Clachnacuddin manager feels he will have ‘failed’ if they don’t achieve this target

CLACHNACUDDIN manager Conor Gethins says he has set the team a target to achieve in the Highland League this season. And if they don’t achieve it, he will feel as if he has failed.

With the players he has managed to attract to the Merkinch club this season, Gethins feels a top-10 finish is well within their reach.

He spoke as his team put in a commendable performance in their 2-0 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday.

Last season, Clachnacuddin experienced one of their worst ever Highland League campaigns as they finished second bottom.

Gethins says with the personnel he has managed to bring in this season, a top half finish is well within reach for the Lilywhites.

He said: “When you consider who we have brought in, we have to be looking at finishing tenth or above.

“If we don’t do that, I’d feel I’d have probably failed in a way. When you bring in experience such as Gavin Morrison, Josh Meekings and Joe Malin, you’re adding steel to that side of the park.

“We do have enough firepower and we showed that against Caley Thistle. We created some good chances.

“Scotty Davidson has got a slight injury and James Anderson will be like a new signing for us this year. We didn’t have him last year.

Clachnacuddin have brought in plenty of experience for the new Highland League campaign.

They include goalkeeper Joe Malin from Brora Rangers, in addition to Josh Meekings, also from Brora Rangers. Midfielder Gavin Morrison from Spartans and former Nairn County forward Scott Davidson who is back from Australia.

Gethins was pleased with how his team performed in the 2-0 defeat against Caley Thistle as he now looks forward to Tuesday night’s friendly at Nairn St Ninian.

Gethins said: “First and foremost, it was a good fitness exercise for us.

“We probably should have got something out of the game.

“Having Joe Malin, Josh Meekings and Harry Nicolson being the three at the back led to it being as comfortable a performance as we’ve seen since we came in, in terms of our defenders.

“Jacob Kerr came in as a trialist and he did well today, as did Ali Riddle. All the boys done their jobs, and nobody gave a below-par performance, which was pleasing.

“Pre-season training so far shows the boys are fit enough. We just need to work on the quality side of things.”

Read: Duncan Ferguson says he has his squad for the 2024/25 League One campaign.

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