‘We should have been doing better’ says outgoing Rosyth boss Denham
GREIG DENHAM has said there is no animosity over his decision to quit as Rosyth manager which he put down to an underwhelming start to the season.
The 46- year- old, who starred for clubs such as Motherwell, Falkirk, St Mirren and Stenhousemuir during his playing career, handed in his resignation following a 6- 0 thumping at Heriot- Watt University in the East of Scotland League, First Division, last Tuesday.
Denham, and his assistant manager, Graeme Meldrum, made their decision following an indifferent opening to the campaign, which saw the Rec win three of their opening seven games in league and cup.
A 4- 0 home loss to St Andrews United, in the first round of the South Challenge Cup, came three days prior to the Heriot- Watt defeat, but Denham told Press Sport that it was a decision he had been mulling over even prior to those matches.
After opening with a league win at home to Whitehill Welfare, Rosyth lost on the road to Camelon Juniors and Arniston Rangers, but then earned wins over Burntisland Shipyard and Edinburgh South in East of Scotland Qualifying Cup, and Alex Jack Cup.
They, however, were then followed by the St Andrews and Heriot- Watt losses, and Denham said: “You could probably detect that I wasn’t particularly happy with the results, but more the performances, to be honest.
“We only won three out of seven competitive games and, even in those ones, I wasn’t particularly pleased or excited by the performances. That was my main reason to be honest.
“On the back of two really poor results, I just thought it was time for me to move on. It’s still early in the season, and we had a few injuries, but I still feel as if the squad should’ve been doing better and competing better than what it had been.
“It was almost a year since I’d taken over, and to win three out of your opening seven games, without playing well, was my main reason why I thought it would be better for somebody else to take over.”
Hopes had been high for a promotion challenge this time around, but despite picking up their second win of the season on Saturday, in their first game without Denham, they are six points off the promotion places after five matches.
Denham continued: “I think the last couple of games, 4- 0 and 6- 0, accelerated it, but it’s something that I’d been thinking even prior to that, with the way the team had been playing in the competitive games. Albeit, in pre- season, we’d competed well, but the proof ’s in the pudding in the real competitive games.
“We did have injuries to fairly influential players within the squad, but I just felt as if the squad should still have been doing better.
“Maybe it was just that my expectations and demands have been unreasonable, I don’t know, but I just feel as if the squad should have been doing better than what it had been.
“That was really my reason. Obviously, we had a relatively decent season last season, but I think we’ve got an order from the club to try and kick on. I was expecting a better start to the campaign, that’s for sure.”
He added: “I wish Russell, Dean and the rest of the committee all the best. There was no animosty over it, and I would like to remain on good terms with them.”
Club chairman Craig said: “I cannot thank him enough, alongside Kegs and Mel, his coaching team, for what they did for us last season.
“They obviously came in for myself and Dean, steadied the ship and had a really strong end to the season. It’s just football.”
ROSYTH have confirmed that their interim management team will remain in charge this weekend as they begin the process of identifying their next permanent boss.
First team coach Graeme Nutt, and club captain, Garry Leighton, were tasked with taking the team for the game with Vale of Leithen following Greig Denham’s decision to stand down.
Denham, and his assistant, Graeme Meldrum, resigned from their roles after last Tuesday’s 6- 0 drubbing at HeriotWatt University in an East of Scotland League, First Division encounter, which came swiftly on the back of a 4- 0 loss at home to St Andrews United in the South Challenge Cup.
Nutt and Leighton oversaw a 6- 0 win over the bottom side, and will lead them once more for this weekend’s trip to Livingston United in the Alex Jack Cup, second round.
Rosyth then welcome Newtongrange Star to the Fleet Grounds on Tuesday, before visiting Oakley United for a West Fife derby four days later, but whether a new management team will be in place for either of those games remains to be seen.
Club chairman, Russell Craig, says the club are in no hurry to fill the vacant position, and has been impressed by the quality of applications they have received so far.
“In relation to a new manager, we’ve had a number of applicants, but a number of strong candidates, which both myself and Dean ( Ogg, vice chairman) are really excited about,” he said.
“We’re not going to rush into anything. As a football club it’s, in my opinion, a tremendous opportunity to take on an established East of Scotland club, coupled with the fact we’ve started to build ( their new ground at Pitreavie), so they’re going to have a brand new facility.
“It could be a very, very exciting opportunity for anyone, or the successful candidate.
“We were conscious that we didn’t want to rush into anything. I’m very, very happy with the applicants thus far, so watch this space.
“It’ll still be Graeme, it’ll still be Gaz on Saturday, and then we’ve got Newtongrange in the league the following Tuesday.
“Testament to them as well because we did say would you like it on a long- term basis, but they’ve both got very young families.
“I did say that to them, that I’ve got experience, and it is a hard job.
“They said not just now, and certainly Gaz has still got a bit of football in his legs as well.
“We’re quietly confident with the applicants thus far.”