WITH two weeks of cup games ahead, Junior clubs in the West Region are taking the chance to reflect on the opening stages of their league campaigns.

And already five clubs have parted company with their managers as officials search for instant remedies to their teams' faltering starts.

Cumnock, Ardeer Thistle, Arthurlie and Lanark United all have new faces in their dugouts while the post at Girvan still remains unfilled.

And now Wishaw are on the lookout for a new boss after yesterday's appointment of John McKeown by Cumnock.

However, there is no such panic at Irvine Meadow, with the Medda sitting top of the the Super Premier Division despite a serious knee injury to striker Paul Maxwell.

Their season may well be defined by how their defence copes with the attacking trio of David Gormley, Graham Wilson and Keir Milliken when they face the reigning champs Auchinleck Talbot.

A much-changed Petershill have stormed out of the blocks to lead the chasing pack but Scottish Cup holders Hurlford United should put a string of early slips behind them and provide a strong challenge.

Propping up the table are Clydebank with promoted Troon, also without a win, only one point better off.

In the Super First Division, favourites Pollok already lead the way and are going to take some shifting if Tony McInally can add depth to his attacking resources of Davie Winters and Alan McKenzie.

Winters has been a scoring revelation at Newlandsfield but a rethink would be on the cards were he to get injured.

Any one of six other teams appears capable of securing a promotion spot, with Rob Roy handily placed and Willie Harvey's Rutherglen Glencairn proving hard to beat.

Shettleston are blossoming in the second tier and may pose a threat if front-man Scott Anson stays healthy.

Of the clubs around the foot of the table, Irvine Vics - led by hitman Kevin Adam - have shown up better than results would suggest and are capable of dodging the relegation trap.

How refreshing it is in the Central First Division to see signs of revival at Renfrew and Lesmahagow.

The Frew's ambitions may be tested, though, if transfer bids come in for strikers Jamie Benton and Scott Arthur.

They will also have to fend off the Lanarkshire challenge posed by Alan Irving's well-organised Gow plus Bellshill Athletic and Blantyre Vics.

At the other end of the table Ashfield seem to be in freefall while new Lanark boss John Brogan faces a tough task to stave off relegation.

Wishaw will have to act fast to get the right replacement in for popular gaffer McKeown.

Glasgow Perthshire, Port Glasgow and Cambuslang Rangers appear to have halted their downwards slides after making impressive starts to their Central Second Division league campaigns.

Rossvale and Johnstone Burgh also look promotion contenders. Wee Gers appear best equipped but their squad has been injury-prone of late.

In the Ayrshire District, the pace has been set by Kilwinning Rangers, under new boss Chris Strain. But they'll face a threat from Whitletts Vics - if prolific scorers Tony Balfour and Michael O'Connor can catch fire again - and Darvel.