With just three players at training, Gault and McAteer quit Kilroot

Trevor told the Times: “Between myself and Stephen, we made something like 60 phone calls, but at training we had six, then seven and on Tuesday, just three. I didn’t see any point in trying to train again on Thursday; we had made all the phone calls, but the players just didn’t turn up. I don’t know where to wave a magic wand and go and get players. I’ve tried everything, I’ve rang up youth team lads, I’ve spoken to the players who were at Kilroot last year, but most of them seem to be going to Barn and they gave no indication they would be back. As someone said ‘one sheep has gone and the rest have followed’.

“I’m gutted, not so much for myself, for I came back very much as a shot in the dark. I was looking forward to it, but it’s no big deal if I never get back into football again and at my stage of life, it’s not the end of the world - but I’m gutted for Stephen, my coach, and all the work he put in preparing for Tuesday night’s training session – and only three players turned up! And I’m gutted for all the good people at Kilroot who have done so well keeping the club going for years - they’re the ones I really feel sorry for. I didn’t want to give up, but I couldn’t wave a magic wand. I don’t think there’s anything else we could have done!

“I just hope Kilroot can get something sorted out, because I really appreciated being offered the job and I’ve nothing but praise for the committee in the short time that I was there.”

Kilroot, though, wasted no time in bringing a former goalkeeper Terry Thomas back in for a third spell in charge.

Terry said: “I’m Interim Manager until such times as something else develops. There’s no point in us bringing in another manager unless he’s bringing on board a team of players with him. We’ll explore avenues like that if and when they open up but the priority is to get ourselves up and running, get ourselves going and see where that takes us. Already we’ve turned things round a bit, with 14 at training on Saturday; we’ve finally got some players signed, so we can already put out a team, and we’ve more to come next week.

“We’ve gathered up a lot of young lads – our seconds don’t start until September, so, traditionally, they are late down to training. Some of them are on holidays, but we’re hopeful of getting some others down earlier than usual. They now know that first-team places are up for grabs.”

“The reality of Kilroot is that players will move to a higher level. Look at the likes of Barn United and Islandmagee, and think of how many ex-Kilroot players there are. It wouldn’t be in their interests if there was no Kilroot, for we seem to be their supply line.”

Thomas revealed the club now have the ground situation sorted out.

“We have a permanent pitch for Intermediate status at Whitehead,” he said. “We’re able to relax now, although it would be nice at one stage to get back to Kilroot and Beltoy, at least we’re not under pressure.

“But now it’s back to square one again, with most of last year’s team at Barn, joining the likes of our other ‘old boys’ like the Mathers brothers and Nicky Sharples who were already there. It’s maybe a measure of Paul Hannan’s success that he was able to keep at Kilroot players who are now in such demand by the likes of Barn. However, if those Kilroot players do well at Barn, it shows that either they have been underperforming at Kilroot in 1C, for they’re 1a players, or they need to get refocused again. Whatever challenge they take up this year, we hope it works out for them.

“I don’t know, though, how many will get on the first-team and to me, anyone who picks second-team football over first-team football is selling themselves short. At Kilroot, they’ve the chance to play in the Steel and Sons Cup (against Crusaders Reserves) and the Irish Cup. If you’re a footballer, these are the sort of challenges you want to enjoy.

“Kilroot has always been a good club to attract young players, and give them a chance. It’s more difficult now with more youth teams about, but that’s what we want. We want to be a club where players can come and enjoy their football, either at the end or the beginning of their career.”

As Rec supremo Mervyn Smith added: “I’m sorry it didn’t work out for our ‘dream team’ of Trevor Gault and Stephen McAteer and they weren’t able to sign any players – for the ones that were here last year could only have benefited from their experience, making them better players.

“But Terry has already turned things around. Numbers are up already and we’re expected a few more down this week. We’re bringing in young players; the way we used to do. Maybe that Crusaders Reserves game is a bit early for us, but we’ll get there. Whatever will be, will be!”