Thurso boss intends to ‘see the season out and take it from there’
Tom McKenna has promised to see out the season as Thurso manager so that he and the club can take stock after a difficult campaign in which the Vikings have often struggled for personnel.
He praised the loyalty of the “six or seven boys that have been there consistently” but admitted it had been a “really challenging” time. Thurso are third from bottom of the North Caledonian League after two wins and 14 defeats from 16 games.
McKenna, who was appointed last summer, said he was embarrassed by the cancellation of the scheduled North Caledonian Cup tie at Invergordon two weeks ago after the Vikings were unable to raise a team.
“It’s the first time in my coaching life I’ve had to cancel a game through not having enough players,” he said.
McKenna explained that he had informed the club committee on the Friday that he was struggling to get a squad together, and by the following morning there was no option but to call off the tie and cancel the team bus.
“I said I’m not going to apologise either because I’ve been totally committed to this, I’m just not getting the commitment that’s needed,” he said, adding: “I’m hoping it was just a one-off.”
McKenna said: “It has been a frustrating time for everyone. The core of players that are there consistently, I know they are frustrated.
“I think as a group we’ll just see the season out and reassemble and have a rethink about how we go forward as a football club.
“Everything that is going on at the moment with results, struggling for personnel… This is not something that has just happened overnight – this is a continuation of what has been going on for the last three or four years.
“Something has to be done because it can’t continue in the same vein – struggling for players week in, week out.
“As a coaching group we’re all feeling it, we’re all trying to motivate each other and at the same time trying to get a squad out and trying to motivate the players to remain positive, which is very difficult to do.
“It has been a challenging time – really challenging. I will definitely see the season out with the club and we’ll take it from there.”
All but one of Thurso’s remaining six fixtures will be at home, starting with Saturday’s game against seventh-placed St Duthus.
McKenna said: “We’ve put the hard miles in, we’ve travelled all over, so we’ve got five home games now and one away. Let’s see if we can enjoy the remaining home games and get some points along the way.”
Last weekend the Vikings were thumped 7-0 by Inverness Athletic at Naver. Scorers were Russell Macintyre, Luke Mackay, Michael McRobert, Sam Mackay, Cammy McCheyne and Kieran Goddard with a double.
Results – North Caledonian League: Bunillidh Thistle 1, Bonar Bridge 4; Clachnacuddin “A” 2, Alness United 3; Halkirk United 2, Fort William 0; Orkney 3, Golspie Sutherland 2; Thurso 0, Inverness Athletic 7.
Fixtures – Saturday, February 15 – North Caledonian League: Alness United v Orkney; Fort William v Clachnacuddin “A”; Golspie Sutherland v Inverness Athletic; Halkirk United v Invergordon (1pm); Thurso v St Duthus (1pm).