What a difference11 months can make in Junior football circles…just ask Stevie Mooney and Stevie Dallas.

Greenock's appointment of the seasoned pair as their new management team last May saw the Tail O’The Bank outfit’s stock soar.

The feelfood factor emerged as the experienced duo’s tutelage helped secure a place in the Central League Cup Final in the wake of their club’s relegation from the Super First Division.

A subsequent 7-1 Somervell Park finale mauling from “an excellent Pollok side” did not unduly affect Greenock’s newly-acquired standing in the game.

And there was no lack of justification for them being installed as one of the frontrunners for promotion from the Central First Division this time out.

Yet it was only last Monday night that safety from the ignominy of back-to-back relegation seasons was mathematically rubber-stamped by fellow basement strugglers Vale of Clyde suffering a 2-1 defeat against Larkhall Thistle on the same night as goals from Stefan Law (2), Damon Walsh and Craig Forbes saw Thorniewood United run out 4-1 winners over a Greenock line-up inclusive of both 40 years plus stagers Mooney and Dallas.

And word of Tollcross matters filtering through combined with the sounding of the final whistle at Robertson Park culminated in a dressing room talk-in where the once highly regarded Petershill pairing sat their playing charges down to reveal they would be stepping down from their management roles.

Last night Mooney admitted: "I will forever hold a soft spot for Greenock Juniors in light of the many enjoyable times here in my first stint as manager.

"But Stevie and I simply cannot continue to hold the club’s head above water.

“It’s been nothing but hard work right from the start of this season with only a couple of elderly committee men in Alex Wilson and Billy Barbour able to help out and not being able to offer so much as the relative basics of training gear has led to us hitting a brick wall in our attempts to attract new players on board which is why Dallas and myself have resorted to turning out for the team.

“I have to say the guys in our dressing room are a terrific bunch and our regard for them is such that we intend to hang fire and see things out until the end of season despite recent results ensuring there is no chance of us going down.

"And it’s the right decision to have Thomas Molloy and Shaun Dillon waiting in the wings to take over next season as they are both born and bred Greenock lads whose great contacts at amateur level down here will be a godsend for the club and I truly wish them every success for the future.

Mooney looks back with great pride on his previous stint at the Ravenscraig Stadium helm when he helped develop the careers of strikers Kenny Mackay (Annan Athletic) and John Carter (Queens Park ).

He insisted: "Kenny was a special goalscoring talent while John never gave less than 100 per cent and I’m delighted he's nowadays part of the Glenafton side preparing for this season’s Scottish Junior Cup Final.

“The current side are not short of star turns either as both Dallas and I are of the opinion that midfielder Colin Gailey has the ability to go and play at a much higher level and the same can be said of big defender Corey Hughes whose displays have already brought an approach from a Super Premier Division team .

“Our team captain Martin Orr is another terrific Junior but given the circumstances behind the scenes at Greenock this season, I have nothing but the highest praise for every player on the club’s books .

“And I simply must include Dallas in this respect as our drop fears were blown away by an outstanding run of five wins on the spin dating back to mid-February and he played as our centre-half in all those games.”

Greenock have four league fixtures yet to fulfil this season starting with a trip up to Glasgow to face the Ian Currie- steered Vale of Clyde for whom the Fullarton Park encounter is a must-win clash according to Mooney.

He added: "The best side have played this season are Cambuslang Rangers, but they hit a wobbly patch after the turn of the year that enabled Larkhall Thistle and St Roch's to close the gap.

"However, both of them are also showing signs of being affected by nerves and right now I wouldn’t like to hazard a guess as to which one of the trio will miss out on going up.

“At the other end of the table, Johnstone Burgh are already down and five teams are battling to avoid ending up in the remaining two drop spots however Neilston have so many games in hand that I see them clambering clear so my money …for what it’s worth… is on Bellshill Athletic and the Tin Pail taking a tumble.

“It’s only fair that we continue to give our all and try to pick up points in what games are left even if our number one aim is to try and go the whole way again in the Central League Cup where we are away to Carluke Rovers or Rossvale in the next round.

“I still love my football and will look forward to the Cup game but it says everything about our troubles that I cannot wait for the season to finish.”

PLAYING TOMORROW (Kickoffs 2pm ):

McBookie.com Super Premier Division.

Troon v Beith , Arthurlie v Glenafton, Hurlford Utd v Auchinleck Talbot,

Rob Roy v Kilbirnie Ladeside .

McBookie.com Super First Division.

Irvine Vics v Maryhill , Rutherglen Glencairn v Irvine |Meadow, Kilsyth Rangers v Girvan, Petershill v Clydebank, Renfrew v Shotts Bon Accord,Yoker Athletic v Blantyre Vics .

McBookie.com Central First Division.

Thorniewood Utd v Cambuslang Rangers, Vale of Clyde v Greenock, Lesmahagow v Bellshill Athletic, Forth Wanderers v Benburb, Johnstone Burgh v St Roch's, Neilston v Larkhall Thistle.

McBookie.com Central Second Division.

Newmains Utd v Port Glasgow, Gartcairn v Ashfield, Dunipace v Lanark Utd, Glasgow Perthshire v East Kilbride Thistle.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League. Craigmark v Maybole, Dalry Thistle v Annbank Utd, Darvel v Muirkirk.

Central League Cup.Second Round.

Carluke Rovers v Rossvale.