RENFREW boss Colin Clark insists he harbours no hard feelings towards former colleague Martin Ferry...despite the new Kilbirnie Ladeside gaffer pinching one of his star defenders.

Clark and Ferry worked alongside each other in the New Western Park dugout before the latter jumped ship to take over at Kilbirnie in April.

And there was disappointment for Renfrew fans when Ferry swooped to sign full-back Ross Gilmour from his old club.

Clark has revealed to Gazette Sport that Gilmour had verbally agreed to stay at the club before lockdown but feels that the lure of Premier League football at Valefield Park was too strong for the 26-year-old defender to resist.

“We had already agreed to keep Ross but Martin has ended up taking him down there,” said Clark.

“He’s got the Premier League to offer and we’ve already lost two to the Premier League in Kieron Maxwell and Rikki McIntosh, who joined Rutherglen Glencairn.

“The chance to play in the Premier League is the only reason they’ve left.

“Martin has got a job to do, so it is what it is, but Ross did well for me.

“It’s disappointing but I’m not going to hold it against them. It’s football.”

On a more positive note, Renfrew have announced that David McKenna, Gregor Wylie, Reece McGillion and Paddy O’Keefe have all signed new deals to remain at the club next season.

Club captain Ryan Borris and top scorer Scott Morton had already agreed to extend their stay at New Western Park last week, with more signing news expected in the coming days.

Off the pitch, it has been announced that the beer garden at New Western Park has reopened following government advice as lockdown restrictions are eased.

And Clark is hoping it is a sign that a brighter future lies ahead for Renfrew after the club has had to endure months without its usual income as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said: “We’ve got the space and the facility, so to get it open is good.

“We’ll get an income from it and, with the kids’ training starting back soon, the lets will start back and we’ll start to get cashflow into the club.

“That’s what we rely on and it’s how we survive, so it’ll be good to see that coming in again.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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