Prentice takes master’s role as Newtongrange target cup glory in Fife

WITH Graeme Armstrong having left the club after Tuesday’s loss to Bo’ness, Newtongrange Star now look to assistant Alan Prentice to take charge for their game away to Kirkcaldy in tomorrow’s East of Scotland Cup tie.

“I’ll try and help out as much as I can until the club have a new manager in place, but it’s going to be hard,” Prentice said.

“The dressing-room after the game on Tuesday, when Louis told the players he was going, was very emotional for everyone. There were a few tears shed. In the six years we’ve been here we signed most of them and it’s been terrific working with them. The spirit of the players on Tuesday night was superb and we should have taken something from the game.

“However, Saturday’s another challenge and if they show the same spirit again then we’ll have a chance. It will be a hard game because Kirkcaldy have won nine out of their last nine home games, so they are strong at home. We can’t afford any slip-ups.

“Our biggest problem is that we’re down to the very bare bones in squad numbers. We lost Aaron Somerville and Liam McKenna on Tuesday, plus Stuart Roseburgh is still out.

“It looks like we’ll have only 11 players. We may need to go out and sign some youngsters again, but the difficulty is that the good players will still be in contention for silverware with their own clubs who will be reluctant to let them go.”

Prentice takes temporary charge as former Stenhousemuir manager John Coughlin, expected to take over, will remain in the background for now, helping when he can.