Willie Newbigging stands by his decision to quit Bo'ness

BO'NESS UNITED have failed in their last-ditch bid to keep Willie Newbigging as part of the management team at the back-to-back Super League champions.

As revealed in last night's Evening News, former boss Alan McGonigal is believed to have been lined up for a return as manager with Newbigging having been asked to revert to his role from two seasons ago as McGonigal's assistant.

However, despite the Newtown Park club talking to Newbigging for nearly a week in an attempt to get him to team up with McGonigal again, he is sticking to his decision to leave.

The Evening News understands he is bitterly disappointed with the club's decision to axe Derek Murray, his right-hand man as Bo'ness became the first side in Super League history to win the title two years in a row.

It is believed Newbigging was aware of the club's plans entering the final few weeks of the season but didn't want to walk away with a title on the line.

A source revealed the former Oakley manager had been "scunnered" by the decision to axe Murray and it was as much down to that as his own change of role that had made him decide to walk out.

Newbigging seemed to be fighting a losing battle trying to win over the Bo'ness fans for much of last season before helping lay on a second successive title party.

However, he lost all three matches against arch-rivals Linlithgow, including the Fife & Lothians Cup Final in the final game of the season.

Newbigging took a year out after leaving Oakley before linking up with McGonigal as he set about building a team at Bo'ness that could challenge for the Super League title.

The events of the past week or so are believed to have left him disillusioned about the game but if the "right opportunity came up" he could be tempted to bounce back quickly.