TITLE-winning Ardrossan Winton Rovers boss Chris Strain Snr and his management team have left the club, it was announced today.
Strain left by "mutual agreement" along with assistant John McColl and coach George Watt after just under two years in charge.
Winton are struggling in third bottom spot in the Super League First Division and chairman Pat Breen says it was time for a change.
He said: "Ardrossan have been going through a difficult period since the turn of the year with a number of poor results and performances. We have also been unlucky with injuries to key players which have restricted our ability to field our strongest side in many games.
"Sadly the club and the management team of Chris Strain, John McColl and George Watt parted company by mutual agreement earlier this week. I had hoped that Chris would spend the rest of his managerial career at the club and help us achieve our aim of playing in the Premier Division but it was not to be. It was in the best interests of the club that the management team moved on. Chris is one of the hardest working managers I know. No individual is bigger than the club. There is no animosity or hard feelings.
"I personally and everyone connected with the club would like to thank Chris, John and George for all the effort they have put in to try and make us a success on the pitch in which they won us the Ayrshire District League title and beat Auchinleck Talbot in the West of Scotland Cup.
"They have also given some good young players such as Jared Willet, Conor Browning, Jordan Cairnie, Larry McMahon and Graham Boyd their chance. We wish them all the best for the future. I would also like to thank Suzanne Morrison for all the hard work she put in looking after the kit and the bars.
We now want to make sure we stay in this league.
"Until a new manager is appointed some of the senior players are in charge of the team.