CUMNOCK HAVE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER ?

IS HITMAN JORDAN ON THE VERGE OF GOING ELSEWHERE ?

Cumnock’s previous Scottish Junior Cup victory (1989) was followed by the departure of their top scorer Gerry Phillips before the start of the following season after he hung up the boots.

And so it has come to pass that history may be about to repeat itself (in a fashion) with word coming out this week that the 19 month long alliance between the current Cup holders…fresh from their 1-0 triumph over Rutherglen Glencairn last month…and leading marksman Jordan Moore is about to come to an end?

The scorer of 31 goals last season was instrumental to the Ayrshire club getting their hands on the coveted Cup silverware …well it was his header that hit the post and rebounded along the line for Findlay Frye to net from point blank range in the Final …has asked to be made available for transfer despite having a year left on his contract.

Earlier he was at pains to insist, “Asking away is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done because Cumnock are a fantastic club with a wonderful support who have backed me to the hilt ever since I came on board.

“I must also stress there’s been no fall-out with anyone connected with the club least of all the new gaffer John Doyle and his assistant Craig Palmer however I feel the need for a change and want to try my luck elsewhere .”

Jordan is aware of interested clubs enquiring after his netfinding qualities ,most notably Darvel whose manager Tony McInally , a former Townhead Park team boss no less, is reputed to have offered a substantial transfer fee said to be significantly short of Cumnock’s valuation of their star striker.

And how can one disagree with their stance in fending off bids seeing as Moore will almost certainly get better for having all his best years in front of him whereas the aforesaid loss of Phillips was never going to be quite so sorely felt as he called time on playing for Cumnock coming up to his 34^th birthday when he was only going to … well, get older(sorry Gerry)

To say the vastly experienced Doyle who has managed St Cadocs, Greenock, St Anthonys and Cambuslang Rangers among others , has endured a tough baptism since assuming the Nock hotseat helm in the wake of Cup winning gaffer Brian McGinty’s shock resignation , would be putting it mildly as he has already overseen the departures (not of his making) of forward line pair Brendan Sharpe and Graham Boyd, Kyle McAusland (retired) and loan signing Jamie Dolan, recalled by his parent club Stranraer.

Enlisting striker Robbie Buchanan (Pollok), winger Tam McGaughey (Arthurlie), midfield playmaker Jambo McKernon (Troon) and defender Keirin Coleman ( Blantyre Vics) has helped considerably in filling the void however finding a replacement for Moore ,if indeed Doyly and club officials decide to let their prolific marksman leave , appears to be an infinitely bigger ask as is coming up with a successor for key midfield sitter Jamie Wilson, also allegedly looking for a move to pastures new and said to have both Darvel and Pollok vying for his signature?

NEW CUMNOCK MIDFIELD SIGNING JAMBO McKERNON

31 year old Wilson who featured in midweek when Cumnock ran out 5-0 pre-season winners over Caledonian Locomotives thanks to goals from Buchanan(2) Frye, Jarred Willet and Greg Ferry is tipped to get more playing time in tomorrow’s friendly match at home to a totally revamped Cambuslang Rangers side whose manager Paul McColl is trying to come to grips with the close season exodus of last season’s entire playing squad along with the exit of his long standing No 2 Billy Campbell due to work commitments.

Said the Wee Gers chief,” Jon Petrie ,previously of St Rochs ,has come in as my No 2 along with a knowledgeable coach in James McKnight and we’ve already turned our attention to putting a decent side out on the pitch by bringing in established names Terry Hewitt (Petershill), Jordan Shelvey (Arthurlie) and Gary Fleming (ex-Dumbarton).

“Others like Josh Moore (brother of Jordan no less) Ross McDonald (St Rochs) and Andy Duncan (St Cadocs) are close to making a similar commitment so the signs are promising albeit we continue to be a bit short of numbers and are having to make do with a number of our Under 20 players to get us through our pre-season games.”

