ARTHURLIE are on the lookout for their 10th manager in 11 years after Chris Mackie dramatically quit the club on Saturday.

Barrhead Sport understands Mackie offered his resignation to the Arthurlie committee at the end of a routine meeting on Saturday after Lie’s match with Kilbirnie Ladeside was called off.

Mackie, who took over the Dunterlie Park hotseat in January after Stevie Kerrigan’s departure, leaves after one league win from the first seven Premier Division games this season.

He took over from Kerrigan in January and guided Lie comfortably clear of relegation before overseeing an overhaul to the playing squad in the summer, with only five players remaining from last season’s squad.

Lie coach Jimmy Lindsay will take charge for Saturday Scottish Cup tie at Lesmahagow, Arthurlie’s committee hope to have someone in place when Hurlford visit Dunterlie on November 4 with applications already being received.

Arthurlie Vice President Graeme Dunn admitted Mackie’s decision had come as a surprise to the club’s committee and he insists the former Dumbarton and Clydebank player wasn’t under pressure from the club despite poor recent results.

He said: “There was no pressure on Chris in regards to results. We were more than understanding that the changes he made in the summer would take time. The meeting that was called was a squad update.

“There was 17 players signed in the summer and eight have left or are on the transfer list so it was to get some feedback from Chris about that.

“And he gave valid reasons. But at the end of the meeting Chris told us about some things that he wasn’t happy with, then he took the decision on the spur of the moment to resign.

“Up until that point we didn’t have any indication that he was considering his position, there wasn’t a bad tone in the meeting at all. He’s taken the decision that he didn’t know how much he could’ve got out of the situation.

“I think he just felt he’d had enough. It was a bit of a surprise to everyone.”

Despite the 32-year-old’s resignation taking the club by surprise, Dunn says there is no ill will between the club and their former boss.

He said: “We’ve parted on really good terms, I get on well with Chris and I’ve spoken to him since he made the decision.

“We wish him well and thank him for his work for the club.”

The search is now on for Mackie’s replacement, a familiar situation for the Dunterlie Park club.

The next man at the helm will be Lie’s sixth manager in a little over four years.

Dunn conceded that is a trend the club are desperate to halt, and he says they’ll be seeking a manager with a wealth of experience in the junior game.

He said: “The club hasn’t had stability in the manager’s position for a number of years.

“It’s vitally important that we find someone who has the right experience and the right knowledge of the game, and of the situation that Arthurlie’s in.

“I don’t think it can be somebody who has been managing for a short time. We need someone who can cope with a bit of pressure as well, the Arthurlie support is pretty demanding.

“There has to be an understanding that if the club is going to become successful again and get back to the position we’ve been in the past, it won’t be a short term fix.

“The sooner we can make that decision after the cup game the better. Within the next two weeks we’d hope to have the position filled permanently.”

After backing Mackie significantly in the summer, Dunn says the club won’t demand that the new manager has to work with the existing squad.

Lie’s committee are prepared to back the new manager should he want to make changes.

He added: “The squad’s not in a bad shape at the moment, and that’s credit to Chris, I don’t think anyone wants another massive turnover of players.

“But the new manager will be afforded exactly the same support as we gave to Chris.

“They’ll get that backing to do whatever they think is necessary with the team. We won’t put someone in place and dictate to them what should be done.”