Shotts boss in 'stand up and be counted' rallying cry to struggling side

Shotts boss John McKeown has called on everyone at Hannah Park to stand up and be counted to get the club out of relegation trouble in the West of Scotland First Division.

McKeown’s men fell to a third straight defeat on Saturday when they went down 3-1 at home to Cumbernauld United, leaving them without a win in seven games in all competitions.

The club were second in the table at Christmas and now sit third from bottom in the drop zone, although they have between five and seven games in hand over their rivals.

McKeown said: “We are in a poor bit of form and we’ve got a real fight on our hands.

“But you can’t go into a corner and cry about it and hope it will go away. It’s time to stand up and be counted.

“The experienced players and the big characters in the team need to step up – and myself and the coaching team as well.

“It can be dangerous thinking we’ve got these games in hand, it will be okay. But I don’t believe that is the case with the players. I don’t think they are being complacent.

“We had a lot of strong words on Saturday after the game.

“I don’t think anyone thinks we’ll just find a few wins and bump up the table. They know how hard it is going to be.

“The run we went on before Christmas was great and it was hard work and desire that got us those victories. We were never trouncing teams. We were winning by the odd goal, here and there. Now we are losing by the odd goal, here and there.”

Shotts host fifth-place Johnstone Burgh on Saturday.

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