Lanark United could yet quit this season's West of Scotland League and reinstate boss Colin Slater
Lanark United could yet quit Conference C of the West of Scotland League, paving the way for a comeback by manager Colin Slater, assistant Cameron McNeish and covid compliance officer Craig Martin following their resignations last week due to safety fears about continuing to play during the pandemic.
The deadline for clubs to resign from the West leagues is 8pm on Saturday, November 14, and United, who have put Hugh ‘Shug’ Kerr and Mark Haddow in interim charge, might join several other clubs in deciding to take a year out.
“100% I understand why the management team has quit,” said United president George Reid.
“This is a massive, massive decision about whether or not to keep playing.
“From our point of view, if you are not sure, you buy yourself some time.
“We’ve got a committed and passionate group of players who wanted to try it.
“We decided to give it a go to see how it went.
“Shug Kerr had been promoted to the coaching staff by Colin, while Mark Haddow is our most senior player.
“All these guys have done is step into the breach. They have agreed to take the team on a match-to-match basis.
“The original plan was we would play games until the time when you really had to nail your colours to the mast as to whether you were going to commit to the season or not.
“Should we look to play the season, we would be looking to bring a new manager in, but were we to take non-playing membership for the rest of the season, the door would be open for Colin, Cameron and Craig to come back.”
In memory of club legend Tam Anderson, United will stage a minute’s silence and players will wear black armbands at this Saturday’s home game against Kilsyth.
Meanwhile, United’s local rivals Forth Wanderers won 3-2 at Vale of Clyde in West of Scotland League Conference B last Saturday. Forth won thanks to second-half strikes by Billy Stevenson, Colm Lafferty and David Donnelly.
Fixtures this Saturday, kicking off at 2pm, are: Conference B – Carluke v Vale of Leithen, Greenock v Forth; and Conference C – Lanark v Kilsyth.