Billy Ogilvie says he has informed Rutherglen Glencairn’s squad they're victims of reconstruction quite than relegation because the membership held their first pre-season coaching session forward of the 2022/23 marketing campaign.
Glens dropped out of the West of Scotland Premier Division on the finish of final month after ending within the backside seven, regardless of accruing 52 factors.
A change to the setup within the WOSFL means Glens at the moment are within the second tier within the First Division and wanting to get straight again to the highest flight.
And as new coach Ogilvie met with the gamers for the primary time since approaching the backroom crew of boss Willie Harvey and assistant Joe Pryce, he revealed the gamers have been informed they shouldn’t really feel like failures for final season and challenged them to win promotion out of a troublesome division.
He mentioned: “Individuals say we’ve been relegated however it’s actually it’s simply league reconstruction and that’s what we’ve informed the gamers.
“We had seven groups go down final season and Rutherglen went down with 52 factors.
“I wouldn’t class that as relegation in another season.
“There’s nothing you are able to do about league reconstruction and that’s what we’ve mentioned to them.
“Put that to at least one facet and attempt to get proper again up there. However we all know that's going to be actually exhausting as there are some high groups on this league.
“Our league can be simply as aggressive, if no more, than the Premier League. There’s so many robust groups in there. You're speaking about Benburb, Drumchapel, St Cadoc’s - there’s some quantity of expertise and aggressive golf equipment.
“St Cadoc’s signed Chris Erskine from East Kilbride. That’s a little bit of a coup for them as a result of he's such an excellent participant and that exhibits the type of participant they'll usher in.”
The 61-year-old arrives on the Hamish B Allan Stadium having been co-assistant supervisor at Rossvale final season, whereas he beforehand labored with Glens, Arthurlie and East Kilbride.
He additionally led Lowland League East Kilbride to their well-known Scottish Cup conflict with Celtic in 2016 and he revealed this week was his first pre-season session since he was at Ok-Park.
“That is truly my first pre-season since East Kilbride in 2015/16 season as a result of the opposite golf equipment I’ve joined I’ve been in round November or December, the place I’ve been coming in to repair different individuals’s work, put Elastoplasts on issues which can be actually bleeding,” he defined.
“Final yr I went in at Rossvale simply earlier than the New 12 months, so it’s humorous the way it has labored out till now.
“It’s very nice to be in from the primary block, in the event you like.
"It has been actually pleasing, we’ve been capable of get our concepts down early. Gamers will grow to be conversant in me as a coach and it’s at all times good to get that accomplished on the primary day of pre-season, quite than coming in midway via a season.
“I’m simply attending to know their names and issues like that. It was a typical first day, getting the legs unfastened and all the remainder of it.
“They're all getting conversant in one another now and, as first days go, it was very optimistic.
“I do know the boys from taking part in towards them with Rossvale final season and I do know there’s a very good squad right here.
“I’ve recognized Willie and Joe for a very long time, so it was very nice of them to ask me in as a result of they’ve been working collectively for years.
“It’s nice to be again and I’m wanting ahead to the season.”
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