Whitletts Vics aim to be flying high on and off the park

Jul 16 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

LAID back Whitletts Vics will hit the training ground later than any other junior team.

And they will play only TWO warm-up games while other clubs are taking on half a dozen.

But boss Jim Geddes insists Ayr’s only junior football club are flying – on and off the park.

Last season, Vics defied the pundits to finish tenth in their first ever stint in the Super First Division and beat relegation.

Written off before a ball was kicked, battling Whitletts were the league’s surprise packets as they dug deep to beat the odds.

Now Geddes says Vics are determined to build on their fledgling success.

He said: “Off the park, things have never been better and we don’t have a penny of debt. We only spend what we bring in.

“A really strong committee are working hard and we have lots of people helping with our programme. The Red Stone Inn have come aboard to sponsor us while Pro Soccer are continuing their backing from last season.

“Colin McTrusty has joined us with a host of commercial ideas and will also help with the coaching.

“When we clinched promotion, there were people who were saying we wouldn’t win a game.

“Staying in the First Division was a fantastic achievement but it was the players who did it.”

Geddes admits he is flying in the face of other teams with his build-up to the big kick-off.

Whitletts only return to training on Saturday while other clubs have been back since the start of the month.

And they will play only two practice matches –- away to Scottish Cupfinalists Largs on Wednesday, July 28 and a home game against opposition still to be announced.

Geddes said: “We will use the Ardagh Cup as our preparation games as I don’t believe in a lot of friendlies. Two or three weeks training is more than enough.

“I know other clubs have gone back far earlier but that’s not my style.”

Whitletts have re-signed the bulk of last season’s squad with only a couple of fringe players moving on.

Experienced midfielder Darren McMahon has joined from Glenafton while striker Martin Divers has been recruited from the Glasgow amateur leagues.

And two more new faces are set to join in the next week.