Double-player whammy for promotion-seeking Renfrew

Playmaking midfielder Chris Cameron has been deemed a non-starter against one of his former clubs after incurring cartilage damage during the recent defeat by Larkhall Thistle, but arguably an even bigger shock for supporters is the news that promising striker Scott Arthur is on the open-to-transfer list and unlikely to kick a ball for the Frew again.

The 23-year-old son of former Arthurlie great Jim Arthur was previously on the books of Morton as a teenager as well as having a short stint with Kilbirnie Ladeside and was transferred from Vale of Leven at the start of last season after his goalscoring exploits in the Second Division flight caught the eye of New Western Park co-bosses Colin Clark and Martin Ferry.

Their paying out a sizeable transfer fee for his scoring services was immediately rewarded by Scott taking to his new surroundings like a duck to water and he could well have worn the mantle of top marksman, but for work commitments down in England ruling him out of action for a large slice of the season.

Even better times were predicted for this campaign, however he left his co-gaffers speechless when declaring himself unsettled and requesting a transfer during the summer months albeit Clark persuaded him to “bide his time” and see if things might improve.

Matters appear to have worsened as his vital spark in front of goal has been sadly missing to the extent that fellow frontmen Jamie Benton, Alan Kinney and Gary McGarroch have all netted more times than Arthur.

His continuing disenchantment with all things Renfrew led to several discussions with Clark and Ferry which have now resulted in them stating a willingness to listen to offers for the hitman.

Clarky admitted: “Scott undoubtedly knows where the goal is and I’m sure he’ll already be on the radar of several higher league clubs.

“We’d have preferred to keep him on board but he’s made it abundantly clear he sees his future elsewhere so Martin and I think it best for overall dressing room morale if he gets his wish to move on.

“And for that very same reason, we hope that an interested club comes in quickly to meet our asking price because it’s probably best for everyone concerned if young Scott doesn’t play for Renfrew again.”

Clark is not concerned over Renfrew's dismal scoring record among Central First Division outfits … only bottom pair Vale of Clyde and Dunipace have netted fewer goals … ahead of taking on Neilston.

He said: “ Of course I would like to see us find the net more regularly and we certainly don’t lack for quality strikers particularly Kinney whose link up play is nothing short of outstanding and he’s tried and trusted at the top of Junior football which explains why his former club Kilbirnie were interested in bringing him back to Valefield.

“Thankfully for us, Alan’s work commitments at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital are such that he can only combine football and work through playing with a local club like ourselves and we are confident he, Jamie and Gary will prove themselves a top-notch strikeforce.

“It would be nice if they could get on the scoresheet against Neilston whose league season kicked off with a 6-2 panning from Maryhill, but they have picked up points in every game ever since and we need to be at our best to avoid becoming their latest scalp.

“The current league leaders Rossvale look a surefire bet to win at home to bottom markers Dunipace and we can ill afford losing any more ground to them.”

Clarky reckons Neilston ... down in eighth place in the standings … are capable of stringing results together and marching up the table.

He insisted: “Robbie Cameron is an old-stager nowadays but is still banging the goals in while big Martin McInness keeps things tight at the back and midfield lynchpin Mathew Stevenston provides the final cog in what is a solid core that most teams envy.

“Our own relative success in being fifth top just three points adrift of Rossvale and with a game in hand to boot has been built on the back of an extremely a miserly backline that has conceded fewer goals than all our rivals … and long may that continue.”

Clarky is keeping fingers crossed in the hope of slip ups by his side’s main promotion rivals in the remaining First Division match-ups and will be eagerly awaiting the result from the James McGrory Stadium where second-top St Roch's await the visit of Maryhill.

Third-placed Lesmahagow will receive no favours from Lanarkshire near-neighbours Larkhall Thistle at Gasworks Park while Wishaw appear capable of putting a spoke in Johnstone Burgh's charge up the table in their head to head at the Beltane.

The smile was soon wiped from Clarky’s face when word broke of West Region beaks conducting the second round draw of the New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup at their monthly meeting.

Renfrew landed it tougher than most with a trip into Ayrshire to take on current Super Premier frontrunners Hurlford United and the Frew gaffer summed up his feelings succinctly in saying: “Somehow I don’t envisage Darren Henderson quaking in his boots about a home tie against us.”

No doubt reigning trophy holders Arthurlie will count themselves a bit more fortunate despite the prospect of a long jaunt down to face Ayrshire minnows Craigmark while last season’s beaten finalists Kilwinning Rangers will be happy to have home advantage when taking on Darvel.

A city clash has Benburb hosting the visit of Shettleston while tie of the round status is shared by the all-Super Premier showdowns of Troon v Rob Roy and Kilbirnie Ladeside v Glenafton.

The full draw came out as: Bellshill Athletic v East Kilbride Thistle, Cumnock v Rossvale, Beith v Maybole, Girvan v Blantyre Vics, Greenock v Auchinleck Talbot, Kilsyth Rangers v Lanark Utd, Johnstone Burgh v Irvine Meadow, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Cumbernauld Utd, Hurlford Utd v Renfrew, Benburb v Shettleston, Troon v Rob Roy, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Glenafton, Clydebank v Whitletts Vics, Annbank Utd or Vale of Clyde v Cambuslang Rangers, Craigmark v Arthurlie , Kilwinning Rangers v Darvel (Dates for the ties yet to be arranged).