Robertson to give youth a chance as West of Scotland look to put on good show

A NEW face at the helm and a new influx of young players at West of Scotland will inject some freshness into the Premier One campaign but Keith Robertson knows that his first year in the top flight will be a mighty test.

Robertson is a former scrum-half from Paisley who spent a decade at Hillhead-Jordanhill, went back to his Renfrewshire roots to start as a coach and then returned to 'Hills' and helped the club out of the National Leagues and back to Premier Two last season. He may be a relative unknown across the Scottish game, certainly compared with his namesakes in coaching, the Otago chief who coached Glasgow Caledonians and the former Scotland centre from Melrose, but he is a passionate individual and one who knows and fights for rugby in the west of Scotland as much as anyone.

Working with youngsters is nothing new either as he was the coach of the Glasgow under-17 side which beat their Borders, Edinburgh and Caley counterparts last season to claim the unofficial district crown.

"There is no doubt that there is a lot of talent across the west of Scotland," he enthused, "and a lot of hard work being put into rugby, especially in parts of the city and towns down the coast that are strong football areas, that many people don't see.

"I see a lot of potential in the youngsters coming through now, and you only have to look at the Glasgow squad for the game with Sale (tonight] where West's scrum-half from last season Murray McConnell is appearing for the first time, at just 18, to see what I mean. Everyone at West is behind him and wishing him the best.

"But a lot of that comes from the work of coaches, teachers and other volunteers at supposedly unfashionable clubs who are putting it in to give the kids rugby opportunities. We don't always get the same help from schools that other areas in Scotland get, so we rely on clubs, but, when you look through that under-17 squad, there were boys from the Hawks and Ayr, sure, but there were also lots from Dumfries, Kilmarnock and other lower-league clubs."

Appointed by a West delegation including retiring hooker Gordon Bulloch and veteran lock Guy Perrett, Robertson has swiftly made a positive impression. George Breckenridge remains, with Mark Pope back to help, and all three subscribe to the West approach to shun big payments to players in favour of progressing the youth of the area. So, the summer signings have a distinctly youthful look.

"When I was offered this job I was delighted because there are not many opportunities to coach in Premier One in the west of Scotland and, while I would travel of course, this is where I want to be," continued Robertson."It's the same for young players really. It's going to be tough, but a big problem we have in Scottish rugby is the gap between youth rugby and senior rugby, where you have talented lads emerging at 17 and 18 not quite ready for the senior game, who are lost to rugby because we don't have something there to allow them to keep playing until they develop the strength and confidence to make the step-up. So, you have to expose them, but I wouldn't be doing that if I didn't believe in them. We have some cracking players."

So what can supporters expect of West this season?

Robertson added: "My coaching is very much tilted in favour of skills development and improving players' rugby qualities over endless sessions in the gym. I like my teams to play good, expansive rugby.

"Now, that can take time to develop and I realise that we're going to have to find our feet quickly this season because our aim, like everyone else, is to be in the top eight before the split. And having your local rivals (Glasgow Hawks] first-up this weekend certainly focuses the mind on that.

"But, I didn't come here to tell boys to tuck the ball up the jumper and play conservative rugby. I want boys to enjoy their rugby and our supporters to love coming to watch us every week. I want us to go out there and play, but win, and show the rest of Scotland what West and this area have to offer."

COACHES: Keith Robertson, George Breckenridge, Mark Pope.

CAPTAIN: David Young.

INS: Ally Stevenson (Whitecraigs), Matt Horner (GHK), Tom Hiddeston (Dumfries), Greg Haswell, Steven Longwell (both Hillhead/Jordanhill), Colin Marshall (Dundee Uni), Adam De Ste Croix (Boroughmuir).

OUTS: Gordon Bulloch (retired), Robert Harley (Glasgow), Rory Kelso (Perth).

PRO DRAFT: Ed Kalman, Calum Forrester, Jon Welsh, Dougie Hall, Max Evans (all Glasgow), John Houston, Alan MacDonald (both Edin).

LAST SEASON: Ninth in league and second round of cup.