Carlo Monti could be set to light up Newlandsfield and parade his skills in front of Pollok supporters all over again.

The prospect of the 31-year-old moving to the Glasgow giants - for an fourth time - moved ever closer after his current club Kilwinning Rangers "reluctantly" agreed to listen to offers after he submitted a shock transfer request.

As a teenage protégé, Monti was on the books of both Celtic and Morton before dropping into the amateur ranks at Drumchapel United from where then Lok boss John Richardson enticed him to the Southsiders towards the end of the 2011-12 season. Cult status was not long on being bestowed on him when his goals (16 in 15 appearances) almost single-handedly saved Pollok from a relegation fate.

A third step up to the Senior ranks soon followed when he joined Dundee, whose releasing him in 2014 saw the versatile playing ace returning for a short-lived Newlandsfield stint prior to the obvious attractions of continuing his career under the Cyprus sunshine, leading to him to put pen to paper for Zebbug Rangers and latterly Quormi FC.

Tony McInally’s persuasive tongue brought him back to Pollok in 2016 and  he featured in the Scottish Junior Cup Final defeat by Beith - but just a matter of months later Monti was on his travels once again after a widely publicised fall-out with Macca in the immediate lead-up to an away game against Rob Roy culminated in a transfer out the door to Kilwinning Rangers. 

A string of matchwinning displays have since established him as a firm favourite of the Ayrshire club’s fans over the past five years, a fact acknowledged by Buffs team boss Chris Strain this week.

Last night he revealed: "Talks took place with Carlo after he recently indicated a desire to leave for financial reasons but he was not for changing his mind so it was reluctantly decided to make him available for transfer.

"Kilwinning Rangers as a club don't want to stand in his way even though he's been a huge part of things over the last few years and there's no doubt we will be losing a player of real top quality but this is his choice.”

It’s reputed at least a couple of acceptable offers have been received already, thought to be from the David Gormley-steered Broomhill FC in the Lowland League as well as Monti’s ambitious former amateur side Drumchapel United, currently atop the Conference League C Division pile.

However, word on the terracing reckons the Glasgow West End-based ace’s preference is for another return to Pollok and emerging - though unconfirmed - reports from Ayrshire this week suggest the second in the table Premier League outfit are vying with Darvel for Monti’s signature.

Transfer business is also high on the agenda of newly appointed Greenock   manager John Doyle even though he only met his playing charges for the first time last night.

Premier League strugglers Kilbirnie Ladeside, where the management team of Thomas Molloy and Shaun Dillon are at the helm, have made an “all but done deal” approach seeking to capture their former striker Dylan McLaughlin. 

“It’s only a few weeks since Rob Roy faced Greenock and I would love Dylan to stay after seeing what he brings to the team at close quarters," Doyle said.

“He plays on the edge but is one of the best strikers doing the rounds at this level however it’s looking like I can do nothing other than rubber-stamp this proposed transfer unless he has an eleventh hour change of heart which seems very unlikely.

"Thomas and Shaun’s pursuit of their former players is both typical and understandable however they won’t be getting  any encouragement as Greenock’s need to keep hold of our best players is every bit as acute."

Greenock losing out 2-1 to Rob Roy in their Scottish Junior Cup contest last month was the spark that led to Greenock skipper Gary Fleming cajoling his  former boss Doyle post-match into applying for the vacant managerial post and his subsequent appointment has seen defensive stalwart Fleming assuming a player/coach capacity as part of a rejigged backroom team also comprising of Kieron Donnelly, Graham Cairns and specialised goalkeeping coach Gary Bishop.

Doyle, who only said his goodbyes to Rob Roy’s players on Monday night,  admitted: "It’s great to have the backroom bricks in place but what’s desperately needed now is a few more bodies to fill the jerseys.

“Eight of the guys were unavailable through injury against Thorniewood United last weekend and it would have been a struggle to get a team on the pitch but for Ryan Begley and Anton McGuigan coming in to help out.

“A 3-2 defeat was understandable in the circumstances and now we face a trip down to Kello Rovers for my first game in charge which can be fraught with difficulties in normal times but more so when the likelihood of our injured players recovering in time is doubtful at best.”

By a quirk of coincidence, Kello are also managerless but they are currently sifting through applicants so Alex Smith and Davie Jardine will continue to oversee playing matters for the visit of Greenock.

 

PLAYING FRIDAY 24th SEPTEMBER (Kick-off 7.30pm)

Scottish Junior Cup Second Round
Rossvale v Cambuslang Rangers.

SATURDAY 25th SEPTEMBER (Kick-off 2pm unless stated)

Scottish Junior Cup Second Round
Culter v Beith, Girvan v Yoker Athletic, Blairgowrie v Benburb, Dundee North End v Colony Park, Irvine Vics v Pollok, Newmains Utd v Vale of Leven, Petershill v Stoneywood Parkvale, Blantyre Vics v West Calder Utd, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Maryhill, Aberdeen University v Lochee Utd, Largs Thistle v Larkhall Thistle, Carnoustie Panmure v Fraserburgh Utd, Banks O’Dee v Sygenta, Glentannar v Rob Roy, Letham FC v Muirkirk, Carluke Rovers v Auchinleck Talbot, St Anthony's v Ashfield, Renfrew v Craigmark, Glasgow Perthshire v Scone Thistle, Brechin  Vics v Newmachar Utd, Irvine Meadow v Arbroath Vics, Largs Thistle v Larkhall Thistle, Livingston Utd v Cumbernauld Utd, Kilsyth Rangers v Arthurlie, Dundee St James v Johnstone Burgh, Brechin  Vics v Newmachar Utd, Armadale Thistle v Dyce, Dundee East Craigie v Banchory St Tiernan's, Thorniewood Utd v Whitletts Vics, Lanark Utd v East Kilbride Thistle, Gartcairn v Tayport.

PDM Buildbase Premier League
Troon v Hurlford Utd, Darvel v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Rutherglen Glencairn v Clydebank.

PDM Buildbase Conference League A
Shotts Bon Accord v Maybole, Glasgow University v Forth Wanderers, Lugar Boswell v Saltcoats Vics.

PDM Buildbase Conference League B
Kello Rovers v Greenock, Dalry Thistle v Ardeer Thistle

PDM Buildbase Conference League C
Wishaw v St Roch's

PDM Buildbase Division Four
Finnart v Kilsyth Athletic.

Scottish Cup First Round Replay 
Cumnock v Formartine Utd (3pm).