Johnston no stranger to early assurance at Ibrox

Tuesday 18 September 2012

ALLAN JOHNSTON has been given pass marks but may feel that he has yet to be fully tested.

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Chris Tait

His time in charge of Queen of the South has been a steady accumulation of plaudits – most recently in the form of the Irn-Bru second division manager of the month award for August – his tenure as yet unblemished since taking over in May, towards the end of a season pockmarked by decline and relegation.

If the past few months have offered a chance to cut his teeth then Johnston now has the chance to sink them into the toughest challenge of his nascent coaching career. Even that has an element of fairytale about it; Queens contesting a Ramsdens Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox tonight. The fixture is oddly befitting given that Johnston's playing career was punctuated by a hat trick in the same stadium while still a raw talent at Hearts, and there seems little chance of the occasion overawing the inexperienced coach either.His calming influence will help foster confidence in a young Queens side which has proven capable of their own precocious moments, even if he will be confined to the touchline tonight. Johnston registered as a player this season but seeks only to bring his boots along in case of emergency, the veteran midfielder playing just 194 minutes so far this term. His decision has been justified by the success of his players; Queens scoring 10 goals in successive matches against sides considered their chief challengers for the second division title, while also easing past Hibernian in the Scottish Communities League Cup last month.Now 38, the temptation will be to have one last run out on a big stage, but only if he first proves himself on the training pitch. "You need to justify your place, it doesn't matter what age you are," said the Queens manager, who is unable to call upon Stephen McKenna and Paul Burns tonight. "A lot of the boys have never experienced going to Ibrox and playing in front of such a big crowd. I'm sure they'll handle it. Rangers have still got top players. But we have very good young players that are desperate to do well; they've got a lot of skill and it is a good game for them to see how good they are."Johnston is being thrust into the spotlight but he is unwilling to leave others in the shade. Praising players is a natural reaction for any coach, but his appreciation of their efforts is emboldened by the fact they were his team-mates not so long ago. There is also strong trust in his assistant, Sandy Clark, a relationship which was founded as Johnston rose to prominence at Tynecastle."The arrival of Sandy, that was a massive appointment," he said. "I'd worked with him when I was a young lad and knew the qualities he had. He is a good communicator and organiser, he is a perfect foil."There was a degree of trust from the Palmerston board, too. Johnston has been allowed to keep the squad in Glasgow despite murmurs that the club wanted the players to train locally and Queens have remained full-time despite relegation. That decision seemed like a gamble but it has paid off handsomely. It has allowed Johnston to reconstruct a team capable of pursuing success. The likes of Derek Lyle, Derek Young and Chris Higgins form an experienced spine to which younger limbs are attached; teenage striker Gavin Reilly scored twice in he win over Ayr United on Saturday to take his season's tally to seven and Kevin Holt growing increasingly assured at left-back. Both have become prominent but neither have played in more than 20 competitive games."The majority are between 19 and their early 20s and are all ambitious," Johnston said. "We know there is a long way to go and it has only been one month, but if they keep going the way they are then they could go anywhere."Their efforts have taken them to Ibrox. It is a stern examination in the early stages of their careers, and that of their manager.

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Johnston no stranger to early assurance at Ibrox

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