Wick Academy will look to ‘hit the ground running’ in new Highland League season
Gary Manson is confident that Wick Academy will benefit from having a settled squad as they look to “hit the ground running” in the 2024/25 Highland League campaign.
The Scorries brought in a clutch of signings last summer but Manson is likely to recruit only two or three new faces ahead of the opening fixture against Fraserburgh at Harmsworth Park on Saturday, July 27.
“We’ve got quite a settled squad now,” the manager said. “If we can get a couple more bodies in to supplement the squad we had last year, we should be looking at about 21 or 22 players which will hopefully be enough.
“Nobody has signed yet but hopefully we’ll get at least two in, possibly three.
“I know the local scene quite well anyway, but I watched upwards of 15 or 16 games over the seven weeks that I was away from Wick so it never stops. When we finish our season the summer season has already started, so it’s a case of getting out and watching as many games as I can.
“I’ve taken in umpteen games but we’re in the fortunate position this year that we only really need to supplement the squad with maybe one or two players.
“Last year it was a case of wholesale changes. It’s not like that at all this season, so it’s a much better position to be in.”
Academy scored 11 goals in their first two pre-season matches, winning 6-2 against Wick Groats last Thursday and 5-1 against Orkney AFA select in the annual Ken Green Cup match on Saturday.
“All we were asking, certainly in these first two games, was for them to work as hard as they possibly could,” Manson explained.
“It was just about getting back on the pitch and getting back used to playing 11-a-side games and working as hard as they can to get the most out of it.
“I was certainly pleased with the effort and the work that the boys put in. It was a quick turnaround as well, Thursday night to Saturday afternoon.
“It was asking a lot of them, but it was specifically designed for that to push them as hard as we could. Most of them showed up really well.
“There were obviously bits that I wasn’t happy with, but we’re still very early in pre-season so hopefully in the next three weeks we’ll iron all those little bits out.”
When asked about the club’s targets for 2024/25, Manson replied: “I’m certain that if you ask every manager in the Highland League, they’d say the same thing – it’s about getting more points on the board than last year and trying to progress further in the cup competitions.
“You just have to look at how we played and our points tally in the second half of the season to see what we’re capable of.
“I said it numerous times, it was a brand new squad last year – a lot of players had never played Highland League before so it took a bit of time to adapt.
“Now they don’t have that excuse, so they can hit the ground running right from the first whistle on the 27th.
“The boys have another year of experience, another year together, a full pre-season together, so we’ll see where it takes us.
“Our home record was really good last season and that’s something we will look to replicate.”
Academy have friendlies next week against North Caledonian League clubs St Duthus (away on Thursday) and Bonar Bridge (at home on Sunday, July 21).
Alan Hughes, who was voted supporters’ player of the year for 2022/23, is fit again after being sidelined by injury for most of last season.
“He had seven months out,” Manson said. “He just needed rest and he is back fully fit now.”
Manson, who has been an Academy player for 24 years, made his 700th competitive appearance last season and will remain part of the squad.
“I’ll be registered, but I’m hoping I won’t be required very often,” he said.
Wick rounded off their 2023/24 campaign with a 4-0 away win to Keith. That result allowed the Scorries to climb above the Maroons into 12th place in the final table, one point behind Rothes in 11th.
With 36 points (10 wins and six draws) from 34 games, Academy ended up four places higher than the previous season and 10 points better off.
