Cumnock and Rossvale club officials may have come close to penning the exact same cursory statement following the weekend departures of their respective team managers but that’s where any similarities end.

Early into Sunday afternoon, the Ayrshire fallen giants had stated, “Cumnock Juniors Football Club can confirm Tony McInally and his management team have left the club by mutual agreement. We would like to thank Tony, Mark [Cameron], Stewart [Ralston] and Brian [Whelan] for all their efforts and wish them every success in the future.”

Bishopbriggs-based Rossvale were even quicker off the mark and in the aftermath of their 5-1 battering at the hands of Benburb said: “We can confirm that Iain Diack & Kevin Coyle have both left the club by mutual agreement.

"We would like to thank both for their total commitment whilst at the club & wish both well for the future. We will issue a further statement in due course regarding the vacant manager’s post.”

Almost word-for-word parting shots, yet it's alleged McInally’s unstinting belief that better times for Cumnock were just around the corner saw him willing to soldier on, whereas Diack reputedly opted to fall on his own sword and tendered his resignation in the wake of the sorry manner of Saturday’s heavy defeat.

Now, it should be pointed out at this juncture that the vast majority of WoSFL team gaffers, particularly experienced campaigners of Macca and Diars’ ilk, accept “the sack” to be an inevitable consequence of their chosen football paths and they realise only too well that a string of results going against their teams is more often than not when questions are raised over whether the time might be right to effect a change at the top.

Consequentially, a three-year managerial tenure has come to be regarded as something of an overstay though the welcome mat has never been pulled from under the feet of Willie Harvey at Rutherglen Glencairn (11 years) and Stewart Maxwell of Rob Roy (five years), while the array of trophy successes enjoyed by Hurlford United boss Darren Henderson (eight years) and the undoubted doyen of them all, Auchinleck Talbot’s Tommy Sloan (18 years), has literally fire-proofed both men.

Not so elsewhere in the Premier League, where the existential need to be holding down one of the anything-but-unlucky 13 top places at the end of this season (the seven clubs below are relegated) has culminated in even mid-table sides of Cumnock and Rossvale’s repute to set a bar of expectations.

The likelihood of targets not being met often sparks talk of hiring and firing - not least because it’s widely acknowledged a new appointment can spark an improvement in performances and results - albeit any upswing in fortunes can be extremely difficult to sustain.

This much has become painfully obvious to the seasoned McInally after the feelgood factor emanating from the marked progression made back when he first arrived on the Townhead Park scene (by a quirk of coincidence exactly two years to the day from when he and Cumnock parted company on Sunday) could not save him from the axe.

His side’s 2-0 weekend reverse away to Kilbirnie Ladeside was looked upon as the final straw of a horror five-game run that has yielded up a solitary league point from a possible nine (1-1 v Bonnyton Thistle) as well as somewhat inglorious Cup exits against Blantyre Vics (South Challenge Cup) and Largs Thistle (Scottish Junior Cup).

Meanwhile, the pressures of trying to meet Rossvale’s own burning desire to extend their stay in the WoSFL’s top flight beyond next May proved to be the single-most contributory factor behind team manager Diack’s decision to call it quits.

The 40 year old will now never know if Vale club officials would have exercised similar patience to that afforded to McInally to bring about a turnaround in Cumnock’s fortunes but the signs were promising at worst as only last midweek, he was given approval for the signing of much sought after Ashfield front man Brad Rodden, whose debut against the Bens turned out to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

This unequivocal backing may have come too late in the day for the former Pollok and Kilsyth Rangers striker, whose battle against a seemingly inevitable relegation fate has been causing him sleepless nights ever since he took up the reins of the Premier League’s rank bottom markers a mere 109 days ago, following erstwhile boss David Gormley’s departure to Broomhill in the Lowland League.

Diack has overseen six wins and one draw during 20 games in charge and has helped improve Rossvale’s league position to 16th - but not their plight apparently, as most pundits reckon they are one of the seven destined for the drop.

It’s not yet established whether Cumnock and Rossvale have managerial replacements in mind but the Ayrshiremen’s need to get a new man at the helm (might they turn to Diack?) is felt to be more pressing considering a crunch Premier League clash away to five points better off Rutherglen Glencairn awaits next Saturday, whereas Rossvale’s next-up action is the playing of a third round South Challenge Cup tie against Beith.

Elsewhere, one hears Rob Roy’s meagre WoSFL goals return (only bottom of the table pair Bonnyton and Blantyre Vics have scored fewer) has sparked a transfer swoop to fix up hitmen Ben Dailly (Ashfield) and Roddy Patterson (Petershill).

Also on the comings-and-goings front, Glasgow Perthshire have snapped up Ryan McRobbie (Vale of Clyde), Blantyre boss John Gibson has completed the loan signing of Connor O’Donnell (Darvel), Kilbirnie Ladeside have transfer listed midfielder Roan Fitzpatrick, while newly up for sale at Benburb are former Morton striker Aidan Ferris and ex-Arthurlie and Irvine Meadow midfielder Rhys Devlin.

PLAYING SATURDAY 20th NOVEMBER (Kick-off 1:30pm unless stated)

South Challenge Cup 3rd Round
Whitletts Vics v Arthurlie, Pollok v Harthill Royal, Largs Thistle v Troon, Glenrothes v Clydebank, Beith v Rossvale, Petershill v Greenock, Newmains Utd v East Kilbride F.C., Vale of Leven v Edinburgh University, Bo’ness Athletic v Glenafton (Friday 8pm), Bonnyrigg Rose v Coldstream, Syngenta v Edinburgh Utd, Blantyre Vics v Broxburn Athletic, Auchinleck Talbot v West Calder Utd, Finnart v Jeanfield Swifts, Cumbernauld Utd v Glasgow Utd, Tranent v Lugar Boswell, Gala Fairydean v Stirling University, Hurlford Utd v Blackburn Utd, Bo’ness Utd v East Kilbride Thistle, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Caledonia Braves, Luncarty v Renfrew, Darvel v Gretna 2008, Threave Rovers v Civil Service Strollers, Cumbernauld Colts v Tynecastle (Friday 7:45pm), Sauchie v Preston Athletic, Haddington Athletic v Spartans, Irvine Meadow v Penicuik Athletic, Lesmahagow v Drumchapel Utd, Linlithgow Rose v St Cuthbert Wanderers, Ormiston v Thorniewood Utd, Maybole v St Anthony's, Lochore Welfare v Dundonald Bluebell.

PDM Buildbase Premier League
Kilwinning Rangers v Benburb, Bonnyton Thistle v Rob Roy, Rutherglen Glencairn v Cumnock.

PDM Buildbase Conference League A
Muirkirk v Craigmark, Girvan v Forth Wanderers, Saltcoats Vics v Glasgow University, Bellshill Athletic v Johnstone Burgh, Irvine Vics v Shotts Bon Accord.

PDM Buildbase Conference League B
Kello Rovers v Carluke Rovers, Port Glasgow v Gartcairn, Ashfield v Dalry Thistle, St Cadoc's v Royal Albert, Cambuslang Rangers v Ardeer Thistle.

PDM Buildbase Conference League C
Wishaw v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Glasgow Perthshire v St Roch's, Vale of Clyde v Kilsyth Rangers, Lanark Utd v Yoker Athletic, Larkhall Thistle v Neilston.

PDM Buildbase Division Four
Harmony Row v Campbeltown Pupils, B.S.C. Glasgow v Kilsyth Athletic, St Peter's v Glenvale.