It's a family affair for Academy boss
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WICK boss Tom McKenna is looking forward to renewing family acquaintances tomorrow – but only after Cumbernauld Colts are taken care of.
Academy travel down to Lanarkshire to face the Lowland League side in the last of their pre-season fixtures before the Highland League campaign gets under way next week.
For McKenna, it will be a homecoming as Cumbernauld is where the Wick gaffer is from, with relatives set to come along and cheer the returning hero.
But a reunion of clan McKenna will have to be put aside for 90 minutes as Tom aims to complete his squad’s fine-tuning ahead of next weekend’s league opener at Brora.
He said: “I’ve a few family members coming along and it will be good to see them again. No doubt they’ll have some advice to shout at me while I’m shouting advice to the players.
“I also have another reunion with an old friend as Cumbernauld Colts’ manager, James Orr, is an old team-mate of mine from when we used to play for East Stirlingshire.
“However, I do have to prepare my team for the match which will be difficult. Cumbernauld are more or less the Lowland League’s equivalent of ourselves.
“This game will give us a good indication of where we are at so we are under no illusions about our task. Colts are a very good side who have done well since entering the Lowland League.
“That league is parallel to the one we play in so this match-up is with someone of a similar standard to us.
“After the game I’ll meet up with the family – which will be good. Also the team will be staying overnight in Glasgow as part of a bonding session.”
Meanwhile, McKenna admits that it is unlikely that new faces will be arriving at Harmsworth Park ahead of the season’s start.
He added: “The squad as it is right now looks like being the one that will start the season. We were looking at a couple of the summer football lads but that seems to have gone quiet.
“That’s not to say I will be shutting the door completely on any new faces coming in later on. If a player is available and we think he can offer the team something then we will open the door for him.
“Right now, we’re getting existing players on new contracts. Two of those have been concluded with Michael Steven and Alan Hughes both signing up for another two years with us.”
