“Our whole emphasis is on getting better each game we play and nothing else matters," said new Renfrew manager Jimmy Quigley in the wake of last Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Dalry Thistle.

Now in any other week you might have believed the Quig but not this one though, not with his Frew side earmarked for a trip down into Ayrshire this coming weekend to take on Ardeer Thistle in a Conference League  B Division clash.

Still fresh in  his mind is the ignominy lingering from  a  7-3 humiliation against  their opponents in late August which concluded with Renfrew club officials abruptly opting for a  parting of the ways with their team boss of the past 13-plus years (and Quig’s long-time close friend), Colin Clark.

Nobody would deny Clarky’s five wins in ten games start to the season could have been better however there were plenty of reasons put forward for him being given more time to turn things around but ultimately not enough for the people who mattered and his subsequent exit was followed by assistant manager Quigley being asked to take interim charge of team affairs while the New Western Park vacancy was advertised.

Said the 43-year-old who has retained the services of long time backroom team allies Iain Nicholson and Iain Wilson (goalkeeping coach) as well as retired former player Ryan Borris in his quest to restore the Frew to former glories: "I was 11 years here as a player and another ten as a coach under Clarky so this club is very close to my heart therefore it was always going to be a huge wrench to walk away.

“His egging me on to give it a shot was a big factor in taking up the club’s offer though in the back of my mind, I was giving it no more than four weeks to see if I could get a reaction from the players.

“A win over Newmains United followed by odd goal defeats against Gartcairn and Craigmark could not  in any way be described as a sea change  but  these  results  glossed over the new  desire being shown throughout the team.

“The difference in our  playing levels from before was both palpable and hugely encouraging for myself so I decided (with Clarky’s blessing) to throw my hat in the ring for the manager’s job on a permanent basis and was fortunate enough to get the nod.”

Quigley’s official reign got away to a winning  start against Dalry last weekend but he knows B Division  surprise troops Ardeer represent a much tougher hurdle down in their own backyard.

He added: "Ardeer are a more than decent side and sit  joint second in the table on merit  however I don’t consider them as out of sight from ourselves in the  promotion stakes.

“Admittedly they are 11 points better off but were we to win on Saturday as well as our game in hand then that lead would be more than halved and would significantly stoke up the pressure on them.

“People will think this is nothing more than bravado on my part after the 7-3 gubbing but that was undoubtedly a fluke result caused by the Covid enforced absence of five Renfrew players  on top of another trio attending a music festival.

“Clarky had to bring in a number of our Under-20s and also needed former goalkeeper Kevin Bell to come out of retirement to go between the sticks and in our weakened state, Ardeer simply steamrolled over the top of us.

“It would be nice to get payback but what would be every bit as pleasing is for the guys to show further signs of getting our house in order and making inroads on the teams above us in the table.

“Three points on Saturday will put us in a top six place but my sights are set a lot higher.”

The one time  Frew defensive lynchpin insisted: "There are a lot of good players at the club not least of  all in the forward going areas where Scott Morton has 16 goals to his name and young Ciaran Diver has 14.

“We could do with a few more bodies to boost our overall squad strength  but it’s not easy finding newcomers of a similar or better quality than the guys currently holding down the jerseys so I’m not going to be tempted into making wholesale changes just for the sake of it.

“Getting each and every one of the guys to play to their abilities is the way for us going forward.”

In other B Division contests, Carluke Rovers, strengthened by the return of a number of regulars should prevail at home to Dalry Thistle while tenth in the table Ashfield , currently one point adrift of Renfrew in the standings, look certainties to take the spoils at home to bottom markers Royal Albert ,still seeking their first league win of the season.

Meanwhile, a couple of meaty Premier Division dishes are on the verge of being served up on tonight’s midweek menu which has Clydebank awaiting a  visit through the Clyde Tunnel  from Benburb while all eyes in Ayrshire (even neutral ones) will be trained on the Beechwood Park head to head of Auchinleck Talbot and Darvel.

