Bremner admits decision to step down as Thurso boss 'had been coming'
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Michael Bremner has admitted that his decision to resign as Thurso manager had been "coming for a while".
The Vikings have regularly struggled to get a squad together and Bremner stepped down after watching his team fall to a 3-1 defeat against St Duthus on Saturday.
Bremner (39) had been in charge for just under two years. His assistant Scott Davidson will take over.
Speaking after the game in Tain, Bremner said that the chance to spend more time with family was at the heart of his decision.
"To be honest, it has been coming for a while," he said. "The whole of last year we were struggling to get a team. Thursday and Friday are spent just asking boys if they can play on a Saturday.
"We have a squad of about 30 boys, but we've had four or five of them saying they'll come and then they go and sign for another team.
"We are four or five games in and we've only had one game at home so far.
"We went over to Orkney with 10 boys and I had to play. I'll be 40 next week. There's no point in me playing every week.
"We had hoped to get some of the Wick under-18 lads in but it hasn't worked out with the rules of the league.
"Boys are seeing the results and it's just getting a bit depressing now. It has been affecting me at home too.
"We had a free week last Saturday without football and I had a great weekend in Inverness with the kids. That was the sign for me to call it a day.
"The committee work so hard. The club is good, and has done well to get the pavilion opened again and some work done to the Dammies. Everything is there for the team.
"I’d like to wish Scott and the players all the best for the rest of the season. I’m sure once some players come back in, Scott will get them climbing up the table."
The club announced the resignation on social media, in a statement that also confirmed Davidson will take the reins as manager.
The statement read: "Vikings manager Michael Bremner has announced that today’s match at Tain is his last as Thurso FC manager.
"Scott Davidson is now in sole charge of the team. Any further announcements will be on our social media."
A strike from Thomas Lewis on 24 minutes was all that separated the sides at Grant Park in the first half.
Any chances of Thurso getting back into were ended in a two-minute spell midway through the second period when Finn As-Chainey doubled his side's advantage before Stefan MacRitchie scored with a rasping shot from distance which evaded loanee goalkeeper Ben Sutherland.
Bobby Gunn reduced the deficit with 10 minutes to go.
The defeat consigned Thurso to the bottom of the table, behind Golspie Sutherland and Alness United on goal difference.
Bremner was appointed as manager of Thurso in November 2021 after previous boss Stevie Reid resigned.
In only his second game in charge he guided the club to victory in the Football Times Cup final and went on to consolidate a seventh-place finish in the North Caledonian League.
Last season – his only full season in charge – the club finished 12th.
Invergordon staged a remarkable comeback from 3-0 down to win 4-3 at Fort William on Saturday.
The result lifted Invergordon up to top spot in the table, with Fort dropping to second.
Results – North Caledonian League: Fort William 3, Invergordon 4; St Duthus 3, Thurso 1.
Football Times Cup – Semi-final: Bonar Bridge 2, Inverness Athletic 4. Quarter-finals: Golspie Sutherland 3, Alness United 1; Loch Ness 8, Clachnacuddin "A" 1.
North Caledonian League fixtures for Saturday, September 23: Inverness Athletic v Halkirk United (2pm); Loch Ness v Alness United Orkney v Invergordon; St Duthus v Bonar Bridge; Thurso v Fort William (2pm).
