Stenhousemuir boss David Irons has confirmed that his side’s 3-0 win over Peterhead last Saturday, that secured Second Division football at Ochilview next season, marks the end of the beginning of his time as Warriors boss and that he does not want to be scrapping for relegation again.
The people at the SFL Newsletter thought it would be the perfect time to catch up with the 49-year-old and discuss how his first few months have gone and also get his views on the participants in this weekend’s IRN-BRU SFL First Division promotion and relegation Play-Offs.
Irons appointed to the Ochilview post just as 2010 ended and 2011 began said: “Stenhousemuir have made me feel very welcome in my four months here and after a couple of bad experiences in other jobs, I am really enjoying being in football again. When I came here, my objective was to get us out of the bottom two and we achieved that.
“I always had confidence that we would get out of things at the bottom and the group of players here were really keen to do it as well. I knew that it was not a job where I would see instant success but I was pleased with our performances after a couple of weeks. Results took longer as we were not great at scoring goals but once we added that to our game, the confidence spread throughout the team.”
Irons also added a couple of players to his squad that made significant contributions as he advised: “Michael Devlin is an old head on young shoulders. He is only 17 and we brought him in from Hamilton on loan for our defence and he was terrific for us. He made a real impact at both ends of the pitch as he scored a couple of important goals and he has a good future ahead of him in football if he keeps on progressing at the Accies.”
The second signing Irons refers to comes in the shape of the more experienced Eric Paton, who featured in last week’s SFL Newsletter, with the Stenhousemuir boss saying: “Eric is not only a good player himself, he brought out the best in Stevie Murray, Sean Dickson and Scott Dalziel. They were encouraged by having him in the team and that helped lift their game.”
Paton was the matchwinner in a crucial game at Alloa which if the Wasps had won, would have made the Recreation Park club safe, and Irons' side would have lost their fight to avoid the Play-Offs.
Irons said: “That victory at Alloa was crucial and at half-time, it did not look like it was going to happen. We were one nil down and not playing anywhere like we can and it looked like it could all be over.”
The Warriors got a bit of a shock at half-time as the normally reserved character of Irons was replaced by a much steelier persona as he explained: “I told the players at the break that if they were not up for the fight they were welcome to hang up their jersey. No-one took me up on my offer and they went out and played like a totally transformed side.
“We scored two goals in a great 45 minute performance and that kept us in things in terms of the League. In saying that, we could have been back out of it the following week when we lost 3-1 to Brechin and got our goalkeeper sent off as well. Fortunately, Alloa lost at East Fife.”
That set up a final day showdown with Stenhousemuir heading to relegated Peterhead and Alloa taking on Champions Livingston with Irons, who has seen final day success at both Gretna and Morton in the past, confident he could make it a hat-trick.
He said: “I was convinced we would do well up there and win. We would then be reliant on Livingston winning or drawing at Alloa and as all good stories turn out, the ending was a good one and our season ended on a happy ever after note.”
It is all about looking forward now as Irons added: “I will now take stock of the situation and take steps to ensure that we do not end up there again and over the summer, I will be looking to improve our squad. We were successful in the aims that were set when I came in but our aims are going to be higher next season.”
One thing that Irons does not need to weigh up is his enjoyment of his job, as he said: “I am really enjoying my time at Stenhousemuir and the people at the club have been very welcoming and supportive. They gave me a chance to get back into football and I cannot thank them enough and hopefully, keeping them in the Second Division is a good way of showing my gratitude.
“It was important to stay up as this club is a really good role model on how part-time clubs should be run in terms of the infrastructure and youth programme. After being a critic of artificial pitches in the past, I now see the benefit of them. I cannot wait to start again on 11th June.”
Irons added: “It is an early start date but with the holidays that part-time players have to work around, we will get them in and do some work, lose them for a couple of weeks and then get them back in again.”
The Gladstone Road boss was asked how this weekend’s Play-Offs would result after the 2-2 draw between Brechin City and Cowdenbeath and the 4-1 win for Ayr United over hosts Forfar Athletic.
Cowdenbeath: "Obviously, the side I have seen the least of from the four in the Play-Offs but what I do know is that they have a great guy in Jimmy Nicholl as their Manager. They have plenty of experience in Colin Cameron and Stevie Crawford and have gone into the Play-Offs in good form as opposed to some sides that are in ninth place and have not won for a while.
"They will be disappointed to lose a two goal lead from the first meeting but will be a tough nut to crack at Central Park."
Brechin City: Manager Jim Weir and his assistant Kevin McGowne are top guys and had they not made the Play-Offs, it would have been a travesty after a really good season. They had good cup runs in both The Co-operative Insurance Cup and the Scottish Cup but they had a wee wobble when they played some of their many midweek games.
"Rory McAllister is a really big player for Brechin and he may play a really significant part in the second leg. There may well be a surprise there with Brechin possibly just edging it."
Forfar Athletic: "They have had a lot to contend with off the park and everyone in football is delighted to see Dick Campbell back at the helm. It will have been hard for everyone at the club to focus but Dick’s brother Ian helped steer them to the Play-Offs.
"They had a good end to their League games and deserved to be in the Play-Offs after a great first season in the Second Division but they will have been hurt by the 4-1 first leg defeat.
"They will be out to make amends after Wednesday night and will no doubt go out all guns blazing at Somerset Park."
Ayr United: "One of the biggest clubs in the Second Division in terms of players in their squad and crowd sizes. They have some really good operators, particularly going forward with Mark Roberts, Michael Moffat and Andy Rodgers all to choose from in attack.
"Forfar will really have to unsettle their defence early to get back into the game."
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