The Govan outfit’s defensive qualities on the road were to the fore in earning a  0-0 weekend stalemate against Kilwinning Rangers however  another clean sheet might be beyond Ryan Docherty & Co  against a Bankies side determined to get back to  winning ways  after picking up a mere point from their last three league games.

Darvel , still without close season signing Craig Moore, make the short hop down to Auchinleck seeking to extend their current winning run to five games  and in the process inflict a first defeat of the season on a home side whose supporting legions are sure to be out in force looking for Tommy Sloan’s men to put down the would-be challengers to .their crown. 

PLAYING TONIGHT :(Kick Offs 7.30PM)
P.D.M Buildbase Premier League.
Clydebank v Benburb, Auchinleck Talbot v Darvel.

SATURDAY 16th OCTOBER 2021 (Kick Offs 2PM)

SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP Second  Round
Thornton Hibs v Lochore Welfare Kinnoull v Harthill Royal, Bo'ness United v Kirkcaldy & Dysart,,Cumbernauld Utd v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts ,Glenrothes v St Andrews United, Caledonian Braves v Kennoway Star Hearts, Irvine Vics v Vale of Leven, Kilsyth Rangers v Thorniewood United, Dunipace v Sauchie, Jeanfield Swifts v BSC Glasgow, Burntisland Shipyard v Stirling University, Dundonald Bluebell v Crossgates Primrose, Berwick Rangers v Broxburn Athletic, Edinburgh University v Dalkeith Thistle, Easthouses Lily v Spartans, Saltcoats Vics v Glasgow Utd, Irvine Meadow v Kilwinning Rangers Vale of Clyde v Pollok, Renfrew v Westerton Utd, St Cadocs v Petershill St Peters v Beith, Rossvale v Campbeltown Pupils, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Port Glasgow,Yoker Athletic v Drumchapel Utd,Tynecastle v Armadale Thistle, East Kilbride Thistle v Newton Stewart, Bonnyton Thistle v St Cuthbert Wanderers,Blantyre Vics v Cumnock,  Abbey Vale v Newmains Utd. Girvan v Maybole,Larkhall Thistle v East Kilbride F.C. Auchinleck Talbot v Forth Wanderers,Lugar Boswell v Heston Rovers, Cambuslang Rangers v Lochmaben,Lochar Thistle v Threave Rovers, Lesmahagow v Creetown,Troon v Lanark Utd,Glenafton  v Kello Rovers,Muirkirk v Whitletts Vics, Hurlford Utd v Wishaw, Largs Thistle v Glasgow Perthshire, Arthurlie v Benburb, Finnart v Broomhill Sports ,St Anthonys v Rutherglen Glencairn,Johnstone Burgh v Greenock, Coldstream v Tweedmouth Rangers,Bonnyrigg Rose  v Arniston Rangers, West Calder Utd v Bathgate Thistle, Edinburgh College v Penicuik Athletic Harmony Row v Clydebank,Haddington Athletic v Leith Athletic, Pumpherston v Edinburgh United, Blackburn United v Stoneyburn, Ormiston v Hawick RAU, Darvel v Gretna 2008, Bo'ness Athletic v Gartcairn, Glasgow University v Luncarty Cumbernauld Colts v Rosyth ,Lothian Thistle HV v Civil Service Strollers, Linlithgow Rose v Camelon , Whitburn v Gala Fairydean Rovers,Preston Athletic v Peebles Rovers,Newtongrange Star v Tranent, Syngenta v Oakley United

PDM Buildbase Conference League A
Bellshill Athletic v Maryhill , Shotts Bon Accord v Craigmark

PDM Buildbase Conference League B
Ardeer Thistle v Renfrew, Carluke Rovers v Dalry Thistle, Ashfield v Royal Albert

PDM Buildbase Conference League C
Neilston v Ardrossan Winton Rovers

PDM Buildbase Division Four

Glenvale v Kilsyth Athletic.