Derek Wilson Zooms into role as new Bellshill Athletic manager

And that’s exactly what happened to newly appointed Bellshill Athletic gaffer Derek Wilson (43) – an ex-Bellshill player – who after Saturday’s grilling was named as replacement for Robert Sneddon who left Rockburn Park by mutual consent two weeks ago.

“It was a Zoom interview,” Wilson told the Times and Speaker. “We could see each other on phones so it wasn’t too bad.

“I heard there were 10 candidates in for it initially and it was whittled down to four interviewed on Saturday.

“I think what impressed the Bellshill committee men was when I talked about the fact that they believe in bringing youth through the door.

“I know they have a good under-20s team this year, it was under-19s last year. A few of these guys played in the senior team so their youth set-up must be pretty decent.

“I elaborated on that a wee bit. At this time there is not a lot of money in the game so you maybe need to rely on the youth coming through.

“Lucky enough their under-20s have moved to playing on a Friday night so I can go and catch their games (whenever football starts up again).

“I’m over the moon to get the job. I’m a local lad. I’m from Holytown so Bellshill’s right on my doorstep.

“I’ve got a good rapport with everybody at Bellshill, the committee, supporters.

“I was looking to get into this kind of job and the opportunity probably arose at the right time for me.

“It is a big job with all that’s happened to them with the stadium and the dressing rooms (extensively damaged by fire on Easter Sunday).

“It’s a clean start. We start from the beginning and try and build it back up again.

“I was still watching Bellshill and other games when I wasn’t doing anything in management.

“I still have the buzz for it and want to take a game of football on a Saturday. It’s in the blood.”

Wilson returns to management almost five months after being fired by Carluke Rovers, an outcome which prompted nine Rovers players to also quit John Cumming Stadium.

Wilson – who has his former Carluke assistant boss David Menelaws again at his side at Bellshill – revealed that he is hopeful of getting most of those nine players to join up at Rockburn Park.

He said: “Every one of them got clubs.

“I have a group chat with them every day and I’ll be striving to get all nine of them to Bellshill.

“These guys are getting money for playing where they are.

“They’d be coming to Bellshill virtually to play for nothing. It shows what kind of loyalty these boys have shown to me. I will try and reward them the best I can.”

Wilson said it would be “a clean slate” for the current Bellshill squad to be assessed by him and Menelaws.

Once the coronavirus restrictions are finally eased and football resumes, Bellshill will be taking their place in one of four new conferences as part of the West of Scotland Football League which will stand within tier six of the Scottish Football Pyramid.

Bellshill and another 62 West Region clubs have quit the junior league ranks to join the new set-up.