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Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rutherglen Glencairn will cope with top flight test, says boss
Joe Pryce's side have been promoted to the West of Scotland Premier Division and he insists they can make an impact Rutherglen Glencairn co-boss Joe Pryce says his side aren't just going to make up the numbers in the West of Scotland Premier Division. The Glens co-boss says players don't want to operate with 10 men behind the ball and can showcase their talents in the top flight. He said: 'It's the Premier Division and we're going in against teams like Johnstone Burgh, who won the Scottish Cup on Sunday, Auchinleck, Cumnock, Pollok – the big hitters just keep coming and first and foremost we've got to make sure we can compete. 'But we want to do more than compete, we want to go in and play in the Premier Division and not just make up the numbers. 'We don't just want to go and have 10 men behind the ball, kicking it the way we're facing, footballers don't want to play that way, they want to showcase their talents. 'We won't build that way, we're going to go in and play the way we want. We know we're going to have to defend, and properly, but we still want to go up and play. We'll be a success, or we'll fail, but we'll do it our way.' Pryce has started looking ahead to next season and is on the verge of signing three defenders, though won't name them at this stage. However, Roan Fitzpatrick, Jack McIlveen and Allan Woodhouse have departed the club. Pryce said: We've spoken to quite a few, but it's that difficult part where players are just leaving clubs, want to see what else is there for them. 'We've been concentrating on our own players, making sure the ones we want to stay are tied up, but we have certainly been active in speaking to players. 'We know our targets, we know what we're looking for, and we're just waiting on players getting back to us. 'We've managed to get two centre-backs tied up at the minute, ready for next season, and we're speaking to another one. 'We lost Roan and Woody out the midfield, who are moving on, and Jack McIlveen has moved on to St Roch's as well. 'We were disappointed to lose those three, because we wanted to take them with us, but they've made their choice, that's up to them and we wish them all the best. They were a big part of what we achieved this year.' Pryce added: 'There are a couple of players that we've still to speak to, in terms of our own group, who won't be here next season, but it's quite slow and difficult. 'The financial landscape of the Premier League is way above First Division, so that's something we're adjusting to. But we are where we are, we're certainly not going to put the club in any trouble, trying to pay wages that we can't afford. 'We see other what clubs have done, and the perilous state they find themselves in, but that won't happen at Glencairn.'
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rutherglen Glencairn co-boss already planning for Premier Division after sealing promotion
Joe Pryce says he needs to strengthen one key area for life in the top flight Rutherglen Glencairn co-boss Joe Pryce was delighted to seal promotion on Saturday, but is already rebuilding for life in the West of Scotland Premier Division. A 1-0 win at Blantyre Vics sealed second spot in the First Division, and Glens make the step-up as league top-scorers on 81, but also having conceded more than either of their fellow promoted teams Renfrew and Arthurlie, with 47. It's that back-line that will be the focus of player searches, and Pryce is certainly not resting on any laurels. He said: 'You're in with the big guns and we're just going to enjoy the moment just now. 'But we'll get in this week and we'll be working hard on recruiting. 'There will be a few players at our club moving on, it happens every year, so we've got to try and recruit in the right areas of the team. 'Last season we knew that goal-scoring was the Achilles heel for us, because we didn't score enough – Ryan McManus was the only player to reach double figures. 'We knew we had to address that, which we did, bringing in Jack McIlveen and Scott Jarvie, who both managed to hit double figures as well. 'We're the league's top goal-scorers, but we perhaps need to look at the other end, because we did concede too many. 'We know we're not going to score that amount of goals in the top division, so we need to keep the back door shut, and that's probably where we're going to be looking to recruit for.' Pryce says promotion was a reward for the whole club, and praised the team's consistency. He said: 'Even in the times when we maybe weren't winning, we were still picking up a point, it wasn't as if we were losing all the time, and it keeps that scoreboard ticking over – and in the end, those points that we picked up ended up being really crucial. 'It has been a tough season, but it was always going to be, and I'm really pleased and proud of my whole club because they've been fantastic. 'We have a small but loyal group of fans who follow us everywhere, so it's reward for them. 'Our hard-working committee were rewarded as well, I've got the best general manager in Willie Harvey that anybody could ask for, he has been so supportive, rock-solid behind the management team since day one. Anything we want he's there for us, and he has been absolutely brilliant. 'Last but not least, my management team – my co-boss Billy Ogilvie, Tam Miller, Stevie Hutchison – I'm really fortunate to be working with them, and for such a good club. 'We were absolutely delighted on Saturday to get it over the line, though it was a wee bit nervy. 'The players stood strong, and that was the most important thing. Their concentration levels were fantastic, and that got us over the line. 'I'm so pleased for them. I'm delighted for Glencairn, because I know how hard everybody at the club works, and they've got their reward.'
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rutherglen Glencairn promotion dreams boosted with crucial win
Glens are in a good position to nab one of two available promotion slots Rutherglen Glencairn gave their promotion hopes a major shot in the arm with a comfortable 2-0 win at Kilbirnie Ladeside on Saturday. Goals from Ants Maguire and Boris Melingui keep Glens in fourth place in the West of Scotland First Division, but knowing that a win over Irvine Meadow, while rivals Kilwinning Rangers and Renfrew are idle, will see them leap up into second, going into the final day. Maguire struck in four minutes, taking a pass from Ryan McManus before smashing into the net. Melingui reacted fastest to net when his header hit a post in 28 minutes to double the visitors' lead and ultimately seal the points. And co-boss Joe Pryce admits he enjoyed his Saturday in Ayrshire. He said: 'It was a really good performance from us, and an excellent result. 'We got the early goal, which settled everybody down, and then got the second one just before the half-hour. 'It's a tough place to go, Kilbirnie, but we came back with three points and a clean sheet, which at this stage of the season we've got to be delighted with.' Pryce reckons Glencairn were better than even a comfortable win suggests, but was pleased with the three points. He said: 'The performance was more convincing than the 2-0 scoreline. 'At 2-0 they were in a position where they were always in it. Kilbirnie don't lie down, they'll go right to the last whistle, and they did. 'We could have scored a few more, but to come up the road with three points and a clean sheet at this stage of the season, we're happy with that. 'It was deserved. We were the better team for the majority of the match, and we had control of the game. 'We scored a couple of goals, hit the woodwork, their goalkeeper made a couple of good saves as well – it was a thoroughly deserved three points, I don't think anybody who was at the game would say otherwise.' Kilbirnie in 12th are four points ahead of third-bottom Maybole with two games in hand, but Pryce said: 'It's difficult playing a team that's fighting relegation, but it's always difficult going to Kilbirnie anyway. 'They're a massive club at our level, and for whatever reason they've found themselves at the wrong end of the table. 'It's always a great place to play, the pitch is always in great nick, it's a terrific stadium, and I always enjoy my trips there – especially on Saturday, and picking up three points.'
