Nock appoint new manager

CUMNOCK Juniors have announced the next manager at the club...and it’s someone who has tasted victory at Townhead Park this season already.

Stephen Swift has been revealed as the man who will take over in the hotseat following the departure of Murdo MacKinnon last month.

The former Stenhousemuir boss will be the third man to occupy the manager’s position at Cumnock in the space of 12 months.

John Doyle took over last summer following the departure of Brian McGinty, who led the club to the Scottish Junior Cup in June 2023.

But Doyle’s stint was to prove very short, with the former St Cadoc’s manager leaving in September, before MacKinnon was appointed later that same month.

MacKinnon’s departure was announced on March 24, the day after a surprise 2-1 derby defeat at home to Glenafton. Swift was in charge of Lowland League Broomhill when they defeated Nock 3-0 in the third round of the Scottish Cup in November.

The 43-year-old’s playing career included spells at Ayr United, Irvine Meadow and Pollok, while his first stint as a manager was with Kilbirnie Ladeside from 2012 to 2016.

Swift, who spent 16 months as Stenhousemuir boss, will be assisted by Craig McEwan, who also moves to Townhead Park from Broomhill.

McEwan had a successful spell as Glenafton Athletic manager, winning a treble in the 106/17 season, including the league and Scottish Junior Cup. Stephen Bryceland completes the new coaching team at Townhead Park.

Cumnock currently sit in sixth place in the West of Scotland Premier Division, following a convincing 4-1 win over Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on Saturday.

The new management team will take charge once the 2023-24 campaign has drawn to a close, with Paul Burns and Scott McCulloch remaining as caretakers for Nock’s final two matches of the season, away to Largs Thistle on May 4 and against local rivals Glenafton at Loch Park on May 11.