Changes Afoot At Kilmallie | |
25 January 2018 Kilmallie’s pre-season training programme is underway as Mark MacPherson’s squad look to make a swift return to the Marine Harvest Premiership. “We’re back in training and the boys are in good form,” said manager MacPherson who stays on for another season in the Kilmallie hot-seat. MacPherson’s first job will be to put together a new defensive unit in front of talented keeper Shane Gillies. “Our full back Allan MacDonald and buckshee back Peter Carmichael won’t be available next season and that gives us some immediate defensive issues. Allan can’t commit and Peter is emigrating. In fact Peter is playing some rugby at the moment so I’m sure he’ll have some stories to tell from that. However Stephen McAlister can play at full back and we are very lucky to have Steven Stewart who has been fantastic since he came into the side last season. Robbie MacFadyen has returned and he is another who can play at the back and we’ll have young Cam Clark too so we’ll see where we are when the season starts. “We might have lost that bit of experience in certain areas but we are still confident that we will challenge at the top of the table next season. Our aim is 100% to get back to the Premiership.” Among the experienced departures is former Scotland forward John Stewart who came out of retirement temporarily to help out the side last season. MacPherson has reasons to be cheerful though as he pointed out. “We have Liam MacDonald and Liam Cameron back and they are two terrific additions. Martin Graham, who was assistant manager last season, has also intimated that he wishes to play. “Last season was a sad time and I was glad to see the back of 2017 for many reasons but we have to show better commitment this time around. The commitment wasn’t good enough last season and that impacted on our second team who were left short of players at times. “You just have to look at what Kinlochshiel achieved last season. We showed on our day that we could beat them when we knocked them out of the MacTavish. It was our best performance of the season and if we had gone into every game as we did at Kirkton that day, we would still be in the Premiership so I’ll be looking for that type of performance on a more consistent basis this year. We need to put the effort in if we want to achieve anything” MacPherson has not yet named a replacement for assistant manager Martin Graham. “I’ve been thinking about it but I’ve still to name a captain and it may be that the captain has a bigger role to play within the club. There are others who help though. Peter Jackson is never far away. He is at every game and he gives advice and support when I need it.” With 18 year old Calum MacDougall and Cam Clark now part of the senior set up, MacPherson says there will be the chance for other young guns to follow in their footsteps. “Dean Williamson was the second team player of the season last year and there is also Cam Ross and Frankie Innes. They will need to show commitment to break into the side though. “I would also like to include Andrew McAlister. He is looking after the second team so we need to get someone else to take that role as Andrew did well when he played for the firsts at the end of last season.” Kilmallie’s first pre-season match is against Glenurquhart at Blairbeg on Saturday 17 February 2018 whilst Oban Camanachd visit the Canal Parks a week later. MacPherson added, “These games will give us the chance to try a few things out before the league starts. We are all keen to get started and see what our first fixture is. It’s going to be a really competitive league though with the derby against Fort William, Glasgow Mid Argyll, Inveraray and Beauly all challenging. I was also impressed with Oban Celtic last season whilst Strathglass and Inverness are always well organised. “There will be a bit of pressure on us; a bit of expectation if you like but we are looking forward to the season and we can’t wait to get started.” |