Steven Mackay excited for new era at Brora Rangers as former Ross County academy graduate attempts to restore Cattachs to top of Highland League table
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Steven Mackay says it is time for a new era at Brora Rangers as he looks to restore the Cattachs to the top of the Highland League.
The 42-year-old returned to Dudgeon Park as manager earlier this week, three years after stepping down from the role.
Though he will meet many familiar faces around the club, four of his former teammates and charges at Brora have retired – Joe Malin, Paul Brindle, Ally MacDonald and Dale Gillespie.
That will necessitate a fresh injection of players ahead of next season, but Mackay is conscious that demands will be as high as ever.
Highland League finishes of fourth, third and most recently sixth since Mackay left the club is a far cry from the title challenges he remembers.
However, he is adamant that Brora should be challenging at the top of the table again, and he knows that has to be the goal for the 2024/25 season.
“Brora is a club I have a long affiliation with having been here for nine years previously, and I had great success as both a player and a manager,” he said.
“I’m delighted to be back, and hopefully this is the start of a new era for the club where we can bring more success.
“I’m an ambitious individual, and I want to be successful no matter where it is I am. The board are very ambitious and want success, so I think the timing is perfect for both myself and David Hind, and the club.
“It’s important to note the contribution of the boys who have left the club. Their contribution to this football club has been profound over the years, and they have helped build the success we’ve had over the last 10 years.
“They will be a huge loss to the club, but we all know football moves on very quickly and there is an opportunity now to create a new era, with new success and new players to come into the club and hopefully follow the same path those four boys have.
“It’s close-season for the league, but it will be a busy few weeks for us planning for pre-season and figuring out what we want our squad to look like. There is a lot of work to be done, but it’s exciting times.
“This season is no different to any other at Brora Rangers – the expectations will always be high, and to challenge for the league title and cups.
“We don’t hide away from that, in my view this club needs to be challenging for the league title as a minimum, and the board are aligned with that. That’s the number one focus, to build a squad that will challenge for the Highland League and cups.”
Before returning to Brora, Mackay had been in charge at Highland League rivals Nairn County for the best part of two season.
He was full of praise for the working environment at Station Park, and after leading them to a first trophy in 11 years in last season’s North of Scotland Cup Mackay is happy with what he managed to achieve there.
“We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Nairn, and I like to think that we made a big difference in our two years there,” Mackay added.
“When we went into Nairn they were sitting second bottom of the Highland League with four points after eight games, so we knew there was a lot of work to be done, but I think the club has moved forward on the pitch.
“Off the pitch it’s a very well run club full of good people, and we really enjoyed our time there.
“We left on really good terms, and winning the North of Scotland Cup last season was a really good way to wrap that season up as it had been a long time coming for a lot of people who work within the club.
“That was a great day, and it will be one the players can look back on with real pride.
“I’m happy with how the last two seasons worked out, but now my focus is solely on Brora Rangers and trying to get this club back to challenging for league titles.”
