Stunned Glen in urgent move for McNeil successor

GLENURQUHART have called an extraordinary general meeting next Saturday to decide who will take over the management role of Drew McNeil, who shocked the club by quitting last week.

After two seasons in charge at Blairbeg Park, Scotland boss McNeil announced his decision to step down from his post as Glen manager at the Drumnadrochit club’s annual general meeting last Wednesday.

The news was a stunning blow to the Glen committee who felt that McNeil would continue in his role and build upon the recent successes achieved.

McNeil and his predecessor as national head coach, Fraser MacKenzie, took over the management role at Glenurquhart on a joint basis prior to the start of the 2012 season.

In their initial term in charge, they led the Drumnadrochit club to their first national senior honour, winning the MacAulay Cup in impressive style at Mossfield Park where they swept aside the challenge of Oban Camanachd 6-0.

In June, Glen narrowly missed out on lifting the MacTavish Cup for the first time when they lost out in a penalty shoot-out to local rivals Lovat in a final at the Bught Park in Inverness.

Prior to his involvement at Glenurquhart, McNeil enjoyed considerable success at Fort William where as a player he was captain when Fort won the Camanachd Cup for the first time in 1992.

His long-standing association with Fort was soured by an apparent fall-out with the club committee in 2010 which ended his period as manager after three Camanachd Cup triumphs.

McNeil’s two-year contract as Scotland head coach has just come to an end, however it is understood that he will indicate his desire to continue by submitting an application when the Camanachd Association advertise the post.

In August, MacKenzie resigned from his management role in protest at a four-match ban issued to him at a Camanachd Association disciplinary meeting for comments allegedly made to referee Graham Cameron at the end of a stormy Orion Premiership match against Kingussie.

In this match at The Dell, Glen’s Eddie Tembo and Ewan Brady were ordered off along with Kingussie’s Fraser Munro.

Also missing from Glen’s touchline team next season will be Gemma Docker, who has decided to relinquish her physio/trainer role.

* Striker Marc MacLachlan picked up Beauly Shinty Club’s player-of-the-year award whilst Scotland internationalist Conor Cormack received the players’ player-of-the-year honour.

Also recognised by the Braeview Park club was David "Murph" MacLean senior, a "well-kent" figure widely respected throughout the shinty world, who was presented with a lifetime achievement award.

Cameron MacKay, a coach and former player with the club was presented with the John MacKenzie unsung hero award.

* Goalkeeper Arran MacMaster is the recipient of Inverness Shinty Club’s player-of-the-year award, with veteran stalwart Clive Girvan taking the reserve team honour.

Defender Daniel Palombo’s contribution to the city club’s cause was acknowledged with a loyal service award.