Sentiment for old friends stays off the pitch, says Wick boss
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THERE will no room for sentiment at Harmsworth Park tomorrow when Wick Academy play host to Rothes.
A couple of familiar faces will be heading north, only this time there will be very little cheers from those who once adored them.
Former boss Gordon Connelly and ex-Scorries striker Steven Anderson will return to familiar pastures having previously served Academy well.
Connelly, now current assistant boss of Rothes, was in charge of first team affairs at Wick during a spell that included leading the Scorries to North of Scotland Cup glory two years ago.
Anderson, meanwhile, spent a number of years in the famous black and white, and was a prolific striker during his time up here.
No doubt both will receive applause but as Academy gaffer Tom McKenna insists, old friendships will count for nothing.
He said: “It certainly makes it a more interesting game doesn’t it.
“It will be nice to see Gordon again. He’s a good friend of mine and it will be nice to catch up with him.
“However, I’ve got to put that friendship to one side and devise a gameplan which will hopefully see him and the rest of his new team going back down the road having been beaten.
“I just hope he doesn’t forget himself and sit down in the wrong dugout.”
Given all that he had done for Wick during his time there, Connelly’s departure was tinged with sadness. Anderson’s however brought about a reaction of shock.
Having topped the club’s scoring charts last season, fans looked forward to more of the same only to receive the bombshell that he was on his way south to Mackessack Park.
McKenna added: “I must admit I’ve not been following Ando’s progress since he moved. But given he was part of a whole host of signings, Rothes appear to have been on an inconsistent run – very much like ourselves.
“Maybe their signings are taking time to gel? If that is the case then I hope they don’t gel for this weekend.
“With Ando, I was informed last season I was shouting out his name a lot from the touchline – I didn’t even realise myself that I was doing it.
“I’ll resist the temptation to try and trick him by shouting ‘Ando’ again. I’ll leave the handling of him to the boys who will know better than anyone else how he plays.”
McKenna is also keen to build on the superb win at Fraserburgh last week to ensure his team throw off their ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ tag.
Claiming victory one game and then losing the other has been a hallmark of their season so far and McKenna is keen for his side to go on a winning run.
He said; “There was a good atmosphere in training this week. The boys were buzzing off that win against Fraserburgh.
“You’d like those type of sessions to continue and I’m sure the boys themselves do too. You want to go in to training with a spring in your step and be looking forward to working on your skills.
“But the only way to ensure all of that is by getting good results.”
