Probably the most admirable quality shown by Danny Taylor during his stop-start reign as manager of St Anthonys this season is a willingness to go the extra mile for the famous old Govan outfit.

One had intended this opening gambit to say it was the 47-year-old’s refusal to beat himself up about results since taking over the McKenna Park helm - a mere two draws and three defeats from their five league fixtures to date testifying why his Ants side are rank bottom of the Conference C pile.

But that was before discovering the former striker, who amassed fully 16 seasons at Junior level turning out with St Anthonys (three times), Vale of Clyde (two) and Blantyre Vics, has just completed a virtual 874-mile walk around the streets of Glasgow - the equivalent of the iconic Lands End to John O’Groats trek - to raise some much-needed funds for his club.

Barrowfield-based Danny had close friend John 'Toby' Flannigan for company in carrying out the arduous hike that saw them average around 10 miles per day over the past three months and crucially earn a healthy return in sponsorship monies.

“Every single penny received went into the club’s coffers to try and help fund the day-to-day expenses involved with running a football club," revealed the manager.

“Players don’t get paid at St Anthonys but there are still ground upkeep costs to be met, electric and water bills needing paid, as well as things like fees for Match Officials (if we ever get back to playing games) that by and large are covered by our club officials digging deep into their own pockets so I thought it only right to do my bit and doing a sponsored walk was right up my street… in more ways than one.”

With another former Ants player Mark McCuish as his No.2, Danny stepped into the breach left by previous McKenna Park manager John Kelly tendering his resignation back in early October just when the new WoSFL campaign was getting off the ground.

Assuming control so late in the day has been akin to a  baptism of fire for the fledgling management team, an over-reliance on experienced types they  inherited such as Njabula Ndlovu and Eva Bembo an absolute necessity while as many as 7/8 new signings were blooded, inclusive of Anton Conway, Declyn Healy and ex-Shettleston midfielder Warin Omar.

Danny said: “St Anthonys has always been my club and Cush is cut from the very same cloth so there was never any chance of us turning down Kenna (club president Felix McKenna) when he asked if we would like the opportunity to take charge of the team.

“The two of us are not wet behind the ears types and are not foolish to think we can build a team capable of challenging for the game’s silverware prizes (not for a while anyway…) but it will be job done if we can bring about enough improvements to see St Anthonys regain a measure of respectability in the game again.

“We both played here under Cotter (former Ants gaffer James McKenna) when opposing teams, and I’m talking about the likes of Glenafton, Arthurlie and Pollok, knew to expect a bloody nose unless they raised their game going up against us .

“Bringing back those times as well as a similar winning mentality to our dressing room is a huge ask and needs a lot of hard work and a few bucketfuls probably of luck if truth be told.

“However our club officials share these aims and are doing everything to help so the short term goal is nothing other than to try and give them back their pride in the team and be left thinking St Anthonys are on the up.”

The former hitman, good for 25 goals per season at his peak, is steadfastly refusing to read too much into his side’s ignominious start to their 2020/21 campaign.

“Cush and I were very competitive as players so people will look upon it as odd that I am sounding indifferent with regards to our Conference C results up to now however the reality is they don’t count for a lot when you consider there are no promotion or relegation issues.

“But performances do in terms of what Cush and I are trying to work towards because just playing against other teams undoubtedly helps in terms of developing young players in order to build a stronger and better side for next season.

“From a totally selfish point of view, we want to learn everything there is to know about our playing squad but every bit as important is our responsibility to everyone connected with St Anthonys to curb any likelihood of the spreading of Coronavirus.

“That is a gamble without regular testing of players and while there’s no denying vaccinations will make a difference, I cannot see it being rolled out  in time to allow this season to be played out.”

Former boss Cotter, who claims the distinction of three times selling Taylor for modest four figure sums and subsequently resigning him for the Ants on each occasion without forking out any transfer fee whatsoever, insisted.

“Danny knows the game inside out and his coming back to St Anthonys is a marriage made in heaven for both him and the club.

“He’ll not spare the horses in looking to get a winning team out on the pitch and given time, he will get there.

“He is very much his own man and has not come to my door looking for advice but if he did then I’d tell him to go out and sign a young Danny Taylor, someone who comes alive in the opposition penalty box and has a knack for scoring goals.”

Meanwhile, hearing on the grapevine of new Glenafton boss Mick McCann making the first moves to bolster his Loch Park backroom team  by appointing  former Auchinleck Talbot and Glenafton team mate Brian McGarrity as his No 2 .

The former goalkeeper, famously played between the sticks for the 2017 Glens treble winning side but only  two years later was forced to hang up the boots after picking up a serious knee injury.