SHOULD I stay or should I go is most likely a question that will be running around Beith striker Ross "Archie" McPherson’s head as he goes to training tonight.

The 29-year-old hitman was left stunned earlier this week when told he was being transfer-listed by the Ayrshire club – reputedly as punishment for voicing his displeasure at being substituted by gaffer Johnny Millar during last weekend’s Scottish Junior Cup exit to Lochee United.

But as soon as word of his availability broke, both manager and player’s phones were ringing with a significant amount of calls from rival clubs interested in snapping up the highly regarded striker whose form earlier this season resulted in him being named as one of the stand-by players for the Scotland Juniors squad taking part in the Quadrangular Tournament.

International boss Keith Burgess’s preference for his Beith team-mates Keir Milliken and David McKenna saw Archie miss out on a Scottish cap and at club level McKenna’s failure to establish himself as a regular Beith starter led to him agreeing to drop down a Division and join Renfrew on a season-long loan deal.

Ad while Archie hasn't been a first-pick at the Frew either, he does boast an impressive record of seven goals from his seven starts and would not have been thinking of himself as surplus to requirements despite firing blanks in the 4-1 defeat by Lochee.

Placing the ex-Queen's Park and Clydebank forward on the transfer list was widely interpreted to mean Beith were looking for a quick sale and whispers were already out there linking him with a move to arch rivals Kilbirnie Ladeside and a reunion with his former manager Budgie McGhie, while another school of thought reckons Petershill are keen to team Archie up with his ex-Bankies and Irvine Meadow strike partner Chrissy Hall.

But it’s now looking the case that the clamour from interested parties for his signature might have been to no avail after Archie’s revealed he is meeting up with Beith boss Millar for showdown talks tonight.

Earlier today he refused to disclose whether an opportunity was there for the pair of them to settle their differences.

Archie said: "All my transfers up to now have been when I wanted to move away so this is all new as I have never had a club wanting rid of me before.

“Yes I did speak out of turn to the gaffer and I regret it, but my words were more out of frustration at nothing going right out on the pitch than anything else and I certainly didn’t anticipate them causing this reaction.

“Going away on Monday night I was convinced my time as a Beith player was at an end and I felt disappointed knowing we are still in with a real chance of being crowned Super Premier Division champions.

“It hit home to realise there was nothing I could do about it if the gaffer wanted shot of me but then the telephone started ringing with clubs who had received permission and that put the ball back in my court.

“I was never going to be forced into making any rash decisions and more so with only three months of the season left to play so I was telling managers that a loan deal or a short-term move until the end of season were all I would consider.

“Surprisingly, none of them appeared to be put off and it was shaping up that I might be away by this weekend, but then the gaffer phoned and asked to see me for a clear-the-air meeting on Thursday night.

“Whether that means he wants me to come off the transfer list remains to be seen but there is certainly a lot of talking needing done because I need to know where I stand in his selection thoughts going forward.

“I have enjoyed my time at Bellsdale and I will always give everything for the team as a Beith player until or if I put pen to paper elsewhere.”

Another surprise turn of events last night saw Ayrshire District promotion challengers Ardrossan Winton Rovers announce they had “regrettably accepted" the resignations of boss Bryan Slaven and No 2 Drew Walsh whose shock departures have been softened by backroom team coach Mark McCann agreeing to continue looking after the team until a replacement is found.