East Lothian Courier | News | ‘Community lost faith in the running of the Juniors’

Thursday, 28th August, 2008

Published: Thursday, 12th June, 2008 08:00

‘Community lost faith in the running of the Juniors’

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NEWLY elected officials at Tranent Juniors FC are determined to wipe the slate clean and finally lay to rest the problems that have burdened the club in recent years.

At their annual general meeting on Sunday, the committee – including new president, former Scotland player Neil Martin – set to work outlining their main priorities for the coming season.

First on the agenda is eliminating the club’s mounting debts, and rethinking the team’s line-up after a disappointing first season at Forester’s Park Pavilion, said general manager Brian Johnstone.

“The town and the community has lost faith in the running of the Juniors,” admitted Mr Johnstone.

“We are determined that this is going to be a case of ‘a new broom sweeps clean’.

“There has been a radical shake-up within the club and there is going to be a mammoth reshuffle of the team – I’m only planning to retain around four or five players from last season.”

It is hoped that the addition of high-profile figures such as Tranent-born Neil Martin, will raise the club’s profile and attract investors.

Mr Martin, who also played for Hibernian FC during his lengthy football career, was described as “Tranent through and through” by retiring president/chairman Robert McNeill, who has stepped down but remains on the 15-strong management committee, featuring no less than 13 new faces.

Mr McNeill explained that he is “taking a rest” from a management position within the club, to focus on other priorities, including his role as secretary of Tranent Community Council.

Other office bearers elected at the agm were: vice-president, Kenny McLeod; treasurer, Paul Davie; secretary Elliot Morgan; director of football, Tom McLeod.

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