Wishaw Juniors boss Young already looking forward to next season

May 20 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

WISHAW Juniors manager Alex Young believes he still has the appetite to take the club forward despite a difficult time on and off the park this season.

The local outfit finished bottom of Central Division Two, just behind close rivals Newmains United.

Since February, the club have also been coming to terms with the tragic loss of physio Thomas Mullen who died of a heart attack aged just 39.

“From the turn of the year I have just really wanted the season to be over,” Young said.

“Tam was a big loss to myself as well as the football club. It put a dampener on the season from February onwards.

“But hopes are high for the club and I’m still as eager as ever.”

He added: “As one of the supporters said, it doesn’t matter if we finished bottom of the league, we still have a great team spirit and that you cannot buy. That gives us hope for the future.”

Young cited a lack of consistency and inexperience as the main problems this season.

He feels their final league match against Forth Wanderers summed up a lot of what went wrong this campaign.

Wishaw were 3-0 up after just half-an-hour and were totally dominant. However, a goalkeeping error allowed the visitors back into the match and Forth eventually took a 4-3 lead before Wishaw secured a 4-4 draw.

Young said: “We were 3-1 up but trying to get youngsters to just contain the game is hard.

“We didn’t need to go chasing goals all the time. All we had to do is see the game out. It was an example of what has cost us this season.”

He added: “There is the nucleus of a good team and I’ll build on that. We have had a few thumpings but we have also competed well against some of the best teams in the league.”

Last week, Young began his recruitment drive for next season by adding amateur striker Jamie Drysdale to the ranks.

The gaffer also revealed to the Wishaw Press that he has been in discussions to bring in a goalkeeper and is hoping to sign an experienced defender who “will talk and take command at the back.”

Young added: “I know where I have to make changes and I have been looking at a couple of players who I would hope to bring in shortly. By the time pre-season starts, there will be changes.”