KEVIN THOMSON has said that he has “loved every minute” of his time at Kelty Hearts after resigning from his post.

On Tuesday, reports began to surface that the 37-year-old, who took his first step into senior management at New Central Park last summer, would be stepping down.

That was confirmed subsequently by the club, who said that it had become clear that Thomson’s “aspirations lay away from Kelty Hearts Football Club”, despite leading them to the League Two title.

Thomson has been linked with the vacancy at English Football League, League Two outfit, Hartlepool United, and with a coaching role at Queens Park Rangers.

The English Championship side have recently employed Michael Beale, who worked under Steven Gerrard at Rangers and Aston Villa, as their new boss.

He and Thomson worked together while at Ibrox, with the latter involved in their academy, and media reports have suggested Beale could move to recruit him as part of his coaching team at Loftus Road.

News of Thomson’s departure, and that of his number two, Kevin McDonald, came as a surprise to winger Joe Cardle, who told Press Sport exclusively that he would, in the future, be interested in management – but believes he has at least one more campaign in him as a player.

Speculation over Thomson’s future at Kelty has continued to build throughout what has been an impressive first season in the dugout since leaving Rangers’ academy to succeed Barry Ferguson.

In the club’s first-ever SPFL season, he led them to the title with five games to spare, and by a 21-point margin, having lost just three matches, all of which were away from home.

Dundee United, in Thomson’s first match in the Premier Sports Cup, were the only side to win at New Central Park, where holders St Johnstone came a cropper in the Scottish Cup as Kelty reached the last 16 for the first time in their history.

After his departure, which Press Sport understands was friendly and amicable, was confirmed, Thomson, said: “Always tough when you move on, (would) just like to say massive thanks to Kelty Hearts for giving me and Kevin McDonald the opportunity to take the club forward.

“Loved every minute of it, not always rosy, but highs and lows in football! Massive thanks to everyone, fans, players and staff.”

Accepting Thomson and McDonald’s resignations, the club stated: “Over recent weeks, it became apparent that Kevin’s aspirations lay away from Kelty Hearts Football Club.

“We would like to thank them both for their efforts whilst with the club. This resulted in our promotion to cinch League One, winning the league by 21 points and reaching the fifth round of the Scottish Cup for the first time in our history.

“We would like to wish Kevin Thomson and Kevin McDonald all the very best in their careers going forward.”

Thomson was interviewed by Kilmarnock following their sacking of Tommy Wright in December, and for the Raith Rovers vacancy which, despite being understood to have impressed their hierarchy, saw the position go to Airdrieonians’ Ian Murray.

Thomson has made no secret of his desire to manage full-time, telling Press Sport in a recent interview: “I think everybody knows where I’m at, everybody knows my ambition to get to the top.

“I’ve never hid that fact from Dean (McKenzie, the club’s general manager) and the club.”

Reacting to the news, Cardle, PFA Scotland’s League Two Player of the Year, said: “It came as a bit of a surprise to be honest.

“Obviously, I don’t know what’s gone on behind the scenes, but he’s made the decision to leave and, yeah, disappointed really because it was a joy to play under him and Geordie, Kevin McDonald, but we’ve just got to look forward now.

“We’ve got a strong team, we’ve got some really good players and it’s a great club to be at. I just keep refreshing my phone to see who’s going to be coming in!”

The 35-year-old, who runs his own football academy in Dunfermline and has his coaching badges, was quick to bat away suggestions he could be in the frame, continuing: “To be fair, I’ve had a few messages over the last 24 hours to see if it’s going to happen, but I still think I’ve got one season in me at least to be a full-time player, and then I think everything will happen when it happens.

“I’m a Kelty player and I’m excited for next season already and I’m sure Dean McKenzie and Andrew Barrowman (sporting director) will bring in the right man; they’ve done it for the last two managers that they’ve brought in, and I’m sure they’ll do it again for the next one.”