Latest news with #SandyClark
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Albion Rovers boss compares goal hero to Usain Bolt after comeback win at Gala Fairydean Rovers
Sandy Clark was full of praise for Devan McColl after his contribution in Saturday's success Albion Rovers boss Sandy Clark joked he thought Usain Bolt was involved in Saturday's comeback victory over Gala - after Devan McColl showed blistering pace on his way to bagging the winner. The Coatbridge club fell behind at Cliftonhill to a Lennon Connelly strike inside 18 minutes, but quick-fire goals in the space of two minutes early in the second half turned the game on its head. A Barry Duncan free-kick deflected into the net in 52 minutes to get Rovers on level terms, before McColl broke on the counter attack at speed and unleashed a venomous drive to grab all three points for the hosts. And Clark said McColl reminded him of a certain Olympic champion sprinter. He said: 'It was a great performance from our guys. It took us a bit of time in the first half to get into the game, but that happens to us a lot because we are such a young squad. 'We lost a goal in the first half, but we managed to hang in and had a couple of half decent chances to equalise, just never quite got there. 'In the second half we scored straight from a free-kick from Barry Duncan, which took a bit of a deflection that deceived the goalkeeper. 'After that we got the second goal really quickly. It was a brilliant goal on the counter attack from a corner, thanks to Devan McColl. 'I thought it was Usain Bolt going down the right-hand side when he broke away. 'He really should have squared it into the box from the position he was in, but he elected to shoot and, thankfully, it ended up in the back of the net. 'After that we were comfortable and I feel we should have picked them off for a third goal, but we'll take the win. I was really pleased with the performance.' It was Rovers' second win in four games and saw them bounce back from a tough 4-0 defeat at Tranent the previous week. Clark, whose side are up to seventh in the table, added: 'Tranent are a really good team and we did some good things against them last week. We eliminated a lot of the errors this week and managed to score a couple of goals, that's what football is about. 'There was a brilliant attitude from our young lads and we had great backing from our fans as well, so it was a happy place at full-time.' Rovers now have a double-header coming up over the next week, with a home clash against Thorniewood in the first round of the South Challenge Cup this Saturday, followed by the visit of Broxburn Athletic on league business on Tuesday night.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Albion Rovers boss 'not worried' about Tranent defeat as side have picked up more points than expected
Albion Rovers boss Sandy Clark says he won't worry too much about Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Tranent after starting the season with more points than he bargained for. Cash-strapped Rovers have had to make big changes to their squad over the summer, but they have accrued four points from their first three games with a 3-3 draw against Cumbernauld Colts last weekend and a 2-1 win at East Stirling last midweek preceding Saturday's defeat. The Coatbridge side conceded two goals in quick succession in the first half, with Harry Girdwood and Cameron McKinley on target. After the break McKinley added his second of the day just a minute in, while a Dean Brett penalty completed the scoring. Clark said: 'It is a disappointing result, but if you had said to me last week, with the circumstances that the club finds itself in, that we would have four points after the first week of games, I'd definitely have taken that. 'So it is not the end of the world, by any manner of means. 'Tranent were by far the better team on Saturday and I think they are going to be up there challenging at the top of the league this season with the players they have. 'The funny thing is we actually competed well against them, but we just made terrible mistakes for all four of their goals. They were all preventable. 'I can't ask for any more effort from the boys. They were just too good for us on the day.' Rovers now host Gala Fairydean this Saturday and on the midweek win over Shire, Clark added: 'East Stirling was a game against a side similar to where we are at right now and I thought we did well. We lost a poor goal in that game as well and that is the current theme at the moment we need to try and stop. 'We deserved the three points there last week and it is about how we bounce back from Saturday for the Gala game.' Clark doesn't expect any new additions ahead of the weekend, saying: 'We've got a squad now where there is not a lot of scope for bringing more players in. The loan market is there but if players aren't going to improve the team, we won't bring players in just for numbers. 'The co-operation agreement with Kilmarnock keeps the door open continually, if they are ever looking to put someone out that we think is good enough. 'I don't think anything else is likely to happen quickly there so we should have the same squad for this weekend as we did on Saturday there. 'There has been good bits in all our performances, so we need to take the positives and try to be better defensively to stop giving away cheap goals." READ MORE: Albion Rovers 3 Cumbernauld Colts 3: Clark tells Rovers to show no fear this season after battling derby draw READ MORE: Gartcairn co-boss fumes over ref decisions in Whitletts Vics draw READ MORE: East Kilbride lacked intensity in Spartans defeat, says boss as League Two debut ends in humbling defeat
