'It has been slowly but surely diminishing for me' – Reid explains why he quit as Thurso boss
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Stevie Reid admitted that it felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders after announcing his decision to quit as Thurso manager.
He had intended to resign at the end of the season but has instead chosen to step down seven games into the Vikings' North Caledonian League campaign – and with their Football Times Cup final against local rivals Halkirk United just over two weeks away.
Reid's final game in charge was the 2-1 loss to Invergordon at Naver last Saturday, a result that saw Thurso drop to second bottom in the table after two wins and five defeats from their opening seven league fixtures.
“It's the correct decision,” said the 53-year-old ex-Thurso player. “I said at the start of the season that this would be my last anyway.”
Reid began the first of his two spells as manager in 2008/09, having helped previous boss Duncan Gray the previous season. He led the Vikings to two league titles, in 2009/10 and 2012/13, and also enjoyed success in cup competitions.
In his playing days as a central midfielder he turned out for Golspie, Bonar Bridge and Bunillidh Thistle as well as Brora's second team and had a brief stint at Halkirk United. As a Thurso player he featured in the club's first match, in 1998, against Orkney at the Dammies.
He will now be spending more time watching his 13-year-old son Sam in the Caithness United under-14 squad.
“I've got a lot of other things on my plate, I'm missing out on a lot of other stuff,” Reid said. “Every week it was becoming blatantly more obvious to myself that I wasn't going to see this season out.
“I've been missing out on watching my young lad Sam play football for Caithness a fair bit. I want to give him a bit of time – I've spent a lot of time away at weekends. I've got to start thinking about the family now.
A lot of people are going to say, 'What the hell is he playing at, with a final coming up?'
“It's a shame on the club, the players, because I knew myself this last few weeks that I'd not been giving it my all.
“It has been slowly but surely diminishing for me a bit. It has come to the stage where that's it.
“The boys are doing what they have to do and I wish them all the best. It just maybe needs a fresher set of eyes now.”
Reid is aware that the timing will surprise many, with the cup final coming up in Wick on November 20.
He said: “Is there ever a good time? I don't know. A lot of people are going to say, 'What the hell is he playing at, with a final coming up?'
“It just shows you what mindset I was in. It's just not fair on the guys.
“I've hit a wall myself. I've got a young daughter as well, she's only 11. I've got to give them a lot of time.
“My oldest son is nearly 20, he's off – he has joined the Royal Marines – so we've got all these things going on in the background.
“My wife Lynne has had to put up with me through all the years of playing and then into this as well.
“She deserves more medals than I got at the football, I think.”
Reid added: “I actually feel a wee bit of weight taken off my shoulders – so maybe that tells its own story, putting it out there that that's me done.”
Reid, a works control supervisor at Dounreay, plans to remain involved with Thurso behind the scenes.
“I'm going to stay on the Thurso committee in some form, so I'm not totally walking away from it all,” he said.
“When the dust settles I'll be helping in the background at some point.”
The Vikings are at home to St Duthus this Saturday with a 1pm kick-off.
A Thurso spokesman said: "The club would like to place on record our appreciation to Stevie for his long service and commitment to the club.
"He started playing for us not long after the club was formed in 1998 and has had two successful spells as manager.
"He always gave 100 per cent and has been responsible for developing a lot of talented young players.
"We are hoping he will continue to be involved with the club in some capacity behind the scenes."
Invergordon completed a late turnaround to take all three points at Naver last Saturday. Thurso took the lead through a Marc Macgregor penalty on 37 minutes but the Easter Ross side struck twice in the closing stages, through Ben Kelly and Jordan Laidlaw, to win 2-1.
The result sent Invergordon to the top of the table after the scheduled match between leaders Halkirk United and second-placed Loch Ness was postponed.
Champions Golspie Sutherland surrendered a two-goal lead as they had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Alness, while Bonar Bridge moved above Thurso after a 3-2 win away to Nairn County “A”.
Saturday's results: Alness United 2, Golspie Sutherland 2; Loch Ness v Halkirk United postponed (waterlogged pitch); Nairn County "A" 2, Bonar Bridge 3; St Duthus v Orkney postponed (Covid-19); Thurso 1, Invergordon 2.
Fixtures for Saturday, November 6 – North Caledonian League: Alness United v Nairn County “A” (1pm); Bonar Bridge v Loch Ness (1pm); Invergordon v Orkney (12.45pm); Inverness Athletic v Halkirk United (2pm, Inverness Royal Academy); Thurso v St Duthus (1pm).
