Gutted Martin Lauchlan has parted company with Rossvale – midway through the club’s most successful ever season.

The 35-year-old former Partick Thistle midfielder cited ‘interference by the committee’ as his reason for leaving the high-flying Bishopbriggs side.

Lauchlan took over the reins at Vale 20 months ago, and took the club from the depths of the Central District Second Division to within touching distance of the top of the First.

But a bust-up during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Lesmahagow, which took Vale up to third top, proved the final straw for Lauchlan.

He informed the club that he would be leaving at the end of the season, but a hastily-arranged committee meeting decided that the manager should leave immediately.

Lauchlan told Times Sport: “Everything that myself, Carlo Girasoli and Paul Roberts have done at the club has been successful, so it is a disappointing way to end.

“When we took over, Rossvale were second bottom of the Second Division with very few players, and we won the league in record time last season. We were also favourites to win the league this season.

“I’m a football man, but I don’t mind dealing with committees, but there is a line, and once that’s crossed, that’s it. There can be no going back.

“When everyone is pulling in the same direction it is unbelievable. I feel for the players because they are absolutely devastated and I don’t want them to react in the wrong way. It’s nice to hear that they are 100 percent behind us, but I want them to keep doing their best for Rossvale.”

This season, Rossvale made the last 16 of the Scottish and West Cups for the first time in their history. Lauchlan was keen to finish the job he started, and had put a five-year plan in place, but won’t be around to see it through.

He said: “There is a great infrastructure in place at Rossvale, which sees kids coming through all the different age groups. We embraced that and started working on the Pathway programme, which was fantastic.

“We now have the youngest team in junior football, with an average age of around the 19, 20 mark. I didn’t ever go for seasoned junior player because my aim has always been to promote young players.

“The only reason we brought in the likes of Bobby Petta and Robbie Winters was because sponsors took care of it. It just added that wee bit of experience that sometimes you need.

“We leave a good squad of around 25 players, which for a club like Rossvale is a great foundation.

"To be honest, the players have been absolutely brilliant for us. They have given us everything, and that’s a tough thing to get these days.

“With the players the club has, anyone who comes in and takes the job has the best start any manager could hope for, so I want them to go on and finish the job.”

Lauchlan insisted he is far from bitter, and is desperate to see Rossvale triumph this season.

He said: “I want to thank Rossvale Chairman Ian Grey for giving me a great opportunity, but I just wish he had taken more of a hands-on approach with the juniors because I felt the junior committee he left in charge was a bit too inexperienced.

“I did mention to them two or three times about interfering and it all came to a head on Saturday. I told them I would be leaving at the end of the season because I couldn’t work like that any longer.

“But they had a meeting and asked me to go immediately, which I was totally fine with, because I was only staying on till the end of the season for the players.

“I’m really disappointed that I can’t finish the job I started, because I had a five-year plan in place.

“I will now take a wee bit of time out and sit and wait for the next option. Carlo, Paul and I came in as a backroom team and we will go as a team. Carlo and I will go and watch some games now, but I won’t jump at the first offer that comes along, because the club has to be right.

“Rossvale was the right club for me but sometimes in life you just have to stick to your principles.”

Rossvale have released a statement, which reads: “It is with regret that we announce the parting by mutual consent of Martin Lauchlan and Carlo Girasoli.

“We would like to thank the coaches for all the time and effort they have put in to taking our club to great heights in their short reign at Rossvale FC.

“This decision was not taken lightly and from everyone at Rossvale we thank Martin and Carlo for helping put our club on the junior map and we are sure it won’t be too long before they are back doing what they love best.”