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Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rutherglen Glencairn boss target Lowland League spot with revamp on way
The Glens are a SFA licensed club and could be fast tracked to the fifth tier next term amid a shake up to the pyramid Rutherglen Glencairn co-boss Joe Pryce has targeted one of the Lowland League West promotion spots from this season's West of Scotland Premier Division. Pryce is building a squad able to compete in the top flight, with nine places up for grabs in the revamped West Division of the Lowland League in season 2026/27. The Lowland League will be split into East and West Divisions, with 16 teams in each, running alongside the Highland League. As an SFA Licenced club, Glencairn are virtually guaranteed a place in the new set-up, but Pryce wants to make sure. He said: 'It looks like there will be at least eight teams from the division moving into a new league, eight licenced clubs, and we're obviously one of them. 'There will be other clubs who are shooting for their licence this year. If you want to move into this next division, your goal is to finish in the top eight. 'I know there are some clubs who don't have a licence and might struggle to get one, because we know a prohibiting factor is finance, you need floodlights and things like that. 'But from our point of view, we've just got to aim to finish as high up in that division as we can, and we're certainly going to give it a right good go.' Pryce says his side will stick to what made they successful in their promotion-winning campaign last season and expects his side to be a force in the Premier Division. He added: 'Teams who are up against us will know they've been in a game, and you're going to have to play well if you want to beat us, that's for sure. We want to go up and play, we're not just going up there to make up the numbers. 'We can't just sit 10 men behind the ball and kick the way we're facing, we'll play the way we want them to play, and that footballers want to play.' Lowland clubs voted for reconstruction earlier this month, determining that relegation from the Lowland League won't take place this coming season. However, promotion will be opened up, with champions from each of the four tier-six leagues – West of Scotland Premier Division, South of Scotland, East of Scotland Premier, East Region Midlands League – promoted into their respective division, if they meet Lowland League entry criteria. This is Scottish FA Licence at bronze level, and meeting Financial Fair Play rules. At the moment, the West Division would be made up of Albion Rovers, Caledonian Braves, Clydebank, Cumbernauld Colts, Gretna 2008, two clubs from the South of Scotland League and nine from West of Scotland, plus Celtic 'B' as a 17th guest club. The West of Scotland and South of Scotland Leagues would be feeders for the Lowland West Division, while the East of Scotland Premier and Midlands Leagues would feed the East Division.
Daily Record
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rutherglen Glencairn boss' 'upgrade' as he eyes summer signings
Joe Pryce reckons at least seven new faces will arrive for next season Rutherglen Glencairn co-boss Joe Pryce says he will be making an upgrade when he's able to announce 'at least seven' new faces for next season. Pryce and co-boss Billy Ogilvie have been working hard to rebuild their squad for next season in the West of Scotland Premier Division, having gained promotion last season. Pryce said: 'There's nothing we can officially do until people are out of contract on June 30. 'We're working hard behind the scenes, trying to get players in. 'We have two over the line at the moment, we're waiting on another three or four, and there are a few other boys who are coming in. 'It's all looking good at the moment, and if the players that we're after decide to come and join us, then we certainly know we're going to get an upgrade on the players that have moved on. 'The guys who have moved on were good players for us, did really well, but moving into the Premier League you've got to look to upgrade your squad, and be able to cope with that, which is what we're doing. 'In total, I would imagine there are going to be at least seven new players. Seven have moved on, so there will be at least seven coming in. 'If we start the league a couple down then so be it, I'm not fussed about having 20 players to start the campaign. We'll pick it up as we go from there. We're not going to rush in and sign players just for numbers, every player who comes in is going to need to be able to cope in the Premier Division, and contribute.' Glencairn have been drawn at home to Easterhouse in the Strathclyde Demolition Cup second round, while Pryce tries to secure summer friendlies. 'Four or five' friendlies are scheduled, although the dates have yet to be firmed up, with a possible switch of teams on July 5 and 12. But they will travel to Glenrothes on July 19 to mark the 50th anniversary of the sides meeting in the 1975 Scottish Junior Cup final, with any player who featured on the day welcome to attend.
Daily Record
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rutherglen Glencairn will cope with top flight test, says boss
Joe Pryce's side have been promoted to the West of Scotland Premier Division and he insists they can make an impact Rutherglen Glencairn co-boss Joe Pryce says his side aren't just going to make up the numbers in the West of Scotland Premier Division. The Glens co-boss says players don't want to operate with 10 men behind the ball and can showcase their talents in the top flight. He said: 'It's the Premier Division and we're going in against teams like Johnstone Burgh, who won the Scottish Cup on Sunday, Auchinleck, Cumnock, Pollok – the big hitters just keep coming and first and foremost we've got to make sure we can compete. 'But we want to do more than compete, we want to go in and play in the Premier Division and not just make up the numbers. 'We don't just want to go and have 10 men behind the ball, kicking it the way we're facing, footballers don't want to play that way, they want to showcase their talents. 'We won't build that way, we're going to go in and play the way we want. We know we're going to have to defend, and properly, but we still want to go up and play. We'll be a success, or we'll fail, but we'll do it our way.' Pryce has started looking ahead to next season and is on the verge of signing three defenders, though won't name them at this stage. However, Roan Fitzpatrick, Jack McIlveen and Allan Woodhouse have departed the club. Pryce said: We've spoken to quite a few, but it's that difficult part where players are just leaving clubs, want to see what else is there for them. 'We've been concentrating on our own players, making sure the ones we want to stay are tied up, but we have certainly been active in speaking to players. 'We know our targets, we know what we're looking for, and we're just waiting on players getting back to us. 'We've managed to get two centre-backs tied up at the minute, ready for next season, and we're speaking to another one. 'We lost Roan and Woody out the midfield, who are moving on, and Jack McIlveen has moved on to St Roch's as well. 'We were disappointed to lose those three, because we wanted to take them with us, but they've made their choice, that's up to them and we wish them all the best. They were a big part of what we achieved this year.' Pryce added: 'There are a couple of players that we've still to speak to, in terms of our own group, who won't be here next season, but it's quite slow and difficult. 'The financial landscape of the Premier League is way above First Division, so that's something we're adjusting to. But we are where we are, we're certainly not going to put the club in any trouble, trying to pay wages that we can't afford. 'We see other what clubs have done, and the perilous state they find themselves in, but that won't happen at Glencairn.'
