“My ambition has been to get into senior football. I had a little stint at Kirkoswald just to help them out, because the lad who was coaching them got a job in Lithuania. And I’ve just kind of been looking for my next opportunity really.”
It was announced last week that Simpson, 38, would be taking over the reins at New King Edward Park with Paul McDermott as his assistant.
The Carlisle based coaches have joined the South of Scotland League club from Gretna FC 2008 U17s.
However, the pair have agreed to take on their new commitments in Lockerbie alongside their Gretna duties until the end of the current season.
That is because the Raydale youth side, which they joined at the start of the season, are currently on course for the treble in the Dumfries and Galloway U17s Youth League, yet to lose, or even draw, a fixture.
Simpson said: “We’re still at Gretna at the minute, we’re seeing the season out. They’re top of the table, unbeaten all season and in the semi-final of two cups.
“They (Gretna) have totally supported us (with the move). They’ve asked us to stay on and see the season out, with the team doing so well it would be a shame not to.”
Simpson has previously represented numerous clubs as a player in the Border City including Northbank back in the Northern Alliance League days.
But his passion now lies in coaching, for which he has over a decade of experience in at various levels including at Danny Grainger’s Cumbria Football Academy.
His assistant Paul is also experienced in the game, he is a qualified county referee and is closing in on the completion of his UEFA C coaching licence.
The new management team had their first experience in the dugout last Saturday against Upper Annandale.
The Moffat side ran out 4-1 winners in the Cree Lodge Cup Clash in Lockerbie.
Simpson said: “I thought it was a good game. Uppers will be up there next season.
“But we battled hard, we were light on numbers and we’ve got a very young squad.
“But I think next season if we can keep that core of the squad together and add a few to it, then I think we’ll do very well.
“Craig Allen, the new chairman, spoke to me about what his plans are and it’s looking like it’s going to be quite an exciting project.”
