New Ardeer Thistle supremo sets out bold and exciting vision for club's future

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Ardeer Thistle’s new supremo has a five year plan to take the club to the West of Scotland League Premier Division.Businessman and former Junior footballer Hugh Clarke took the reins at the Stevenston club last week and immediately set out a bold and exciting vision for the future.Promotions, ground redevelopment, the pursuit of a SFA club licence and winning the hearts and minds of the local community top an impressive list of ambitions Clarke hopes to realise in the next few years.He aims to combine and maximise his business and football know-how to take Ardeer to new heights.

And one look at his CV is certainly cause for optimism for Thistle fans.The 55-year-old is the Chief Executive of Clarke ePOS UK Ltd, current sponsors and partners at St Mirren, Livingston and Motherwell, WoSFL side Glenafton and the Lowland League.He’s spent the last few years in boardrooms up and down Scotland and believes combining that with experience he gained on the pitch as a player at Annbank, Whitletts and Glenafton in the 1980s and 90s, will stand him in good stead for the challenges that lie ahead.He said: “I’ve been involved in football one way or another my whole life.“I’ve always had a passion to get involved with a club and the opportunity to come into Ardeer comes at the right time.“First and foremost my job here is to get the club living within its means.

The committee have done a fantastic job in keeping the club going in recent years but it’s been a hand to mouth existence.“The club has to run like a business and I’ll be looking at bringing in a commercial manager to boost income streams.

If you get that right you don’t have to worry so much.“I’m coming here with a five year plan. It’s not going to be about splashing the cash