St Cuthbert Wanderers have moved quickly to appoint a new manager.
The South of Scotland League champions have picked Josh Gardner (pictured) to replace Jordan Williamson, who left to take the reins at Dalbeattie Star earlier this month.
The former Albion Rovers, Clyde and Gartcairn coach will be assisted by Scott Black with Paul Hilston and Ian Clark, as well as long-serving St Cuthbert Wanderers player Raymond Gordon, as coaches.
He said: “St Cuthberts have got quite a contingency of central belt players and I’ve coached a lot of them beforehand. I think the contact came through a couple of them and I think the recommendation came through John Renwick.
“I had a meeting with the committee and they seemed to like what I said.
“I’m a central belt guy as well and, if I’m being totally honest, before a couple of the central boys signed for Saints I didn’t really know who they were, so I’ve only really known about them for a season. A lot of those guys speak really highly of the committee, the facilities and how they’re treated.
“When I went down to the ground I was really impressed, it would give a lot of the central belt clubs a run for their money. Facilities wise it’s probably one of the best you’ll see.
“I thought the committee were brilliant, they had a real enthusiasm for the game, you can tell they love the club and they can’t do enough for you.”
Gardner has had coaching stints with several central belt clubs including Gartcairn and SPFL sides Albion Rovers and Clyde, where he was involved with development teams as well as enjoying some opportunities with the first team.
He also had spells with Royal Albert and East Kilbride Thistle before taking amateur side AS Airdrie to their best league finish in a decade and a cup final last season.
He said: “I’ve got a wee bit of experience and I’ve built up contacts in the professional game as I’ve learned under good managers like Danny Lennon and Brian Kerr and I just feel as if this is the next step.
“Jordan and his staff have done a great job and they’ve left after a successful year and he’ll probably go on to do really well at Dalbeattie.
“I think you’ve always got to strive for better, there’s no point me coming in and saying I want to do the same or worse. I want to try to kick on.
“I’d like to grow the connection between the professional clubs in and around Kirkcudbright to build a better player pool and to retain the league title and try to build a team that’s more equipped for the play-offs.”
Saints chairperson, Tracey McGarrie, said: “We are naturally disappointed to lose Jordan, but from my first meeting with Josh it was apparent that his ethos was similar to that of Jordan’s and we were making the right choice.
