HUGH KELLY says he has no intention of walking away from Shettleston Juniors as he prepares to stand aside and let his club captain Reon Juskowiak take charge of team affairs at Greenfield Park.

Eyebrows are sure to be raised by the long-serving gaffer’s shock weekend announcement of a backroom reshuffle at the Super Premier Division outfit but he is not for changing his mind and adamantly insists it is for the greater good of his famous old Glasgow club.

“I’m not so much stepping down from the manager’s post as stepping back to concentrate on building a solid infrastructure off the pitch,” revealed Kelly.

“The professionalism of many behind-the-scenes set-ups at Super Premier level has all but blown me away this season and I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the most successful side Auchinleck Talbot appear to be the best run of all the clubs in this respect.

“Not surprisingly theirs is the model I want to copy, but putting all the various pieces in place simply cannot be done while my focus is on getting results out on the pitch so taking this course of action is in everyone’s best interests.”

Town supporters will recall Kelly calling it quits previously…only three seasons ago he removed himself from the dugout to let Martin Lauchlan and Andy Thomson look after playing matters…however he’s claiming this time is for real.

He added: “I have the utmost faith in Reon who was already lined up to step into the manager’s position at the end of this season so all we’ve done in effect is bring our long-term plans forward.

“He has the Juniors savvy to keep us in the top Division and everyone connected with the club will back him to the hilt…myself most of all.”

Another fledgling team boss currently making his way in the game is Murdie McKinnon who has made his first signings since being recently installed as the new man at the helm of Blantyre Vics.

Coming into the Castle Park dressing room is towering Giffnock North centre-back Craig Buchanan who was previously coached by Murdie at Irvine Meadow while silky midfielder Shaun Gallagher has signed from Kilbirnie Ladeside and a loan deal has been concluded to take striker Scott Davidson from Petershill.

The Vics chief said: “There are sure to be people questioning my decision to bring Craig on board when we’re already well covered in central defence with the likes of Terry Hewitt and Lee McShane.

“But we needed to get bodies in and big Buchy is a versatile type more than capable of filling in at full-back and we may also have a pressing need to push either Terry or Lee into midfield where our options are severely limited with Mark Thomson having lost his appeal against a three-match suspension on top of Davie Green needing time to recover from a long-term injury absence.

“The arrival of Gallagher, a talented left-footer, will help in this area of the pitch and I’ve high hopes for him once he gets the games under his belt denied him at Kilbirnie because of the midfield riches enjoyed by Stevie Swift.”

Turning to former Annan Athletic frontman Davidson, he said: “Scott is a very mobile type and a good finisher into the bargain who undoubtedly has the qualities to score plenty of goals against Super First Division defences.

“All three of our newcomers have the shared experience of playing at the very top level of the Junior game and I’ve every confidence in them proving to be terrific acquisitions for Blantyre Vics once they are bedded in.”

McKinnon has yet to oversee his first game in charge which he is keeping fingers crossed will arrive on Saturday when promotion chasing Kilsyth Rangers visit Castle Park on league duty.

He added: “I could have picked an easier opponent for starters because Kilsyth are more than decent with Joe Barclay providing a real scoring threat to cash in on the many openings created by winger types Nikky Prentice and Phil Dolan.

“And they also boast Andy Carlin whom I rate very highly from his stint at Irvine Meadow, but being mindful of other team’s strengths is not a cause for running scared and I will always focus on what my players can do rather than the opposition.”

Yet another transfer move has seen Central Second Division leading lights Lanark United snap up Newmains United ace David Dunn just in time for the midfielder to make his home debut on Saturday when the Yowes host the visit of Newmains.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 1.45 PM)

ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup fourth round: Arthurlie v Wishaw, Hill of Beath v Petershill, Linlithgow Rose v Irvine Meadow ,Oakley Utd v Carnoustie Panmure, Rossvale v Stonehaven, Auchinleck Talbot v Cumnock, Hurlford Utd v Dalkeith Thistle, Kilwinning Rangers v Arniston Rangers, Scone Thistle v Beith, Camelon v Dundee North End, Kennoway Star Hearts v Pollok, Darvel v Troon, Glenrothes v Hermes, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Tayport.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Rob Roy v Glenafton.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Greenock v Bellshill Athletic, Blantyre Vics v Kilsyth Rangers, Winton Rovers v Yoker, Largs Thistle v Cumbernauld Utd, Clydebank v Maybole, Rutherglen Glencairn v Shotts Bon Accord.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Dunipace v St Anthony's, St Roch's v Vale of Clyde, Maryhill v Larkhall Thistle, Johnstone Burgh v Neilston, Renfrew v Carluke Rovers, Lesmahagow v Thorniewood Utd. McBookie.com Central Second Division: Benburb v Gartcairn, Lanark Utd v Newmains Utd, Ashfield v Vale of Leven, Cambuslang Rangers v Port Glasgow, East Kilbride Thistle v Forth, Royal Albert v Glasgow Perthshire.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Dalry Thistle v Irvine Vics, Muirkirk v Craigmark, Ardeer Thistle v Girvan, Lugar Boswell v Annbank Utd, Kello Rovers v Whitletts Vics.