Black times but Montrose's own Romanov will fight pressure

Published on Friday 17 October 2008 21:41

Major shareholder remains defiant

DEPENDING on who you listen to, Kenny Black either represents Montrose's answer to Vladimir Romanov or the sort of central figure every community would want.

Black, who stepped back from his role as director of football at the Angus club in the summer, is thought to have invested around 100,000 of his own money into Montrose. He is now, in essence, a major shareholder and benefactor who has taken a prominent and hands-on role with what the local football club does in their community.

Yet a system which involves children aged from three to 19 and trains 500 of them a week – helped by the club's artificial pitch – has been overlooked in the last three weeks. Jim Weir's acrimonious split from Montrose remains in the hands of lawyers; the manager has not been dismissed but will not return to Links Park and is currently negotiating a settlement package.

Black, meanwhile, has been the subject of the kind of rumours which Romanov would be accustomed to if he ever set foot in Edinburgh. Allegations of meddling in first-team selection have become widespread, a matter Black deeply regrets.

"I have been involved in football for 27 years and this is the most difficult time I have ever known," said Black. "I am frustrated and angry that I can't fight back and disappointed that people ask me about interfering in the team. There is a strain on everyone at the football club because of what has gone on and that has been hard to deal with.

"I stepped back in the summer. Since that time, I have been working with the youth teams; I've hardly been to a first-team game. Some people who have passed comment may well regret that if they ever hear the full story."

That story, of course, remains shrouded in mystery at present for legal reasons. By Black's own admission, the full version of Weir's departure from the Third Division club may never emanate. Pointedly, he adds: "Some people may not be very happy if the real version did come out but it would make no difference to me."

Black insists the reasons behind Weir's exit are "non footballing". The pair's differences aside, a fall-out between Weir and the Montrose chairman, Brian Winton, is thought to have triggered the former St Johnstone defender's demise.

"When relations broke down between Jim and myself, I didn't want to let the club suffer and that's why I stepped back," added Black. "The club's budget and the money I have given them is transparent, I haven't been around the first-team picture to interfere and I have never been reported to the SFA. My business is transparent as well; that's the way I want everyone to be.

"It is very easy saying you are going to run a community club. Doing it is another matter, the whole club has to work hand in hand. Things could not go on the way they were. Putting in money gives you a voice at a football club, some people don't like that."

Black's words hint at an underlying concern Weir simply had different ideals from the Montrose board. Supporters, though, remain generally behind Black, who has overseen a 600,000 regeneration of the Links Park facilities, including a new artificial pitch.

East Fife captain Steven Tweed is high on the list of candidates to replace Weir, although Black warned it may be a matter of weeks before Montrose can fill the vacancy.

More immediately, Montrose lie third in the table but, with Weir's former assistant, Kevin McGowne, having walked out in recent days, youth coach Steve Adam takes charge for today's testing meeting with Dumbarton.

"The community is buzzing and we are putting a system in place where we bring through our own boys and aren't just relying on those freed by other clubs," said Black. "We have a lot of good young players. My job here is to develop Montrose and I think I have done that; I can look anyone square in the face."

Black has no plans to return to the first-team fold under any new management team and will continue working on the infrastructure at the club. "I enjoy what I am doing more than when I was closer to the first team," he said.

"This club has so much going for it; we won't be sidetracked."