statement, Academy said: “Wick Academy FC would like to announce the following changes to our executive committee. Chairman Pat Miller and vice-chairman Stewart Gunn have stepped down from their roles – but will remain on the executive committee.
“The club would like to thank both Pat and Stewart for their stewardship of and commitment to the club over the past six years.
“We would like to welcome Alan Farquhar and James More, who have been appointed interim chairman and interim vice-chairman respectively. Both have long associations with Wick Academy FC and will bring fresh ideas and energy to the club.”
Farquhar (37), who comes from Castletown, made 362 competitive appearances for Academy after signing in August 2009. He took over the captaincy in 2014 and the following year the Scorries won their first silverware as a Highland League club when they lifted the North of Scotland Cup.
At his testimonial match at Harmsworth Park in May 2023, Farquhar led a team of past and present Wick players against an SPL Legends squad.
More (36) made his last Highland League appearance for his home-town club in March this year, 20 years after his debut.
He made 166 competitive appearances and in recent times has had the role of goalkeeping coach.
Pat Miller’s connection to Wick Academy goes back about half a century. In that time he has been goalkeeper, player/manager, co-manager during the club’s first season in the Highland League, manager in his own right, general manager, kitman, physio and, in his own words, “apprentice groundsman”.
In an interview in 2019, Miller said: “I’ll never class myself as ‘the boss’. I’ll just class myself as part of a committee that wants to do as much as we can for Wick Academy.
“We’re all volunteers. We’ve got to keep people happy – supporters, managers, coaches. It’s not about one person. A chairman is just a figurehead.”
Academy will begin the 2025/26 Highland League season with an away match against Deveronvale on Saturday, July 26.