Bo’ness axe Ronald after poor start

The Newtown Park side,  Super League winners two seasons before last, exited the League Cup at the group stage before starting their league campaign with a 3-0 defeat to newly-promoted Broxburn on Saturday.

Ronald said: “It’s very  disappointing but I’ve no axe to grind. I’ve been in football long enough to know things weren’t right.

“We were showing good signs, then we heard our keeper Scott Christie was leaving to join Hamilton. The squad were upset at the timing, just before our first Super League game of the season.

“We didn’t have a back-up keeper and young Connor  Wallace came in to help out. To have a great lad in Scott one week then none at all meant us scratching our heads before the first big game of the season. I’m leaving but wish the club the very best of luck for the season ahead and thank the players for the effort they gave me in my time here.”

Assistant coach Steve  Kerrigan and Alan McGonigal will take charge of the team until a new manager is appointed.

Club secretary Robert Sneddon insisted the decision to axe Ronald wasn’t simply down to United’s poor start to the season, saying: “Things weren’t happening for us. It was a continuation of last season when we finished the season poorly.”