Nairn County manager Wayne Mackintosh inject youth into first team picture as three talents get promoted from under-18 squad
Nairn County have promoted three members of their under-18s squad to the first team ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Manager Wayne Mackintosh has set about refreshing his options in the off season, and has decided to inject some young blood into the picture on a regular basis.
Ross Murphy, Chevy Thomson and Charlie McKenzie all joined up with the Wee County ahead of their return to pre-season training last weekend.
All three have previously been involved with senior training to various extents, but have officially become permanent members of the first team squad.
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Murphy, who is confident at either left back or in central midfield, initially joined Nairn at under-16 level before being fast tracked into the next age group up.
Now 18, he spent last season out on loan at Forres Thistle after featuring for Nairn in pre-season against Lochee United.
Winger Thomson (18) was another who was pushed beyond his age group to join the under-18s after catching the eye of coaches.
He made such an impression that he was even handed his senior debut by interim boss Brian Macleod away at Fraserburgh in March, following that achievement up with another appearance against Formartine United the next month.
Central midfielder McKenzie is the youngest of the trio at 16 years old, but was also handed a first team debut by Macleod at Bellslea Park, earning his first start for the club in the 2-0 home win over Turriff United in April.
Mackintosh told the club’s media: “I am so keen for us to bring through our own players and as a coach and becoming manager, one of the parts of the role that brings the most joy is seeing a young player you have seen developing behind the scenes break through into the first team, so I am excited for these boys and what the next few seasons holds for them.
"I have known Ross a long time now having coached him in the youth teams. I brought him up into the under-18s a year ahead of schedule and he has had a good couple of years playing there and had a successful loan spell out last year.
"Chevy was one I was really impressed by when he first joined us in the under-16s and is another I wanted to be part of the under-18s group when I coached them, whereas Charlie joined us halfway through last season.
“He is a Nairn lad and although he is still young enough to play for the under-18s, I feel he is ready to step up to the first team.
"All of these lads have done great to make it this far but there is still so much hard work for them to come. We will work with them at training though and as coaches, we are all really eager to help them to continue to develop their game and earn themselves a place in the squad on matchdays and some time on the pitch when the new season starts.
“It won't be handed to them on a plate though and they need to continue to work hard and show the right attitude, taking on board the information they are receiving from the coaching staff and senior players around them, which is what they have all been doing up to this point.
"We are delighted to promote these players into the first team squad and the message to those coming behind them is to work as hard as you can at your game and your fitness both at training and away from the club, apply yourself in the correct manner, show the right attitude and perform to the required level and we won't hesitate to give you an opportunity."
