half saw the score pegged back to 3–2, but as Academy pushed for an equaliser the clock ran out and Wick hearts were broken. It was a similar story in the Scottish Cup in season 2010–11. After a first round bye, the club drew Whitehill Welfare in the second round away at Ferguson Park in Rosewell. Academy travelled as far as Perth the day before the game and woke up on the Saturday morning to the news that the game was postponed due to a water-logged pitch, so had to turn tail and head for home without a boot being dirtied. The return trip the following weekend also ended in disappointment. The sides went in at half-time with the spoils shared at a goal each, but Whitehill scored three second half goals in a five-minute spree that put them in a commanding 4–1 lead. Academy however fought back and pulled the score back to 4–3 but again the sands of time ran out and Whitehill went on to face Montrose in the third round whilst Academy headed back up the A9 for another marathon trek home. At the end of season 2010–11 co-managers Tichie Hughes and Zeeky Munro announced their resignation and the hunt began for a new manager. Former East Fife, Rangers, Hearts, Airdrieonians and Raith Rovers player Davie Kirkwood was appointed into the hot-seat. Davie who had previously worked as head of youth with Raith Rovers, Rangers and Ross County duly appointed Tichie as his assistant and Gary Manson bolstered his back-room team as a player coach. The Harmsworth Park also had a make-over during the 2010–11 closed-season. The club are striving to apply for a SFA National Club License for the start of 2012 and work necessary to take the park up to the required standard was completed. This included the upgrade of the floodlight, creation of a medical room and a successful safety inspection and associated "letter of compliance" from Highland Council. In additional both stands received a freshen up with bench seating installed against the south stand back wall, boarding was erected around the park perimeter fence, new goal posts were erected and a massive amount of work was done to the playing surface to take it into tip-top condition. As a result of all the hard work the club was one of the first Scottish Highland League sides to be awarded a SFA National