Latest news with #SandyClark
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.'
Daily Record
13-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Chasing East Kilbride to title cost Albion Rovers, admits boss
Sandy Clark says Rovers didn't have the finances to sustain a challenge 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. 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. 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. 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. 'We found ourselves at the end of last season in a financial position where the club had to bottom out. '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.'
Daily Record
24-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Albion Rovers 0 Celtic B 1: Boss Sandy Clark in the dark over what future holds for him as club finish season with loss
Albion Rovers boss Sandy Clark admits he has no idea what the future holds for him and the club after the curtain fell on this season's Lowland League campaign on Saturday. The Coatbridge club have suffered well-documented cash flow problems this season and stated earlier in the campaign they will only be able to pay players expense from next season. A rift between shareholders and the current club board has muddied the waters, while talk of a potential takeover reared its head once again. A 1-0 defeat to Celtic B on Saturday ensured Rovers finished sixth in the table and with the dust settling on the 2024/25 campaign, Clark is in the dark about what the coming weeks and months will hold. 'Hopefully, things will become a bit clearer over the next few weeks,' he said. 'As everyone knows, there's not really a lot myself and the current board can do about the situation right now. It is the shareholders above us who hold all the cards. 'I really don't know what is going to happen over the summer. 'I know the fans have raised a lot of money with the 'Rovers Return' fundraiser and that will certainly ensure we don't have no players whatsoever for next season. The next two or three weeks, there will be a lot of discussion to be had and we'll see where we get to with that. 'Hopefully it can be positive, but I really don't know at the moment.' Asked if he wanted to stay on, he added:'It will depend on if there are any changes at the club. The way things are right now, I really enjoy working with the players and the board are as supportive with me as they can be. 'The stuff in the background is hanging over everybody, so that has to be clarified. 'Everybody is out of contract now, which isn't unusual for a club like ours. The players know exactly where the club are and we are trying to work out what the future holds.' An early goal from Lewis Dobbie gave the Hoops all three points on the day. Clark said: 'The game was very close, but I was really disappointed in the goal we conceded. 'In the first half we didn't have much of a goal threat, but I honestly don't think we deserved to lose the game. A draw would have been a fair result. 'It didn't affect our league placing in the end and where we've ended up is where we deserve to be, in terms of how well we've done, the budget we had and the uncertainty surrounding the club. 'It has not been the worst season but there is always room for improvement.'
