{"id":501920,"date":"2026-09-01T04:50:50","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T03:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/?p=501920"},"modified":"2026-09-01T04:50:50","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T03:50:50","slug":"andy-whiteford-steps-down-as-neilston-manager-after-difficult-start-to-league-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/2026\/09\/01\/andy-whiteford-steps-down-as-neilston-manager-after-difficult-start-to-league-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Andy Whiteford steps down as Neilston manager after difficult start to league season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Neilston have confirmed that first-team manager Andy Whiteford has stepped down from his position by mutual agreement.<\/p>\n

Whiteford\u2019s coaching team of Derek Kennedy and Craig Murphy will also leave the club by mutual agreement.<\/p>\n

The changes come after Neilston’s 4-0 home defeat to Gartcairn on Saturday 29th August.<\/p>\n

Neilston currently sit 13th in the First Division, having taken four points from their opening six league matches.<\/p>\n

They have recorded one win and one draw, alongside four defeats, scoring six goals and conceding 14.<\/p>\n

Their only league victory so far came away to Maybole Juniors on Saturday 22nd August, when Neilston won 2-0.<\/p>\n

They also drew 2-2 away to Lesmahagow Juniors on Saturday 1st August.<\/p>\n

Neilston have also recorded a 3-2 home victory over Carluke Rovers this season, with the match listed separately from their league results.<\/p>\n

The club thanked Whiteford, Kennedy and Murphy for their work and commitment over the past three years, as well as their involvement with Neilston in previous years.<\/p>\n

In a statement, the club said: \u201cWe would like to thank Andy, Derek and Craig for all their hard work and commitment to the club both over the last 3 years and over many years before that and we sincerely wish them all the very best for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neilston said further information will follow in due course.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n

Results so far:<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
Saturday 29th August 2026<\/div>\n
\n
Neilston<\/div>\n
0 – 4<\/div>\n
Gartcairn<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Saturday 22nd August 2026<\/div>\n
\n
Maybole Juniors<\/div>\n
0 – 2<\/div>\n
Neilston<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Saturday 15th August 2026<\/div>\n
\n
Neilston<\/div>\n
3 – 2<\/div>\n
Carluke Rovers<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Saturday 8th August 2026<\/div>\n
\n
Neilston<\/div>\n
0 – 1<\/div>\n
Kilsyth Rangers<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Saturday 1st August 2026<\/div>\n
\n
Lesmahagow Juniors<\/div>\n
2 – 2<\/div>\n
Neilston<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Wednesday 29th July 2026<\/div>\n
\n
Neilston<\/div>\n
0 – 4<\/div>\n
Thorn Athletic<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Saturday 25th July 2026<\/div>\n
\n
Bellshill Athletic<\/div>\n
3 – 2<\/div>\n
Neilston<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

First Division standings<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pos<\/th>\nTeam<\/th>\nP<\/th>\nW<\/th>\nD<\/th>\nL<\/th>\nF<\/th>\nA<\/th>\nGD<\/th>\nPts<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1<\/td>\nLesmahagow Juniors<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n23<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nThreave Rovers<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nBellshill Athletic<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nBlantyre Victoria<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nThorniewood United<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nThorn Athletic<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nBonnyton Thistle<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nKilsyth Rangers<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nGartcairn<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nMaryhill<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n-10<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\nLanark United<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n-5<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nCambuslang Rangers<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n-10<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nNeilston<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n-8<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/td>\nWhitletts Victoria<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n17<\/td>\n-11<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/td>\nPetershill<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n-7<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16<\/td>\nMaybole Juniors<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n18<\/td>\n-16<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Neilston have confirmed that first-team manager Andy Whiteford has stepped down from his position by mutual agreement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":501921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-501920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wosfl-first-division"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Neilson-FC.jpg?fit=1792%2C1008&ssl=1",1792,1008,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Neilson-FC.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Neilson-FC.jpg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Neilson-FC.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1",640,360,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Neilson-FC.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1",640,360,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Neilson-FC.jpg?fit=1536%2C864&ssl=1",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Neilson-FC.jpg?fit=1792%2C1008&ssl=1",1792,1008,true],"joomsport-thmb-medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Neilson-FC.jpg?fit=310%2C174&ssl=1",310,174,true],"rn-home-thumb":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Neilson-FC.jpg?resize=320%2C200&ssl=1",320,200,true],"rn-home-rect":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Neilson-FC.jpg?resize=480%2C300&ssl=1",480,300,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"Ricky Kelly","author_link":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/author\/mudricky\/"},"category_info":"WoSFL First Division<\/a>","tag_info":"WoSFL First Division","comment_count":"0","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Neilson-FC.jpg?fit=1792%2C1008&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=501920"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501920\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":501922,"href":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501920\/revisions\/501922"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/501921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=501920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=501920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renfrewshire24.co.uk\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=501920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}