DAVID LILLEY is not allowing a Bellshill Athletic player exodus to get under his skin…because two Junior legends are pitching in to help with his team rebuilding plans.

More than a few eyebrows were raised when the former Aberdeen, Partick Thistle, Kilmarnock, Queen of the South and Airdrie defender was handed the reins of his home town club in the wake of erstwhile boss Brian McGinty’s somewhat surprise decision to resign his post last month, a matter of weeks after the Lanarkshire outfit secured promotion to the Super First Division.

The intervening period until Lilley’s appointment culminated in numerous raids on Bellshill’s highly-regarded playing squad with striking ace Jay Mackay lured away by Rossvale, Chris Dolan (Gartcairn), Craig Holmes and Zander Cowie (Arthurlie) and goalkeeping prospect Jamie Donnelly (Irvine Meadow), on top of Steven Tart and Max McKee opting to move into the Senior ranks with Queen's Park.

And there is the likelihood of frontman Andy Selkirk moving on to pastures new if a proposed move to Lowland League side Cumbernauld Colts comes to fruition.

These playing departures add several degrees of difficulty to the 38-year-old’s first-ever managerial venture, but he’s anything but dismayed at the prospect now that Bryan Dingwall is installed as his No.2 and Rab Sneddon is lending his not inconsiderable Junior nous in the background.

The new gaffer whose early beginnings were with Bellshill Boys' Club in the same team as future Junior stalwarts Stevie Herriot and Brian Johnston insisted: “Work commitments had led to my dropping out of football for fully three years until Rab persuaded me to assist him during an interim spell in charge of Pollok in the season before last.

“Cutting my dugout teeth alongside him gave me a taste for the game again so I did not hesitate to take up this dream opportunity to manage Bellshill Athletic when it was first offered to me.

“I’ll openly admit the decision was made easier by knowing Rab will be around to exert an influence and having someone of Dingy’s standing throw in his lot with me was just the icing on the cake.

“I never kicked a ball at Junior level during my own playing career but their combined experience will undoubtedly be a huge asset in keeping me onside in what is already shaping up as a steep learning curve.”

Lilley added: “It’s extremely disappointing to lose so many quality players as I would have liked to keep them on board but they had all agreed deals elsewhere before I accepted the job.

“Nevertheless, I telephoned everyone to wish them all the best and at the same time made it clear they would be welcome back if their moves did not work out as expected.

“Ever since I’ve been on the phone non-stop trying to bring in replacements and to date my only newcomer is looking like Liam McVey who was Pollok’s full-back during our time at Newlandsfield, but I’m hopeful of others following particularly given my own contacts in the game along with Rab and Dingy’s in the Juniors.”

Meanwhile, one hears Airdrie-based Gartcairn Juniors whose application to join the Central Second Division was approved at the Scottish Junior AGM last weekend have been making waves on the transfer front.

One-time Hibs and Dundee frontman Tom McManus is undoubtedly their high-profile signing, however ambitious manager Billy McKie is also believed to have snapped up Cumbernauld United playmaker Scott Murphy along with Chris Dolan (Bellshill).

Among other notable comings and goings is Pollok centre-back Jamie Darroch’s return to Irvine Meadow a season down the line from when he left the Ayrshire club.

Medda Assistant boss Murdie McKinnon reasoned: “Jamie is someone we never wanted to leave in the first place but we could not prevent him from trying his luck elsewhere.

“He’s now had a season of playing regularly at Pollok and we’re delighted to welcome him back as he’s a committed team player type whose attitude to training and games is never less than first rate.”

In other moves, Largs Thistle striker Euan Lyndsay is thought to be a signing target of Greenock, and another Super First Division club making strengthening moves are Kilsyth Rangers whose manager Keith Hogg has recruited midfielders Willie Easton (Cambuslang Rangers) and Ross Hepburn (Rossvale).