Brora Rangers are way off being a League Two outfit, says manager Steven Mackay
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BRORA Rangers manager Steven Mackay says he knows changes are required to his squad to make them good enough for promotion to League Two.
The crestfallen boss says they are nowhere near the standard required to make the step up after being thrashed 6–1 on aggregate in the League Two play-off semi final against Lowland League champions Kelty Hearts.
The Fifers deservedly progressed to the final after comfortable victories in both legs against Brora.
Mackay says despite believing Brora were good enough to go up, he says the play-offs made him realise that new additions to the squad are required due to results this season.
“I have learned a lot in a bad way, but it is a reality check for me,” he said.
“I have been talking about how strong the squad were and how we can play at a higher level and how we are a Scottish league side. But on the last two performances, even the Stranraer game, I think we are personally well short.
“You have to take from these situations and learn from them and sometimes its setbacks like this that help you move forward.
“We will take time to reflect and look at the squad, we know the areas we have to strengthen in, but I didn’t realise how far off we were.
“Sometimes you can get freak results and don’t perform well.
“But we have had games against Stranraer and twice against Kelty where we’ve not performed well or have laid a glove on the opposition.”
Trailing 2–0 from the first leg at Dudgeon Park, Greg Morrison gave Brora the lead in the second leg midway through the first half to reduce the deficit to one.
But a hat-trick from Nathan Austin and injury time goal from Dylan Easton gave Kelty a 4–1 victory to set up a play-off final against Brechin City.
Mackay was furious with Brora’s second half display.
“If you are going to lose a football match you go down fighting, but we didn’t, we just downed tools and I said to the players it was embarrassing.
“It was an embarrassing second half performance. “We talk about the club going to play at a higher level, but with performances like that we are nowhere near it.”
