ROBERT Sneddon says he had no hesitation in taking up the managerial reins at Bellshill Athletic despite the famous old Lanarkshire club’s relegation to the Central First Division.

The son of Pollok and Shotts Bon Accord legend Rab, was coach under team boss David Lilley last season and was rewarded with the offer of the Rockburn Park hotseat after showing a willingness to throw his hat in the ring when former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock full-back Lilley decided to step down after Bellshill finished second bottom of the Super First pile.

Sneddon's decision to take over was not made in haste as from the outset he was aware of the problems given that all but four of his Bellshill playing squad opted to move to pastures new during the summer.

Ever since, he and his backroom team of ex-Shettleston Reon Juskowiak and veteran Gerry McLaughlin of Petershill renown have been trying to rebuild through a slow process of recruitment. Their revamped team is now 16 players strong ahead of hosting the visit of Wishaw on Saturday.

Sneddon, 38, said: “People close to me asked why I would want to put myself through all this hard graft but truth is the more doubts were put in my head the more I wanted to take the job on.

"It's no secret that I would have liked to hold on to some of the guys who left but we were not in the position to match offers they received from elsewhere so a parting of the ways was inevitable.

“That said, they left with no bad feelings on my part and I’ve said our dressing room door will always be open if anyone finds the grass is not greener elsewhere.

“Putting together the nucleus of a playing squad has been tough going but at long last we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel and the players are just lacking for the confidence that comes with stringing a few wins together.”

It is a huge ask to expect the ailing First Division side - Bellshill are pointless from three games played - to come out on top against one of the strong promotion favourites, but Sneddon is not ruling out an upset.

“We’ve managed to attract a bit of experience in goalkeeper Chris Fitzpatrick, Reon who is doubling as a central defender, along with midfielders Chrissy McCormick and Martin Smith so the hope is they will bring out the best in promising youngsters Ritchie Kane, Scott Symon and Declan Brown. However, there’s no doubt in my mind that the gelling process is going to take time and more than a touch of patience.

“Wishaw will be formidable to say the least but a look at our results up to now shows we have lost all three league games by the odd goal so this team of ours is not too far away from turning things around.

“A rub of the green would help but if that fails then I can only rely on the good habits I’ve acquired from my time in and around various Junior clubs.

"Lady luck has not smiled upon us too much considering we have Bo’ness United and Petershill to face in the two main cup competitions but I’m an optimist who thinks one good result could turn our season on its head.”

Sneddon has been helped to no little extent by his father Rab and long standing No 2 Harry Erwin on training nights, but he is determined to be his own man in the dugout.

“Obviously my Dad forged a very successful Junior career for himself and I’ll gladly take his advice, and of course Harry’s on board. However, neither of them interfere when it comes to making the calls on a Saturday over team selection and how we set ourselves up.

“That’s how it should be as they learned from their mistakes starting out in the Juniors and so will I .”

Among other First Division head to heads, table-topping Cambuslang Rangers face a real test of their mettle away to St Rochs, while another intriguing match-up has Neilston hosting Rossvale.