3 minute read
Morgyn Neill Feature
MORGYN NEILL
Football has a habit of throwing up unusual and unexpected twists, and it would be fair to say that is exactly what has happened to Morgyn Neill over the past couple of weeks.
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Having spent most of the season on the bench, “My face just didn’t fit with the previous manager,” the big central defender suddenly found his life and career turned upside down with the reappointment of Paul Hartley.
Morgyn was on his way out of the club. In fact, he was sitting in the car park at Alloa Athletic’s Indodrill Stadium when the call came through to tell him the loan deal was off, and that his old gaffer wanted to keep him at Cove.
In his mind, Morgyn was already an Alloa player, but the moment he had that conversation, he knew what he wanted; to stay at Balmoral Stadium.
The Clackmannanshire club were understanding, as was their boss, Brian Rice, and once the deal had been scrapped, Neill was back in the fold:
“I never wanted to leave, everyone knows what this club means to me, and all I wanted was to be given the chance. I was never going to be in Jim McIntyre’s plans, and as a player, all you can do under those circumstances is to keep your head down, and keep working hard.
“That’s exactly what I did. I got on the minibus every Tuesday and Thursday; I never missed a training session, and I was doing extra work every Sunday with my Dad. Was it frustrating that I never got the chance to play? Of course it was, but I was there rooting for the boys every game, standing by the dugout trying to encourage them.
“I always still felt part of the squad, we’ve got a brilliant team spirit here, but I was never going to get the chance to play, and that’s why I eventually agreed to the loan.”
Morgyn had flourished during Paul Hartley’s first spell in charge and was a near ever-present during the highly successful League One title-winning campaign. He was named in the official Team of the Year, and also picked up multiple individual awards.
Having played a major role in getting Cove Rangers up to the Championship, he was relishing the opportunity to help consolidate the club in the second tier, and while that chance was delayed, he now hopes to make the most of it.
Morgyn’s return to the side has brought highly contrasting emotions with the six-goal thumping at the hands of Queen’s Park followed by his dramatic late equaliser against Raith. He is back in
the side, and the manager says it is up to him to keep his place:
“I thought he had a good game last Saturday, even apart from his goal. He’s always likely to score, he popped up with a few for us last season, and he can be an important player. Obviously, I know him pretty well, I’ve put him back in and he knows what I want from him. He’s a wholehearted player and he’s got plenty to offer.
“He’s a good team-mate, a good lad, and he’s so committed to playing here.”
That was evident after the defeat to Queen’s. Still shellshocked, Morgyn nevertheless performed his man of the match duties in the Hospitality Lounge following the game, and speaking from the heart, he earned a standing ovation. What he does on the pitch will obviously be more important, but he was a wonderful ambassador for the club that evening, and made it clear he will give absolutely everything to ensure we retain our Championship status.
“It has been a hard few months for me personally, but with the gaffer coming back in, it feels like a fresh start, and having been reassured that I’m in his plans, I’ll be giving everything for this club.
“I never leave anything on the park, I’ll be giving my all, I’ve always been like that, but this is the best changing room I’ve ever been in, and I’m just so happy that I’m still going to be here, doing what I can for this great club.”
