BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
TRANENT JUNIORS club secretary Robert McNeil has hailed homecoming hero Ian Black, insisting the former Hearts and Rangers star has joined for the long haul.
The East Region South Division outfit produced a remarkable coup on Thursday night when they announced the capture of Black, who was keen to return north of the border and actively sought the move after being released by Chorley FC.
Black is the second former Scotland international to sign up with The Belters in the space of 18 months after Kevin Thomson arrived in the summer of 2016. He made just three appearances, scoring one goal, before departing.
However, McNeil is adamant their latest marquee arrival has the ‘loyalty’ and ‘drive’ to spend at least the next two years at Tranent, helping to develop the club and boost the town where he grew up.
“Ian was keen to come back to Scotland and approached us about the possibility of signing – and it is absolutely huge for us,” said McNeil. “In my view, the biggest factor is that Ian is a local lad, born and bred in Tranent.
“He has achieved great things in the game, has a wonderful pedigree and could still play at a higher level, I’m sure, but I think you just get to a stage in your life where you want to enjoy your football.
“When you have a player of Ian’s calibre wanting to play for Tranent, that tells me a lot about that individual. It tells me that they feel loyalty towards their home-town and a drive to come to this level, work hard and make a real difference.
“I used to go to school with his mum and everyone in town knows Ian and his family. This is a small, tight-knit community and it really is a boost to the whole of Tranent and hopefully the fans are excited as we all are.
“We signed Kevin Thomson a couple of years ago and that created a stir, but I think Ian Black is a separate case and I am positive that he will be here for the next two years.”
Should the clash survive the weather, Black could make his debut against Dunbar United on Saturday afternoon – and McNeil hopes the presence of their new star man will have fans flocking to Forester Park.
“It’s funny, my mate phoned me the other day and said ‘Robert, we’ve gone global!’ which is something you never expect to hear about Tranent,” laughed McNeil. “He was looking on Facebook and Twitter at all the reaction we were getting from all over the world.
“If that’s the impact it’s making, then we are doing something right as far as I’m concerned.
“Hopefully that can inspire youngsters in Tranent and get more supporters through the gate at our home games. There are plenty of local kids who support Hearts and Hibs or Rangers and Celtic – maybe this well help to tempt them along to Tranent.”
