[glensmad]

steish, on 21 April 2012 - 18:57, said:

...To call for the resignation of a new manager 3 months in is just daft...

He was at it after less than a month.

[ddfg]

I've not been in Ardrossan since I got the ferry to the Isle of Man as a child so don't know any of the characters involved but from some of the shouts of their supporters today they seem to have allowed a good start to the season to raise their expectations. As the fourth Kilsyth goal went in we were greeted with claims that "they're sh!te". I don't know where Kilsyth will finish the season but top of the league after 20 games would suggest that the team can't be that bad. At the start of the season I would have settled for safety with a few games to go and as newcomers to the division I'm sure most AWR supporters would have been of a similar mind.

[Stargazer]

Dead easy to criticise the manager....after all the best managers usually sit in the stand - and never have to pick a starting 11.

Winton fans are a bit split - no point in denying this - there are a few detractors about. The team need the support of the fans.

Again it was easy last season - winning 4 5 6 nil. This season - different kettle of fish - better teams and yes the good start Winton had may save them but ultimately - regardless of who the manager is - 10th place this season is success.

[juniorfanatic]

John garroch is a good guy and safety for awr this season is a great achievment this guy is committed in fact he was at ek v glens last wed watching on a wed nyt and for me i dont think theres many guys that would travel that distance to watch a future opponent on a week night. I think he will get it right and needs time.As for derek frye he will not be back he is getting very good money at krr. Anyway all the best awr!

[der73]

I think it's true, we Winton fans have been a bit too used to success recently. Last season we stormed the Ayrshire District League, plus we reached the last 16 of the Scottish Cup. At the start of this season however, I said I would be happy to stay up but after winning the first 4 games and sitting top for a few weeks, we naturally started to harbour thoughts of a second successive promotion, even another championship.

Of course it had to go Pete Tong eventually. I dont want to pour scorn on a former manager who turned our fortunes around and got us promoted for the first time in 14 years, I'm purely stating this as a comparison but the bad results started when Derek Frye was at the helm (home defeats to Glenafton, Thorniewood & Shotts, plus an early Scottish Cup exit at home to Armadale), so I'm not sure it's fair to criticize John Garroch who has come in and is expected immediately to turn things round. No manager can work miracles immediately with an inherited team.

As I keep saying, I believe in time John Garroch will have success with Winton and I for one want him to stay.

[glensmad]

Yesterday was my first ever visit to Winton Park, and I have to say I was very impressed with the whole set-up.

I arrived quite early (about 12.15pm for a 2pm kick off, misjudged how long it would take to get there !), but I was welcomed by a team of committee men who were already in place and ready for work. The stand is being redeveloped, and the facilities for Glencairn were pretty basic, but to their credit AWR had notices up in the away changing room explaining the extent of the work that was being carried out and apologising for any inconvenience, and to be honest there wasn't really a problem, we've had a lot worse facilities than that.

I had a good chat with manager John Garroch who once again came across as a pleasant and knowledgable man, who is trying his best to get things right at Ardrossan, despite a long injury list that he has had to contend with since arriving at the club. I was also pleased to meet and chat with "Wild Winton Rover" as I waited for the Glencairn bus to arrive.

The committee men all seemed to know their individual roles, from the man who met the Glencairn players arriving to point them in the right direction, to the man who holds the rope to stop fans getting to the home dugout area when the teams are coming out. All little things that seemed to happen automatically without any fuss.

I was impressed by the supporters club with its own balcony for viewing, probably the best vantage point in the ground, and the community gym that has now been opened under the stand.

All in all, it was a pleasant afternoon, although I had to leave early due to a prior engagement, and left the game with Glencairn trailing 2-0, and my knuckles scraping on the ground. By the time I got to the A77, my phone had been bleeping like crazy and I'd pulled into 4 different parking spots to see what was happening. My mood had improved just a wee bit.

I just thought it was worth mentioning, as AWR and John Garroch in particular have taken a bit of a pounding on this thread from some people, but yesterday I found them to be a very welcoming and hard working club, with things run the correct way by people who obviously care for the club.

This post has been edited by glensmad: 29 April 2012 - 07:04

[steish]

Crackin post mate.

[der73]

Yeah, brilliant post, thanks. We have not a bad wee club down in Ardrossan. I'm no longer confident we will stay up, but if the worst comes to the worst it will be nice to lock horns again with all our old Ayrshire foes, and thrash them all again

Sorry I didn't get the chance to meet you myself yesterday, I was late getting into the ground, didn't arrive until about 5 past 2. I usually watch the first half from the concreted balcony area behind the goal just as you come in, then I come down for a beverage at half time and watch the second half from the old astroturf area with the majority of the fans.

With hindsight I should have maybe stayed where I was as I enjoyed the first half significantly more than the second