New Pumpherston manager Darren Pegg says he’s “honoured” to have been offered the gig and says he’s
up for the challenge of rebuilding the club.
The Recreation Park side have enjoyed success in their recent history – twice winning league titles in the Juniors under previous boss Craig Martin – but struggled in their maiden campaign in senior football.
The ‘Ston ended up bottom of the pile in the East of Scotland Football League, but Pegg is confident that he can make steady progress both on and off the field, with the club also set to add an under-20 side to the fold next term to complete the pathway.
Speaking to the Courier, Pegg, who is currently managing Broxburn Athletic’s under-19 side, said: “I had a spell as the assistant under Craig Martin a few years ago and I know the club well.
“I’m excited for the opportunity and excited to be doing it on my own terms. I’ve always gone back to watch them whenever I could so when the chance to help them came up, I was really keen.
“I have spent a long time in youth football. I have been coaching at all the various age groups for 16 years, so to be manager of a senior team, especially within a league that is trying to improve and move forward, is something that I’m really excited by and I can’t wait to start.”
He added: “It’s a new group of players to work with and I would view myself as a coaching type of manager. I want to help the individual players and the club improve and advance.”
Having tasted great success with Broxburn’s youth side, Pegg admits that he’s keen to give young players the chance to experience and develop at Pumpherston, which he hopes will bode well for the club’s stability and future.
He said: “We’re trying to set up an under-20s side and speaking to the committee, they want the very best for their club which is through sustainability.
“It would have been very easy for them to appoint a new manager with a bit more experience in the senior game than me.
“I daresay that would have been the simple thing to do so I feel privileged and honoured that they trust me and my ideas enough that they would like me to try and create that sustainability.”
Now he’s looking forward to getting his sleeves rolled up and getting to work, adding: “We’re all realistic in how we get there.
“We have had a difficult season so it’s about taking steps forward as a club and I’m confident we can do that.”
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