New Stenhousemuir boss Colin McMenamin can't wait to get started for real

New Stenhousemuir boss Colin McMenamin has had worse weeks. A memorable cup win over local rivals Falkirk and a first job as a manager. Not bad.
New Stenhousemuir manager Colin McMenamin (pic by Michael Gillen)New Stenhousemuir manager Colin McMenamin (pic by Michael Gillen)
New Stenhousemuir manager Colin McMenamin (pic by Michael Gillen)

The 37-year-old was confirmed as Brown Ferguson’s successor on Tuesday, initially until the end of the season, and now can’t wait to get started for ‘real’ after his period in interim charge.

It does, however, probably mean the end of an 18-year senior playing career with spells at a host of clubs from Newcastle United to Ross County.

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McMenamin will still be registered as a player in case of injury emergencies - but his focus is now very much on his role as a manager.

He told HeraldSport: “I’m looking forward to getting started and kicking on - it’s been a long three weeks but I can now start preparing for things the way I want to do it.

“I’ll be registered as a player simply because I can’t afford the luxury of being another player down. But I’ve probably played my last game.

“It’s something I’ve made the decision about. I don’t want to do them beside each other, but I will be there if there was a ridiculous amount of injuries.”

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McMenamin admitted that becoming a manager is something he has only considered in earnest since Ferguson’s departure.

He said: “You always have in the back of your mind that you want to go into coaching, you want to go down that route. When I came to Stenhousemuir I sat my B License and I’ve done various bits of coaching while being there.

“But it wasn’t until the last week that I seriously thought about taking over, and it was only due to the reaction I got from the players. Having spoken to people around me I decided to ask to be considered for the job and fortunately the players have reacted well enough to let me get a chance at it.”

McMenamin hopes to have an assistant in place for the Brechin match a week on Saturday. And as a team-mate he won’t have to spend time getting to know the players, although he admits that can be a double-edged sword.

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He said: “It can work as an advantage because I know the players inside out, but it can also work as a disadvantage in that the players can be too familiar .

“I need them to know that just because I was a player with them six weeks ago, it doesn’t make a difference. I want to get a fresh start for everybody and it’s an experience for us all.

“I’m going to demand off them and I’m going to expect nothing but 100 per cent from them. I’m not going to be a fool, I’m not going to sit back and be too familiar with them, I’m going to distance myself from now and be as much the gaffer as I can be.

“The players have been great. I don’t expect anything less than 100 per cent commitment. Their attitude will be fine and I’m thankful to them for giving me the opportunity because it’s a lot to do with how they’ve reacted to me coming in.”

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McMenamin’s brief over the next few months is a simple one. To climb from the bottom of the table and secure League Two safety. It all starts on Saturday when the Warriors head to Arbroath hoping to end the current league leaders’ unbeaten record.

McMenamin said: “It’s going to be tough game. But we should be riding high so we’ll go up there with a lot of confidence and a game plan that I hope will get us something.”