Hawick: It's a stretch for Armstrong to keep big expectations in check at Mansfield Park ahead of new campaign back in the top flight

THE BIG story at Hawick over the summer seemed to be the decision by the club to sack the man who spearheaded their return to Premier One after an historic first slide out of it.

But that was the perception. To most within the club the loss of Gerry McGuinness and his replacement with Derek 'Deke' Armstrong, as stunning as it was for those outside of the Borders town, was hardly worth a sideways glance. That is how Armstrong, at least, perceived it and he is certainly not looking back.

The former Hawick flanker might once have been cast out of the town for evermore for his decision to leave Mansfield for rugby league at Carlisle and Whitehaven, but he is now the heartbeat of the 'Greens' as they bid to ensure that the ignominy of relegation is not repeated in the near future.

Armstrong took over from Jim Hay midway through the doomed season so experienced more pain that most but he also has a realism over Hawick's claims to sit at the top table of Scottish rugby, which he insists too few in his hometown share.

"There are high expectations for this season, even for the game against Ayr this weekend," he said. "There is always expectation in Hawick and that can be a good thing, but too many people in Hawick live in the past a bit.

"The club has had a great history but we have to be realistic about where we are now compared to other clubs. We have some great young boys, but we have to build a squad with the depth and experience of the sides we're going to come up against.

"My expectation is just to keep us in Premier One right now. I'd love to aim higher but that's the main goal because that would give us the chance to build."

There is no hiding the sense of pride Armstrong feels in being handed the reins at Hawick and, even though he is without newly-returned fly-half Rory Hutton and Lindsay Gibson - the hooker having been drafted into Edinburgh's squad for today's friendly match at Bath - he is eagerly looking forward to welcoming Ayr in the first game of the season.

"There have been a lot of people going on about the fixtures but I don't fear anybody. It's great to get these big sides down at Mansfield Park. Ayr are a good side, classy, well-organised and well-coached, but I don't fear them.

"It took a lot of hard work to get back up. All credit to Gerry for leading that, although I think we were bit lucky, too, because I thought Premier Two was weaker than it had been in previous years but being down there certainly provided the boys with a kick up the backside.

"It also got us back to playing good rugby, with some tries and success, and that confidence will be important going into this season. We have very good backs and if we get good ball we're capable of taking some teams apart."

He continued: "It's disappointing Rory's still on holiday in Ibiza, but Stuart Hogg is a good player and those two will be good competition for each other. Stuart's young but he doesn't fear anyone and that's the spirit we need here.

"It's maybe new for me a bit, being the head coach, but there was no fall-out with me and Gerry and so there's a good positive feeling about.

"It was the club that made the changes after a three-month review, where they also took into account the views of the players, but when they presented me with their plans I wasn't going to walk away because being head coach of Hawick is something I've always wanted.

"I was ambitious as a player and I am ambitious as a coach, and you want the best for Hawick and to be a part of that.

"We're back where a lot of people would like to think Hawick belong, but we have to prove we deserve to be here and that's not going to be easy with the quality of the teams in this league now.

"It starts with Ayr, but the reputations of teams coming here is not something that's bothered us before, and it won't bother us now. We will try to make it hard for every team coming to Mansfield."

COACHES: Derek Armstrong, Rocky Johnstone, Kevin Reid and Mike Howe.

CAPTAIN: Bruce McNeil.

INS: Rory Hutton (Edinburgh), Greg Cottrell (Boroughmuir), Stuart Hogg (Heriot's), Nick Mactaggart and Lindsey Gibson (both Melrose).

OUTS: Nicky Little (Melrose), Ryan Hogg (Hawick YM), Kevin Reid (retired, now coaching).

PRO DRAFT: Fraser McKenzie, Lewis Niven (both Edinburgh), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow), Scott MacLeod, Greig Laidlaw, Chris Paterson (all Edinburgh), Moray Low (Glasgow).

LAST SEASON: Runners-up in Premier Two and first round exit from cup.