Jordan Williamson says it was a “hard decision” to quit St Cuthbert Wanderers for Dalbeattie Star.
He was appointed as Star’s new boss on Monday, taking over from Chris Jardine. Assistant Ross Hyslop and coach Jonny Rawlings have also made the switch.
It follows three seasons at St Mary’s Park. Last term he steered Saints to the South of Scotland League title – their first since 2016 – as well as the Haig Gordon Cup and the Potts Cup.
Williamson said: “The relationship I built with everybody connected to Saints meant it was a hard decision to make.
“We were made to feel so welcome and given so much scope to achieve our goals. It’s always tough to walk away from a club that has given you so much scope to be successful.
“There comes a point when we need to look at ourselves and look at the next step for progression.
“This was the right step to move up a league.
“We’re looking forward to getting started. It’s an honour to take over with the history and ambition the club has.
“Hopefully we can implement at Dalbeattie some of the successes and projects that we’ve done at Saints.”
Star finished 12th in the Lowland League last season and won the South of Scotland Challenge Cup.
But six members of that squad have left for Threave Rovers, while Russell Currie and Jack Dickinson have moved to Gretna 2008.
Williamson said: “Quite a few players have decided to move on, which has probably put us in a better stead as we have a clean slate to work there with.
“We can implement our own ideas with our own type of player rather than shoehorning in players who are already at the club into our system when it maybe wouldn’t be for them.
“We want to replicate the season that’s just been and then kick on from there.
“We’ll be bringing in a lot of players that are ours – whether that’s a couple of boys from Saints or new signings on top.”
Dalbeattie Star board member, Kenny Murray, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jordan to the club. It took a wee while to get this finally over the line but obviously Jordan’s previous club were playing right up until Tuesday.
“We had to be respectful to St Cuthbert Wanderers who have been excellent to deal with over the last few weeks as we have been trying to get things finalised.
“We look forward to Jordan bringing us further success and hopefully push us up the Lowland League in the seasons to come.”
Saints are now working on appointing a new manager and hope to make an announcement shortly.
A club statement said: “Whilst we are naturally disappointed that Jordan is moving on, the chance to manage a club in the Lowland League meant we could not stand in his way.
“There is no denying the impact Jordan had made in his three years at the club, both on and off the field, culminating in bringing the league trophy to St Mary’s Park, along with the Haig Gordon Memorial Trophy and Potts Cup, and he moves on with the club’s very best
wishes.”
Meanwhile, Star will once again be playing Old Firm colts teams in the Lowland League next season.
Youth sides from Celtic and Rangers were allowed to take part last term – a move that was only due to last one season.
Each club will also pay a £40,000 entrance fee, up from last season’s £25,000.
