Rutherglen Glencairn boss targets promotion slot next season

Joe Pryce says ‘progress’ for Rutherglen Glencairn will be grabbing a West of Scotland First Division promotion slot next season.

And the Glens gaffer is looking for at least six new players to help him in that quest.

In his first season as manager, Pryce has steered Glencairn from ninth to fourth, narrowly missing out on a step-up place, and finishing ahead of some big-spending clubs.

Glencairn secured fourth spot with a 1-0 win over Maybole in their finale at the Hamish B. Allan Stadium on Saturday, courtesy of a 57th-minute penalty by Ryan McManus, his 18th goal of an impressive campaign.

But Pryce says Glens can’t stay still.

“We stressed to the players the importance of finishing fourth, the best of the rest, if you like, because we just missed out on promotion,” said Pryce.

“There has been some real progress here – we finished ninth last season, fourth this year, so we’ve jumped up five spots.

“Hopefully, having jumped from ninth to fourth this season, we only need to jump up one more place next season and we’ll be promoted.

“That’s the progress we’re looking for next season.

“I’m really pleased with the progress the squad has made this season and as long as we keep the majority of them together, I’m hopeful that we’ll have the same progress next season – in fact I’m sure we will.

“It’s a young group, it’s their first season together and for a lot of them it’s their first year in the men’s game, just learning.

“I also have to pay tribute to my coaching staff, they’ve been absolutely brilliant – Billy Ogilvie (assistant), Tam Miller (coach) and Hutch (Stevie Hutchison, goalkeeping coach) have been a great help in my first season as a manager.

“I see them every Monday and Wednesday, how hard they work with the