CRAIG McMahon will be in sole charge of Kilbride Swifts next season with last year's co-manager Steven Fettis taking on a different role, albeit still in the management team.
McMahon and Fettis took over last season, after Derek Donaghy moved to take over as manager of championship side Glebe Rangers
As Steven explained: “I’ll still be very much involved, albeit more in the outskirts. I’ll still be doing a bit of trai
ning and coaching, but I’m too busy with work, I won’t be able to make it to training every Tuesday and Thursday.
“I’ll not even be at the Kilbride matches every Saturday, for my role this season will be different; I’ll be out and about scouting, looking at players, and maybe looking at the team we’d be playing against the following week. It’s more of a ‘Director of Football’ role.”
Craig, meanwhile, will be managing on his own, though he’s hopeful that Les Long, a one time Mossley YM manager, will come on board as his assistant.
There are more changes at Kilbride next season, with three players’ representatives Phil McMahon (Craig’s brother), and two long serving players, goalkeeper Lee Singleton and defender Jonathon Rolston joining the committee. As Craig suggested, “It’s an attempt to make the committee bigger, and get more things going about the club, like some valuable fundraisers etc. It means, too, that the players will have more of a say in the club, that’s the way we’re trying to take the club forward, and they’re all very much looking forward to the new season!” Pre-season training, indeed, was due to commence on 1st July.
Kilbride also recently held their annual awards function, in the Burn Restaurant, Cullyburn, which will be their new post-match base next season.
Amongst the silverware were; Player of the Year; Mark Kidd. Players’ Player of the Year; Phil Smyth. Clubman of the Year; Jeff Ralph
Kilbride will be also taking part in a pre-season tournament at Clandeboye Park, along with the hosts Bangor Rangers and teams from Donegal and England.