Daily Record
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Albion Rovers boss 'not worried' about Tranent defeat as side have picked up more points than expected
Sandy Clark has been relatively pleased with the Cliftonhill side's showing early on in the Lowland League Albion Rovers boss Sandy Clark says he won't worry too much about Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Tranent after starting the season with more points than he bargained for. Cash-strapped Rovers have had to make big changes to their squad over the summer, but they have accrued four points from their first three games with a 3-3 draw against Cumbernauld Colts last weekend and a 2-1 win at East Stirling last midweek preceding Saturday's defeat. The Coatbridge side conceded two goals in quick succession in the first half, with Harry Girdwood and Cameron McKinley on target. After the break McKinley added his second of the day just a minute in, while a Dean Brett penalty completed the scoring. Clark said: 'It is a disappointing result, but if you had said to me last week, with the circumstances that the club finds itself in, that we would have four points after the first week of games, I'd definitely have taken that. 'So it is not the end of the world, by any manner of means. 'Tranent were by far the better team on Saturday and I think they are going to be up there challenging at the top of the league this season with the players they have. 'The funny thing is we actually competed well against them, but we just made terrible mistakes for all four of their goals. They were all preventable. 'I can't ask for any more effort from the boys. They were just too good for us on the day.' Rovers now host Gala Fairydean this Saturday and on the midweek win over Shire, Clark added: 'East Stirling was a game against a side similar to where we are at right now and I thought we did well. We lost a poor goal in that game as well and that is the current theme at the moment we need to try and stop. 'We deserved the three points there last week and it is about how we bounce back from Saturday for the Gala game.' Clark doesn't expect any new additions ahead of the weekend, saying: 'We've got a squad now where there is not a lot of scope for bringing more players in. The loan market is there but if players aren't going to improve the team, we won't bring players in just for numbers. 'The co-operation agreement with Kilmarnock keeps the door open continually, if they are ever looking to put someone out that we think is good enough. 'I don't think anything else is likely to happen quickly there so we should have the same squad for this weekend as we did on Saturday there. 'There has been good bits in all our performances, so we need to take the positives and try to be better defensively to stop giving away cheap goals."
Daily Record
02-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Albion Rovers boss assesses Lowland League title hopes as he issues 'bottomed-out' warning
Sandy Clark gives a realistic assessment on ambitions as Coatbridge club cuts costs Albion Rovers boss Sandy Clark says he is realistic enough to know his side won't win the Lowland League this season, but he is also confident that they won't be the worst in the division either. There is no relegation from the Lowland League this term with reconstruction coming in from the 2026/27 campaign, but cash-strapped Rovers still face a difficult year with budget restraints crippling their ability to attract quality players for the forthcoming season. And Clark believes his side, who finished sixth in the fifth tier last season, won't be anywhere near challenging for the title this term and says his target for the team this term is to give it their best shot. The Rovers gaffer, who took a pay cut this season to stay in charge, said: 'The target is to be the best we can be. Once we get a squad signed up - which will take a few weeks - all I will ask is that they work as best they can and carry out the tactics we ask of them. 'We won't be the worst team in the league, but it is fair to say we won't be challenging. 'We certainly won't win the league, there's absolutely no doubt about that. 'There is no relegation this season but anyone that I sign to come and work with me, if they think bottom of the league is acceptable, they won't be there for long. 'The one thing we can offer them is a platform. If I can sell them up the way to a bigger club, that is success for me and them. 