The dream has suddenly turned sour for Lesmahagow boss Robert Irving who has offered his resignation in the aftermath of Wishaw inflicting a 5-1 hammering on home soil last weekend.

Irving is a playing legend at the 130-year-old Lanarkshire outfit where he is fondly remembered as a midfield stalwart in the successful Billy Whiteford steered side of the late 1980’s to early 1990’s that made it all the way to the Scottish Junior Cup Final only to lose out 1-0 against Hill O’Beath Hawthorn in 1990.

Ironically, the Fifers also knocked the Lanarkshire outfit out of this season’s competition with a 4-2 Craighead Park triumph just two weeks ago.

And and it was that defeat plus the manner of his side’s capitulation against Central First Division rivals Wishaw that proved to be the final straws for 48-year-old Irving.

He said: "I’ve always worn my heart on the sleeve for this club and my dream when taking on the manager’s job some five years ago was to build a Lesmahagow team akin to the one I was so fortunate to play in.

“But a reality check - you have to remember that Gow team boasted three Junior Scotland internationalists in Ross Anderson , Rocky Crichton and Dunky Sinclair - led to a rethink.

"And that saw me readjust my sights and merely aspire to get the Gow installed as a Super First Division club and I strongly believe this to be a very achievable target for the current squad.

“Yes…results have been a bit up and down, however we have still managed to get ourselves into fifth top spot in the table and just three points behind the league leaders Rossvale so there really is everything to play for.”

This staunch defence of his Gow playing charges posed the question as to why Robert had chosen to turn his back on them at this relatively early stage of the season?

He retorted fiercely: "I can think of nothing worse than for players to have ability in abundance, but not the commitment or work ethic to make the most of it.

“I don’t believe it’s down to coincidence that the Junior greats I played alongside all those years ago worked their socks off on the training ground.

"But I consider myself to have failed in getting that message across to some of the present day team.

“Recent instances where certain guys have missed training altogether or turned up late on match days and affected my preparations for games have needled with me and please don’t get me started on players going abroad for stag trips or holidays in mid-season.

“ It would just never have happened in my playing days so this sheer accumulation of growing frustrations has definitely taken away from my enjoyment of the Juniors.”

Irving reflected on events of last weekend which led to his resignation in saying,

“ Wishaw played outstandingly well on the day and fully merited their win but we were a shadow of our true selves and I felt sick in the pit of my stomach watching how we tamely succumbed to defeat .

“My disappointment and overall state of mind had not improved at the final whistle and I spoke with leading club officials to say I was of the mind to call it a day and allow someone else to come in and try to get better out of the players.

“They asked me to go away and sleep on things, but if anything my resolve was even stronger 24 hours later after chatting over my intentions with friends in the game and I met up for a frank discussion with people at the club on Sunday evening before making the decision to formally step down .

“I have no plans other than to take a complete break away from the game and recharge my batteries.”

Irving’s loyal No.2 and former defender Gerry Bonham will look after team matters for this week’s daunting clash away to strong going Renfrew which promises to be a test of character for Lesmahagow’s players.

In other games, leading lights Rossvale will lean heavily on the striking talents of Yami Misanjo and Fraser Team to get the goals to help overcome St Anthony's at McKenna Park while St Rochs will strive to get back to winning ways when hosting the visit of fellow promotes Johnstone Burgh.

And seeking to get themselves back into the promotion reckoning are Maryhill whose Lochburn Park head to head with Thorniewood United provides Jim Delaney’sside with the opportunity to rack up back to back wins for the first time this season.