The club regretfully announce that earlier today the club relieved manager Danny Taylor of his duties. It was an incredibly difficult decision to make given Dan’s status at the club having played with us from a young man, and returning later in his career to help out both as a player and then committee member.

Dan took the role with Mark McCuish back in our first ever WoSFL season in October 2020 for the partial season that was cancelled due to covid and gained us an effective promotion from the conference setup in 2021/22 and since then has led the club to two seasons in the Second Division.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank Danny for his service to the club these past 4 seasons and we hope he wont be a stranger round McKenna Park way.

An announcement on Danny’s interim replacement will be made shortly

The club are delighted to announce that midfielder Warin “Gio” Omar has completed a move back to McKenna Park, having moved to Cumbernauld United in the summer. Speaking to the Ants website Match Secretary Martin McKenna Said “Gio was a mainstay of the team over the past 3 seasons and we were disappointed to see him leave in the summer, but as soon as it became apparent that he was available we moved swiftly to bring him back to McKenna Park”. Ants manager Danny Taylor was also delighted to re-capture the talented playmaker “I am delighted to bring Gio back to the club and hopefully his return will give the whole club a boost ahead of Saturday’s match v Wishaw”.

Gio made 61 appearances for the club in his first stint scoring 12 goals and we look forward to seeing him add more appearances and goals upon his return.

Massive thanks to George Watson and Cumbernauld United in getting this deal done as swiftly and as smoothly as possible.

The club are delighted to announce FOUR new signings ahead of this week’s Scottish Junior Cup 2nd Round tie v Ashfield at McKenna Park. Joining up with Danny Taylors squad are returning midfielder Jonny McKay who played for the club back in 2018, Aaron Henderson, a highly promising young midfielder from Cumbernauld United, Steven Bain who was last signed for Petershill but has also appeared for Rossvale as a trialist this season and forward Ged Dobbs from Maryhill.

Speaking to the Ants website manager Taylor was delighted to get the deals over the line to freshen up the squad and give it a little boost following a run of 3 straight defeats. Taylor said “I am delighted to bring the four players in as it will freshen things up a little and help the lads in the squad who have played a lot of football in the opening part of the season. Some of them have been playing with knocks etc but it was important to bring the right quality in and hopefully the new boys can come in and hit the ground running”

Heres hoping that if selected the new guys help us get in the hat for the round 3 draw!

The Ants are delighted to announce the signing (a week or so ago) of goalkeeper Sean Patrick who is no stranger to the McKenna Park faithful having played for the club in the 2017/18 season and at the beginning of last season as well.

Paddy as he is known is a great addition to the squad and manager John Kelly has been impressed with his showing so far this season. “I am very happy to have brought Sean back to the club. Sean has got a good level of experience at this level and playing for neilston towards the end of last year will have definitely improved his game. Sean has played in a couple of games already and he has definitely made an instant impact in games with some vital saves”

Welcome back Paddy!

The Ants are delighted to announce they have signed former Ferguslie Star player Andrew Turner following a spell as a trialist in recent matches. Andrew is a player manager John Kelly has been chasing for a while and the manager is buzzing to finally have his man. “I am delighted to bring Andy into the squad. I know Andy very well and I know he will be a major hit at the ants when up to full fitness”

He continued, praising Andy’s loyalty to his previous club “Andy is a very loyal player having spent many years at Ferguslie star under Tam Kerr and Andy Turner snr, who was my first ever gaffer a long time ago, Andy could have easily stepped up to play at a good level of junior football now he has decided to do it am glad I have managed to convince him to sign at McKenna Park”

Welcome on board Andy!

The club are delighted to announce the signing of David “Buster” Edwards from East Kilbride Thistle. Buster scored 20+ goals in the West Region Second Division last season for Muirkirk, including a couple against The Ants and we hope he can bring his goals and experience to McKenna Park. Speaking to the website Manager John Kelly was buzzing to bring the hitman in “As soon as we knew Buster was looking to move from EK we got in quickly to secure his signing as no doubt other teams would be in for him as he is a proven goalscorer and we hope he can bring the form he was in last year to us and help us hit our aims for the season”

Welcome on board Buster

The club are delighted to announce that Ants player of the year for season 2017/18 Chris “Mooch” McLaughlin has re-signed for the club, only a year after he departed for Neilston. Chris was an integral part of the side that narrowly missed out on promotion and has unfinished business as he looks to help the Ants to launch a promotion bid this season. Ants manager John Kelly is ecstatic Mooch has knocked back offers from bigger clubs to come back home to McKenna Park. Speaking to the Ants website the gaffer said”I am delighted to welcome Chris back to the club. After it was announced he had left Neilston, I had to make a move for him as I knew other clubs in our league and higher would be trying to to tie him up. Chris knocked back a few approaches from a few teams to come back and play here, so I’m over the moon to manage to get this deal done.

Chris is a top quality player and is the type of player we have been adding to the squad to help us achieve our goals this year.

Chris is technically 1 of the best players I have worked with and on his day he can easily player at a much higher level as proven with his time at Neilston. It’s an ideal time for him to come back to McKenna Park and we look forward to him pulling on the hoops again.”

The midfielder is glad to be back at the Ants, Speaking to the Website he said

It’s great to be home, Once I knew the club wanted me, it was an easy decision to make. I want to enjoy my football and I loved every minute of my last spell here. Hopefully we can push on and be right in the mix for promotion this season

Normally we would say he goes straight into the squad for the Oban tournament, however he has his own big match as he ties the knot with his Fiancee Laura tomorrow.

Welcome home Mooch and all the best on your big day tomorrow!

The club are delighted to announce their fifth new signing as we confirm the signing of defender Connor Milne from Alba Thistle. Connor has previously played for Johnstone Burgh winning their Young player of the Year award back in 2016 before a spell at Neilston. A left sided defender has been something the club have been looking for and Ants gaffer John Kelly was delighted to have landed the sought after defender

I had identified Connor towards the end of last season as the player we needed to fill the left back position and we spoke regularly however he did have another offer on the table to consider but I think when he seen our facility and the other players we have identified he was convinced to sign at McKenna park. I am glad we have managed to get Connor in as he has previous experience which will be vital for us this season.

Welcome on board Connor.

The Ants have made a 2nd signing of the day with the acquisition of attacker Martin “Sinky” Sinclair from Alba Thistle. The deal comes after Ants manager John Kelly was alerted to the player’s availability and the gaffer wasted no time in securing his signature.

This was another deal which was done quiet quick,when I found out Sinky was available i made contact with him and put my ideas to him and I think he was sold on what we had to offer compared to other offers he had.Having managed against Sinky for a few season in the amateur ranks I know his qualities and hopefully he can bring goals and assists to the team this season.

We look forward to seeing Sinky in action as we gear up for the new campaign away to Oakley in a pre-season friendly on Saturday 7th July.

The Ants are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Jonny McKay for the forthcoming season. Jonny had been in John Kelly’s sights since he took over the role as Ants manager a year ago but circumstances dictated that he would have to show patience to capture Jonny’s signing and now he has put pen to paper the gaffer couldn’t hide his happiness at the signing

I am delighted to have secured Jonny this season, he was a player I tried to get when I first got the managers job here but circumstances didn’t allow but i have eventually managed to convince him to play his football at McKenna Park next season.

The gaffer grew up playing alongside Jonny and feels he could make the difference in tight matches 

Jonny is a player I know very well having went through school with him and playing in the same boys club team. He has also been on the books at a few senior clubs clubs as well.

Jonny is very good on the ball and could be the key in tight games as he is very dangerous in the final third.

Welcome on board Jonny!