SEASONED team boss Ian Currie insists dropping into the Central Second Division won’t mean the end of the world for Vale of Clyde…though it does bring the curtain down on his managerial tenure at Fullarton Park.

The affable Junior character had made his mind up to call it quits long before Saturday’s 1-1 draw in their final league game of the season at home to Greenock Juniors left the Tin Pail staring down the barrel of a relegation fate.

Even their most diehard followers would find it difficult to imagine Currie and his playing charges managing to retain their First Division status given they currently sit in a precarious fourth from bottom spot in the standings - one place above the drop zone and one point better off than a Forth Wanderers side needing just two points from their remaining four games to leapfrog over their basement rivals.

But the ever-optimistic Currie reckons an alternative survival route might prove his side’s salvation.

He reasoned: “I’ll never accept we are down until it’s a mathematical certainty and right now a lot of pressure is piling on Lesmahagow whose 2-0 weekend defeat of Bellshill Athletic put them ahead of us through a +3 goals differential.

“But the Gow’s final two league games are against title challenging Larkhall Thistle, desperately needing the points themselves, as well as fourth top Rossvale so I see there being a decent likelihood of back to back defeats along with a swing of more than three goals?

“I’m sure there will be people out there thinking I’m just a manager clutching at straws but whether we stay up or not will make no difference to my decision to call it a day.

“The search begins now for someone capable of taking the team forward and we are hopeful of getting the right man.”

Currie whose four years at the Tollcross club’s helm followed on from a successful stint in charge of Clyde Youths revealed he would not be severing all his ties with the famous old Glasgow outfit.

He said: “We only have two committee men to soldier on with the multitude of tasks needing to be carried out behind the scenes at a Junior club so I’m joining the committee next season and will gladly put up the nets or line the pitch to help out.

“I couldn’t just turn my back on the Vale altogether as there is a strong bond between this club and my family considering my brothers Alex and Jim both played here as did myself and my own son Dean.

“I can look back on a lot great times playing here under Bobby Crilly while as a manager in my own right I have great pride in the team I led to the Sectional League Cup Final in 2015 only to lose out on penalty-kicks against Petershill.

“And let’s not overlook the vast number of outstanding players who have gone on to play at a higher level after being firstly developed here over the past four years.

“Scott McManus and Ryan Francis who both stepped up to Clyde are names that immediately spring to mind as well as the talented Del Hepburn who is nowadays the darling of the Pollok fans.”

Currie owned up to a waning of his enthusiasm as the cause for him stepping down from his managerial post.

He revealed: “I am someone from the old school in Junior football where playing for a club and your team-mates was the be all and end all.

“In my day you never wanted let the side down so getting yourself as fit as possible on the training ground was a given but players nowadays are not of that ilk and too many of them just want to appear and play a game of football on a Saturday afternoon.

“It’s been a growing source of frustration to have only 9/10 players turning up for our training sessions and then there’s the telephone calls on a Friday night or even on a Saturday morning to say they are unavailable to play.

“I speak my mind as everyone knows so it’s possibly best to stand aside now and see if a new approach can do the trick…it might also do wonders for my blood pressure.”

Junior fans may wish to note that this coming Saturday will see the first confirmed West Region league champions…Glasgow Perthshire receiving their Central Second Division silverware prize at their last home league game against East Kilbride Thistle.

And to mark the occasion, Shire club officials have magnanimously decided to allow free admission to anyone wanting to take in the Keppoch Park encounter.

THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES

WEDNESDAY

(Kick-offs 7pm)

Central League Cup second round: Benburb v Thorniewood Utd, Johnstone Burgh v Forth Wanderers, Rob Roy v St Roch's, Newmains Utd v Lesmahagow, Port Glasgow v Pollok, Shettleston v Rutherglen Glencairn.

Third round: Arthurlie v Gartcairn, East Kilbride Thistle v Petershill.

Ayrshire Cup second round: Dalry Thistle v Annbank Utd, Girvan v Glenafton, Maybole v Whitletts Vics, Troon v Auchinleck Talbot.

SATURDAY

(Kick-offs 2pm)

New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup semi-final: Pollok v Kilsyth Rangers.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Arthurlie v Kilwinning Rangers, Glenafton v Hurlford Utd, Rob Roy v Auchinleck Talbot.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Maryhill v Blantyre Vics, Clydebank v Girvan.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Rossvale v Cambuslang Rangers, Thorniewood Utd v Forth Wanderers, Bellshill Athletic v Neilston, Wishaw v St Roch's, Lesmahagow v Larkhall Thistle.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Carluke Rovers v Dunipace, Ashfield v Royal Albert, Lanark Utd v Gartcairn, Glasgow Perthshire v East Kilbride Thistle.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Dalry Thistle v Craigmark, Lugar Boswell v Annbank Utd, Maybole v Darvel.

Central League Cup third round: Shotts Bon Accord v Yoker Athletic.

Ayrshire Cup second round: Beith v Irvine Meadow, Irvine Vics v Cumnock.