It could be Rover and out if horror fall goes off Clif

ALBION ROVERS gave the great Jock Stein his start in senior football as a player.

But even Stein in his managerial prime would have struggled to save the Coatbridge outfit in their current state.

One win all season and seven points adrift at the foot of League Two, the future is looking bleak for a once-proud club.

With just nine league fixtures left – and having played a game more than second-bottom Berwick – it’s going to take a monumental effort to avoid a Pyramid play-off.

That could see Rovers take on the likes of Brora or Cove to preserve their league status and defeat could put their 137-year existence under threat.

It’s hard to believe next week will be the fifth anniversary of their 1-1 quarter-final draw against Rangers in the Scottish Cup.

They were just 12 minutes from the biggest shock in Cup history before Bilel Mohsni’s hotly-disputed goal earned a replay that the Ibrox side won 2-0.

Despite that exit, the Cliftonhill side still banked a cheque for around £250,000 thanks to two televised ties.

And just over two years ago the coffers were boosted by another £180,000 after a fourthround tie against Celtic.

In an Invincible domestic season for the Hoops, Albion held their own and trailed by a single goal before strikes from Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong in the final 13 minutes put gloss on the scoreline.

At that end of that season the Coatbridge side just missed out on a play-off promotion place for a second-consecutive season and things looked to be on the up.

But Darren Young, the club’s most successful manager after lifting the League Two trophy, their first title in 26 years, was ruthlessly sacked.

Before he had time to consider the offer of a 60 per cent wage and 40 per cent squad budget cut, a letter dropped through Young’s door saying his services were no longer required.

Since that moment, the only way has been down. Rapidly. Brian Kerr succeeded Young, who is now doing an impressive job at East Fife, and the club were relegated as he too left the club after a revised contract offer.

John Brogan was recruited from the junior ranks and lasted just three months with Kevin Harper making headlines after he became the first black boss in Scottish football for 15 years. It

Just five years ago they were minutes from huge Cup shock

was a chance he was desperate for but it hasn’t worked, albeit the position has become a poisoned chalice.

The club’s problems were put into perspective earlier this week with the death of goalkeeping coach Michael Duke at the age of just 38.

Harper’s job of lifting the team will be even more difficult after that tragic loss.

But the next few months will be crucial to the future of Rovers, whom Stein joined as a 19-year-old and spent eight years with.

Stein would have struggled to rescue this situation and Rovers could live to regret parting company with Young, their most successful gaffer.