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Queen of the South defender Jamie Hamill has backed new Doonhamers manager Gary Naysmith to revive the club’s Championship promotion ambitions.
Former Scotland and Hearts left-back Naysmith has been appointed as Gavin Skelton’s successor at Palmerston but will preside over East Fife’s Scottish Cup clash with Edinburgh City next Wednesday before officially taking control at Queens.
That means Jim Thomson will continue as caretaker boss for today’s visit of Dumbarton and Tuesday’s home game against St Mirren, but on the back of the painful midweek Scottish Cup defeat to Albion Rovers, experienced defender Hamill is encouraged by Naismith’s imminent arrival.
Hamill said: “There is obviously a sense of disappointment following the cup loss but we’ve got a new manager appointed and we’re all looking forward to working under Gary when he comes in.
“Every manager is different but I’m sure he will give us fresh ideas and have his own philosophy, so I’m looking forward to it.
“Gary did well in getting East Fife promoted last season, they’ve been up and down this season, but I’m sure he’ll come here with big expectations and hopefully he can help fulfil that ambition and get the club back to where it should be.
“I trained alongside Gary briefly when he was in for a pre-season at Hearts a few years ago and got on very well with him.
“I’ve not seen him as a manager but I’ve heard good things about him through the football world.”
Despite having lost their last five league matches, Queens are only five points adrift of the play-offs and Hamill is desperate to get their season back on track.
He added: “When you look at the league table we’re only two or three wins from being right back in it again.
“Privately, we know where we should be but unfortunately we’re not there at the minute.”
