Results 2008-9

ALAN (WINDY) MILLER, Manager of Bonnyrigg Rose

Alan says on getting the Bonnyrigg job

NEW Bonnyrigg Rose boss Alan Miller insisted today that Pat Glynn will be a tough act to follow at New Dundas Park – but vowed to give it his best shot.

Miller, a former Bonnyrigg captain, enjoyed a glittering spell as a player with Rose winning five trophies in four years , including the club's last league championship, and he's determined to do his best to bring back those glory days.
However, Miller is under no illusions as to the size of the task ahead of him or the difficulty he'll have in following in the footsteps of one of the junior game's longest-serving managers.
But he's promising Rose fans, who had their first season without a trophy for a number of years last term, that he'll give it his all.
"Being manager of Bonnyrigg Rose is a major job but it's one that I really can't wait to get started on," said Miller.
"I've been at the club as a player so I know there is far more expectation than there was at Edinburgh.
"Pat Glynn is going to be a tough act to follow as the man was there for 12 years and he did a fantastic job during that time. He's very well respected at the club and he should be rewarded for what he achieved."
An impressive late season revival saw Bonnyrigg achieve a respectable finish and while Miller didn't want to be drawn on whether his side could win the division in his first season in charge he admitted he hoped to be there or thereabouts.
"First and foremost we need to start better than last season because they put themselves under pressure," he said. "I'm not going to be saying things like 'we hope to win it' but I would want the club to challenge. We will certainly be hoping to challenge and a club like Bonnyrigg should be challenging. If we aren't then it will be a disappointing season.
"The Super League is a really competitive league and I'm looking forward to working with that standard of player. I know some of the players but it will take a few weeks to settle in and then we'll look to kick on."
While Miller is excited at landing one of the biggest jobs in East Region junior football, he conceded that it was still a hard decision to sever ties with Edinburgh United.
The Paties Road outfit have made all sorts of improvements off the pitch over the last couple of seasons and Miller predicted a bright future for the Capital's only junior side.
"I want to thank Edinburgh United for what was a fantastic four and a half years," he said.
"During that time the infrastructure of that club has improved significantly and I don't think it's very far away from seeing the results of that improvement.
"The opportunity to manage Bonnyrigg doesn't come along very often – it's not been vacant for 12 years – and, as an ex-player, if I had turned it down I would have regretted it. I just had to go."