Anyone that has followed Scottish football over the last 30 years would probably describe Kenny Brannigan using words such as honest, robust and grafter. The burly 46-year-old had a long playing stint that spanned 14 clubs before embarking on a coaching career that saw him in charge at Clydebank and Queen’s Park in his mid-thirties.
Brannigan then became a well established figure alongside the likes of Owen Coyle, Sandy Stewart, Ian McCall and Gordon Chisholm, who he stood shoulder to shoulder next too when Queen of the South reached the Scottish Cup Final in 2008.
Less than two years later, Brannigan was back to being his own man as Chisholm left Palmerston and moved to Dundee and he guided Queen of the South to a fourth placed finish in his first few months in charge. Last season, he led a small squad of Dumfries men to a similar finish in the First Division as well as reaching the Final of The ALBA Challenge Cup.
His contract was not renewed at the end of May and at the moment, the qualities Brannigan brought to the game have been lost as he sits out his first pre-season in three decades.
Brannigan said: “This is the longest spell I have had out of the game since I turned 16. This is the first time I have not done a pre-season and it has been incredibly frustrating. You never ever think for one minute that when you are in a job that at some point in the future, you are going to be out of the game entirely.
“I have not heard a whisper and I put some of that down to no-one really knowing what was happening with my contract at Queen of the South. Nothing was ever discussed and all I got at the end was a two line letter basically saying my time was over.”
Brannigan was a no-nonsense centre-half who took no prisoners and he has the same philosophy in life as he said: “I was a big old fashioned stopper who liked to organise things around me and I have carried on that way. When I was an assistant to Sandy Stewart and Owen Coyle and then Gordon Chisholm, they knew what they were getting – hard work, loyalty and honesty but that has not helped me find employment.”
Despite not having a job, Brannigan’s skills are in demand as he said: “I went to Dumbarton against Dundee last Saturday and completed a report for a couple of pals which keeps things ticking over.”
Brannigan knows that he is not alone on the outside looking in as he said: “This game can kick you in the teeth sometimes and when you speak to other guys out of the game like John Hughes and Big Chis, you get a sense that the game here is struggling.
“In the last 10 years, it has got steadily worse and you have to take your hat off to guys like Owen and Sandy who have done so well down south – they have hit the nail on the head in terms of working in the Premiership.”
Brannigan reckons that his approach of always concentrating on the job he was in has cost him the chance of working elsewhere at the moment as he said: “I would go down to England tomorrow or go abroad but I don’t have a lot of contacts. I was never one for networking because when I was in a job, I only thought about the job I was doing.
“At Queen of the South, I thought I had done a good job with limited resources and thought I would be kept on so now I have to look for a new job. People still call me up and ask my opinion on players and teams which means my opinion is still respected but I do have a feeling of disillusionment about how things have gone.”
The Scottish Cup Final against Rangers seems a lifetime ago and Brannigan’s disillusionment is added to when he reflects back on that game saying: “Chis, Billy Dodds and I are all out of the game now despite what we did at Queen of the South over a four year period. We took over after they just avoided relegation and changed things around totally. We brought in full-time football and it paid off as within a year, we got to the Scottish Cup Final.
“The following season there was European football and then when Chis left, I carried that on with two top four finishes and an ALBA Challenge Cup Final appearance. The last four years have helped put Queen of the South on the map. The supporters were exceptionally good to us as well but that was still not enough.”
So what happens next Brannigan was asked?
He replied: “The next stage for me is to push things abroad. I am a single guy without work at the moment so I can move quite easily and I will go anywhere to be still involved in football.
“I have been involved in football as a player, coach, Assistant Manager and a Manager and I sometimes feel I would rather be an Assistant Manager as the need for politics in football is difficult to understand.
“Don’t get me wrong, if the right job came along, I would look at it. I miss football too much not to, but I have been on a huge learning curve over the past couple of years.”
Things were different when Brannigan was starting out his career as he explained: “I was schooled by very direct people. Eddie Hunter at Queen’s Park brought me up in football and he remains my hero. A supremely fit man who worked you hard and let you know where you stood.
"I thought he was the hardest taskmaster you could ever meet until I went to Sheffield Wednesday who were in the top division in England at the time.
“Howard Wilkinson was bigger and fitter than Eddie and in our first day of pre-season training, he had us running 26 miles............a marathon! I became bigger and fitter and he sent me out for first team action on loan under Dave MacKay.
“It was the great Dave MacKay and he managed you hard but fair and his assistant was Joe Kinnear who was similar. After I went back to Sheffield Wednesday, Howard Wilkinson sent me out on loan again to work with Jimmy Melia and Ronnie Glavin. Jimmy and Ronnie were more into their ball work than the other guys but they were all hard and direct men.”
These traits were found when Brannigan returned north as he explained: “The guys I enjoyed working with up here were the same – Tony Fitzpatrick, Jim Duffy, Sandy McAnespie, Terry Christie and the Steedman Brothers at Clydebank.
“Working with these guys shaped my mentality and that is where my honesty and straightforward approach comes from. Some people like that, some people don’t.”
