Douglas Samuel has been appointed senior team manger at Spartans. A statement posted on the Ainslie Park club’s website today confirmed his appointment and that of Neil Irvine as assistant boss. Dougie, a former club captain, is currently development manager at the club.
The Spartans statement says:
‘We are delighted to announce Douglas Samuel as the manager of our Senior team. As most of you know Douglas has been head coach of Edinburgh University FC for the last nine seasons since leaving us as a player. Douglas outlined his plans to the Executive yesterday afternoon and we were delighted to select him and his team to help us move forward over many seasons to come. Neil Irvine will be Douglas’ assistant manager. Neil was also a player with us before supporting Douglas at the University.
Chairman Craig Graham said “Douglas and Neil’s management and coaching pedigree make them the perfect choice. We have ambitious plans over the next five years plus and Douglas will spearhead our on field developments. As well as being manager of our Senior team Douglas will have oversight of our Junior, U21 and U19 set ups to ensure we align all our efforts”.
Douglas will be meeting our players over the next couple of weeks and we look forward to announcing our squad for next season at the end of the month. Douglas’ full coaching and player development team will also be announced over the next couple of weeks’.
Mike Lawson, the former co-manager of Spartans, spoke out against the hierarchy of Spartans Football Club this week after he and Sam Lynch were relieved of their duties at Ainslie Park.
In an explosive interview with the North Edinburgh News, Lawson blasted members of the board for forcing the pair out and believes they have been trying to do so for “four or five years”. Match secretary Jimmy Murray resigned following the decision to dump the co-managers, saying he “wanted nothing to do with the committee’s decision to sack Sam and Mike.”
There was no sign of any ill-feeling towards the former management pair from the man that took the decision, though. Chairman Craig Graham said: “We are embarking on a five-year plan with licencing, the introduction of a Lowland League and hopefully a place in the SFL. The committee decided that this was a good time to change as we want to build and introduce young players. We are an ambitious club with excellent facilities.”
Preferring to focus on the positives of their time at the club, Castle FM sports reporter – and Spartans supporter – Cameron Hobbs heaped praise on the duet that has seen the north Edinburgh club win several trophies over an 11-year spell, describing them as “legends”.
He said: “As far as I’m concerned Mike and Sam are Spartans legends. In my time as a fan of the club I’ve seen us go on several Scottish Cup runs, beating several SFL sides. I’ve seen us win every single cup we can – out with the main Scottish Cup. Nobody can take away what great servants they have been to Spartans and I’m therefore sad to see them leave.”
As much as Hobbs is disappointed in the departure of Messrs Lawson and Lynch, he is confident in the future of the club and sees it developing further.
He added: “I believe we still have a very exciting future ahead. We will continue to focus and drive forward to hopefully play our way into the Scottish 3rd Division and beyond. The Spartans fan base is ever growing and I’m already looking forward to next season.”
Mike LAWSON, co-manager of Spartans with Sam Lynch for the past 11 seasons, has lifted the lid on the turn of events at Ainslie Park which saw the pair leave the club earlier this week.
While Spartans have suffered a rare season without silverware, the loss of their East Seniors Premier Division title on the final day of the season to nearest rivals Stirling University and then defeat in the King Cup final to the same side, apparently masked much deeper schisms in the managerial set-up.
Mike Lawson is critical of the Spartans Board. (Picture: Thomas Brown)
Lawson was today keen to set the record straight.
“Craig Graham [The Spartans chairman] telephoned me on Monday to tell me Sam and my services were no longer required,” he said. “In over 20 years of football management I’ve made a few mistakes but the biggest was staying with Spartans after I walked out of a meeting held a couple of days after our pre-season game against Manchester United last July.
“Match secretary Jimmy Murray, along with Sam Lynch, had persuaded me to join the club 11 years ago and it was only for them and the players that I stayed.
“At that first meeting, Sam and I had with the committee since the previous successful season, you’d have thought the first thing on the agenda would be some sort of congratulations? On the contrary, with every domestic trophy you can win in the East of Scotland League sitting on the cabinet behind us, they laid into Sam and me with a list of things they weren’t happy about.
“I told Sam I wasn’t listening and walked out. I should never have gone back. I was never a ‘true’ Spartan but Sam had been with the club as a player, coach and manager for over 20 years. He is the most successful manager the club will ever have and the first in its 60-year history to be sacked.
