Lossiemouth’s ambitious football club chairman has hit back at criticism over his attempt to sign up a former international footballer as the club’s new manager.
Royce Clark last week contacted former Hibernian, Rangers and Scotland international goalkeeper Andy Goram as well as his former Ibrox team-mate Lorenso Amoruso about the vacant manager post at the Highland League side.
It was a move that is as audacious as it is ambitious – but Clark hit back at fans who have ridiculed the attempted coup.
Clark said: “The club parted company with our management team last weekend and I was disappointed at the club being accused of lacking ambition. But then we are criticised for suggesting a couple of ex-professional players might be interested in the job.
“It really is a thankless task running a Highland League club for all of us who put in the time and effort and we get little recognition for those efforts.
“What’s wrong with putting the managers job out there and asking people if they would be interested? Lossie is a great little club with a fantastic loyal bunch of supporters and a decent squad with plenty of young local talent.”
The owner of local firm Grampian Furnishers puts a lot of time, money and effort into football development in his home town and said that the commitment of his playing staff was second to none – adding that has been underlined since former manager Steven Dunn quit after his side went down away to Fort William.
He said: “It’s been a tough week for many connected to Lossiemouth FC, none more so than our captain Kevin Flett who sadly lost his father after a hard fought battle with cancer.
“Alex Flett was one of a kind, a true Lossie legend for all who had the pleasure of meeting him.
“I was fortunate that he was my old neighbour and a friend too. I had my own sad news this week with my father getting some bad news on his health, it really puts things into perspective when those close to you suffer an illness you can do nothing about.”
Lossiemouth fought back on Saturday with a home win over Strathspey Thistle – a win that delighted their chairman: “I was delighted for caretaker managers Kevin and Ryan Green, who patched up our injury-laden squad to produce an injury time victory that could read like something out of Roy of The Rovers!
“Kevin’s dad would have been proud to have a son who played, captained and managed his local team, that’s why the result yesterday meant so much more than the three points.”
Returning to his ambitions for the future of the club, Clark said that he could not see any reason why he should not aim high. He added: “Ryan Farquhar is one of our most promising young players and he offered to sign a five-year contract last weekend.
“That says something about the player and our club and it is fitting that he and the co-manager Ryan Green got the goals that secured the three points.
“There are not many guys that simply want to play for the jersey like Ryan – so why wouldn’t that interest a manager with ambition?”