McKenna ‘fuming’ over Wick Academy player release on eve of cup final
Castletown manager Tom McKenna was “fuming” in the aftermath of Saturday’s Stannergill Cup final defeat – with his anger directed at his former club Wick Academy.
Staxigoe United came out on top 2-1 at Back Park to lift the first silverware of the Caithness amateur season. The winning goal was scored by experienced midfielder Jack Henry, who had been released by Academy in time to sign for Staxigoe.
The transfer was announced by Staxigoe United in a social media post on Friday. It is understood to be for one game only.
McKenna accepted that no rules had been broken. But he accused the Highland League outfit of favouring one local amateur club over another and called for Caithness Amateur Football Association (CAFA) to look into the matter.
“They’re not breaking any rules,” he said. “[But] I’m disappointed with the senior team in Caithness football allowing an individual to be released for one specific game, and I don’t understand the reasoning behind it.
“For me, they’ve shown favouritism to one of the local clubs in Caithness over another, which is totally wrong. Apparently Wick Academy are trying to build bridges within the community, and all they’re doing with this decision is to burn bridges. I’m really fuming regarding that.
“They’ll have their reasons why. It’s going against the spirit of the game and the spirit of the competition.”
McKenna was Wick Academy manager for about two-and-a-half years between 2017 and 2020.
“Everybody will say it’s sour grapes from me,” he said. “I’ll take that. It possibly is sour grapes. But when you’ve got a boy of that quality, he’s going to have an influence on the game.
“He’s a semi-professional footballer coming into an amateur environment – of course he’s going to have a massive influence, and today it has come out that way.
“They [Wick Academy] have created a problem for themselves in this football community and CAFA have got to look at this – you’ve got to change the ruling. You can’t get to a final and then bring in any Tom, Dick or Harry.
“Why do you release him for just one game? As a football club, we’re disgusted with the decision that Wick Academy have made. If people say it’s sour grapes, so be it.
“There have to be changes or it’s a free-for-all for a final. There has got to be some ruling where you’ve got to participate in the earlier rounds to be eligible for a final. CAFA have to look at this to try and make it a bit more fair and honest.
“I’ve had a fantastic relationship with Jack, when I was at Wick and after, so there is nothing personal in this whatsoever.”
Wick Academy were approached for comment.