FORMER championship-winning boss George Grierson was installed as the new manager of Saltcoats Victoria FC on Tuesday night.

The appointment came 24 hours after he quit Muirkirk, after almost three years in charge.

And ironically on Saturday he bowed out on a high with a 4-0 victory against his new club at Campbell Park.

Grierson succeeds former Vics player Tam McClelland, who stepped down following the recent 6-0 defeat against Saltcoats Victoria, after having taken on the hotseat late last season.

Former Ayr United and Stranraer goalie Grierson has brought on board former Kilbirnie Ladeside and Kilwinning Rangers legend Mark Ferris as his assistant.

The new duo have taken up their posts with immediate effect and will be in the dugout on Saturday as basement team the Seasiders make the short trip south to face Ardeer Thistle in a McBookie Ayrshire District League match.

Saltcoats Vics chairman Ray Montgomerie is delighted with the new appointment and said: "We spoke to a number of people in connection with the job over the past week or so and George is the one who stood out. He has a lot of experience in the game, which is what we were looking for.

"Mark Ferris is also very experienced and is a former Saltcoats Vics player. Hopefully the new management team can help push us up the table, that's the target."

Grierson is a well-kent figure in North Ayrshire, having steered Kilwinning Rangers to Ayrshire District League title glory in 2013, after leaving Darvel to link up with Buffs. He later went on to manage Lugar Boswell Thistle before taking the reins at Muirkirk and has management experience in the South of Scotland League.

As a player at Ayr United, he worked under future Scotland manager George Burley.