Now I Can Rule With Irons Fist

Feb 24 2008 By Euan Mclean

DAVIE IRONS' desire to prove himself as a boss drove him to Morton after two frustrating years running Gretna with one hand tied behind his back.

The new Cappielow gaffer is delighted to finally have full control over teamaffairs after the SPL strugglers gave him no say on buying and selling players.

Irons admits director of football Mick Wadsworth ditching 14 players in January and replacing them with kids on loan deals was a major factor in his decision to leave.

He fears the cost-cutting policy that has slashedGretna's squad over the last two years showed a lack of ambition that never gave them much hope of staying in the top flight.

And although he regrets the timing of his departure, while owner Brooks Mileson was lying seriously ill in hospital, he admits the chance was irresistible.

Irons said: "I can look back and wish I had been a bit stronger sometimes in having my say about transfers but ultimately that influenced my decision to be my own man.

"So now I can say I want this player or not. Call it naive but I believe part of a manager's job is to do that and I'm looking forward to it.

"At Gretna we had chief scout Ray Farningham going all over the country looking at players but the ones coming in didn't always reflect the ones we'd watched and wanted.

"Wadsworth is a strong character who seems able to get his way and we had disagreements - but that's sometimes healthy.

"He didn't want a nodding dog and I wasn't going to be one.

"We had our moments but ultimately we had a working relationship that would be judged by results.

"I always had final say on picking the team, it was just not having input in adding or removing players from the squad I found frustrating.

"What you've seen at Gretna since last March is a massive turnaround and I didn't agree with all the changes.

"Brooks made it clear there was a necessity to reduce the wage bill and I understood that.

"But we were going into the SPL where I felt we needed more experience and that wasn't forthcoming.

"The guys we recruited, no disrespect to them, are all good lads and potentially there are some top players but we left ourselves short compared to the experience other teams had.

"Now I'm looking forward to having the overall responsibility of running a club.

"I'm not saying I'm going to be right all the time but I've had a good grounding in my six years at Gretna."

Irons has swapped a SPL dogfight for a similar scrap in the First Division with Morton toiling, particularly at home.

He has been on the receiving end of the battling spirit at his new side after they knocked Gretna out of the Scottish Cup last month.

And it's that same attitude - that saw Ton claw back from 2-0 down to earn a replay they won 3-0 - that Irons believes can drive the Greenock outfit to safety.

He said: "In the first game at Cappielow we were comfortable at 2-0 then took our foot off the gas but credit to Morton - and this impressed me about them - they never gave in.

"They were on a wee bit of a slump and I thought they'd chuck it at 2-0 but they could have won with the pressure they put Gretna under at the end and I was relieved to draw.

"There was nothing in the replay until Morton scored but they got a lift from the goal and ran out convincing winners.

"They're a team with a lot of pace and are so determined.

"This is definitely a different type of challenge although it's one relegation fight to potentially another.

"But it's one I can meet head-on, be my own man and hopefully find a bit of success with Morton."