McLean hails ‘really positive’ spirit in Wick Academy squad
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Rob McLean says he has loved his first full season in the Highland League with Wick Academy and has praised the “really positive” spirit within the squad.
The Scorries finished the campaign four places higher than in 2022/23 and 10 points better off, helped by a strong home record with 29 of their 36 points coming at Harmsworth Park.
“It has been a tough run of away fixtures to finish the season,” McLean said. “To be honest I’m really glad that it’s over and done with now and I can give the body a rest a little bit.
“I’m well aware that our away record this season hasn’t been great but that doesn’t reflect the amount of effort the boys have been putting in on match days away from home.”
Academy rounded off the 2023/24 campaign with a convincing 4-0 away win against Keith last weekend. The result at Kynoch Park allowed Academy to climb above the Maroons into 12th place in the final table.
McLean (26) said: “We’ve been doing better since Christmas but I’ll be interested to see the amount of goals we’ve conceded in the last 10 minutes of away games. Games just seem to get away from us time and time again but it was great to end on a high on Saturday.”
The ex-Thurso defender signed a two-year contract last summer.
“I’ve loved it,” he said. “Obviously if you’re going to step up from North Caley it’s a huge commitment in terms of the distances you’re travelling, but the boys are all really close.
“Even on away trips when results haven’t really been going our way, there has always been a really positive mood within the camp. We’re not a team that is getting on each other’s backs or whatever – the team morale has been excellent throughout the season.
“What we’ve got going on just now is really good and it’s important to try and keep that going into next season. Finishing on a high on Saturday was a really pleasing away performance.”
There will be no summer football for McLean, a stalwart of High Ormlie Hotspur during their rise from the second division of the county league to winning the Highland Amateur Cup in 2022 and establishing themselves as one of the leading four teams in the Caithness AFA top flight.
“I’ll be going along to games, I’ll be doing little bits of coaching here and there, but in a slightly smaller role than in previous years,” he said.
“Obviously over the last few years I was quite heavily involved with playing, and picking teams, washing kits... it was all a bit much, to be honest! I’m glad to have a bit of a smaller role but I’ll be along at games supporting the boys.
“It’ll be Ryan Sutherland that is spearheading the club this year but the likes of myself and Liam Sutherland and Ewan McElroy will all be there to support him along the way. Hopefully the boys can pull through with a strong summer.”
