Derek Carson believes Neilston will be “inundated” with applications after he and co-boss Chris Cameron called time on their spell in charge at the Brig O’Lea Stadium.
The pair have led the club from the dugout since November 2018, making them the longest serving managers at the club for the last three decades.
With promotion to the Premier Division still an achievable target with much of the current campaign still to play out, Carson feels there will be plenty of experienced gaffers looking to make their mark at the club.
And he insists nothing would make him and Cameron prouder than to see the Farmer’s Boys return to the top flight of the WoSFL next season.
Carson told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “It was definitely a tough decision because it’s quite a unique situation for myself and Chris.
“We both played together here, coached here and then managed the club, so we both have such strong ties to Neilston.
“This isn’t a decision made because of the Rossvale result. We felt that something’s not been right for some time and something needed to change.
“We’ve both been in football long enough to recognise that and we know there is an incredible amount of talent in that dressing room.
“Sometimes you just get to the stage when you have the same voices in the dressing room all the time and you need a change of pace and some fresh ideas.
“We’ve had managers contacting us about just about every player we have this season, which shows the amount of talent already at the club.
“I’m still hurting to be away from the club and I’m sure the players will be as well, but this is definitely the right time to do it.
“Knowing their personalities as well as we do, I know they’ll dig deep and bounce back.
“We said to the boys after the Rossvale game that nothing would make me and Chris prouder than to see Neilston back in the top division. We did that as players and I know this group has it in them to do the same.”
While the decision for the management duo to leave midway through the campaign has raised some eyebrows, Carson is adamant the timing of the call was made to give the club the best chance of bringing in a new boss with the least amount of fixtures to contend with.
It also gives them plenty of games to try and reinvigorate their promotion bid, with Carson adding: “We’ve always had the club’s best interest at heart and will continue to do so.
“We knew there was no game coming this weekend, and with the weather the way it is there’s every chance the Kilbirnie game the following weekend could well be off too.
“This gives the committee the best chance to get someone in and give them a chance to work with the team on the training ground before getting back underway next year.
“I’m sure they’ll be inundated with applications because there’s no major squad surgery required. The players are already there to challenge for promotion.”
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