Shotts boss Tony McInally ponders future

Jun 20 2012 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

Tony McInally

SHOTTS’ Scottish Junior Cup-winning manager Tony McInally is set to hold crunch talks with the club’s hierarchy after hinting he could quit Hannah Park this summer.

Bon Accord’s hectic end to the season has taken its toll on McInally, who admitted to being mentally shattered after securing a first Scottish Cup victory in 54 years and promotion back to the Super League.

The former St Mirren midfielder conceded his history-making squad will break up in the close season and admits an injection of quality will be needed to ensure they compete in the top flight.

However McInally revealed he does not know whether he will be the man to begin the rebuilding process.

“I don’t know if I will be here,” said the Shotts boss. “That is the truth. I have to take my time.

“I told the players before the game at Rutherglen (last week) that the team talk would be the last in front of that dressing room.

“Players come and go, coaches and managers come and go. That is the nature of football. Some of the players will go senior and some will go to other teams.

“The players have been phenominal all season but the squad needs an injection of real quality – guys who are street-wise and have been around the game.”

Bringing in quality players means that the Shotts board will have to loosen the purse-strings, and McInally admits that could also influence his decision

“I am an ambitious guy – in life and in football – and I have to see what the club offer me,” he said.

“I have not had a penny to spend in three years. How can you go up to the top league and not have any money to spend?

“I don’t know what the club’s ambition are.

“If we had the number of games we had to play in the top league, we would have been relegated.”

However, an increased playing budget may not be enough to hold on to McInally, who has a young family and business commitments away from the game.

He added: “I would consider taking a break. I am mentally tired.

“The last player I signed last year was on a Wednesday and we started back on the Saturday. We had only finished the season two weeks before that. That was a very long campaign and then we had this season.

“My kids are also at an important age and I want to be about a wee bit more. And my job takes me away a lot. I need to weigh these things up.

“I will do the right thing by the club and will resign some of the players but I am need to take stock of what I am going to do.”