St Cuthbert Wanderers gaffer describes "eye opening" first season in charge

St Cuthbert Wanderers gaffer Ian Clark has described his first season in charge as an “eye opener”.

Clark was part of manager Josh Rennie’s coaching staff last term, taking over the hot seat after the previous boss left during the summer.

And it’s been challenging, with Saints bottom of the Utility Hut South of Scotland League with just one win to show for their efforts at the end of 2023.

Clark said: “It’s been an eye opener for me and I’ve said before that the league doesn’t get enough credit across Scotland.

“I’ve always said to the committee I’d be in the job as long I could see we’re making progress. I think we are – results might not show that but if you see how engaged we are with the community, we’re up to seven or eight local lads, who are all very good players.

“This year is a learning curve. The plan needs to be to get them exposure to men’s football and keep these lads in Saints’ team for years to come.

“I need to get the trust of players in the area. They don’t know me and they’ll see the central belt boys coming down, but I would happily have a squad full of boys from Kirkcudbright and the surrounding area.

“I want to develop boys and make them better players and better people. That’s why I’m in the game. I’m enjoying it, although people will think I’m mad for saying that!

“It’s a fantastic league, I’m at a fantastic club, one of the biggest in the south.

“Where we are hurts me but I am laying the foundations for hopefully the next five to 10 years that local lads can come into this club, push the club forward and go where they want to go.”

Saints’ final game of the year summed up their difficult season so far.

They led 2-0 at home to Lochmaben in the second half only to contrive to