Chairman’s Legacy will be huge
Tuesday, 30th Nov 2021JH - “Ross really has that bit between his teeth for that academy, making sure that when he does resign, it’s a great legacy he has left behind.”
John Hughes has this week lamented Ross McArthur’s decision to stand down from his position as chairman of Dunfermline Athletic FC. Not only could he do with Ross’ help in shaping his squad, the manager also expressed disappointment at losing someone who clearly has a great vision for the Dunfermline Athletic Football Academy.
In November the club concluded an agreement to take control of the former Civil Service Sports Council Grounds at Rosyth, which will be site for the club’s new Training Ground.
The aim is to have the site operational, in some form or another for the first team for pre-season training in June 2022. Once the facility is fully developed it will bring together the first team, the club’s newly formed Youth Academy as well as the Pars Foundation all on one site. The club wants to unlock to the full community the potential of the site, as soon as is practical and affordable.
Hughes claimed that although having just recently got to know the chairman, the passion for the club that Ross McArthur holds is going to be one of the biggest of losses to the club:-
“He is absolutely outstanding - and you can still see the twinkle in his eye. He is really upset by everything that happened and, as supporters, we have to be better than that. We need to conduct ourselves in a proper manner. What he has done for this football club is astonishing.”
The manager has witnessed at first hand the chairman’s enthusiasm for the Football Academy project when he revealed the plans for the facility:-
“You can see the passion. It’s there. I was trying to twist his arm to stay, saying ‘come on Chairman, I could do with you helping me!’
“Ross being Ross, he said, ‘listen, why don’t we get all the staff together?’ In case the plans need to change or we need some other input. So, he has called a meeting of every member of staff. That’s what good leaders do. Listen to everyone, from the kit-man right through, maybe you’ll get that little bit of input that makes it better.”
When fully complete, the facility will be transformational for the club and have on the one site - Two full size grass pitches, Warm up and Goalkeeper areas, a 3G Astro pitch with fencing and floodlights, a Strength & Conditioning Gym, an Education and Analysis auditorium, Changing rooms and showers for first team, Changing rooms and showers for Academy/Pars Foundation, Offices, meeting rooms, Kit room, laundry and boot room, Indoor Sports Hall, Kitchen, Eating and rest area. The gaffer continued:-
“I’ve got a sneaky feeling that Ross really has that bit between his teeth for that academy down there, making sure that when he does resign, it’s a great legacy he has left behind.”
That legacy will hopefully create a real identity for Dunfermline Athletic and Pars Foundation brand in the local community of Rosyth and West Fife.
In recent years the club has attempted to develop young players, but to do this you need better coaching and the best facilities. Ross himself has said to this adventurous project:-
“I genuinely believe having this facility is a game changer for DAFC, and only the funding from DAFC Fussball GmbH allows us to do this.”
Not willing to let go of the important support of his chairman, Hughes added with one of his laughs:-
“In the meantime, he’s not being left idle. If I’m here ducking and diving for players then he’s going to help me!”
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