Turning Scorries around no quick fix
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TURNING around the fortunes of Wick Academy is “not a three-month project”, according to manager Davie Kirkwood.
The Scorries boss has issued a plea for patience following a string of three league losses as well as dropping out of the Scottish Cup second round after conceding a penalty.
To top if off forward Gary Weir is away, defender Michael Steven is suspended and goalkeeper James More has a broken wrist as the team prepares to take on Formartine United tomorrow.
Kirkwood is not fazed by any negative thinking ahead of the fixture.
“Fans have got to be patient with what we are trying to do,” he said. “It’s a long-term project and I think the gap has closed but we need to turn the odd-goal defeats into draws and wins and that comes through habit.
“Hopefully we’ll get into that habit sooner rather than later.”
With that in mind Kirkwood has been training with his squad this week in order to fix the cracks that showed in last week’s cup game against Keith.
“I just didn’t think we were fluent enough with our communication and our passing,” he said.
“One of the highlights recently has been our continuity but we just couldn’t get it on Saturday. I still think we can do a lot better.”
As far as the opposition is concerned Kirkwood knows that the Aberdeenshire outfit has been running hot and cold – just like his own squad.
“There’s no doubt they’ve got a massive budget and some really good players but their form has been a bit indifferent – just like ours,” he said.
“They have got the quality and the money but that doesn’t mean anything. You have to get a togetherness for your squad and maybe they’ve not got that yet, although there’s no doubt they will.”
Not so upbeat is United manager Steve Paterson who said things at the club “could be better”.
“The general feeling is that we’re not performing to the level we are capable of,” he said. “We’re showing glimpses in games but we’ve yet to blend.
“Players I have quite a high opinion of are kind of off-form and are not hitting their game.”
Paterson said that he plans to work through it with his squad but the manager recently stated that it is his head on the block as he brought in the draft of new talent.
He also hopes to be able to turn around his club’s fortunes sooner rather than later.
“I don’t want to fall off the pace and come Christmas we’re 12 points behind,” he said. “So obviously I’m keen to get back on track against Wick.”
However, Paterson welcomes Academy to North Lodge Park tomorrow with two key attacking players missing – Stuart Soane and Kyle MacAulay.
With defender Stuart Cumming missing as well the United boss is under no illusions as to the task he faces but is hopeful that recent inconsistencies will only affect the Scorries.
“Wick’s problem has been consistency,” he said. “They are capable of beating most teams on their day but they’ve not been doing that.
“My worry is that they have a good day and we have a bad day.”
