MUSSELBURGH Athletic parted company with manager Stevie McLeish last week, as he took over at Newtongrange Star.

MeLeish had been in the Burgh dugout for 18 months, having taken over when long-serving Davie McGlynn left the club in October 2014.

The former Haddington Athletic manager guided the club to last season's Scottish Junior Cup final.

They lost that match 2-1 to Auchinleck Talbot thanks, in part, to a controversial penalty decision at Kilmarnock's Rugby Park.

McLeish, though, has guided Burgh through a successful East Superleague campaign, where they are currently in seventh place.

The 44-year-old looked back on his season-and-a-half in charge with pride.

He told Courier Sport: "I think the obvious highlight is to get to the Scottish Junior Cup final last season – any manager of a junior club would say that.

"The other highlight has to be the way we re-built the squad in the summer – we lost almost all the squad after the final and we managed to rebuild it on a budget of £500."

A win in their final league game of the season would see the Olive Bank club better their record points haul in the top division.

The club announced his departure through social media after their Fife and Lothians Cup quarter-final loss to Linlithgow Rose on Friday evening.

They said: "Manager Stevie McLeish and assistant manager Murray Hunter have left the club after tonight's game to move to Newtongrange Star.

"We wish them all the best and thank them for their time at the club."

The former Haddington boss also pointed to off field issues at the club, but refused to be drawn on those, adding only "the players will know what I mean."

Courier Sport understands the club has struggled financially, with no buses to some away fixtures and only nine available players for last Friday's game with Linlithgow.

McLeish, who was interviewed for the Newtongrange job on Thursday evening, took charge of the cup defeat, and felt he had "gone out on a bit of a high" despite the result.

He said: "We had three players suspended, one injured and one ill, so that's five out.

"We had to get two boys from Musselburgh Amateurs registered to play, and Murray Jackson played up front.

"We went there and gave them a really good game, and I think we should have won it."

McLeish wished the club all the best for next season, but was keen to turn his attention to his new club.

He added: "I hope Musselburgh are successful but it won't be with me, I've enjoyed my time there but that's done now.

"It's on to a new challenge for me at Newtongrange Star and it's one I'm really looking forward to."

Calvin Shand is the favourite to take over, although Charlie McGlynn, club chairman, refused to be drawn on speculation over the new boss.

He told Courier Sport: "It might be him [Calvin] but there are others in the running as well.

"I need to speak to other clubs – it could all be done today but it could take time, too."

Burgh round off their season at Broughty Athletic on Saturday, where victory would would see them record their best-ever East Superleague points haul.