Queen's Park's new coach
Brannigan's career has taken many twists and turns, but it all began for him at Hampden: well, in fact Broomfield, if you're talking about senior debut. That was on 22nd January, 1983, and his career as a player will soon pass the 20 year mark. He spent 3 and a half seasons as a first team regular with Queen's, making 126 competitive starts, allied to 8 sub appearances, and scoring 8 goals. At the end of the season, as has happened to so many Queen's Park players, his free agent status led to a club coming in for him: namely Sheffield Wednesday. Potentially a great move for a player who was just 20 ( he had made his debut for Queen's aged only 17 ) it didn't really work out for him down south. ( Wednesday were actually a top-flight club at the time - a sign of just how pivotal a player he had been for Queen's ).
Since the day he left Hampden, Kenny's career could be best described as nomadic. A total of 14 clubs have called upon his services- here is the full list: Queen's Park, Sheffield Wednesday, Stockport County, Kilmarnock, Falkirk, Stranraer, Queen of the South, East Stirlingshire, Berwick Rangers, Stenhousemuir, Clydebank, Partick Thistle, Clydebank once more, Stirling Albion, Airdrie United, and now back at Queen's Park. You could say he has returned home.
Kenny's most recent appearance against Queen's Park was for Stirling Albion at Hampden on 6 April last year. Earlier in the season at Forthbank, he had hardly endeared himself to the travelling support with the odd dirty piece of play, and really he was fortunate to remain on the park. This should not detract from the backing he will receive from the majority of Queen's Park supporters. Most recently, he has been a fixture in the Airdrie United team, playing his final game for them against Threave Rovers on Tuesday night. His spell as coaching at that club represents his only non-playing experience, though he would have been appointed the new manager of Clydebank in the summer if that club's troubles had passed.
Kenny has spoken of possibly introducing new players to the club, and had discussions with the commitee about this after agreeing to take the job. He is also keen to bring in his own assistant, possibly his first coach in senior football, Mr. Edward Hunter, the former long-serving Queen's player and manager. This would probably not be a totally popular move, but in any case remains speculation. As far as the team goes, not too much strengthening is required, as there are quite a few talented players who must show their ability to play as a team on a more consistent basis. Sure, bring in players of reasonable experience, but not those who are probably past their best - those youngsters not currently playing are more worthy of a chance.
The Queen's Park committee have been criticised for their handling of the task of selecting a new manager, mainly for failing to get Iain Munro despite his seeming certain to take over, and for supposed leaks to the press. Time will tell if they have chosen the right man in Brannigan, but he couldn't have picked a more winnable first game in charge: East Stirling at home, Saturday 18 January.