Brannigan not only picked up personal attributes, he also gained football knowledge as he explained: “Football with these guys was pretty straightforward but always enjoyable. Hopefully, people will have seen that at Queen of the South last season and look for me to do that at their club.”
And if not he was asked.
“Well, you never know, the Steedman family may be able to help. They have a major football operation in North Carolina and I may go out there to see what I can do.”
Brannigan dipped into his knowledge to look at the teams making up the First Division this season and here are his views on the runners and riders:-
"Ayr United – A side I know quite well and I have to say that Brian Reid has done a really good job there. Martyn Campbell does well there in the centre of their defence and with Eddie Malone, John Robertson and Chris Smith beside him, they look a formidable back-line.
Wee Alex Burke is a great footballer and will do well in their midfield and with Mark Roberts and Michael Moffat up front, Ayr have good players in key positions.
One thing that could go against them is a lack of depth in the squad as they are low in numbers however, being part-time may actually help them. They can get the best players that want to have a job and play football so they can pick up the players they want which may not be the case if they were full-time.
Brian works hard in his job and he deserves the success of keeping them in the division.
Dundee – I watched Dundee against Dumbarton last Saturday and they are a side that knock the ball around well and have a very experienced back four or that should be five as big Rab Douglas was magnificent for them last season and held the team together at times. Their experience may be great but they are not the quickest of rear-guards.
They missed Graham Bayne at the weekend and he will certainly add value up front as will Nicky Riley who is a player I admire.
They will struggle if injuries strike and whilst they showed a great spirit last season to get through difficulty times, it may not be possible to replicate that.
Falkirk – They will be a top three side. I like their style of play with good young players who have come through their youth ranks and are used to the tempo demanded by Steven Pressley. Big Darren Dods at the back will be massive for them.
He is the type of player that they have been missing for a couple of years and Tam Scobbie beside him is a good player too.
Stewart Murdoch and Mark Millar are hardworking midfielders and whilst their squad has changed massively, they will have a freshness about them.
Hamilton Academical – For me, Hamilton are the best balanced side in the First Division with the likes of Martin Canning, Simon Mensing and Mark McLaughlin providing a lot of strength at the back and Alex Neil pulling the strings in midfield.
I have seen them in a couple of bounce games this season and they are still playing at a SPL pace and that bodes well.
Apart from their well established players, they have good young players that are hungry to do well and I reckon they will be up there all season.
Livingston – I saw them score five times at Airdrie to open the season and Iain Russell is a great threat as he has genuine pace that takes him behind defences. I am sure however, that Gary Bollan also noticed that Airdrie got in behind his defence on three occasions.
Livingston are a good footballing side but they do not have a lot of height in their team. You need height in the First Division both offensively and defensively as there are a lot of teams that can deliver quality set pieces.
Morton – I watched Morton in a bounce game against Airdrie recently and they have very good players midfield to front but their defence is not the best in the division. I had Marc Smyth with me at Airdrie and I would always target Stuart McCaffrey and him with pace. That certainly worked last season in one game in particular when David Weatherston scored a hat-trick.
Paul Di Giacomo is a right good player and his goals will be vital.
Partick Thistle – A lack of depth in their squad may hinder them this season as they have only 12 or 13 experienced players. It will be a toss of the coin whether they will be sitting comfortably mid-table or fighting it out near the bottom.
Thistle will no doubt surprise you with unexpected results and the key will be ensuring that Alan Archibald and Willie Kinniburgh remain fit as they are a strong defensive pair. Paul Cairney will get goals from midfield however, should they get a couple of injuries, Jackie McNamara’s squad will be really stretched.
Queen of the South – Gus MacPherson will get it right there I have no doubt of that. Again not a great deal of strength in depth but I think the biggest issue for Gus will be to find a regular goalscorer as they look light up front. They will win games but I do not expect them to win by many goals.
They have great height in their team and are strong defensively and Gus will build on that and if Allan Johnston has a good season, they will easily survive.
Raith Rovers – John McGlynn will have Raith Rovers disciplined and he will know everything about every team in this division. They did exceptionally well last season but two or three key players have left.
Grant Murray and Laurie Ellis are still there and they will be important but losing Mark Campbell to Queen of the South will be a huge miss as he was a big figure in their squad.
Ross County – I noticed that Ian McCall had tipped them for the title but I do not support that fully. I have not seen them in any games as yet this season but on paper, they have a very good squad. Colin McMenamin and Rocco Quinn have moved up there from Queens and will add value and I like the players at the back, Scott Boyd and Jonny Flynn.
The experience of Grant Munro has been added but I think they are light in midfield especially if anything happens to Richard Brittain and Michael Gardyne. I think they will be a top three side but I don’t think they will win it, not this season."
Summary:
Brannigan summarised this season's First Division Championship by saying: "I reckon that the division will split into two with Hamilton, Ross County and Falkirk leading the way and the other seven clubs fighting it out for mid-table safety and relegation issues.
"The key to what happens at both ends of the table could well be what actions are taken in the January Transfer Window.
"Dunfermline made a push then with Kevin Rutkiewicz and Martin Hardie coming on board from St. Johnstone and they made a huge difference. I had identified them as targets but could not get them in and I do wonder where I would have ended up if we had brought those two guys in."
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