A Sad day for Scotland - National Coach John McKay Is Made Redundant By Amateur Boxing Scotland Because Of “Restructuring”

Friday December 22nd 2006 ,

It’s official. John McKay was made redundant today and his position of National Boxing Coach for Scotland has been “terminated by way of redundancy following restructure of the Company”. No further details are available - both parties are bound by a confidentiality clause in the termination agreement.

For many it will be seen as a sad day for Scottish boxing and there’s no doubt that Big John will be a hard act to follow. It will certainly be interesting to see what Amateur Boxing Scotland have in mind for taking boxing forward during 2007 and beyond.

There have been rumours that the former New Zealand coach would move on to coaching at Great Britain level, but this is not the case, at least not at the moment.

“No, I do not have an appointment with GB, and I have yet to decide to apply again,” John said when asked about the possibility of a role at Great Britain level. “For those that do not know, the GB system is now the only way forward for Olympic Games selection. One can still qualify through his own country, but to do that would be extraordinarily unusual these days as the grants given to boxers are through UK Sport / GB Boxing rather than through SportScotland.

“SportScotland may come to the party a year prior to the Commonwealth Games for that specific squad, but that is it. Boxers like Steve and Fundo will be required to attend Sheffield training four days a week EVERY week - that’s the commitment. Nothing less. Jason and Rocky , four days a week TWICE a month. They will box for Scotland through the Great Britain programme. I believe it to be the way forward for successful Olympic selection and medal status. The commitment will be like nothing before.

“Congratulations to Steve, Fundo Mhura, Jason Hastie and Rocky Wright for making the Great Britain Squad. It was very hard luck that Kris and Ryan missed out but they can still make the grade in the next few months with more work and competition as it is performance based and these two have been performing very very well.”

John was also very appreciative of the level of support he has received during the past few months, when news that he was to be made redundant broke.

“I have been staggered by the number of personal phone calls, text messages and emails I have received over the past few months and I would like to thank the many boxers, coaches and others that have continued to voice their support not only on the Scottish Boxing website but in letters and meetings over the past few months. For that I humbly thank you all.

“As for the boxers - Kenny, Craig, Mitch, Stevie, Fundo, Kris, Jason, Johnathon T, Rockie, Ryan, Gary McC, Tiff, Connor McC.,the Finney boys, Shorty, ‘Sugar’ Cain and the many others that I have worked with - thanks for your concern and support - it has been a privilege working with you all as you have done me proud.

In the main, my time working with the Scottish boys has been a very positive experience. The number of ‘thank you’ letters and gifts I have received has been overwhelming - such that Malwhinney’s Highland Distillery is a novice compared to what I have received from you all!

“I also want to personally thank my Coaches that have worked with me over the last four years. Thanks for your commitment - Steve Newns 110%, but also Mike Keane and my wee mate Tony Kerr - these three I have singled out because their continued support and commitment. Not that the others have not been committed - it has often been hard to get the time off work. Thanks to Frank, Laurie, Danny, Ray G, and Bertie. All have done a good job and it has been a pleasure.”

“Again thanks to all who have supported me, and to those who didn’t, thanks anyway. I will follow with interest the progress or otherwise of Scottish Boxing wherever I may be.”

Before the Championships I had not met John in person, and obviously not realising the size of the man, I had the task of asking if it would be possible to come along to see the boxers preparing for the Championships as well as covering them on a day to day basis. Given what had been said on the forum, he could have very easily have said no. Lesser men certainly would have done. As you will know this isn’t an official website, merely a labour of love to promote Scottish boxing. And in the normal scheme of things, we get no support from ABS so it wouldn’t have come as a surprise to me if he had said no.

But it shows the character of the man that he not only invited me along to the Palace Of Arts to see the squad train, throughout the Championships both John and Stevie Newns always made time to talk to me about how things were going and how the boxers were performing. And that support has continued to this day.

Some people say only a Scotsman should be the coach of one of our national sports, and I was one of those people until I met John McKay. At the end of the Championships, when Stevie Simmons looked like he had done enough to win a gold medal but was on the rostrum collecting a silver medal, John McKay was in tears - such was the pride he felt in the boxers wearing the Scottish vest and as national coach of Scotland.

Not many people will have seen that. Certainly not those who had already rushed off to have their photo taken alongside the political bigwig who turned up on the last day of the Championships for a photo opportunity.

I saw it and it made me realise the passion, commitment and desire that John McKay brought to the role of national coach. He wanted us to succeed as much as any of us and let’s hope we don’t rue the day that he wasn’t given a further two years to finish the job that he had come to Scotland to do.

I won’t pretend to know all the ins and outs of what goes on in Scottish boxing - I’m little more than an interested spectator with a son who boxes. But I do know this. John McKay put his heart and soul into the role of Scottish National Coach and with considerable success too, particularly considering the size of our nation. And a lot of what John has done will stand us in good stead for the coming years too.

Many many thanks John and all the best for the future.

George Marshall