New Kyles boss bolsters squad
New Kyles Athletic boss Grant Profit has bolstered his squad by signing two players from Oban Celtic.
Keeper Iain MacFarlane and Jamie Forgrieve have both made the switch to Tighnabruaich.
Grant Profit said: “We’ve been making enquiries all winter for players and Iain’s name came up early on in the process. John Whyte still hadn’t decided what he was doing but he is now looking to take a step back and we unfortunately lost Kieran Chrystal in the juniors to Kilmory meaning there was a lack of goalkeepers at the club.
“Jack Whyte did well when he came in last year and he goes into the season as our first team goalie but, like any position, competition is healthy and I hope this drives both of them to be the best they can be.
“With Callum Miller and Andrew King taking a step back as well, we needed reinforcements in defence.
“Iain comes with the versatility, when needed, to play outfield and Jamie arrives with a good pedigree.
“Jamie played with Somhairle Thomson and Murdo Macrae with the under-21s, meaning he can hopefully slot right into our defence once we get the season under way.
“Iain and Jamie wanted to challenge themselves by playing in the Premiership and that’s something I’m confident they can do with the support of the players around them.”
On the retiral of two of shinty’s top players, full back Callum Miller and buckshee back Andrew King, Grant said:
“They’re big losses, but they didn’t play that much last season.
“It’s now someone else’s turn and we’ve already brought in a couple of new players to help the squad. That has worked for us before when the likes of Will Cowie and James Pringle joined the pool.
“James made a slow start, but he’s a great player technically and when we found his best position at wing forward, he started scoring goals.”
The manager has set his sights on winning silverware this season.
He said: “We’ve not won anything at senior level for a few years, but I’ve seen what a buzz it can be in Tighnabruaich when the club brings a trophy home. It’s something special.
“Our minimum expectation should be to reach the Celtic Society final and the Macaulay semis each season.
“In the league, our home form needs to be good whilst also picking up points on the road and we’ll see what the Camanachd Cup draw brings.
“I’m confident this squad can achieve anything they want to. We had rotten luck with injuries last year, leaving a shell of a squad. The players showed what they’re capable of with good wins against Lovat and Caberfeidh at the end of the season and we want to bring that into the new season. We want to start well and find the consistency we didn’t have last year.”
Grant Profit managed the Kyles second team for five years, bringing them Bullough Cup success. He takes over the top job from a management team of senior players, led by talisman Roddy Macdonald, and there will be a couple of familiar faces in his backroom team.
He said: “I spoke to Roddy before putting my name forward because I wanted to have his support. I’m also really pleased Kenny Macdonald and Peter Kennedy are staying involved as they’ll be a huge help.”
Preparations for the new season are well under way.
Grant added: “We’re co-ordinating training activities between Glasgow and Dunoon before the local guys switch to Tighnabruaich.
“I want training to be exciting and fun and for the players to have that balance between dedication and enjoyment.
“We’ll have pre-season games throughout February with a match between the young and old players followed by friendlies against Kilmory, Glasgow Mid Argyll and Inveraray.”
Conor Kennedy will captain the squad next season.
Grant Profit said: “Conor is a confident lad and is always pushing himself, even at training, and he wants to win something. We want everyone pulling in the same direction and having no regrets.”
James Perlich replaces Grant Profit as second team manager, having first introduced him to the game years earlier.
Grant added: “James asked me to do fitness training with the first team six years ago and that was my first involvement with the boys. I certainly didn’t expect what came next with managing the seconds and now this but I’m looking forward to the new season getting started.”
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