Maryhill boss Brian Heron has been left with a huge selection headache ahead of next Saturday's round of friendly fixtures, which start the countdown to the 2014/15 Junior season.

Liverpool-born goalkeeper Jack Baker has moved back down south due to family commitments, leaving Heron to worry that he may have to do without his outstanding No.1 in the long term.

He explained: "As Junior keepers go, I rate Jack on a par with the very best going the rounds so to lose him at this stage of the season is a bit of a body blow.

"I don't know whether the big fellow will be back between the posts next week, next month or indeed not at all.

"One way or another we need to have things resolved before our first friendly run-out against Sauchie Juniors in the Dunipace pre-season Tournament taking place on Saturday July 26.

" If Jack cannot commit to taking part over the next few days, then it's imperative we bring in a trialist so that he can familiarise himself with the players, particularly the defenders immediately in front of him."

Former full-back Donnie Wilson has retired from playing duties, though he will stay on at the club after agreeing to take up a coaching post with Maryhill's Under-16s.

Another backroom move at Lochburn park sees former striker James McLernon appointed as first-team coach to work alongside Heron and his long-standing No.2 George Wall.

The Hill gaffer added: "Jambo brings a welcome freshness to the training ground and both George and I reckon the players will be better for working with him."

Heron is adamant he will not ring the changes on the playing front, preferring instead to re-sign the nucleus of last season's youthful team while also running the rule over a handful of prospective newcomers in pre-season training sessions.

He said: "We prefer to nurture our own talent and pick up one or two experienced players along the way, like my former Greenock striker Andy Monagahan who joined us towards the end of last season but had his appearances limited by a niggling hamstring problem.

"He is now fully recovered after resting up over the summer months and he will be like a new signing for the team, as will another of my former Greenock players, Paul Temporal, who is a versatile defender capable of playing anywhere across the back.

"And only yesterday we finally fixed up Carlo Scaramuzzi, who was the inspirational centre-half in the Irvine Vics side that ran out Ayrshire District League title winners last season and is someone we have been chasing for some time.

"Player-wise we might lack in quantity, but the quality is there."

Elsewhere, Super Premier outfit Arthurlie have also made a backroom team, with boss Gavin Duncan bringing in Mark 'Branco' Cameron to replace ex-assistant Danny Drew, who was quit because of work commitments.

Cameron formerly managed the Barrhead club prior to serving as James Ward's No.2 at Albion Rovers and his knowledge of the Senior scene is thought to have led to the signing of midfielder Rhys Devlin from East Stirling.