New Dumbarton Accies boss Kenny Wilson admits he was surprised to be offered the top job at the club, but is now determined to make their number one fan proud.
Wilson has taken the reins of the club following Michael Dickie’s departure at the end of last season, and the former defender said it was an honour to be asked to take over at the club he watched his dad play for as a youngster.
And success as boss would be extra special for Kenny, with son Roman one of Accies’ most loyal fans.
Kenny told the Lennox: “It did come as quite a surprise to be honest when it was first mentioned to me.
“I knew that my own football playing career was coming to an end and I had been interested in getting into coaching or management.
“To be given the chance to take a job as big as Dumbarton Academy without any managerial experience was huge and a great honour. I’ve always been vocal in changing rooms anyway between my time at the Vale and the Accies so I see this as a natural progression.
“I spoke to the boys at the end of the season telling them about how much I have enjoyed my time at the club and that it has been the most successful period of my playing career.
“I have loved the last five years as a player with the club, having my children see me win leagues and cup competitions is an amazing experience.
“I had been involved with the club briefly as a 17 year old in their under-19s team before moving to the Vale of Leven and my dad, Eric, had played and been involved with the Accies since I was a kid. I now take my own son Roman to all the games and he’s become a super fan.”
Last season saw Accies relinquish their Caledonian League Premier Division crown, with a stop/start campaign seeing games postponed - and leaving the club with a busy end to the season.
However Kenny is now keen to put the disappointment firmly in the past.
He continued: “I am really looking forward to the new season. We had a bounce game amongst ourselves last week and there were a few new faces to add to the quality that is already in the changing room.
“We have organised quite a few friendlies and we as a team cannot wait to get started and try to claim back the league title we lost last year.
“Last year was frustrating for us all. We had long periods where we couldn’t get games on and this really affected our ability to gather any sort of momentum in all competitions.
“It was a disappointment but it really goes to show the standards that the players and Michael and his management team have set over the last few years that a third place finish in a league as strong as ours is looked on as a failure by all involved with the club.
“We aim to set high standards at all times.
“Ideally I would like us to strive to get the league title and push forward in the major cup competitions.”
And Kenny knows that his predecessor is always just a phone call away if he needs any advice from a more experienced head.
He added: “Michael has been great. He has given me space to be my own man. I know he would be the first person I could talk to if I had to ask for any advice.
“He told me to do things my own way. I played against Michael as a player and played with him at the Vale before coming to play under him at the Accies.
“The standards and quality he had demanded from the boys are all qualities he possessed as a player and as a man.
“They are big shoes to fill but I feel that with the squad that is available and the support behind the scenes and in my own coaching team we can strive to achieve great things together, just as we did under Michael’s reign.”
