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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Newmains United 'shop window' plan to help young players forge a career

Newmains boss Davie Menelaws says his side will provide a 'shop window' for young players on the way up, because that can benefit both parties.

Menelaws makes no secret of the position Newmains United are in as they sit 14th from 15 clubs in the West of Scotland League Conference B table, but reckons they're punching above their weight anyway.

Former striker Menelaws, who counts Alloa, Stenhousemuir, Queen's Park, Shotts Bon Accord, Carluke Rovers and Cambuslang Rangers amongst his former clubs, says giving young stars a platform to shine will only improve the team.

And he wants to create an academy and forge closer links to the community.

Menelaws and assistant Tommy Morgan took over from co-bosses Paul Davies and Craig Gupwell, who stepped down at United before moving on to Carluke Rovers.

"It's about having a different outlook at Newmains," said Menelaws. "I've played at every level, so hopefully I can pass on that experience and turn us around to have a more winning mentality and be a harder team to beat and pick up points.

"I want to make us competitive, and to hold our own, to push to be winning a lot more games than we'll be losing.

Menelaws says he wants his players to give everything in games and they'll win more (Graham Robb)

"I want to provide an opportunity for young guys who have maybe been released by clubs, put them in the shop window, make them better, and eventually move them on to bigger and better things.

"That's what football should be all about - giving boys opportunities.

"If they come and play with me, we get better, they get better, and they move on. One goes and another comes in, and it's about giving guys the experience to do that.

"We're also looking at bringing in an academy and bringing in more commitment from the community.

"James Wynn, who is managing director and head of community, has an academy at the moment and loads of ideas that he's looking to implement within the community.

"There will be a pathway for young guys to go from one level to the first team.

"It will be driven by young guys getting into the first team and using it as a shop window to get themselves a career."

Once everything is up and running, Menelaws is looking for a different mentality at Newmains.

Menelaws wants Newmains to go into games expecting to win (Graham Robb)

He said: "As long as we give the work-rate, desire, have the right attitude and give 100 per cent, we'll not be a million miles away.

"If the result doesn't go your way, it's still all you can ask, and that's what I want to see.

"There are good players at Newmains, and probably guys who can play at a higher level, but they're in that cycle at the moment where they're used to getting beat, and it's changing that ethos and mentality, of going to teams and expecting to win."

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