ARTHURLIE have gone outside Junior football in appointing Billy Ogilvie as their new team manager.

The 57-year-old who famously steered Lowland League outfit East Kilbride in their 2-0 Scottish Cup fifth round defeat by Celtic in 2016 was up against several well-known Junior names when interviewed for the vacant Barrhead post on Sunday but he emerged as the preferred choice of club officials and their subsequent discussions led to him being offered the job in a tea-time telephone call.

Ogilvie’s impressive credentials – he has vast experience at Senior and Youth Football level as well as a Uefa A Licence – will not prevent eyebrows being raised at his appointment given his only Junior nous up to now has been gleaned as a spectator and more often than not at Newlandsfield (home of Arthurlie’s arch-rivals Pollok) which happens to be a mere stone’s throw from his Shawlands home.

His taking up the reins might be perceived as a gamble but not by the man himself who came across as both knowledgeable and enthusiastic when responding last night ahead of meeting his new playing charges for the first time.

He revealed: “Playing with everybody and nobody in the amateurs during my younger days hasn’t done my career any harm up to now and I have never failed to convince people of my qualities at the side of the park.

“Fully 14 years working with various Queen's Park Youth sides and a very successful Reserve team that won the league and cup double was all I had known prior to stepping into the relative unknown of the Lowland League at East Kilbride yet we built a team there that enjoyed phenomenal success including a 4-1 cup final victory over Spartans in my final game in charge.

“Interestingly enough we started out at E.K. with just a couple of players on the books yet two years later were running out to face a Celtic side containing the likes of Scott Brown, Lee Griffiths and Keiran Tierney.

“The good people at Arthurlie made no secret of the fact that there are only 14 signed players during my interview but I look upon being 12 players better off as quite a bonus.

“A lot of hard work goes into building a successful team but what’s even more important is to get the time and patience to do the job.

“That’s the long term aim but right now my focus and that of the players has to be on getting the better of Lesmahagow in this week’s Scottish Junior Cup replay.”

Ogilvie has been back working alongside Gardner Spiers at Queen's Park since his surprise ousting at East Kilbride and his move into the Juniors and coaching abilities were lauded by none other than Pollok gaffer Tony McInally.

He insisted: “Bilko is a very highly regarded coach and has won trophies wherever he has gone in football so you can bet he will make huge improvements at Arthurlie given time and backing.

“He has extensive contacts throughout football and will have a few playing aces tucked up his sleeves and I’m already looking forward to having a battle of wits with him when our teams meet.

“He will be the seventh Arthurlie manager I have locked horns with during my three and a bit seasons at Pollok and if he transforms their fortunes then our supporters will give him pelters in and around Shawlands.”

Ogilvie gave no indication of his likely Dunterlie backroom team, however his plans do not include Jimmy Lyndsay and Willie McCulloch who have stepped down after taking charge in the Barrhead club’s 3-3 Craighead Park draw against Lesmahagow.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm unless stated)

Scottish Junior Cup second round (2.30pm): Forth Wanderers v Irvine Vics, Dalry Thistle v Glenafton (Abbey Park), Annbank Utd v Colony Park, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Penicuik Athletic. Replays (2.30pm): Petershill v Port Glasgow, Arthurlie v Lesmahagow, Arniston Rangers v Wishaw, Forfar West End v Dundee Violet,Whitburn v Buchanhaven Hearts, Oakley Utd v Dufftown.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Girvan v Cumnock, Auchinleck Talbot v Beith, Kilwinning Rangers v Hurlford Utd.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Kilsyth Rangers v Kello Rovers, Renfrew v Blantyre Vics, Cumbernauld Utd v Irvine Meadow, Largs Thistle v Darvel, Renfrew v Cambuslang Rangers, Rutherglen Glencairn v Troon, Maryhill v Shettleston.

McBookie.com Central First Division: St Roch's v Yoker Athletic, Benburb v Glasgow Perthshire, Shotts Bon Accord v Thorniewood Utd, Blantyre Vics v Greenock, Rossvale v Neilston.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Lanark Utd v Dunipace, St Anthony's v Gartcairn, Vale of Clyde v Ashfield, Bellshill Athletic v Newmains Utd, Carluke Rovers v Vale of Leven, Johnstone Burgh v Royal Albert.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Saltcoats Vics, Craigmark v Whitletts Vics, Lugar Boswell v Ardeer Thistle, Maybole v Muirkirk.

SUNDAY

(Kick-off 1.30pm)

Central Sectional Cup Final: Clydebank v Pollok (Somervell Park).