FORMER Girvan FC player Ian Patterson is teaming up with ex-Seasiders manager Mick O'Neil to take over the hotseat at the struggling McBookie Championship club.
The announcement was made on Monday night after joint bosses Stevie McCreadie and Jamie McCrea left the club.
And the new duo will step straight into the hotseat for Saturday's William Hill Scottish Cup second preliminary round tie against Fifers Burntisland Shipyard.
Patterson, who steered Craigmark Burntonians to promotion to the Championship last season, said: "This is a great opportunity and I have worked with Mick as a player at Troon and as part of the coaching team at Annbank United. 
"Steven has left through ill health but we have said to him he's welcome to come back and help us out when he's feeling better. It was buzzing at training on Monday night and there are very good players here, like Stevie O'Donnell, Michael Mossie and Darren Mitchell. But the squad is low on numbers and we are looking to add three or four before Saturday. .I would say the game against Burntisland is the tie of the round, it will be a testing game but it's at home and hopefully we will go through."
However the league remains the top priority for the management team.
Patterson added: "First and foremost we want to get out of the relegation zone and hopefully we can string a few wins together. It's a strong league."
The club said in a statement: "The committee of Girvan FC have appointed Ian Paterson and Mick O’Neill as their new management team after Stevie McCreadie and Jamie McCrae left the club last night. The committee would like to place on record their thanks to both Stevie and Jamie for their hard work over the summer in pulling a squad together at a difficult time for the club and wish them well for the future. Going forward Ian and Mick will continue to build the squad as we attempt to climb up the league table."