“Managers at Spartans have always been ex-players who all knew when it was time to move on. Sam has been there longer than any and his success warranted it. He wasn’t ready to go and should never have been pushed. His treatment has been shoddy and his sacking a disgrace.
“Since Monday I have found out that the committee have been trying to get rid of Sam and me for four or five years and I now know who has been trying to force us out. Our continued success must have been grating. It’s, dare I say it, ‘not in the Spartans way’ – more Roman and ‘Et tu, Brute?’
“Sam deserves much better. He’s worked for the club for nothing. As well as helping me with the first team, he’s pulled together the youth and Junior coaches to help develop our promising youngsters and, unknown to me, he enrolled the two of us on SFA Coaching courses to help with club licensing. I’ve since found out that he paid for that himself.
“I still have a hunger for the game and hope to stay in football in some capacity.”
Lynch, who had a successful playing career with Spartans before coaching and managing the club for the past 20 years, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my time as a player and as a manger with Spartans. I have worked with some great people and I have nothing but fond memories although I am disappointed at the way it has ended.
“I wish whoever replaces us every success and that they help move the club forward and into the SFL. I will never lose my affection for The Spartans.”
Murray, who joined Spartans as match secretary as the same time as Lawson and has since been a committee member and latterly a director, resigned on Monday before Lynch and Lawson were relieved of their duties saying he “wanted nothing to do with the committee’s decision to sack Sam and Mike.”
Craig Graham, The Spartans chairman, said: “We are embarking on a five-year plan with licencing, the introduction of a Lowland League and hopefully a place in the SFL. The committee decided that this was a good time to change as we want to build and introduce young players. We are an ambitious club with excellent facilities.”
An early favourite for the vacant position is certain to be the successful Edinburgh University head coach, Douglas Samuel, who is also the Development Manager at The Spartans Community Football Academy. Samuel previously played with Spartans while his assistant at Edinburgh University, Neil Irvine, is also a former player.
Today is D-Day for two local football clubs, Spartans can win the East of Scotland Football Association Premier League if they can get get a victory when they visit Stirling University later today. However, Stirling Uni are also chasing the Premier Title and they need to take six points from their remaining two games. Its a different story for Leith Athletic who play in the same league but find themselves in a dog-fight at the bottom of the table and they visit Lothian Thistle at Saughton Enclosure today and Leith need a point from todays game to ensure they will be playing in the Premier League next week.
Check back on the NEN Blog later today to find out how both our local teams got on, we wish them both well.
Last month saw the Show Racism the Red Card fortnight of action come to Spartans Academy and local people were able to take part in a multicultural football event organised by Spartans.
Kenny Cameron is joined by Jordan at Spartans for the Show Racism the Red Card event.
After the event Kenny said “We have sixty young people from the local area come along and take part, after the games the young people will be treated to some food from around the world, so its not just about the football. Today was an opportunity for young people from North Edinburgh to meet up and take part in the beautiful game. Spartans sees itself as a fabric of the North Edinburgh area and these events strengthen our relationships with young people and other service providers. Events like tonight can only be a good thing and will help make a positive contribution to the local community.”
To find out more about what goes on at Spartans give them a call on 552 7854.
Local Football Club Spartans fear being thrown out of this year’s Scottish Cup because they fielded an ineligible player.
The Scottish Football Association is investigating the registration documents for forward Keith McLeod, who has been with the club for 10 years. McLeod played in Saturday’s 2-0 win away to Culter in the second round.
Co-manager Mickey Lawson said: “We are hoping for a fine or a replay, but we fear we will be thrown out.”
Lawson, whose side have been drawn at home to First Division side Partick Thistle in the third round, explained that the problem could come down to a clerical oversight. The player’s registration form was sent to the SFA at the start of the season, in accordance with the national association’s rules.
But his form was sent back to the club because there was a mistake – and Lawson fears that it was never returned to Hampden Park.
Spartans chairman Craig Graham said “We are awaiting to be advised of the next steps.”
Graham did not wish to comment further until being contacted by the SFA.
However, the club’s website states: “Obviously we may not be in the next round.”
The SFA, which will call Spartans to state their case on 10 November, said in a statement: “A notice of complaint has been issued by the compliance officer to Spartans FC in relation to an alleged breach of Cup Competition Disciplinary Rules during the William Hill Scottish Cup match between Culter FC and Spartans FC on Saturday 22 October 2011.”
