Billy Thomson favourite for Kilwinning Rangers job

Jun 26 2009 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

FORMER Buffs player Billy Thomson is the red-hot favourite to replace Gary Faulds in the Abbey Park hotseat.

Thomson, who quit as Girvan boss last week, made a formal enquiry about the newly vacant post on Monday – two days after Faulds resigned.

And with Kilwinning looking for a local manager to take the reins next season, Irvine-based Thomson fits the bill.

Perhaps more importantly, during a spell in charge of Ardeer, he proved he is capable of getting good results on a tight budget.

Club Secretary Andy Martin confirmed on Tuesday that Thomson and Stevie Moore - number two to Faulds last season – had expressed an interest in the job.

Herald Sport understands Thomson wants former Irvine Meadow boss Ross Findlay as his number two.

Buffs say Faulds’ resignation was by mutual consent, but few would doubt he jumped before he was pushed after he failed to keep Kilwinning in the First Division.

Faulds only took over the reins in October of last year, but quickly found out that life at Abbey Park was very different second time round.

In his first spell in the hot seat, Faulds found that money was no object as he steered his side to an old-style First Division title, local cup successes and a Scottish Cup semi-final where they lost out to Auchinleck Talbot.

But a skint Kilwinning simply don’t have that sort of money now and, with experienced players like Craig Baxter, Keith Ross, Nikki Smith and others all queuing up to leave, he was forced to rely on untried amateurs who were mostly drawn from his home town of East Kilbride – and that put a further strain on the club’s dwindling resources.

In the end, a record of played 26, won four, drawn four and lost 28 condemned Buffs to life in the Ayrshire District League next season and – despite his claims earlier this year that he would not quit even if Kilwinning were relegated – the prospect of going to places like Muirkirk and Craigmark probably held little appeal for a man who was used to managing at the highest level.

Chairman Willie Ralston said: “We fully accept Gary’s decision to leave, and there was no animosity whatsoever.

“The committee would like to thank Gary for all his time and effort with the club, and would like to wish him all the best with any future projects he may pursue.”