CAMBUSLANG BOSS McCOLL HAS A MAJOR REBUILD ON HIS HANDS

He won’t like it said but it’s hard to seriously consider the relegated Wee Gers as potential First Division promotion or title challengers over the coming season given the rash of transfer activity among rival clubs, most notably big spending Johnstone Burgh whose eye-opening addition of ex-Rangers , Hearts and Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty in midweek has acted to further strengthen a Keanie Park dressing room already comprising of former Pollok trio Del Esplin, Gary and Stuart McCann, Dale Simeon and Callum Nolan (Arthurlie) Bryan Wharton (Irvine Meadow) and not forgetting one time Scotland internationalist midfielder Graham Dorrans.

No doubt there will be plenty of interest in the outcome of the Burgh hosting the visit of the always formidable Hurlford United tomorrow while another of the First Division’s ambitious clubs Petershill will be hoping to build on their midweek 1-1 draw at against Premier Division kingpins Beith when going up against last season’s East Region champions Linlithgow Rose (now in the Lowland League) through in Springburn.

If their Beith performance is anything to go by( Petershill led 1-0 through a Darren Miller penalty kick that was only cancelled out by a second half Andy Monk equalizer) then Peasy gaffer Stevie McNeil’s less illustrious summer acquisitions of Thomas Sinclair (Vale of Clyde), Ryan Thomson (St Cadocs), P.J. McGiff(East Kilbride F.C.) Cammy McNeil (Cumbernauld Colts), Jamie Adam( Finnart) and Ryan Haxton (Kilbirnie Ladeside) may well give the Burgh a run for their reputed vast reserves of money

Drumchapel United whose fourth best finish last time out saw them pipped to a step up place are similarly fancied to be there or thereabouts as are the Stevie Aitken led Kilwinning Rangers, also in action tomorrow against St Cadocs at New Tinto Park.

Meanwhile, the midweek round of games cannot be consigned to the memory banks without due heed being given to Josh Fowler making an appearance for Beith at Petershill Park despite recent claims to the contrary that he had played his last game for Chris Strain’s side and was earmarked for a step up into the Senior ranks with Kilmarnock.

But arguably more tongues were set wagging across city at Newlandsfield ,home of Pollok, after Fraser Mullen, Chris Duff, Adam Forde, Connor Morgan and Alex Cassells(2) netted in an overwhelming 7-0 victory over visitors Glasgow United whose ranks included highly controversial Scottish striker David Goodwillie.

WEEKEND GAMES: (various kick off times). Friendly Matches: Petershill v Linlithgow Rose, Dalry Thistle v Muirkirk, Neilston v St Peters, Johnstone Burgh v Hurlford Utd, Finnart v Glenvale, Lugar Boswell v Craigmark, Vale of Clyde, v Rutherglen Glencairn, Dalry Thistle v Neilston, Broomhill v Beith , Newmains Utd v Blantyre Vics, Tranent v Auchinleck Talbot, Huntly v Pollok, Vale of Leven v Glasgow Perthshire, Arthurlie v Irvine Meadow,Cumbernauld Colts v Cumbernauld Utd, Renfrew v Kilsyth Athletic, Cumnock v Cambuslang Rangers, Largs Thistle v Irvine Vics, Rossvale v Glasgow Utd, Yoker Athletic v Thorniewood Utd,Bonnyton Thistle v Girvan,Broxburn Athletic v Gartcairn, v Glenafton v Bellshill Athletic, Fauldhuse Utd v Shotts Bon Accord, Finnart v Glenvale, Creetown v Benburb, Glenrothes v Troon, Preston Athletic v Darvel, Broomhill v Beith, St Cadocs v Kilwinning Rangers,Thorn Athletic v Maryhill, Giffnock v Kilsyth Rangers, Forth Wanderers v Lesmahagow,Clydebank v Ashfield, St Anthonys v St Rochs.

Regards

Jim O’Donnell