Clachnacuddin would happily have played on in Highland League – but manager MacDonald has no complaints over decision to crown Brora Rangers champions
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Clachnacuddin manager Jordan MacDonald says there was still a desire to play out the Highland League season at Grant Street Park – but he has no complaints over the decision to end the season.
The call to curtail the campaign was officially made at the start of this week with time quickly ticking away to play out the remaining matches.
With most clubs still unable to train, a sense of inevitability had been growing over recent weeks that it would not be possible to finish the season before the pyramid play-off, so while there is disappointment from the Lilywhites there was no surprise.
“If we could have got it done I think we would have,” MacDonald reasoned.
“From our players there was still a desire to play. We asked them what their thoughts were, and every single one of them said yes.
“We gave scenarios of what could happen if the season was going ahead – not that we knew what was happening – and every single one of them backed the idea of playing.
“I can’t question them on that.
“With the way time was going, obviously not being able to play contact sport until mid-May left it too late. It was out of our hands, but I could understand why they were leaving it.
“They wanted to get the season in, and we agreed with them, we were keen to get it in too, but that’s just the way it is at the moment. I feel for everyone, but it was out of our control.”
Attentions at Grant Street are already turning to next season, with plenty of time to build up for the 2021/22 campaign.
“Obviously we’ve not been able to do anything, but the club have been constantly working on things every day,” MacDonald said.
“People think it’s a Monday, Wednesday and Saturday job, but that’s not how it works.
“We’re on the phone every day, it has been non-stop.
“Now we can plan for pre-season and what we want to do. You don’t normally get as long as we will, so we have a bit more time on our hands.
“We’ll look at players that we want to get in, and re-sign players that we’ve got, we’ve got a bit of extra leeway to do that.”
