Sorry Stirling Albion's hunt for new manager begins as they ponder relegation pain

A little over 12 months after popping the champagne corks in the sun at Forthbank following League Two title glory, the mood is very different for Stirling Albion.

Relegation back into the fourth tier after just a solitary season was confirmed after a 0-0 stalemate on Saturday meant Albion departed the play-offs at the semi-final stage following a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Dumbarton.

With the Binos support just picking up the pieces following that disappointment, the bombshell news came in on Monday afternoon that manager Darren Young, along with assistant James Creaney, were to leave the club “with immediate effect”

The 45-year-old (right) only signed a contract extension to May 2026 back in January after a strong first half of the season, but Stirling will now be searching for a new manager to lead them back into League One at the first time of asking.

A brief club statement read: “Stirling Albion announces that manager Darren Young will be leaving the club with immediate effect.

“Assistant Manager James Creaney will also depart.

“We would like to thank Darren and James for the hard work and commitment they demonstrated at the club and wish them every success for the future.

“The process of identifying a new manager will commence immediately.”

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Saturday’s play-off loss was something of a microcosm of the failings that had hit the club in their second half of the campaign – missing a host of good chances in a bright second half which cost them the chance of overturning their deficit.

Forwards Rudi Molotnikov, Dale Hilson and Dale Carrick all enjoyed excellent opportunities to net the goal that could have reversed the Binos’ course, but instead the home side