Coach Robbie Winters urges side to grab first-team chances at East Kilbride

Robbie Winters is stepping up from East Kilbride’s under-18 coaching staff after two trophy wins – and has told his new under-20s stars to target a first-team place at East Kilbride this season

The 48-year-old says new boss Mick Kennedy has spoken to the club’s youngsters to tell them the door is open if they’re hungry enough, and that there will be chances for them.

And Winters, from Jackton, says none of his young charges will still want to be in the under-20s set-up by the end of their two years.

Winters signed off at under-18 level by winning the SYFA Regional Cup with the golds against Eddlewood at Broadwood at the weekend, after lifting the Divisional Cup a week earlier.

He said: “My wee team are good boys. I’ve met the 2004s that were there, and their eyes are on the prize, basically. Mick

had a wee word with them in the office at K-Park, saying they’re the future.

“He’s bringing in a lot of players just now, but there will be chances there for the young boys, and I think that’s what their main aim is.

“They want to know there’s going to be chances to get in the first team and play minutes, and that’s all you want as a youngster.

“You don’t want to be just playing and be happy scoring goals in the 20s, you want to be progressing.

“If you’re defending well, if you’re a good goalkeeper or midfielder, or you have a wee goal threat week in, week out, you want to have a door that’s opened a wee bit for the first team. I think one or two of them have been in training with the first team in the last couple of weeks, so it’s fantastic.

“My boys know what they’re expected to do, and hopefully they can fight and get into the 20s team, stake a claim not just for this year, because there will be two years in the 20s.

“But I’m