Jamie Hamill Appointed Stranraer Boss

Jamie Hamill, who was appointed manager of Stranraer last night is delighted at the opportunity and has high hopes for his side for the forthcoming season.

Jamie has racked up over 350 club appearances in an impressive career where he spent time at Kilmarnock along with Hearts, Queen of the South and current club Stranraer. The former Scotland Under 21 player has played an important role in coaching at the club in the last few years however is now prepared to concentrate on his first job in management. Hamill discussed his excitement after being appointed the new boss at Stair Park and announced that he believes his boots must be hung up in order to give himself the best opportunity to succeed.

I am absolutely buzzing, obviously I have been non-stop with work from last week. The hard work started as soon as I was made aware that I was getting an interview. I’ve been so excited, it is a new challenge, a different challenge because I am going to be solely the manager so I think the boots will be hung up for the foreseeable so hopefully going forward things work out well and I can get Stranraer fighting back up into the playoff situation. Obviously, we are aware that there’s teams around about us who are going to be challenging at the top of the league but what is to say that if I get the right players in that we can’t challenge.

Hamill believes it would be unfair to play and concentrate on his new job as first team manager at the club at the same time and is keen to see the game from a different view in his new role. Daryll Duffy will join Jamie as Assistant Head Coach while Scott Robertson will join the new management staff as First Team Coach.

“I think it would be unfair on the players for me to be playing on a Saturday and still be trying to manage them so I think it’s one or the other for me and at the end of the day other players maybe feel you can do the two roles but for me its important that your solely the manager and your concentrating on different things at the side of the pitch. I think its important to see it from a different view on the side-line rather than being involved because sometimes you can get caught up in the game. Looking at my backroom staff as well having Daryll Duffy there as assistant and Scott Robertson being my first team coach, it will be good to have Daryll Duffy next to me with all his experience. I will be relying on Robbo as well to have an important input while he plays so I’ll be relying on the two of them because it’s going to be a cracking job to get. At the end of the day, it’s going to be 150% fully committal towards the task ahead.

The former Kilmarnock and Hearts midfielder is no stranger to Scottish football and with his experience hopes to help the team from the touchline next season. Jamie admits that his coaching staff will be vitally important in his tenure as Stranraer boss and is confident that he can fulfil both his and the club’s aspirations.

“If you look at the three of us there’s probably well over 1000 games played between us so I think we’ve worked under enough managers to see what we like or what we might have done or not done. I think having them two next to me (Daryll Duffy and Scott Robertson) will be vitally important going forward where we can bounce ideas off each other. At the end of the day, it’s between us three and the players so hopefully come the end of the season our aspirations will be fulfilled.”

“I’ll be fully committal to Stranraer, and I think on that as well I’d like to thank everyone at the club for giving me this massive opportunity. The likes of Shaun, Alex, Robert Wright, there is so many of them but just everybody on the board I really appreciate the opportunity and going forward as well it is a massive step up for myself getting into my first managerial role and I think everybody’s definitely behind me so it’s one I’m certainly looking forward too.

Everyone at Superior Sports wishes Jamie well in his new job.