A new chapter was opened at Buckie Thistle FC last Tuesday, 21st October 2008 when Gregg Carrol was officially unveiled as the club's new manager.

The experienced and highly-respected former Deveronvale boss takes over from the Will brothers, Kevin and Doug, who departed Victoria Park after their 157 day tenure brought a string of disappointing results for the club.

Mr Carrol, 37, will be taking Gary Hake, who served with him at the Banff side, and former Aberdeen, Peterhead and Rothes midfielder Colin Smith to Buckie as coaching staff.

Widely tipped to take over the reins following the Wills' departure, Mr Carrol brings with him a pedigree that saw him guide Deveronvale to the only two Highland League Championships in their history - 2003 and 2006 - during his 10 year tenure at Princess Royal Park.

With club President Mark Duncan on holiday in the USA, negotiations were conducted long-distance, although this did not serve to hamper either the Jags' determination to land Mr Carrol or his keenness to get started at Victoria Park.

Buckie Thistle Director Murray Duncan told the 'Advertiser':  "We are delighted that we have been able to secure the services of a manager of his calibre. 

"Both Mark and myself have admired Gregg for a long time and he has many achievements under his belt in the Highland League.

"Gregg has genuine quality and there is already a buzz aroung the place, both amongst the players and the supporters.

"He has already begun to make his mark by changing the way the training sessions are scheduled.

"Now, the whole squad will be training together in Buckie.

"Buckie Thistle remains one of the top managerial jobs in the Highland League and we are all looking forward to working with him.  We would also like to thank Raymond Cardno for stepping in at such short notice to take charge of the team against Keith."

Having wasted no time in meeting the players and scouting out Scottish Cup opponents, Lochee United on Saturday 18th, Mr Carrol was keen to emphasis his appetite to get back into the game with the Jags.

"Buckie is a massive club, and when Mark first phoned me six months ago I felt I was not ready to take the job," he said "I had just finished with Deveronvale and I did not feel I could give 100% commitment to the job; there was no way I would do that to anyone, taking a job I was not fully committed to.

"However, the time is right now and it is good to get back into the game; the negotiations to take the manager's job went very well after Mark made the first contact."

He continued "The first thing myself and the coaching staff have to do is to raise the confidence level of the squad as they have lost a few games; we will be looking to have them playing their football with a smile on their faces.

"Like every manager, I have certain styles of play I prefer but I will wait and have a look at the players I have got before deciding how we are going to line up on the pitch."

Carrol's first home match since taking charge of the Jags will be this Saturday (1st November) against Clachnacuddin.

Report by Alan Beresford of the Banffshire Advertiser