Yoker Athletic player/manager Steven Reilly says he has found life tough in his first managerial position as the Whe Ho have struggled to get a settled squad on the pitch most weeks.

Reilly took the reins from departed boss John McAulay in the summer, his first position as a boss following a year playing under McAulay at Holm Park last season.

Yoker have made a steady start under Reilly’s stewardship and are just four points off the promotion spots, having narrowly avoided the drop last season.

However Reilly conceded he has found it difficult to cope with Whe Ho’s struggle to get a consistent team on the pitch each week.

He said: “We started really well but tailed off a bit maybe four or five games into the season. That’s what you get with a young squad, we’ve had some boys stepping up from the under-21s, good players that they are they are young lads and their consistency can drop.

“Trying to get a settled side has been difficult with junior players, you’ve got guys away on holiday and with work commitments. Throughout the season we have not had a settled team and have had to chop and change things.

“That’s been a tough learning curve for me at this level, keeping everybody happy as well.”

Reilly has to go right back to the first league game of the season to pick out his highlight of the campaign, a result which looks all the better as the season has gone on.

Kilwinning Rangers were the visitors to Holm Park on the opening league weekend and were left smarting from a 5-1 rout from the Whe Ho.

Kilwinning have recovered well and now sit third in the table. Reilly is hopeful that with a full squad to choose from Yoker can soon return to that kind of form.

He said: “Everything clicked in to place that day, we had everyone available and fit. The boys put a great performance in and done everything we asked.

“Since then we’ve had to tweak a few things but I’m sure we can get back to that level.”