Wishaw boss targets immediate return to West of Scotland Second Division after relegation woe

Wishaw boss Martin O’Neill has targeted promotion straight back to the West of Scotland Second Division after their relegation was confirmed earlier this month.

The Beltane Park side were consigned to the Third Division after a 3-0 defeat to Cumbernauld United on May 10 , ensuring there would be no great escape going into the final two games. Wishaw closed out the campaign with and a 2-1 defeat at home to Forth last Tuesday and a 2-2 draw at Larkhall Thistle on Saturday.

But after his side made a late rally in the season to give themselves a slim chance of beating the drop, O’Neill – who took over from David Dunn in September – says he is encouraged by that and pleased to be keeping on most of the squad for next term.

He said: “The boys gave themselves a wee bit of an outside chance, but it just came a bit too late. If we had picked up those kinds of results in games where our luck just fell on the other side of the fence, we might have taken it to the last game or so.

“It wasn’t to be so we are focusing on next season now and our target is to do all we can to get promoted, which will be very difficult because it is a difficult league in the Third Division.

“The last four games prior to that Cumbernauld game gave them a bit of belief that things are starting to come together and we are not delusional.

“It shows that what we were feeling in recent games and in training is a bit more concrete. We know we can win games in that league. About 80/90 per cent of the squad have all signed for next season and we are already speaking to people to enhance that.

“It is really important for any club to get that done quickly but even more so when you get relegated because it gives you a bit of stability. There will be one or two who