THERE was once a time when Junior football’s unique transfer scene (no windows as such so players are permitted to move between clubs right up until April 1) was seen as an opportunity at Pollok…but that’s no longer true nowadays.

Just ask Lok boss Tony McInally, someone reputed to have substantial funds at his disposal following his recent offloading to Super Premier Division counterparts Kilwinning Rangers of highly-rated pair Findlay Frye and Carlo Monti.

As an aside, a renowned Pollok manager from the past, Tommy Reynolds preached the message “You don’t sell players to your rivals if it makes them stronger” but did the Southside outfit’s current incumbent Macca have any other choice?

Certainly not in Frye’s case as the midfielder’s reported work and travel commitments issues dictated he had limited options and could only join an Ayrshire-based club while one assumes there is more than a little substance in the circulating stories of an extraordinary behind the scenes bust-up between Monti and his hitherto only Junior club.

The very fact he had not featured in his manager’s selection thoughts ever since the Exsel Group League Cup quarter-final defeat by Rob Roy in late August made the former Celtic, Morton and Dundee signing’s departure a fait accompli that dragged on for almost two months until Kilwinning tabled a deal to suit all parties.

These twin transfers reduce the Newlandsfield dressing room to just 16 players … inclusive of two goalkeepers … so reinforcements in the shape of three key signings are possibly required and sooner rather than later … however it’s difficult in the extreme to envisage where McInally can hope to indulge himself with a pre-Xmas shopping spree.

There is little if any manoeuvring room apparent with other Super Premier sides while what gems there are at Super First Division level are tied up with promotion challenging clubs who are unlikely to entertain approaches for their playing assets.

The Pollok gaffer admitted: “Time is clearly of the essence but this is not a good stage of the season to be looking to recruit players.

“And more so given I am not going to make buys simply to boost numbers as any newcomers have to be capable of holding down a place in the team.

“Hopefully one or two guys of the right quality come to the surface but if not then I will have no hesitation in going with the current squad and wait to see what Senior players become available in the January window.

“Injuries and suspensions could force us into a rethink but we’ll deal with that situation if and when it happens.”

Pollok take to the road on Saturday looking to pick up three points away to Super Premier bottom markers Largs Thistle, without a point from seven league games, and Macca reports a clean bill of health inclusive of regular No.1 Jordan Longmuir who sat out last weekend’s 4-0 Scottish Junior Cup win over Glentanar.

He said: “Jordan has been troubled with a niggling groin strain so we took the opportunity to rest him and give his deputy Ben Lawton some game time.”

Largs boss Stuart Davidson, taking charge of his first home game since being appointed team manager, is determined to end his side’s dismal sequence of results.

He insisted: “We are conceding far too many goals and need to tighten up defensively if we want to put points on the board.

“Bringing in new faces might give us a shot in the arm but I’m sticking by Creag Little and Nicky Jamieson who are top-notch Junior types and deserving of the chance to turn things around.

“Pollok will be a test for us, however Gary Fleming will be better for playing his first 90 minutes in months and it also helps our cause for Kevin Struthers to have returned to training this week without any reaction.

“We need all our best players in order to kick on from here and those two fall into that category.”

In other top flight contests, early frontrunners Rob Roy will be going all out to rack up a sixth consecutive league win when heading down to face Troon at Portland Park.

Second-placed Glenafton's title aspirations will be given a severe examination by a resurgent Cumnock and any slip up by the Glens could see them overtaken in the standings by reigning champions Auchinleck Talbot if they prevail at home to Hurlford United.