Head Coach Andy Bell has made the difficult decision to step down from his position after a record breaking season at Portland Park.

A former Troon player, Andy also played at Stirling Albion, Dalry Thistle and Hurlford Thistle before embarking on his coaching pathway as Co-Manager of Craigmark Burntonians in May 2021, working with his long-time friend Ryan Caddis.

Andy first joined Troon as 1st Team Coach at the start of 2024, before being named Assistant Manager in the summer of 2024 after Dean Keenan moved onto Girvan as Manager.

Team Manager Jimmy Kirkwood was sad to see Andy go.

Andy took us completely by surprise when he said to myself and Richard at training before the Arthurlie match, it was absolutely not what we had expected and he caught us completely off guard. In true Andy style he had carefully thought it all through, but wanted to focus entirely on the Cup Final & the end of the league campaign first. Andy is one of the hardest-working guys I know, and when you include family life he was finding it pretty hard of late & I think everyone can support and understand his decision.

Andy has made a huge impact at the club since he came in, even more so in his position as Head Coach he has really driven all the coaching aspects and I think the results of his efforts have been clear for everyone to see. He & Marty have been a superb pairing and have worked really well together, Johnny & Perry have dovetailed so well with them and given us the strongest coaching team in the West, in my opinion.

Whilst we didn’t want to see him go, it was very fitting to see him with a trophy in his hand before he left.

Andy certainly won’t be a stranger at Portland Park, and we look forward to welcoming him, Christine and Autumn back to the club in the future.

We look forward to giving Andy a proper send-off at tonight’s Player of the Year Awards at Portland Park!