Strathspey Thistle appoint new first team coach
Strathspey Thistle manager Ryan Esson has been joined by a familiar face in the dug-out at Seafield Park.
The Jags gaffer has said that Don Johnstone’s style complements his own and will be an experienced hand he can lean on.
Johnstone has been appointed as new first team coach while Aaron Doran will continue to assist Esson as well.
“I worked with Don for six years at U18s at Caley and he knows how I work and how I want to train and structure things,” said Esson.
“Aaron is a great help and he will still be here but hopefully he will be playing for us eventually once he is fit.
“I wanted to get a coach in and did not want to be chasing things once Aaron is fit.
“It is an addition I was wanting to make so I have got my background staff and I am happy with what I have.
“Don is another voice for the boys to go to.
“He brings a calmness with him and he is good at helping to select teams and making adjustments on the pitch.”
Johnstone will be in the dug-out with Esson for the visit of Clach in the preliminary round of the Highland League Cup on Saturday.
“It is a home tie and we want to be much tougher to play against at home,” said Esson.
Clach are much improved this season so far after tough seasons in recent years and currently lie in six place in the league.
Esson said: “Clach are in really good form - they are flying at the moment and picking up a lot of results.
“They have got new owners, a different structure and Connor in there now and onto his second season as manager.
“They are a good club for us to look at and to get a structure about us and a way of playing this season so that we can keep improving.
“We played well against them in the North of Scotland Cup and thought we should have got more goals than we actually did.”
Josh Race and James Lee Fraser both remain doubts whilst Aaron Nicolson has departed.
Esson said: “Aaron made a good impact at the club but he is committed to going to university in Edinburgh.
“We have signed Paul Brindle who has a good pedigree in the Highland League.
“He had a lot of years at Brora and has been at Clach and brings good experience.”
Brindle signed at the start of the week having played as a triallist in the club’s only win of the season so far against Lossiemouth.
And Esson revealed: “We are also making enquiries about a couple of number of players because of our injury list but I do not know how many we will be able to bring in - if any.
“We are working hard to get some deals done.”