Maryhill boss Jim Delaney’s desire to restore Lochburn Park as one of the epicentres of Junior football has been dented by the departures of three key players from last season’s Central First Division promotion-winning side.

A series of unwanted close season transfer raids have resulted in goalkeeping prospect Grant Hay being snapped up by Arthurlie while prolific scoring winger Willie Wells has signed on the dotted line for Cumnock and box-to-box midfielder Paul Callander has agreed to join Petershill.

Delaney fought tooth and nail trying to persuade the trio to stay with him to help the famous old Glasgow club continue their upward trajectory of recent seasons, but he has been forced to concede defeat on all three fronts.

He admitted: "It’s a massive disappointment to lose three players of their ilk and Maryhill as a club did everything possible to keep them on board, but ultimately we could not stand in their way and they have moved on with our best wishes.

“Grant is a dedicated young keeper with a terrific attitude to training and games as well as being a great lad to have around the dressing room but his determination to play top flight Junior football was a lure we could not overcome.

“Our loss is undoubtedly Arthurlie’s gain, however I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if figuring in the bigger spotlight leads to him earning a step-up to the Senior ranks.

“ Willie is a talent who is every bit as motivated to play at a higher level and had a trial stint with Auchinleck around this time last season that ended without him receiving a signing offer, however Cumnock boss John McKeown clearly feels he can be part of his plans.

"Paul moving to another Super First Division outfit does not show a lack of ambition on his part as the Peasy are rumoured to be signing a whole raft of top players in seeking to step back up to the Super Premier at the first time of asking.

“And let’s not forget he has been five years at Lochburn so it’s understandable that he fancies a new challenge.”

Delaney has not held back on the recruiting front himself and has already fixed up one-time Morton signing Dylan McLaughlin from Port Glasgow as well as 20-year-old defender cum midfielder Lee McLelland, who previously played under Paul Hartley at Alloa Athletic.

And the commencement of pre-season training last Saturday is allowing the ambitious gaffer to run the rule over a further raft of prospective signings.

He said: "We still have the nucleus of a very good team capable of making a mark in the Super First Division, despite going up against the likes of Petershill, Irvine Meadow, Clydebank and Shettleston.

“And our team-building plans remain relatively unchanged in wanting to bring in no more than a handful of newcomers in preparation for testing ourselves against the so called big name clubs.

” Consolidation remains our number one priority, but the spirit and attitude among the guys is top notch and if we can just hit the ground running then who knows what might happen.”

The capture of Callander further boosts a new look Petershill midfield thought to include former players Jordan Murch and Liam Finnigan who are reputedly part of a quartet of Irvine Meadow players to have moved to the fallen Springburn giants along with team mates Chris Wilson and Chrissy Hall .

Elsewhere on the Super First transfer front comes word of relegated Shettleston’s move for Shotts Bon Accord goalkeeper Gary Whyte.

That could pave the way for the departure of experienced No.1 Bryn Halliwell whose availability is interesting ambitious Junior new boys Gartcairn.

One-time Town skipper Brian McEwan has allegedly quit the Junior scene while Chrissy McCormick has opted to join Bellshill Athletic and the former Senior duo of Keigan Parker and Ryan Frances have been placed on the open to transfer list.

Yet another departure from Greenfield Park is ex-Morton stopper Reece McGillion who has moved to Yoker Athletic whose manager Steven Reilly has reinstated striker Ryan Hynes released by Queens Park.