TOMMY SLOAN
In November 2003 when the club eventually decided on a manager to replace Tom MacDonald we opted for Tommy Sloan, we’d taken 4 weeks to look at where we were, where we’d like to be and who would best suit the job, after taking some advice from well-respected people with a depth of knowledge of the Junior game, we interviewed Tommy and decided there and then he was the man for the job.
We were confident he had the ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of players, and use this knowledge to build a new Talbot side capable of challenging again for the major honours.
SEASON 2003-04 COMPETITIVE RECORD
| PLAYED | WON | DRAWN | LOST | FOR | AGAINST | G/DIFF |
| 41 | 16 | 9 | 16 | 80 | 65 | +15 |
WON LAST LEAGUE GAME AWAY TO MARYHILL TO SECURE PREMIER LEAGUE STATUS
SEASON 2004-05 COMPETITIVE RECORD
| PLAYED | WON | DRAWN | LOST | FOR | AGAINST | G/DIFF |
| 45 | 27 | 9 | 8 | 93 | 55 | +38 |
AYRSHIRE CUP WINNERS
SEASON 2005-06 COMPETITIVE RECORD
| PLAYED | WON | DRAWN | LOST | FOR | AGAINST | G/DIFF |
| 39 | 21 | 8 | 10 | 89 | 50 | +39 |
PREMIER LEAGUE WINNERS: SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP WINNERS.
A Premier League record of THIRD, FIRST AND SECOND in his first three full seasons speaks volumes of the man’s ability to create a winning formula, he went on to carry out the unenviable task of dismantling and rebuilding two great Talbot teams 2005/6 – 2009/10 then from 2010/11 – 2016/17.
This process has started again with heroes and legends leaving the club and new blood coming in to pick up the mantle, it is an understood fact that all coming and goings will not be agreeable to all fans as everyone has their own opinion and are entitled to that.
However, if any manager deserves respect, tolerance, understanding and most of all support to carry out his work as Team Manager it is Tommy Sloan, it was never to be expected that his every decision or judgement would be the correct one, but we were and still are confident that more often than not he’ll get it right. His priority is the team and their performance overall, not individual players, the committee’s attitude towards Tommy has not changed.
Finally, we as a committee should be allowed the respect to judge on whether the manager is up to the task or not and indeed we are positive that Tommy is, also over critical fans should take very good care of what they wish for as the wrong call on the position of our Team manager would no doubt have devastating consequences for Auchinleck Talbot FC.
Henry Dumigan
Secretary
