Who wants to be here? New Rothes Football Club manager Richard Hastings looks to raise Speyside spirits but will only work with players who are committed to the Mackessack Park club
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It’s been a tough baptism of fire for new Rothes manager Richard Hastings, but “positive shoots” have given the former Caley Thistle defender scope for optimism.
Appointed as Ross Jack’s successor last week, the 46-year-old ex-Inverurie boss said he hadn’t even met his squad when he took charge for the first time in last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to title chasers Buckie Thistle.
Four second half goals consigned Rothes to a 4-0 loss at second-placed Banks O’ Dee on Wednesday night, with Hastings aiming to get off the mark when his team plays host to Moray neighbours Keith tomorrow.
“It was two tough games to start off with in quick succession but I am looking forward to my first home game on Saturday,” he said.
“We will be aiming to put right a few wrongs. There’s positive shoots that we have seen and we want to build and get the boys lifted.”
Former Caley Thistle and Ross County favourite Hastings will assess the Speysiders' squad between now and the end of the season to see who is committed to helping him bring progress to the club.
"Coming in at this stage of the season gives me a chance to assess the squad in these remaining games and weeks," he said.
"It is up to the boys to prove themselves and I’ll see what character we have in the changing room, what players we have in terms of going forward and who wants to be a part of it and who is capable of being a part of it.
"That will be key, to assess that over the remainder of the season."
Hastings has identified areas to work on after his first two matches at the helm.
Rothes led Buckie in Banff through a Gary Kerr goal before Josh Peters’ treble turned things round. And the Speysiders were goalless in Aberdeen in midweek before being overpowered.
"The Buckie game was the first time I had seen the boys because we didn’t even get a training session.
"There’s some positives but also things to work on. You can’t address everything in one go but you have to try and put the foundations in and start building and progressing from there.
Hastings has sensed a downbeat vibe in the camp after these two defeats but has seen some encouraging aspects. “They are kind of beating themselves up pretty quickly, but in both games they have come in at half time drawing.
“Yes, we ended up losing but it can come down to fine margins sometimes, and there’s things we can build on for sure.”
The new boss has worked with the likes of Aidan Wilson, Ben Johnstone, Ben Williamson and Greg Morrison during his time coaching at Inverness and County, two clubs he played for in an illustrious career which encompassed 59 international caps for Canada.
Striker Wilson had been placed on the transfer list at Rothes and had been speaking to other Highland League clubs, but has continued to train and play for the Speysiders in the meantime.
"I know Aidan and he falls into the same category as everyone else," said Hastings.
"Are you motivated, are you the right character, everything like that. As much as I’ve worked with him in the past he’s no different to anyone else.
"I want to see who wants to be on board and I am still assessing that with all of the squad. There will be no favouritism because at the end of the day my job is on the line.
"Knowing someone’s game or what they are capable of certainly helps but I still need to know where they are at.
"It is good that Aidan has contributed since I came in and I am optimistic about this squad. I am not looking to come in and push anyone out of the door, aimlessly.
"In a perfect world you would keep everyone and look to improve things but in reality it doesn’t work with that."
Things didn't work out for Hastings in his last managerial job at Inverurie, but he has a desire to succeed at Rothes and feels that is matched by the club's board of directors.
"I had finished at Inverurie and was taking stock of everything. Obviously I wanted to continue a career in football management so I waited to see what opportunities arose.
"The Rothes one came up and interested me. I knew some of the players there and Rothes have had some success in recent times and they are a good stature of club.
"It’s important that there is ambition at the club. When you sit down and speak with the chairman (Iain Paul), he shows his ambition alongside my own and they marry up.
"So now it’s a case of getting going, building things up and seeing where it takes you.
"It’s exciting times when you have that and it's a case of seeing what we have, what we need and trying our best to progress the squad to a point where you can realistically bring success."
