NEW Queen’s Park manager Gardner Speirs is brimming with ideas to get the second division strugglers back to winning ways. The former Aberdeen assistant manager spoke exclusively to The Reformer this week and laid bare his aims and aspirations for The Spiders, hailing the work done by ex-boss Billy Stark. And with what some might describe as a mountain to climb in a bid to pull away from the bottom of the table Speirs has a certain quiet confidence about his side’s position come the end of the season. He said: "Every aspect of this job excites me. "The challenge I have at Queen's Park is one I was delighted to accept and now the aim is to continue the wonderful work Billy achieved. "He’s maybe moved on but he's ceratinly left a talented squad in place and I'm fortunate to start my work from a position of strength." He added: “Apart from anything else it is an absolute privilige to be here. This isn’t just a football club - it’s an institution.” The 44-year-old father-of-two admits he was disappointed after Queen's went down 3-2 to Brechin to remain in the relegation play-off place last Saturday but keeps a positive and optimistic outlook on the club’s future. He said: “Admittedly it was very disappointing to lose from being two goals up, and at half-time we said how important a third goal would be. "When Brechin scored we seemed to lose our way and we paid for not killing the game off when we had more than enough chances to do so. “However, that game is over and done with now and the next job is to concentrate on our next fixture - you cant change the past so while we may discuss where we went wrong and changes to be made ultimately we look to the future.” Speirs has targeted an immediate three-point haul at Hampden against Berwick Rangers this weekend to drag his side out of the drop zone. He said: "Our aim is to get out of the bottom two and that demands three points. “In order to move up the table we must win games and once we’re into third bottom place we’ll concentrate on then moving up to sixth place and so on. “We have the talent, confidence and set up here to move up the table and finish in a decent position but we’ll take each week as it comes and we’ll turn good performances into winning performances.” The determined gaffer also spoke highly of the work instilled at the club by new youth and community development manager George Watson and looks forward to seeing young players work their way up to first team status. He told The Reformer: “The youth department here is absolutely first class and George Watson works very well with the players there. There are guys here, at all levels, that promise great football every week and that’s exciting to watch. I’m looking forward to working with George and to see players develop to the first team.” Speirs, a Uefa qualified coach, enjoyed a modest playing career working his way through the ranks at St Mirren, where he remained for the best part of seven seasons, and then going on loan to Dunfermline Athletic, Kilmarnock and joining Hartlepool United on a short term non-contract basis. He also enjoyed time with Airdrie, East Stirling and then junior outfit Bathgate Thistle before taking up managerial and coaching posts. Gardner added: “I think it was in 1995 to 1998 that I managed Clyde at the then new Broadwood. “And from there I joined the coaching staff at Aberdeen.” In the early 2000’s Speirs moved on to Ross County, where he was involved with the youth team before taking over as caretaker manager after the departure of John Robertson. And just months before taking up the post of Queen’s Park manager Speirs was head hunted into number two position at Partick Thistle under current manager Ian McCall. And Speirs hopes his experiences in the beautiful game will bode well at Lesser Hampden on the training ground. He said: “I’ll definitely bring some of my different experieces at different places, and indeed at all levels, to Queen’s Park. I believe we can draw on expereince and I hope to emulate on some of my own.” Queen’s Park play Berwick Rangers at Hampden Park on Saturday. Kick off is 3pm. | 
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