Gary McCutcheon open to managerial return in Irish League ‘for right job’

The former Irish League striker is into his third season at the helm of Stranraer Reserves, who he led to the South of Scotland Football League title in his first campaign and they currently sit seven points clear at the top this time around.

He also guided the side to a League Cup crown earlier this year with a 3-2 victory over Threave Rovers and although “nothing compares to playing”, the thrill of management has somewhat helped fill the competitive void left by retirement.

“I think very few players when they are in their twenties think about the coaching side of the game because you are so involved in trying to be the best you can be when you’re playing,” he said.

“When you come into your thirties and know you don’t have too many years left – for someone like myself, I love the game.

“I played with a lot of guys who played the game but they could take it or leave it.

“I love it and still love going out to train on a Tuesday and Thursday and the games on a Saturday.

“Nothing compares to playing and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish I was back doing what I love the most, but coaching is great too,” added McCutcheon.

“When it came to thinking what I wanted to do next, I came into coach the youth at Stranraer and I’ve worked my way through the youth levels up to the reserves.”

Although he had hung his boots up following a second spell with Ballymena United in 2015, McCutcheon made a brief return last season with his squad suffering from injury and lack of form.

The 42-year-old proved he still has it by scoring a late winning free-kick in the League Cup decider but he resisted the temptation to continue playing and is now firmly back in the dugout.

“In the first year I tried to stay out of it, but there came a point last season where we picked up a few injuries to key players so I put the boots back on for a couple of weeks,” he added.

“My team-mate Allan Jenkins (who played in the Irish League for Ballymena) is also here and it’s nice to have an experienced head on the pitch that the boys can learn from.

“I had to play a couple of games because of injuries and some boys lost their form.

“It was nice to play again but my time is unfortunately gone and it’s time for me to step aside and leave the path clear for the younger ones. It was certainly great to get the boots back on.”

McCutcheon played under a number of successful managers during his career and he has tried to combine things that he has learnt from them with his own coaching philosophy in his current role.

“You get a bit more respect for the managers you’ve had over the years because it’s tough.

“You don’t realise when you’re a player and you’re totally oblivious to what it takes to get a team on the pitch and get players.

“I speak to the Stranraer manager a lot because I played with him years ago so I have a good contact there.

“My assistant manager has been in the leagues for years so I bounce off him.

“I played under some great managers over the years and you take a bit from them all.

“Everyone was different but you try and take things from each and then work it into how you want to do things.

“That’s what I do and I have been successful enough so far so we must be doing something right!”

McCutcheon netted 205 goals in 431 appearances for Portadown, Larne, Ballymena and Crusaders and was named the 2011/12 Ulster Footballer of the Year.

He first graced the league in 2000 during a loan period at Shamrock Park from Kilmarnock and knew it would be a place where he ended up playing again, which he did five years later.

“I always felt that I would go back,” he said. “You never know what your next move is in football because one week you’re winning and on cloud nine and the next you losing and at rock bottom.

“You just never know but I knew that when I left it was certainly somewhere I would like to come back to. Fortunately the opportunity did come for me and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

“I always believed in myself that I could score goals anywhere I went. I was fortunate enough to play with some good sides too.

“There are always good goalscorers about but sometimes you’re only as good as the players that are around you. I was fortunate to play with some great players.

“Sometimes the Irish League doesn’t get the credit that it deserves.

“There are some good players and teams there and the games are competitive. The style suited me and I loved every minute of it.”

With his growing reputation as a manager and a desire to “be at the highest level I can reach”, the right job in Northern Ireland could tempt McCutcheon back.

He is currently working towards his UEFA A Licence and still keeps an eye on what is happening in his old stomping ground.

“You never say never,” he admitted.

“The way I look at it, you can say you want to do this and that but the opportunity has to come in front of you and then you’ve to evaluate if it’s the right job and right time.

“I would be welcome to any consideration if it was the right time.

“When you look at the Irish League, it’s different to even what I left five years ago.

“Some teams are coming into a full-time set-up so it certainly looks like an exciting place to be.”