Wishaw FC head of recruitment aims to 'bring spark back' to club after back-to-back relegations
Neil Rowatt will work closely with gaffer Paul Wright for next season
Wishaw are making moves for next season after appointing a new head of recruitment to work alongside boss Paul Wright.
And new recruit Neil Rowatt hopes he can bring the spark back to Wishy.
The Beltane Park side were relegated from the West of Scotland Third Division last season after a miserable campaign saw them finish rock bottom, inflicting back-to-back relegations on the club.
Wright came in midway through the season to take the reins from Martin O'Neill after he moved upstairs to be the club's general manager.
The club have now strengthened their operations with the appointment of Rowatt to run their recruitment.
He will work closely with Wright and his No. 2 Alan Robertson to assist with player recruitment and youth development, while also working closely with the club committee to help implement strategic plans to assist with rebuilding the club on and off the field.
Rowatt, formerly co-boss at Bellshill Athletic, said: 'I am delighted to accept the role of head of recruitment at Wishaw.
'Since stepping away from a successful period as co-manager of Bellshill Athletic in late December, the batteries have been recharged, and I've taken in a lot of games at many levels and with a lot of engagement with some old friends, coaches and players brought me together again with long time friend and ex-teammate Martin O'Neill.
'We decided to talk football. A lot of the things he highlighted were the same details as I had encountered in my previous role at the start up.
'So straight away the contact was daily between us and, well, here we are.
'From the outside looking in, Wishaw has lost its spark, and back-to-back relegation isn't just rewards for the loyal and caring committee at the club who, when truth be told, have made huge personal sacrifices to keep the club afloat in the past.
'It wasn't so long ago I watched Wishaw compete in the semi finals of Scottish Junior Cup and they were a whisker away from the final.
'The club needs to be back to this sort of level and then on top of the hard-core support those who have drifted away will hopefully return.
'With a lot of discussions happening off the park in terms of sponsorship, the ongoing ground improvements strategy, the youth development pathway being rebuilt.
'There is a lot to be positive about however the main thing we are all involved in football for is three points on a Saturday and a good cup run.'
Division Four is set to be a highly competitive league this season and the club discovered a new rival this week when former Amateur side East Kilbride YM announced they have been accepted into the division from next season, having won the Caledonian Premier League last term.
Rowatt added: 'I've had plenty of discussions already about dropping into Division Four and how competitive a league this is going to be.
'A lot of local derbies are also on the cards so it's an exciting league.
'The management and players will be given the tools to prepare and be ready to go come the big kick off in what will be the start of a new and positive era in the history of Wishaw juniors.
'I look forward to seeing as many locals get down and support it.'
Wishy gaffer Wright, the Kilmarnock legend and ex-striker, is thrilled to have Rowatt by his side for the forthcoming campaign.
He said: 'I'm looking forward to working with Neely ahead of the new season.
'Neely is someone with a wealth of knowledge of the junior game and comes with an extensive contact list, which will undoubtedly help the club both on and off the pitch.
'I am very enthusiastic about the about the condition Wishaw FC finds itself in moving forward.
'Bringing Neely into this role only strengthens these views. It is a very positive move and the club have acted so quickly to get him on board.'
Meanwhile, the club has confirmed their pre-season schedule for this summer, with friendlies kicking off on Saturday, July 5.
