Thurso manager ‘not fixated on results at the moment’
Thurso manager Tom McKenna insists he is “not fixated on results at the moment”, as he is focusing mainly on getting a settled squad and building up performance levels.
The Vikings remain third from bottom of the North Caledonian League, with six points from 11 games, after being edged out 3-2 by Fort William at the Dammies last weekend.
McKenna was appointed in the summer after Thurso had ended up second bottom in each of the previous two seasons.
“I thank the players all the time for their commitment regarding training and everything,” McKenna said. “I can’t ask much more from them.
“I don’t know if I’ll get criticised for this, but I am not fixated on results at the moment.
“I know that ultimately results are the be-all and end-all. For me, my focus at the moment is trying to get a settled group of lads who are wanting to play for Thurso and can stabilise the club.
“Thereafter I’m more focused on the performances of individuals and the performances of the team as a whole, trying to recognise the strengths and weaknesses and making assessments on how we can move forward.
“I know that if we get performances, that will hopefully help to turn results round. I’m being totally honest – I am not at this moment fixated with results whatsoever.
“My two focuses are getting a settled team and getting the performances. If we can get those right then with a wee bit of hard work the results will come.
“People say, ‘How did you get on at the weekend?’ I don’t even look at the league table.
“I take each game as it comes, who we’re up against. I’m here to try and develop the young lads we’ve got and add a wee bit of knowledge to the experienced players.
“Don’t get me wrong, we all want to win football games. I’m just as competitive as the next coach or player or manager.
“I want to help the guys’ development and help them to enjoy their football.
“I’ll come away from each game and have a wee think about how we can improve individually and collectively, and try to highlight that with the lads. That’s where I am at the moment.”
In Saturday’s game, Liam Bain headed the Vikings in front from close range just before the half-hour mark. Liam Martin equalised after 39 minutes and Martin Munro put Fort ahead a minute before the break.
Kian Mackay made it 2-2 on 65 minutes when he fired in his first goal for the Vikings. However, Munro struck again with three minutes of the 90 remaining.
McKenna said: “I was disappointed when we went 2-1 down. I thought there wasn’t much between the teams.
“In the second half we were pushing forward for an equaliser, then we probably overcommitted to try and get a winner. They caught us on the counter-attack and ended up winning the game 3-2.”
The weekend Thurso are away to sixth-placed Alness United.
“They started off well,” McKenna said. “They had some decent results at the beginning of the season.
“Looking at the position they’re in, it’ll be another tough game for us – we don’t expect anything less than that.
“All we can do is just keep working away and see what develops from that.”
North Caledonian League results: Bonar Bridge 3, Clachnacuddin “A” 1; Bunillidh Thistle 0, Halkirk United 6; Golspie Sutherland 2, Orkney 0; Inverness Athletic 1, Invergordon 3; St Duthus 1, Alness United 1; Thurso 2, Fort William 3.
North Caledonian League fixtures for Saturday, November 16: Alness United v Thurso (1pm); Clachnacuddin “A” v Golspie Sutherland; Fort William v Halkirk United (1pm); Invergordon v St Duthus; Inverness Athletic v Bonar Bridge; Orkney v Bunillidh Thistle.
