July 15th 2024
UNDER-17s coaches Malcolm Shaw and Allan Cuthbert have now left the club. The duo oversaw their final match in charge on Sunday as their side ended the season by putting four unanswered goals past Fort William at Station Park. The club's Head of Youth Development, Stewart McInnes said: "We are all really grateful to Malcolm and Allan for their efforts over the last few years giving up a massive amount of free time to coach the under-17s." "They intimated to us back in October that they would be standing down at the end of the season, which I really appreciate as it gave us the opportunity to start putting a succession plan in place instead of leaving at short notice as had happened before." "Malcolm is due to undergo major back surgery and wishes to focus on his recovery. I think Allan just saw it as a chance to make a clean break and both of their sons are too old to play under-17s from next season as well." "It is a huge, huge commitment taking the team with having to give up every Tuesday and Thursday evening for training with games most Sundays as far away as Wick and Fort William and we are all grateful to Malcolm and Allan for their effort and commitment." He added: "Some of the players they coached are on the fringes of the first team now and others have been deemed good enough to step up to the under-20s ahead of schedule this season. That is testament to the coaching these players received from Malcolm and Allan." "We have already spoken to some candidates about coming in to take over from them and we hope to have some news on that front soon." "For now, I would just like to wish Malcolm and Allan all the very best for the future and make them aware that they will always be made welcome at Station Park." Graeme Macleod