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rutherglen Glencairn co-boss already planning for Premier Division after sealing promotion
Joe Pryce says he needs to strengthen one key area for life in the top flight Rutherglen Glencairn co-boss Joe Pryce was delighted to seal promotion on Saturday, but is already rebuilding for life in the West of Scotland Premier Division. A 1-0 win at Blantyre Vics sealed second spot in the First Division, and Glens make the step-up as league top-scorers on 81, but also having conceded more than either of their fellow promoted teams Renfrew and Arthurlie, with 47. It's that back-line that will be the focus of player searches, and Pryce is certainly not resting on any laurels. He said: 'You're in with the big guns and we're just going to enjoy the moment just now. 'But we'll get in this week and we'll be working hard on recruiting. 'There will be a few players at our club moving on, it happens every year, so we've got to try and recruit in the right areas of the team. 'Last season we knew that goal-scoring was the Achilles heel for us, because we didn't score enough – Ryan McManus was the only player to reach double figures. 'We knew we had to address that, which we did, bringing in Jack McIlveen and Scott Jarvie, who both managed to hit double figures as well. 'We're the league's top goal-scorers, but we perhaps need to look at the other end, because we did concede too many. 'We know we're not going to score that amount of goals in the top division, so we need to keep the back door shut, and that's probably where we're going to be looking to recruit for.' Pryce says promotion was a reward for the whole club, and praised the team's consistency. He said: 'Even in the times when we maybe weren't winning, we were still picking up a point, it wasn't as if we were losing all the time, and it keeps that scoreboard ticking over – and in the end, those points that we picked up ended up being really crucial. 'It has been a tough season, but it was always going to be, and I'm really pleased and proud of my whole club because they've been fantastic. 'We have a small but loyal group of fans who follow us everywhere, so it's reward for them. 'Our hard-working committee were rewarded as well, I've got the best general manager in Willie Harvey that anybody could ask for, he has been so supportive, rock-solid behind the management team since day one. Anything we want he's there for us, and he has been absolutely brilliant. 'Last but not least, my management team – my co-boss Billy Ogilvie, Tam Miller, Stevie Hutchison – I'm really fortunate to be working with them, and for such a good club. 'We were absolutely delighted on Saturday to get it over the line, though it was a wee bit nervy. 'The players stood strong, and that was the most important thing. Their concentration levels were fantastic, and that got us over the line. 'I'm so pleased for them. I'm delighted for Glencairn, because I know how hard everybody at the club works, and they've got their reward.'
Daily Record
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Arthurlie are title favourites but Rutherglen Glencairn can follow them to Premier Division
Co-boss Joe Pryce says four clubs are now competing for two promotion slots Joe Pryce admits Arthurlie are now West of Scotland First Division title favourites, and it's up to Rutherglen Glencairn to follow them to the Premier Division. Arthurlie went top of the First Division on Wednesday night with a 3-2 win at St Roch's, but with 25 games have played the fewest in the top five, as many as four in hand over second-placed Renfrew, who are now two points behind. Glencairn are fourth on 49 points from 27 games, five points behind Kilwinning, who have played a game more, six behind Renfrew [with two games in hand] and eight off Arthurlie, going into this week's games. Arthurlie had a hectic schedule of Kilwinning Rangers on Monday, winning 3-0, beat St Roch on Wednesday, and host Ardrossan Winton Rovers on Saturday, while Glencairn prepare for their visit to 11th-placed Kilbirnie Ladeside. Glens co-boss Pryce said: 'Arthurlie have loads of games in hand, but that's really tough what they're doing. 'They've been playing Saturday-Wednesday and this week it's Saturday-Monday-Wednesday, and it's really tough to keep that going. 'But they have a big, talented squad, so I think they'll be able to cope with it and will still be everybody's favourites. 'Renfrew have been excellent and have one game left, so they sit idle for three weeks, while we play. 'For the rest of us, it's four teams fighting for two spots, and we've just got to hope that, come the last game, we're still in it and give ourselves a chance.' Glencairn followed a bruising 1-0 defeat at Vale of Clyde last weekend with 3-2 wins over Thorniewood United on Wednesday and Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on Saturday. David Leadbetter, Ross Paton and Boris Melingui got their goals in Viewpark on Wednesday, with Melingui bagging a hat-trick at the Hamish B. Allan Stadium on Saturday. Pryce said: 'That just keeps us in the conversation, really, two really good performances from us, and we managed to edge out both games by the single goal. 'We look forward to going to Kilbirnie. It's a great place to play football, and hopefully we can put on another show. 'We know if we win our last three there's a fair chance we're going to get promoted, but we can't look any further than Kilbirnie on Saturday – that's a really tough game. 'Kilbirnie are a 'Premier' club, and it's going to be really difficult, but we've got to keep going.'