Their fixtures are as follows:
July 5 (H) 2pm - Larkhall Thistle
July 9 (H) 7.30pm - Thorniewood
July 12 (H) 2pm - Knightswood
July 14 (H) 7.30pm - Kilmarnock FC
July 16 (H) 7.30pm - Afroscots United
July 19 (A) 2pm - Fauldhouse
July 21 (A) 8pm - Caledonian Locomotives.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
'Proud day': Renfrewshire councillors pay tribute to Johnstone Burgh after Scottish Junior Cup win
The club has been formally congratulated following the penalty shoot-out victory over Lowland League side Tranent. Renfrewshire councillors have paid tribute to Johnstone Burgh after they lifted the Scottish Junior Cup for the first time in 57 years. The club has been formally congratulated for its achievement following a penalty shoot-out victory over Lowland League side Tranent on Sunday, June 1. Striker Kyle Lafferty converted the decisive spot-kick to ensure a 4-2 win – sparking euphoria among the players and supporters – after a 1-1 draw in normal time at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. It meant captain Derek Esplin became the first Burgh skipper to hoist the trophy aloft since 1968 when George Caughey did just that. Recounting his experience of the day at Thursday's full meeting of Renfrewshire Council, Councillor Iain McMillan, a Labour representative for Johnstone South and Elderslie, declared it would "live long" in his memory. He added: "For those of us who were at the game, it was absolutely fantastic and I was very fortunate – I was there with my dad, I was there with my daughter and I was there with my granddaughter, so there were four generations of the family. "Being a supporter of a rather large football club, the difference you get when you go and see a smaller community club like Johnstone Burgh is like chalk and cheese because you virtually know everybody in the crowd. It's that community feeling." Ciaran Diver grabbed a second-half equaliser to take the final to penalties after opponents Tranent had taken a first-half lead through Harry Girdwood. Murdo MacKinnon's Burgh then held their nerve during the shoot-out, netting all of their penalties to send their fans and coaching staff into a state of jubilation. The West of Scotland League Premier Division outfit's pitch perfect cast of takers included Fraser Mullen, Diver, Ross Davidson and Lafferty. Later that evening, hundreds of punters draped in red and white descended on Johnstone's Houstoun Square for Burgh's eagerly anticipated homecoming. Councillor Andy Steel, an SNP representative for Johnstone South and Elderslie, said at the meeting: "Similar to Councillor McMillan, I was there with my boy and, despite very kind invitations elsewhere, I really wanted to be there with my son to create a memory that hopefully lasts a few years for me and a lifetime for him because that's what it's all about really. "We go to the Burgh on a Saturday afternoon and I like going to watch the Burgh because I get to spend two hours with my son, which I don't very often, so it meant an awful lot." Provost Lorraine Cameron added: "It was a very proud day indeed for everyone in Johnstone. "It just gave the community a whole buzz and you'll be pleased to know I'm in the process of organising an appropriate civic hospitality reception for the players and guests." Two motions congratulating Burgh were unanimously agreed among elected members.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Who could Antrim turn to after McEntee exit?
Following Andy McEntee's departure after three years at the helm with Antrim's senior footballers, the search for a new manager year, the Saffrons will ly their trade in Division Four of the National League and the objective for the Meath man's successor is to navigate a return to the third the club leagues drawing to a conclusion in Antrim and the county championship just a matter of weeks away, the ideal scenario would be to have a new manager appointed sooner rather than McAleese, captain in 2025, is the only confirmed retirement from this season's panel, although there may be others mulling over their future, while the new manager will of course have their own ideas in terms of is no obvious candidate to succeed McEntee at present, but speculation will now begin as to whom that may Cargin manager Ronan Devlin has been with the Toome club since the start of the 2018 season, initially as a coach under Damien Cassidy when they delivered a three-in-a-row in Antrim from 2018-2020. Following Cassidy's departure after the 2021 campaign, the Ballinderry native took the reins and has delivered another hat-trick of county titles, but would he be tempted by the inter-county scene?Former Antrim player Kevin Madden is another who will be linked. The Portglenone man has been a coach under Damien Cassidy in Derry and also under Mickey Harte in Tyrone, while helping deliver a Derry county title for Glenullin. Madden has also managerial experience with Creggan in Antrim, Swatragh in Derry and currently with Clonoe in Tyrone, but may feel the time is right to answer his county's Portglenone man and current manager of his home club, John McKeever, will also be linked due to his track record of success at school and club level, most notably with Fr Rock's, Cookstown, whom he led to an All-Ireland Intermediate title and last year, brought his native Casement's to the Antrim county final for the first time in 15 Antrim may look outside the county once again with current Aghagallon boss Pete McGrath, who brought the Sam Maguire to his native Down in 1991 and '94, or Tony McEntee, who stepped down as Sligo manager after five years following defeat to Fermanagh in the Tailteann Cup, may also be tempted.
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
McEntee steps down after three years as Antrim boss
Andy McEntee has stepped down from his role as Antrim manager after his three-year term came to an took over as Saffron boss in 2022, replacing Enda McGinley, having previously managed his native Meath for six his first two years in charge, Antrim reached two Tailteann Cup semi-finals and consolidated their place in Division season they suffered relegation to Division Four after a tough National League also exited the Tailteann Cup at the quarter-final stage after a defeat heavy 5-23 to 2-21 defeat by Wexford, which proved to be McEntee's last game in previously led Meath to successive Leinster finals in 2018 and him, Meath also sealed promotion to Division One in 2019, but they were relegated back to the second tier without winning a game the following season.
