McKenna feeling positive after steadying Wick Academy ship
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A TOUGH season – but one that leaves Wick Academy boss Tom McKenna looking forward to the next campaign.
To say the waters were a bit choppy when McKenna took over from Gordon Connelly at the helm would be an understatement to say the least.
A shock defeat on penalties in the North of Scotland Cup to North Caledonian League side Invergordon saw Connelly tender his resignation and McKenna placed in the Harmsworth Park hotseat.
Faced with a demoralised squad, McKenna had work to do in order to lift his players back to the level they were capable of – although there was a pitfall or two to be endured.
One was at home to Nairn County in the Highland League Cup where a pitiful performance during a 4-0 defeat had those who were there scratching their heads as to how the Scorries could ever bounce back.
McKenna managed to galvanise his troops into putting the bad days behind them and they embarked on a run of only one defeat in 16 league matches which saw them rocket up the table – a run halted when fatigue caused by an intense backlog of fixtures kicked in.
However, Wick’s recovery has given McKenna encouragement that the team, with a good pre-season behind them, can do well next year – even though there will be more pressure on him to succeed.
He said: “There will be more pressure on me as this will be my first full season in charge.
“But that comes with the job. We had a mixed season, but the unbeaten run shows what this squad is capable of.
“It has been said that had we shown that form at the start of the season then we might have ended up higher up the table than we did.
“So hopefully we can get the next one off to a good start and showing the form that we’re capable of.
“In terms of bringing new players in, geography goes against us regarding new faces from elsewhere so we will be putting our trust in local players and see where that takes us.
“I’ve seen enough quality in the current crop of players that tells me we can do something next season. The fact we’ve been able to get a few of the boys to sign new deals shows their belief and commitment as well.”
McKenna knew the task would not be easy but admitted that Wick Academy have restored his love for the game.
He added: “I had been away from football for a couple of years. I had all these coaching badges but wondered if I would get back in.
“I moved up here and the opportunity to help out when Gordon was in charge came up. Then when Gordon left, I was lucky enough to be appointed in his place.
“Yes, it has been tough at times, but I’ve enjoyed it. Being here has reacquainted me with the game again and my enthusiasm for the sport has returned.
“The tough times include that Nairn cup defeat which was probably in part my fault. I probably had the wrong attitude going into that one and that maybe rubbed off on the players as well – the result being a heavy defeat at home.
“But having sunk to that low, we managed to pick ourselves up and go on that run that got us away from the bottom and up to mid-table.
“You could see the confidence return to the players and the mood in the dressing room was changing.
“All you can do as a manager is try to keep positive and if any negatives happen along the way, then find a way to flip it over into a positive.”
