Albion Rovers boss James Ward reckons he has finally stepped out of the shadows after being selected as the SPFL League 2 Manager of the Month for December.
The Cliftonhill manager ensured his side built on their William Hill Scottish Cup success against Motherwell at the end of November by having a fine December that brought 3 wins and draws away from home to the top two in the league, Peterhead and Clyde.
Ward, who was an assistant manager to Allan Maitland at Hamilton Accies and Alloa, before becoming the manager of Rovers last summer after a spell as number two there to Todd Lumsden is now very much his own man.
The Cliftonhill manager as he explained: “I was with Allan for the best part off 11 years and we had a very settled way of working. That came through an understanding of each other and of course you get used to that.
“Alan had the higher profile and not working with him has been like losing my right arm as I had to learn to do everything again. We were always working together and everything he did with me has helped me become a manager in my own right.”
Ward added: “I remain grateful for the opportunities Alan gave me but one thing we never had in common was a taste in clothes. Some of the stuff he wears is awful.”
“There was a time where I thought I would only ever be seen as an assistant and after the pair of us left Alloa it took a long time to get back in. But I am here now and delighted to be a manager of my own team.”
Ward is now helping others as he was helped as he explained: “I am now building the type of relationship I had with Allan with Mark Cameron. We are fortunate as he is looking to develop himself and wanted to leave Arthurlie for an opportunity at this level. His work rate and attention to detail is fantastic. He will get other opportunities due to what I have seen from him already.”
“Our coaches Danny Ferry, Jimmy McQuade, Ross Ballantyne and Gary Flint have all been terrific as well. They are a good group and a lot of thought goes into what we do. I keep getting told that it is a pretty packed dug out but it is important to have their mix of skills.”
“We don’t pay them a lot of money but they all work hard for us.”
Maitland and Ward left Alloa in the summer of 2011 and not being involved in a team was frustrating with Ward saying: “I scouted for Crystal Palace and Chelsea up here and took in big European nights spying on players but I wanted to be involved again. I got a taste of it being Todd’s assistant last season and was delighted to take over during the summer.”
After a bright start and then a dip things are looking up again for the fifth placed Rovers despite a disappointing 2-0 loss to Annan last weekend.
The Coatbridge side are enjoying heady times after their Scottish Cup success over the Fir Park side, national coverage and increased attendance from their 'Pay what you Can' game against Montrose at the weekend and ambitious plans to redevelop Cliftonhill were announced this week as well.
Ward added: “Since the Motherwell game there have been a lot of positives at the club and this Award is another positive. Mind you if you had seen us the week before we played Motherwell you would be surprised with where we are now. We lost 2-1 at Berwick and it was a real low point of the season.
“It probably helped in a strange way as knew we had to lift our performance when we played in the Cup.”
As well as setting up a tie against Stenhousemuir in the next round, beating the Fir park men has brought something else to Ward’s side as he explained: “We have a bit of belief now and the players are showing what they are capable of as a group. That belief was missing for a while this season but this group is capable of anything they want this season.”
“We are 7 points off the top and how far we stay off it depends on us. We have a bit of momentum at a crucial part of the season and that is great as we are right in the mix. It is a very tight league and you can drop out of the mix quickly if you take your eye off the ball.”
Rovers face East Stirling this weekend and Ward said: “Every week just now is a vital game and that will continue for all teams between now and the end of the season.”
Under Paul Martin Rovers were promoted in 2011 to end a 22 year wait for some success and Ward was asked how quick a wait their fans will have for some success just now and he said: “It would be disappointing if there is a wait like that again. It is nice to look back at history but I am much more focused on what could be achieved this season.
“As well as pushing for the league, it is nice to still be in the Scottish Cup in February. It is good to be talking about players about moving here and asking their managers if they have played in the Scottish Cup.”
“That has not happened for a while either.”
Ward was asked if Mark McGuigan would be returning to help their push for promotion and he admitted that the matter was out of his hands.
Rovers are waiting in the wings as Ward wants to add McGuigan permanently if the front man leaves Firhill and Ward said: “Mark wants to come here and we want him to come to Albion Rovers but he needs to sort things out with Thistle first. We need to be patient but it has been a very frustrating couple of weeks as it is something I have no influence over.”
“It is a private matter between him and Thistle now and we need to sit and wait to see what happens.”
Should McGuigan get the go-ahead to sign Ward will not have to chase Chairman John Devlin to see if the deal will be approved as even with the recent capture of Ryan Donnelly he is free to bring the striker back.
Ward said: “I don’t need to go looking for the Chairman to sign players. He comes looking for me to talk about new players – it a kind of an alternative hide and seek.”
“He has been great and our former Chairman Frank Meade has had a new lease of life. Long may that continue at the Rovers.”
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