Queen of the South have quietly emerged as promotion Play-Off candidates recently and Palmerston Manager Jim McIntyre added the experience of Mark Kerr to his squad to help bolster both his numbers and experience.
McIntyre knew what he was getting when he signed the 32-year-old after he was released by Partick Thistle in January as the duo were team-mates at Dundee United and they were also manager and player at Dunfermline.
The player knew what he was getting as well – stick from his team-mates for being the boss’ pal as well as a no-nonsense approach from the manager.
Kerr made his debut in a fine 2-0 win over Falkirk at the beginning of last month that saw the Doonhamers enter the top four for the first in six months however two defeats threatened to throw things off track until last Saturday’s 3-1 win over Dumbarton.
“It was a good start and then we had the disappointment with the defeats against Dundee and then Falkirk,” said Kerr before adding “We were unlucky with penalties in both games and that is not me looking for excuses.”
“There was not much in either game but that is how things panned out. A decision to either team would have changed things and unfortunately we had two decisions go against us.”
Kerr, who started his career with the Bairns back in 1998, is amongst familiar faces in Dumfries as he said: “I worked with Jim briefly when he was in charge at Dunfermline but of course I played with at Dundee United.”
“Billy Dodds who is now coaching with us was there as well. In fact I played with a few guys at Tannadice that have gone on to be involved as managers as Derek McInnes was there as was Tony Docherty who was bringing through the youths. Alan Archibald and Paul Ritchie were there as well.”
“I grew up with all those guys and it is great to see them going on to become managers. I worked with Jim then and when I came back from Greece a couple of years ago I met up with him again at Dunfermline.”
Kerr added: “Dunfermline were in the SPL at that time and there were about 12 games left in the season but to be honest it was quite a strange time. I came back in mid-January and my first game was at the beginning of February.”
“It was a hard shift for the team by then as they were bottom of the table and were up against things a bit. It was great to be working with Jim again and I was enjoying it but I only got 4 games before the decision was made to replace Jim with Jim Jefferies.”
“I worked under Jim Jefferies and he worked hard to save us but he could not manage it.”
Kerr also knows players in the Queen’s dressing room as he advised: “I played with Derek Young and Michael Paton at Aberdeen and I know Derek Lyle well as well from playing against him through the years. In fact I think I have played against all of the boys as I have been with that many teams.”
As well as playing for Falkirk, Dundee United and Dunfermline, Kerr also donned the colours of Aberdeen, Greek side Asteras Tripolis, Dundee and Partick Thistle.
It was from the Glasgow side that he joined Queen of the South after failing to establish himself under former team mate Archibald and Kerr said: “I am glad to just be back and playing football as my spell at Partick was frustrating. I am sure anybody who does not play will say the same thing however it was never anything personal between the people at Thistle and I, it was simply a move that never worked out.”
“I thought it would as I played a lot in pre-season and thought I was fitting in well to the team pattern. There are good players there and good boys but it just never happened.”
Kerr could understand why as he explained: “I know Alan well and we had a few chats about it. I understood the job he had to do so there was no fallout or anything like that. He had a team that was pretty set from the year before and had won him promotion and he thought that they would be good enough to stay up.”
“I think they can,after a couple of good results against Aberdeen and then Ross County. I left on good terms and wished Allan, Scottie Paterson and all the players the very best of luck.”
Kerr added: “Football is football. I have been lucky enough to go through my career with managers where I was the first choice even at times when I had a dip in form. They stood by me so you have to accept that when managers do it with other players. I moved on as I wanted to play every week. “
A number of clubs were hot on his tail however Queen’s were at the head of the queue as Kerr explained: “I came here for a couple of days training when I left Thistle to keep fit. I wanted to keep active it is nothing to do with age or fitness I simply wanted to be involved in something.”
“I knew that I could still play at a good level and I enjoyed being here and working with Jim, Gerry McCabe and Doddsy again so it was easy to stay.
There is also a promotion target to hit with Kerr saying: “There is plenty to achieve and that was another reason for coming here. The Dundee and Falkirk defeats gave us a knock but we were unlucky in those games.”
“We could have come in and said that is it, we are not as good as the other teams and it will be a long hard struggle until the end of the season. However the games were tight and we were left thinking - hold on we are just as good as them.”
“We were competing in fact we were more than competing as we were causing them problems. From what I have seen so far there is little between any of the teams we have played and it has come down to who gets the breaks.”
There will be no old pals act as Kerr’s new side chase promotion as he explained: “It is a good dressing room here and they know what kind of character I am. They tease me about the gaffer and I being pals from earlier in our careers.”
“He has helped me by bringing me here but there is no preferential treatment from him for anything like that. I know that and I am happy with it. I do not want an easy time as that makes you slack off.”
“The manager works hard here and the Chairman works hard here so the players should as well. If they are not the gaffer will be straight in asking what is going on. He doesn’t stand for any messing about and I like that. I hate to see players not working hard enough.”
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