FRUSTRATED Irvine Meadow boss Stevie Rankin is seeking cash to splash to strengthen the squad after Willie Sawyers became the fourth player in recent weeks to depart the club on Monday.

The Irvine side look set to come up short in the league again, with Auchinleck Talbot firm favourites to retain the title and Tommy Sloan’s side also ended their hopes of Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup glory, defeating them 1-0 in a first round tie on Saturday.

Now the West of Scotland Cup represents their only hopes of securing silverware.

Meadow on Monday night agreed a deal to sell Willie Sawyers to Kirkintilloch Rob Roy just weeks after Josh Flood moved there, Mark McLennan joining Pollok and Mark Thomson signing for Blantyre Vics.

Rankin is disappointed to lose some of his top players and said: “Rob Roy had asked about Willie a few weeks ago but we didn’t do anything but I agreed a deal on Monday to help balance the books. Mark McLennan and Mark Thomson are experienced players and Mark Thomson was with us for nine years at Ashfield before joining Meadow. I can’t bring in any new players this season.

“I know the club have had financial problems which have been documented but hopefully things are getting better. I know other clubs have problems but this is Irvine Meadow you are talking about. We would like some new faces for next season, but we need quality players. Would you not rather shop at Marks and Spencer than Lidl? It has been an interesting couple of seasons and we did well in the league, winning our first 10 games, but that possibly papered over some of the cracks as we didn’t play well in all of them.” Rankin was disappointed to lose out to Talbot for a second time at home this season and said: “Not many chances were created in the game but I felt we shot ourselves in the foot by conceding a really soft goal which was disappointing. We have three league games and must look to finish on a high by winning them all. We also hope to have a good run in the West of Scotland Cup.” Kilwinning Rangers co-boss Chris Strain Jnr and defender Barry Fleeting are calling for one last push to secure promotion after Buffs maintained their fine recent run by edging out Darvel in an Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup tie.

The Abbey Park side enjoyed a penalty shootout win and now head to Dam Park Stadium to face Whitletts Victoria on Saturday, knowing that victory will all but see them promoted. Even if Lugar defeated Darvel away, Buffs have a vastly superior goal difference and would be almost impossible to coach. And a Buffs win along with a Lugar draw or defeat would seal a place in the Super First Division.

Strain said: “We know we have two games to clinch promotion or the title but will be looking to win at Whitletts on Saturday. They made it tough for us at Abbey Park earlier in the season and are a decent side. We can’t influence what goes on elsewhere but if win it will be very difficult for Lugar to secure promotion, they would have to score an awful lot of goals and beat us heavily in the last game. But we are not counting our chickens and must put on a good performance. If we can clinch promotion then we can showcase ourselves in the Ayrshire Weekly Press and West of Scotland Cup.” Fleeting, in his second season at Abbey Park says the players have worked hard and said: “It was a good win for us. We had a kick up the backside after drawing at Saltcoats and now we just want to get over the finish line and then we can start planning for next season.” Irvine Victoria hope to return to action this weekend after their scheduled league match with Largs Thistle was called off for a second time owing to a waterlogged pitch.

They face Maybole away in the opening round of the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup on Saturday.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.