Nairn County manager Ronnie Sharp could look at youthful options in reserves after poor Highland League run continues with defeat to Keith
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Ronnie Sharp has blasted a lack of competitiveness in his Nairn County side – and is threatening to ring the changes.
The unhappy Wee County manager pulled no punches in the aftermath of Saturday’s dismal home defeat to Keith.
The 3–1 beating left Nairn still chasing a first victory of the current campaign at Station Park.
Rather than persevere with current under-achievers, Sharp hinted strongly he could focus on youth through the festive period until a large injury list clears in the New Year.
Scott Gray and Matthew Tough punished poor decision-making in the Nairn ranks to create a two-goal first half lead for Keith.
After 58 minutes, Adam Porritt was then sent off for an act of stupidity in kicking the ball against his opponent which earned a second yellow moments after the first.
Nairn dragged it back to 2–1 almost immediately through Glenn Main’s finish, but within a further 60 seconds had let Gray strike home his second of the afternoon.
Sharp said: “It was very poor from us. Home form has been like that all season. We didn’t have the energy and we didn’t have the willingness to compete. Also, our decision-making was awful on the park. We keep making mistake after mistake.
“When you have those components coming together, you’re not going to win games. The willingness to work hard, that should be in every player. That’s just a given.”
With 10 men and already off-colour, Nairn had little hope of clawing it back from 3-1 in the final 25 minutes at Station Park.
Sharp stressed: “We got back in the game at 2–1 and then, a minute later, it is 3–1. These are the things in football that are basic – straight after scoring you have to concentrate.
“Adam’s red card was his own doing. It is disappointing. I’ll take the yellow for the challenge, but I can’t accept the second part of it.”
With no game this coming weekend, Sharp will run a keen eye over the reserves with a view to promotions.
He said: “We had reserves on the bench on Saturday. It could be a time for quite a few of these boys to come into the first team.
“We have to do something because we’re not competing at all. It is up to other boys to stake a claim because, at the moment, it isn’t working.
“We have to look to the younger ones now to get us through this stage of the season. Hopefully then, in the New Year, we’ll get some players back.”
Nairn, meanwhile, have accepted the resignation of first team coach Mark Greig for family reasons. The club will now take time to identify the right candidate to replace him.
