Jobs for the Bhoys

Former Celtic full-back McNamara took the over the role of manager of York City on November 14 and will get his first taste of league 2 action this Saturday when he faces off with Adams at Bootham Crescent. Derek knows Jackie, and his assistant, Simon, another old Bhoy, well from their times playing each other in the Scottish Premier League, and facing off in opposite dugouts, too. 

Derek said: “I know Jackie very well - and Simon Donnelly. They’ve obviously come up against us at Partick Thistle and Dundee United. The two of them are good lads and they’ll give them [York City] a good work ethic.

“It’s a good move for them to get down into England and I think they’ll enjoy it. They’ll enjoy, as I’ve said before, playing against different teams each week, home and away rather than the four games a season against the other teams.”

“Jackie likes his teams to go forward and they like to pass the ball, that’s what they’ve done at Dundee United and Partick Thistle. But, you don’t always get to play the style of play that you want too. He’ll probably be assessing his squad and seeing the style of play that’s going to best suit them.”

With York sitting in 22nd place in the table, Jackie and Simon will be looking to make an instant impact after a run of four losses in the league, Emirates FA Cup and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Derek said: “Jackie will get his own thoughts and team formation into them in the coming weeks. They’ve got their first home game [on Saturday] so we have to go there and attack and put them under pressure.”