Kilbirnie Ladeside could well have made an inspired choice with the appointment of Mark Bradley as their new team manager.

The highly regarded ex-Linlithgow Rose and Bathgate Thistle midfielder has been installed in the Valefield hotseat vacated earlier this month by erstwhile gaffer Stevie Swift.

Bradley comes with an excellent pedigree - he played for both clubs in Scottish Junior Cup Finals.

And the new man is assured of a rousing welcome from his new club’s passionate supporters when he takes to the home dugout for the first time in this week’s vital Super Premier Division clash against Troon where the need to pick up points is patently obvious with Kilbirnie sitting joint bottom of the table along with Largs Thistle.

Bradley, 40, played for Hearts, Stirling Albion, Cowdenbeath, Berwick Rangers and Dumbarton with no little distinction as a Senior footballer.

And he can trace his Junior roots back to when he was a mere teenager and Hearts hard taskmaster boss Tommy McLean’s belief his protégé needed toughening up led to Mark being farmed him out for a few months to an Ashfield side managed by John Conlin

Although born and bred in Glasgow, his journeyman ways led to him being reinstated to East Region big guns Bathgate Thistle, whom he helped reach the 2006 Junior Cup Final only to narrowly lose 2-1 against Auchinleck Talbot.

However, he was to return to the biggest stage just 12 months later and play his part as Linlithgow beat Kelty Hearts and he was still patrolling a midfield beat for the Rose side that tasted Cup glory again with a 1-0 defeat of Largs Thistle in 2010.

Notable playing achievements by any stretch of the imagination yet Bradley earned considerably more renown at Prestonfield after taking over the managerial reins when legendary Junior boss David Baikie resigned in 2011.

A settling-in period followed before Linlithgow, under the new gaffer’s tutelage, embarked upon an unbeaten run of 50 games only to agonisingly lose out when David Gormley netted the only goal of the 2013 Scottish Junior Cup Final game for nemesis Auchinleck Talbot.

However, the Rose players still made history by going undefeated for the full season, taking 60 points out of a possible 66 points in the process.

His resignation in 2014 came as a total surprise and Mark has remained out of the Junior game ever since.

But now he and No.2 Paul Ronald have taken up the tough ask of steering Kilbirnie away from the Super Premier basement.

Last night he revealed: "Hand on heart, I have not been actively looking to get back in the game during the past two years yet that hasn’t prevented a few clubs from sounding me out over my future plans.

“I had resisted the urge until being asked to meet up and talk to the people at Kilbirnie Ladeside last week and the challenge is one that excites me not least of all putting smiles on their supporters' faces.

“ I’ve never managed through in the West Region but Ronaldo has a wealth of experience with clubs through here and I’m looking forward to finally getting to work alongside him.

“We’ve known each other for years but circumstances have always prevented us teaming up together until now and I’m confident his coaching and training ground drills will bring out the best in our playing squad.”

Asked if an injection of fresh blood was part of his immediate plans brought a withering response from Braddo.

He said: "It would be disrespectful not to afford the current group of players a chance to stake their claim for jerseys so we will give ourselves time - but not too much of it - to assess what we have and what is needed.”

Troon ran out 3-1 winners when the Ayrshire rivals locked horns in the opening league game of the season but nothing can be read into that earlier meeting given the Portland Park outfit’s inconsistent form ever since which has left them in mid-table.

And the determination of Gordon Burns to get his charges playing to their best brought a hastily arranged weekend friendly match against Craigmark which the top flight side won 5-2 with goals from Ross Robertson, Adam Forsyth, Ross Barbour , Mark Curragh and Evan Maley.

Fixtures for Saturday, December 3 (Kick-offs 1.45pm) Scottish Junior Cup.Third Round.

East Kilbride Thistle v Culter, Downfield v Broughty Athletic, Kirrie Thistle v Hill of Beath, Thorniewood Utd v Bonnyrigg Rose,Stonehaven v Greenock, Luncarty v Rosyth, Dundee Violet v Glenafton, Dundee North End v Linlithgow Rose, Lochee Utd v Musselburgh Athletic, Bo’ness United v Blantyre Vics , Jeanfield Swifts v Hermes.

Replays. Irvine Meadow v Darvel, Auchinleck Talbot v Pollok.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division.

Arthurlie v Hurlford Utd , Kilbirnie Ladeside v Troon, Largs Thistle v Cumnock, Rob Roy v Kilwinning Rangers.

McBookie.com Super First Division. Shotts Bon Accord v Petershill,Shettleston v Girvan, Clydebank v Renfrew,Irvine Vics v Yoker Athletic, Kilsyth Rangers v Cumbernauld Utd, Rutherglen Glencairn v Maryhill.

McBookie.com Central First Division Lesmahagow v Benburb, Larkhall Thistle v Bellshill Athletic , Cambuslang Rangers v Neilston , Forth Wanderers v St Roch's, Johnstone Burgh v Rossvale.

McBookie.com Central Second Division.

Port Glasgow v Gartcairn, Lanark Utd v Dunipace, Royal Albert v Ashfield, St Anthonys v Carluke Rovers, Vale of Leven v Glasgow Perthshire.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League.

Maybole v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Lugar Boswell v Craigmark, Annbank Utd v Whitletts Vics, , Dalry Thistle v Saltcoats Vics, Ardeer Thistle v Muirkirk.