Sean Crighton says Queen's Park's future is built on its history of developing young talent. The manager is clear that this identity is non-negotiable, even as the club faces a challenging period on and off the pitch.
Crighton pointed to the club's legacy, which includes helping to shape Scotland captain Andy Robertson and Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland in their senior football years. "We need to be that club because that's Queen's Park's history," Crighton said. "The guys that are in the national team, they started at Queen's Park." This focus comes after a significant change, with Lord William Haughey ending his financial agreement with the club last year, ushering in a new era of self-reliance.
The current challenge
That philosophy is being tested by the current campaign. Queen's Park sit 9th in the Scottish Championship, having taken just four points from their opening seven matches. Their recent form reads LLWDL, with a 2-0 home defeat to Ayr United last Friday the latest setback. The result left them one point behind Ayr in the table and a significant 12 points adrift of leaders Stenhousemuir.
Despite the difficult start, Crighton sees reasons for belief. He highlighted the recent 0-0 draw away to Partick Thistle as a turning point for the squad's confidence. The manager also noted the progress of young players who have come into the first-team environment. Ross McLean, for example, featured a couple of times last year and has developed further this season, while Tyrece McDonnell made 26 appearances last term.
Building the pathway
The pathway for those players is evolving. While the club's academy is no longer operational, the under-17 and under-19 sides both won their respective leagues last season. The club is also benefiting from co-operation loans, with Aiden McCallion and Lewis Stewart currently at Lesser Hampden from Rangers. Meanwhile, the transformation of the Lochinch training ground in Glasgow's Pollok Park, aided by Lord Haughey's City Charitable Trust, provides a tangible asset. "One thing we've got here is a great training centre," Crighton stated.
The model inevitably sees players move on, with Josh Fowler, Seb Drozd and Henry Fieldson departing for St Johnstone, Partick Thistle and St Mirren respectively in recent times. The task for Crighton and his staff is to continually replenish the squad. Experienced figures like 29-year-old central midfielder Scott Martin provide vital balance alongside the emerging talents.
Queen's Park now look ahead to their next fixture, an away trip to face Arbroath this Friday. Arbroath currently occupy 7th place, offering a chance for Crighton's side to close the gap. After a positive League Cup group campaign earlier in the season, the focus is squarely on translating that promise into league points and beginning the climb from second bottom.
