The above was the succinct and somewhat cryptic What’s App message I received from my younger son yesterday.

And yet I understood it immediately.

As would have any Sons fan receiving a similar message.

For the club had announced that manager Frank McKeown has stepped down and left the club.

This came after a 4-0 drubbing in the KDML Evolution Trophy (the Challenge Cup as was) at Clydebank, a side one division lower than us in the Scottish pyramid – though outwith the SPFL – and sometime derby rivals*. A result which saw the club lose out on the prize money available for qualification from the “league” stage.

Whether McKeown jumped or was pushed was left open.

Whatever, it will be a relief to the vast majority of Sons fans who had lost faith in him long since.

In the meantime Director of Football Danny Lennon will oversee team affairs.

It is to be hoped that a full and proper recruitment process will now take place: not like the previous time our manager was punted.

The club today announced McKeown’s coaching assistants have also left the club.

Sons fans will now be looking forward to Saturday’s home game against Stirling Albion with more of a spring in their step.

*Clydebank aren’t quite a Phoenix club. Their registration was transferred to Airdrie United when the original Airdrieonians were liquidated, leaving Clydebank supporters without a club to support, with the new club taking their Scottish League place. A group of Clydebank supporters then created a club for themselves and Airdrie United agreed to transfer the name and insignia to them. They have since moved up through various shared grounds and the Junior football divisions before moving to the West of Scotland Football League on its formation and won promotion to the Lowland League in 2025. Sons had therefore not played a Clydebank side in a competitive game for about 25 years. Airdrie United later adopted the Airdrieonians name.

So. Motherwell it was who stayed up. Convincingly in the end.

Tier 2 is going to be very tough again next season. There’ll be two of the biggest supported clubs in Scotland in Hibs and Rangers (having now found out for themselves that this division is devilishly difficult to escape in an upwards direction: can it be long before noises are made to increase the size of Tier 1? Or is that too cynical?) Also there will be six other full-time teams and an Alloa Athletic seemingly somewhat revived by new(ish) manager Danny Lennon. Eighth for the Sons would be a magnificent achievement. I’d take that right now.

We’ve got a new manager ourselves of course.

But I’m feeling nervous already.