East Kilbride manager Chris Aitken has confirmed first-team coach and Rangers legend Ian Durrant is taking his work at Kilby down a gear due to knee surgery.
David MacGregor - a former teammate of Aitken’s - and Durrant have formed part of the EK backroom team this season. But MacGregor is now the man holding the assistant manager’s title.
The Rangers legend had held it previously but he requires knee surgery and will not be as actively involved during his recovery from this.
Now 55, the former Scotland international has provided a wealth of knowledge to Aitken. He made over 200 appearances for Rangers as a player and coached at the Ibrox club.
The coaching team had to help the K-Park boss over the weekend, as he was serving a touch line ban for Saturday’s Lowland League match with Gala Fairydean Rovers.
It had little impact as Cameron Elliot, Joao Victoria and Liam Watt goals sealed a 3-0 win. It leaves them second with three league games to go this season, now entering League Cup action against Caledonian Braves tonight.
Having a backroom shuffle isn’t a problem for Aitken, who values each member of his coaching staff highly: “Ian is there overseeing everything and keeping me right if I am being honest.
“Why would I not want to use that experience with everything he’s done in the game? But he will probably miss the rest of the season with an operation on his knee, so I’ve got someone else in, and found David.
“Assistant managers, coaches, you can label them whatever you want. But we just see them as the same. It was up to them on Saturday. They gave me the day off so I was quite happy.”
MacGregor started his career at Morton with Aitken and went on to make over 200 appearances for the Ton. He turned out for Stranraer, and Queen’s Park as his playing career ended.
The 40-year-old arrived at K-Park shortly after the extent of Durrant’s knee problem became apparent and Aitken arrived as manager.
He had previously coached Stranraer’s youth side and has proven a reliable sounding board for Aitken this season. MacGregor’s introduction was a necessary one.
Aitken added: “I know David from way back in the day when we came through at Morton together. I’ve known him for many years and through our journeys in football, we have crossed paths several times.
“When I needed to get an assistant manager in as I knew Ian couldn’t do every single training session for me because of his knee, David ticked all the boxes.
“He came in around five weeks after I became manager and when I knew what would be happening with Ian. I brought him in then.
“From the start, David came in to be my assistant and Ian is one of the other coaches.”
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