Midfielder Gavin Malin had put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot after 23 minutes in Aberdeen against the North Superleague junior champions.
Jordan Finnie sealed the victory after 83 minutes, but Spartans could now now miss out another day in the national spotlight against Thistle.
Local football side Spartans u19’s played host to Dumbarton on Sunday at Ainslie Park.
Despite the strong wind and heavy rain showers both teams played some attractive football, but unfortunately this game wont be remembered for the football it will be remembered for the ten players that were yellow carded and six players were sent off, all this despite there hardly being a bad challenge in the game.
Spartans took the lead in the opening ten minutes after some great play for James Cuthbertson, he went on a run down the wing and when he broke into the box his powerful shot was pushed away by the Dumbarton keeper Ryan Malley, Cuthbertsons’s persistence was rewarded and he had the simple task of heading the ball into the empty net.
Cuthbertson got his second of the afternoon when he was played in and as he broke away from the defence his perfectly placed shot nestled low in the corner of the net. On the half hour mark Cuthbertson got his hat-trick when he again broke away from the Dumbarton defence and the cool headed striker slotted the ball home.
Just as it was looking as if it was going to be Spartans day they were reduced to ten men when Daniel Shields was sent off for a deliberately tripping the Dumbarton striker Ryan Metcalf as he was bearing down on the Spartans goal. From the resulting free kick Dumbarton pulled on back when the ball was whipped in and fell to the feet of Gary McKell who smashed the ball past Ian McTurk in the Spartans goal.
Despite this setback Spartans still managed to sneak another goal before the halftime interval thanks to Callum Donnelly, he got on the end of a long ball forward and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper. Dumbarton felt they should have had a penalty just before the interval when the ball appeared to hit the hand of Lawrence Kidd but referee Ralph Gordon judged it to have been accidental.
On the hour mark Dumbarton were also reduced to ten men when Metcalf appeared to take a dive in the Spartans box and the young striker gave the referee no option having already been cautioned earlier in the match. Dumbarton started to get on top for a spell and Reece Pearson picked the ball up in midfield and his powerful shot beat McTurk but crashed of the woodwork before the danger was cleared.
Pearson did get one back when he got on the end of a cross and his shot beat McTurk and landed up in the net. A melee then ensued in the Spartans goals and Dumbarton’s Gary McKell lashed out at McTurk leaving the Spartans goalkeeper lying on the ground and the referee had the simple task of producing the third red card of the afternoon.
Pearson got his second of the afternoon when he broke into the Spartans box and as the danger looked to be cleared by the defender the ball came off Pearson’s leg and over the McTurk and into the net.
Chris Keddie was then played but the assistant referee had judged the ball was out off play, Keddie made his feelings about the decision clear and after a verbal tirade at assistant referee Peter Peace promptly became the fourth player to be dismissed.
With only a few minutes remaining Alan Longmuir almost levelled it when he got the end of a cross and his powerful header from close range went just wide of the target.Into injury time and just as it appeared all the action was over Dumbarton’s Glen Campbell put in a wild tackle on Paul Henderson leaving the player requiring treatment and Campbell became the fifth player to be set packing. After his challenge there was a coming together of a few players and on receiving advice from his assistant referee, Ralph Gordon produced a sixth red card to Spartans Isaac Imrie.[slideshow]
Spartans will now face St Johnstone in the next round of the Scottish Cup.
This weeks Community Council meetings in north Edinburgh are:
Granton & District Community Council meets on Wednesday 25th may 2011 7.00pm at The Spartans Football Academy and on the same night its the AGM of the Drylaw & Telford Community Council at 7.00pm in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.
Eddie Thorn from the North Edinburgh News is a guest speaker at the Drylaw & Telford Community Council AGM. Come along and hear all about the exciting news from the NEN.
Are you going along to either of these meetings? if so would you be willing to report on the what has happened? If yes then please get in touch with us.
What else is going on in North Edinburgh this week? Please leave a comment below and we will try and get along to cover it.
Douglas Samuel has been appointed senior team manger at Spartans. A statement posted on the Ainslie Park club’s website today confirmed his appointment and that of Neil Irvine as assistant boss. Dougie, a former club captain, is currently development manager at the club.
