MARYHILL manager Jim Delaney has more reason than most to be describing the past three months as “This winter of our discontent.”

The Lochburn Park side’s current fifth-from-bottom placing in the Central First Division standings has Delaney’s men hovering just above the basement area and might well be a cause of concern for fretful supporters but the team boss says he hasn’t even considered reaching for the panic button just yet.

And it’s bordering on the impossible to find fault with his thinking when one takes into account the bigger picture showing Maryhill have played fewer games than any of their league rivals.

Not many...if indeed any…clubs throughout the length and breadth of the West Region have incurred the wrath of the hostile wintry elements in the same way as the famous old Glasgow outfit.

“We came out on top in our last home game against St Anthony's on the final Saturday in October and then won our next fixture away to Carluke Rovers in the week before Christmas fully seven weeks later,” revealed the Hill gaffer.

“Such a gap is hardly conducive to building any sort of momentum and now another seven weeks have elapsed and we find ourselves due to head through to face Lesmahagow this coming Saturday.

“People at the club reckon that game is every bit as likely to fall foul of the weather and I would probably find our situation to be utterly demoralising were it not for the players whose attitude in the face of a continuing array of postponed matches has been nothing short of magnificent.

“They have trained Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout this sorry period without so much as a moan and I cannot praise them enough.”

The upside from three months of near inactivity has been the clearing up of an injury list that saw Delaney often struggle to field a full complement of substitutes during October.

He admitted: “The competition for jerseys is about to become intense as we’ve all of 20 players fit and eager to get back in playing action.

“This is a great position for me as team manager and long may it last because I’m under no illusions that we can expect a tough and demanding end to the season from having to play two and three games most weeks.

“The prospect doesn’t faze anyone at the club and our immediate challenge is nothing more than to get a few wins on the board and see where it takes us.”

By his own admission, not all has gone according to plan in Delaney’s first season at Junior level and he has been rocked by the departure from his Lochburn Park dressing room of promising teenage defender Davie Quinn after the former Aberdeen signing opted for reinstatement back to Rutherglen Glencairn Under 21s.

The team boss said: “It was a sore one to lose Davie given he’s played for me from 14 years of age onwards, but I can understand his motives and the same applies to Jablo Ndlovu who has also joined the Glencairn Under 21s because he feels there is more of an opportunity to be playing regularly.

“Both lads leave with the best wishes of everyone at Maryhill and the hope is our agreeing to release them will work in our favour should they ever want to step back up to the Juniors.”

From across the city comes word of another youthful prospect coming into the Junior ranks at Pollok whose manager Tony McInally has concluded the signing of former Falkirk and Stranraer full-back Liam Rowan.

Macca admitted: “Liam has been in training at Newlandsfield for the past few weeks and has made a very favourable impression as you might expect from someone who has played first team for Falkirk.

“He’s due to turn 21 this week but we have high hopes of him forcing his way into our selection thoughts before too long particularly as he’s a versatile type who can also play midfield.

“Davie Winters played alongside Liam at Falkirk and reckons he’s top notch and that recommendation is good enough for me.”

Elsewhere on the comings and goings front comes word of Irvine Meadow placing striker Chris Hall on the open-to-transfer list following last weekend’s Scottish Junior Cup exit at the hands of Linlithgow Rose.

The one-time Knightswood Juveniles starlet who moved to Meadow Park from Ashfield has been plagued with a debilitating groin problem for most of this season which has prevented him playing under new Medda boss Davie Greig.