Canning is the club’s top scorer in the league this year, netting six goals.

He is leaving the country as he prepares for a new life in the Middle East — moving to Abu Dhabi for his job.

Whiteford is under no illusions as to Canning’s importance but insists their is enough strength in the squad to cope with his departure.

He said: “He’ll be a big loss, he is a top player. He has been around the club for a long time. It is just one of those thing, we wish him the very best.

“We have other players who can come in and fulfil that role so it will give them an opportunity.” Whiteford is unhappy with his side’s habit of conceding early goals — which continued on Saturday — and the manager knows that despite his squad being depleted for the Maybole tie, performances will have to improve.

He said: “We had 10 players missing from the squad on Saturday, which obviously doesn’t help. We have a squad of 22 players which you would assume would be enough to cope, but you don’t foresee having 10 missing.

“We lost an early goal which is happening too often, we are making it hard for ourselves when that happens. Two of the goals we gave away were gifts to be honest.

“I think we should be back up to a squad of 18 or 19 for the game against Kirkintilloch this weekend.”