Rose won’t rush to replace Dave Baikie

Dec 1 2011 by Kieran Westbrook, West Lothian Courier

LINLITHGOW ROSE secretary Jim Harkins is adamant the club won’t be rushed into finding a replacement for Dave Baikie.

The club has had applications flooding in for the vacant managerial post since Baikie was axed in the wake of a 3-1 defeat to Bonnyrigg 12 days ago.

But Harkins has ruled out any quick decision on filling one of the tops in Junior football.

He told the Courier: “The standard of applicants have been high and we are looking over them now.

“They are a mixture of people who have been involved in the senior game and others with a background in Junior football.

“We will be interviewing soon and one of the big things we will be eager to hear is their long-term plans.

“We don’t want to hire someone and find ourselves in this position again soon, so we won’t be rushing to appoint anyone.

“It could be two or three weeks before we have a new manager in place as it’s important we make the right decision.”

Whoever comes in to replace Baikie will know expectations are high, especially as they must match a predecessor who brought six trophies to Prestonfield Park in two-and-a-half years.

Among the accolades was the coveted Junior Scottish Cup.

Baikie last week blamed his side’s early exit from that competition for his surprise dismissal.

While Rose’s board chew over their options, player/coach Mark Bradley will take control of the team during training and matches.

His first test in the temporary hotseat will be steer Rose to a win against St Andrews United.

The match gives Linlithgow the chance to go third and leapfrog West Lothian rivals Bathgate, who are at home to relegation-threatened Carnoustie Panmure.

Both West Lothian Premierleague sides are in Scottish Junior Cup action this weekend, but there are some massive South Division clashes on the fixture lists.

In-form Blackburn take on joint-top Tranent at Murrayfield Park and have a chance to cut the distance between the sides to just a single point, with the visitors holding two games in hand.

Meanwhile there are all-West Lothian clashes between Stoneyburn and Pumpherston and Livingston United and West Calder.

Fauldhouse United and Harthill Royal will also face each other.