It was not just Kilsyth Rangers coming off second-best in the Super Premier Division play-off towards the end of last season that got assistant manager Kevin McBride to thinking that maybe the time was right to sever his Duncansfield ties.

The Super First Division outfit’s promotion challenge had been all-consuming for so long that there was never enough time to give a thought to “what comes next” should he and gaffer Keith Hogg’s side come up short as the history books show they agonisingly did on in June when a 2-2 stalemate against Kilwinning meant the Ayrshiremen retained their top-flight status on the back of a 3-2 aggregate scoreline.

The 37-year-old displayed his customary candour over the reasons for him quitting the Junior scene.

“Hoggy and I had spent the previous three years building our team from scratch and the bits of the jigsaw really clicked together last season when the guys played some exceptional stuff particularly early on when we were topping the table," said the former Senior whose Junior nous was gained through playing stints with Pollok, Petershill and Glenafton among others.

“On reflection we really should have gone on to win the title with points to spare so to lose out on promotion in the circumstances we did has to be the biggest anti-climax ever.

“Part of me wanted to remain positive after the final whistle blew against Kilwinning, but I was both angry and upset and just wanted to take time away to reflect on the whys and wherefores of where it all went wrong.

“Hoggy was every bit as frustrated so we agreed it might be best to give ourselves a break from constantly talking about Kilsyth Rangers before meeting up to make our plans for going forward into the new season.

“We were already aware that our top scorer, my brother Paul,was hanging up the boots.

"However, further hammer blows came from Mark Tyrrell also deciding to call time on his playing career on top of Nikky Prentice being lured away to join Pollok and one or two others moving elsewhere.

“Kilsyth are a club with a limited budget and cannot just splash out sums of money for the best players going the rounds so the thought of another rebuilding job was not a prospect that appealed to me.

"But neither did I want to let Hoggy down so I was persuaded against my better judgment to soldier on and that’s probably the biggest mistake I made.”

Veteran campaigner McBride, who doubled as Kilsyth’s left-back throughout last season, took charge of pre-season training sessions while also attempting to use his many contacts to try and help Hogg recruit new signings however their efforts proved fruitless in the current transfer market.

The close friends were frustrated at every turn and matters came to a head last midweek when Kevin opted to tender his resignation.

He added: "I put my heart and soul into arranging training drills to try and make them enjoyable while achieving the aim of improving players both in terms of fitness and technique.

“But I very quickly found myself lacking in motivation and not having the same enthusiasm towards working to develop our squad as I did before and I didn’t want to then cheat Hoggy or the players so walking away seemed the best option.

“Most probably a new challenge is what’s needed, but for the record I can categorically state there is no club hovering in the background ready to snap me up and I have no plans other than to start taking in a few games as a spectator.

“Kilsyth will definitely be one of the teams I’ll have a look at and nothing would please me more than for Hoggy to take them up this season.”

Latest from the transfer scene has Hurlford United clinching the loan deal signing of 20-year-old Stranraer full-back Sam Lidington who featured in Saturday’s 4-0 friendly defeat of Rutherglen Glencairn whose ranks also included a newcomer in the shape of former East Kilbride Lowland League midfielder Michael Hardie.

Junior supporters will flock to the opening salvo of Sectional League Cup contests throughout the West Region tomorrow (kick-offs 6.45pm).

However, reigning Central Sectional Cup holders Rob Roy ‘s defence of their trophy will not take place until Thursday night as their home game against Dunipace has been held over because landlords Cumbernauld United have first call on Guys Meadow for their opener against Kilsyth Rangers.

THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES:

Tomorrow (Kick-offs 6.45pm):Central Sectional League Cup. Section

One: Forth Wanderers v Royal Albert,Lanark Utd v Larkhall Thistle. Section Two. Carluke Rovers v Wishaw, Newmains Utd v Shotts Bon Accord. Section Three. Bellshill Athletic v Shettleston, Petershill v Thorniewood Utd.

Section Four: Blantyre Vics v East Kilbride, Thistle, Cambuslang Rangers v Vale of Clyde.

Section Five: Benburb v Neilston, St Anthony's v Pollok.

Section Six: Ashfield v Maryhill , Glasgow Perthshire v Clydebank.

Section Seven.Port Glasgow v Vale of Leven, Renfrew v Johnstone Burgh. Section Eight: Cumbernauld Utd v Kilsyth Rangers.

Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup. Section One: Dalry Thistle v Beith, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Kilwinning Rangers, Largs Thistle v Ardrossan Winton Rovers. Section Two:Ardeer Thistle v Saltcoats Vics, Darvel v Irvine Vics, Irvine Meadow v Hurlford Utd.

Section Three: Girvan v Annbank Utd, Maybole

v Troon, Whitletts Vics v Craigmark. Section Four.Auchinleck Talbot v Glenafton, Cumnock v Kello Rovers, Lugar Boswell v Muirkirk.

Thursday, August 3 (kick-offs 6.45pm): Central Sectional League Cup. Section

Eight. Rob Roy v Dunipace,

Saturday,August 5 (kick-offs 2pm): Central Sectional League Cup. Section

One: Lanark Utd v Forth Wanderers, Lesmahagow v Larkhall Thistle.

Section Two: Newmains Utd v Wishaw, Shotts Bon Accord v Gartcairn. Section Three.Petershill v Shettleston, Thorniewood Utd v St Roch's.

Section Four: Cambuslang Rangers v East Kilbride Thistle,Vale of Clyde v Rutherglen Glencairn.

Section Five: Arthurlie v Neilston, Benburb v St Anthony's.

Section Six: Yoker Athletic v Ashfield, Maryhill v Glasgow Perthshire.

Section Seven: Greenock v Port Glasgow, Vale of Leven v Renfrew.

Section Eight: Dunipace v Rossvale, Kilsyth Rangers v Rob Roy.Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup. Section One: Kilwinning Rangers v Dalry Thistle, Largs Thistle v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Beith.

Section Two: Ardeer Thistle v Irvine Meadow, Irvine Vics v Saltcoats Vics, Hurlford Utd v Darvel.

Section Three: Annbank Utd v Whitletts Vics, Craigmark v Maybole, Troon v Girvan.

Section Four: Cumnock v Auchinleck Talbot, Muirkirk v Glenafton, Kello Rovers v Lugar Boswell.