IF you're going to start at the bottom in Junior football and work your way up then where better to take the reins than at Newmains United.

It's difficult to imagine a tougher gig than the one now facing newly-installed team manager John Fallon whose passion for the Junior game and renowned ability to rally players behind his various causes are set to receive their most testing examination yet.

Lanarkshire's most ailing minnow of a club have struggled to keep their heads above water this season and this has been reflected on the playing side where United's players exited every cup at the first-round stage and have accumulated a mere five points from 15 league matches (astonishingly their only victory came in a 1-0 defeat of champions Rossvale) to sit rock bottom of the Central Second Division standings.

Only someone with unquenchable enthusiasm would contemplate making this Victoria Park leap of faith, however Fallon has typically went about the task of instilling a bit of organisation and building up the spirits of his playing charges ahead of this week's Euroscot Eng Central League Cup opener against Carluke Rovers who ran out 7-0 winners when the clubs met earlier this season.

One-time Vale of Clyde and Kilwinning Rangers midfielder Johnny Hart has been enlisted to help on the coaching side of things allowing 34-year-old John to concentrate on strengthening his playing hand with a few choice recruits.

He said: "This past week or so has been spent getting to know our playing strengths and weaknesses so our first moves have resulted in Michael Stewart coming on board along with Chris Faulds (Wishaw) and I am also close to signing up Scott Gibbins who previously played under me at St Roch's.

"Other transfer moves are likely but our planning now is focused on next season and we intend to use what games are left this time out to experiment and run the rule over up-and-coming players with potential.

"Landing a team of Carluke's calibre in the League Cup is not ideal because they are really flying at the present moment and have reeled off eight wins on the spin with their two outstanding frontmen Ryan Smillie and Ian Watt seemingly scoring for fun.

"It's a huge ask to turn fortunes around particularly as Newmains have not won a cup game since 2012, but if the players have a go and give me everything in their tanks then I'll be one happy manager at the final whistle on Saturday ... regardless of the result."

Rovers hitman Smillie, who was previously on the books of leading lights Shotts Bon Accord, Petershill and Kilbirnie Ladeside, scored a hat-trick in the 7-0 Sectional Cup drubbing and the bad news for Newmains defenders is that the jet-paced striker is eager to add to his impressive scoring record to date.

He insisted: "Ian and I have teamed up to form a decent partnership and are both on the same 22 goals mark so there's a healthy competition between us but the team always comes first in our thoughts.

"We are on a good winning run and want to keep it going so Newmains will be afforded every respect not least because having a new manager will have their players bursting a gut to impress."

Seasoned Carluke team boss Colin Slater is ecstatic over his side's winning ways but he winced having to recall how their run got underway following a 7-1 hammering at home to Benburb.

He revealed: "That was a shocker of a performance that acted to give everyone a much-needed kick up the backsides and to be fair the players have been magnificent ever since in rising to third-top spot in the table.

"Whether we can yet figure in the promotion battle is a possibility albeit a distinct one given the points start we gave all the other leading teams."

The former stopper admits to selection woes for Saturday's all-Lanarkshire showdown with suspension ruling out Dean Kindlan on top of injury concerns about Mark Haddow (shoulder) and Greg Cavanagh (ankle).

He added: "People might think this an ideal opportunity to rest up players who have been carrying knocks but Newmains will get the same respect as if we were playing the league leaders Bellshill Athletic and that means fielding our strongest possible XI.

"Another reason is I'm desperate to stretching our winning run to nine games so it's a marvellous boost to have Craig Stark back fit again following an accident at work as he is the driving force of the team ... even at the age of 37."

Meanwhile, the rugged Rovers gaffer has expressed his disgust at the sheer wanton vandalism that has caused the Newmains clash to be switched to Tileworks Park in Stonehouse.

He explained: "Some brainless idiots took it upon themselves on Sunday night to set fire to the storage container which holds matting and equipment used by high-jumpers from the Sports Club and the blaze spread on the artificial surface and badly burned a huge tract of the pitch as well as one of the goals and netting.

"The consequences for the team and our slim promotion hopes could be disastrous because there has to be every likelihood we will not get back on the pitch this season."