JIM WEIR (BRECHIN CITY)- IRN-BRU PHENOMENAL SECOND DIVISION MANAGER OF THE MONTH
Brechin City Manager Jim Weir picked up his second IRN-BRU Manager of the Month Award for this season and praised the efforts of his coaching staff and players in dealing with a number of disappointments that were thrown there way recently.
Weir said, “Firstly I am delighted with how the team bounced back from September’s defeat by Livingston. It was a game that we were very flat in but we then went on to end September with a win and begin October with 3 wins.”
“My old boss Paul Sturrock used to urge us at St Johnstone to win three in a row as nine points in three games can make a huge difference. We went one better although it is disappointing we have dropped points since in the two draws against Alloa and then Stenhousemuir.”
The efforts of the Glebe Park men in racking up six unbeaten games in a row are even more commendable when October could be described as a far from settled month for Weir’s squad that lost two of its most experienced members in Charlie King and Barry Smith.
King suffered serious ankle injuries in a friendly against Stirling Albion and he has been ruled out for the season to leave Weir saying, “Charlie is a well respected figure in the Brechin squad and not just because he has been here for a number of years. He gives you something different in a game and his creativity can be like a breath of fresh air in games that are really tight.”
“To lose him in a bounce game makes it even harder to take and we will all support him as best as we can as he battles back from the first serious injury of his career.”
The Second Division side also found themselves stuck in the storm surrounding Dundee’s move into administration as their player, and Youth Coach at Dundee, Barry Smith was given the opportunity to become interim first team manager at Dens Park.
Weir said, “Our hands were tied a wee bit there as if Barry did not take that job he would not have had another one apart from his part-time wages from us. He is a family guy and it would not have been right to deny him the opportunity although he is a miss.”
“Barry was a terrific player for us and to lose him and Kevin in the space of a fortnight was a blow but we come through it so far.”
Weir reckons that one of the reasons that Brechin came through their difficult period unscathed is assistant manager Kevin McGowne with the Glebe Park boss saying, “Kevin works incredibly hard for Brechin and he is a great coach. He could be a manager in his own right but he enjoys coaching too much to give that up. I trust him to an unbelievable level and we live in one another shoes and long may that continue.”