'I have been in situations like this before at teams in my career where you have little budget. You just have to deal with it, try to get good players as best you can within the budget by being sensible. 'You have to give one player a bit more and the next player has to take a little bit less. Maybe you bring in an experienced player and then a younger player so the two of them marry up to help you take a step forward. 'That is the way it is going to have to be here. I know exactly what I have to do.' A club statement released late last season claimed internal wrangling amongst shareholders has held the club back from finding new revenue streams after their parachute payments for falling out of the SPFL in 2023 ceased. Rovers are currently in discussions with the SFA about upgrading Cliftonhill to an artificial surface through the Scottish Football Facilities Fund, which would open up the pitch for community use. Clark says the current situation at the club is frustrating but he will just need to get on with his job as best he can. He added: 'I can only focus on the football side of the club. 'There is still the internal stuff with the shareholders that I can't really get my head around. 'Why people can't work together, I don't know, but that has been covered before. 'The best way to describe things right now is that Albion Rovers have bottomed out. They can't go any lower. If they go any lower with the situation the club is in financially, eventually you find yourself in bother. 'When I look at the players I've lost, every one of them were people I wanted to keep and we couldn't manage it because other clubs recognised they were good players and had the budget to go and make them a financial offer that we couldn't. 'Everyone goes with my best wishes because they gave me everything they had when they were here.' Meanwhile, Rovers have added two friendlies to their pre-season schedule with Queen of the South reserves and St Mirren B their opponents. They already face Airdrie this Saturday and were due to host Queen's Park last night. The clash with the Doonhamers will be played on Saturday, July 12, kick off 3 pm, and on Saturday, July 19 the Saints come calling in a 3pm kick-off.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chasing East Kilbride to title cost Albion Rovers, admits boss
Albion Rovers boss Sandy Clark says foolishly chasing East Kilbride for the Lowland League title over the past two season, following a devastating relegation from League Two, has left the club in a financial black hole. Advertisement But he says Rovers have a strategy, largely based on the prospect of creating an astroturf-based community hub. The Wee Rovers fell into the fifth tier in 2023 and hoped to earn an immediate return by splashing the cash they had from SPFL parachute payments for going down. However, EK romped to the league title in both of the last two campaigns, finally gaining promotion through the play-offs at the second attempt last month, and with Rovers failing to get up, they now face a season with very limited funds now the two-year support package from the SPFL has ceased. Clark and assistant George Paterson have had to take pay cuts to stay on for next season, while the playing budget has been completely slashed to the point the club will only be able to pay expenses this coming season. Rovers boss Sandy Clark says mistakes have been made at every level in the last two seasons -Credit:Ciaran Reid The club is in the early stages of trying to change Cliftonhill's surface from grass to artificial, with the support of the SFA, to create a revenue stream but that won't be a quick process. Advertisement READ MORE: Airdrie have point to prove after last season's relegation scare, says Frizzell READ MORE: Lowland League shake-up confirmed as clubs vote for revamp And Clark admits trying to challenge big-spending EK has come back to bite them. He said: 'Relegation was an absolute kick in the teeth. Other clubs who have been down the same pathway, it's hard to get back out when you take that drop, and that's where we find ourselves now. 'In the two years we've been in the Lowland, mistakes have been made at every level. We looked at trying to get back up with a fairly decent budget, but in hindsight, East Kilbride have been so far ahead for two years that it was a real challenge to get there. Rovers will lose most of their players from last season as they go to an expenses-only model -Credit:Ciaran Reid 'We found ourselves at the end of last season in a financial position where the club had to bottom out. Advertisement 'Hopefully with the budget we have, we can't go any lower now. This is where it has to stop, and we need to have a foundation and build on the next little bit, as we go along and learn from mistakes in the past. 'I kept believing for the past year we were going to have an astroturf pitch out there, that hasn't come to fruition yet and that really frustrates me, because I think that might well be the focal point where this club can kick on. 'I think when that starts it changes the whole structure of this club and gives it a chance to progress.'
