City should back - not sack - Jack
A VICTORIOUS Steve Paterson has urged Elgin City’s board not to sack manager Ross Jack but back him – with cash.
Fresh from masterminding Formartine United’s stunning 5-1 Ramsdens Cup success on Wednesday over the club he used to manage, ‘Pele’ had words of sympathy for the man in the opposing dug-out.
Paterson, a successful player boss at Borough Briggs almost 25 years ago who allegedly quit over a dispute about money, feels Jack needs the backing of a board willing to finance a march up the Scottish League rankings.
As Caley Thistle manager he led the Inverness outfit from Division 3 to the brink of SPL football, but recalled one year at Caley when he feared getting the sack after a dismal start to the season.
“I feel for Ross because he’s a good lad and he works hard at Elgin,” Paterson said.
“Here at Formartine I’ve got a good chairman and I work with a good budget which helps me get good players in here.
“He’s struggling with losing players to Nairn County. That’s a Scottish League club against a Highland League club; I think that tells a lot.
“He’s got a very hard job there.”
City’s embarrassing cup exit and a run of four straight defeats has sparked rumours that the club’s committee could make moves to replace Jack.
Paterson believes Jack deserves a chance to turn things round, and his club should get behind him with financial support to strengthen his squad.
“You’ve got to stick by the guy as a manager. Maybe 10 games in if you’ve lost 10 games it’s different.
“I do feel really sorry for Ross Jack because I felt he’s had a wee bit of a dodgy start, which I’ve experienced as a manager.
“Put it this way, I remember at Inverness Caley I lost the first seven games one season and the chairman at the time (David Sutherland) instead of putting pressure on me, took all the lads away to Dornoch for a golfing day, a night out with the boys.
“We came back after that and we went on a winning run.
“He showed support and that’s when you need your chairman to be strong and your committee to be strong. You stick by the guy.
“Even if you lose Saturday and the following Saturday, give it 10 games.
“Elgin losing two of their better players to the Highland League shows that Ross needs, if anything, investment, That’s what the club needs.
Paterson admitted Formartine got lucky on Wednesday, saying his team was under the cosh at 1-1 until Sean Crighton’s handball meant a penalty and red card which turned the tie the way of the Highland League men.
“I’m not being patronising to Elgin when I say we got all the luck that was going tonight. In cup-ties that is sometimes the difference.
