LEAGUE results and a feeling that improvements on the park were not forthcoming have been cited as reasons behind Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts' managerial change.

Last week, the club announced that they and Jason McCrindle had parted ways, despite a win at Kinnoull, and appointed former West Calder United boss, Gary Sibbald, as his successor on Thursday.

McCrindle, who led the club's senior team to their first trophy in April, when they lifted the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup, had been unable to prevent relegation from the East of Scotland League, Premier Division, after taking over from Jason Dair last November.

They started this season with a draw at Arniston Rangers, before their trophy defence was ended by Thornton Hibs at the first hurdle, which was followed by a heavy loss at Camelon Juniors, prior to their first win of the campaign at Kinnoull.

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Despite surprise at the decision to part ways, Swifts chairman, Craig Reid, told Press Sport: "As a committee, we felt there was no progressing and development with the squad.

"As a committee, we had several meetings with Jason to try and guide / advise on what we felt were the shortcomings but, unfortunately, things didn't improve.

"Since Jason came in, apart from the cup win, the performance in league games and picking up points had been poor. Fifteen points out of 54 isn't enough and, without the work to improve, we couldn't see things getting any better.

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"As a committee, we subsequently agreed to part ways with Jason, and we wish him all the best for the future."

Speaking to Press Sport about his departure, McCrindle commented: "There was one or two wee things that became clear that they wanted me to manage how they wanted me to manage. It wasn't in a way that I was then able to do it. It became almost unmanageable.

"They had their way that they want to do it. I saw some comments on social media about personnel and things like that - that wasn't the case at all. It was just the way that they wanted to do it, and the way that they wanted to run it, wasn't what was discussed previously.

"We spoke towards the end of the season, I think it was maybe March, April time, when we agreed to extend because things were going well. We were obviously then focused on the cup run.

"I get that obviously the league results weren't ideal. I think what we took on was tough, but I think the club's in a much better place now, given the infrastructure in terms of the playing personnel, the squad size.

"Speaking to the players, they were all happy. The players were really looking forward to the season ahead. We all had a clear plan in what we wanted to do, and how we were going to achieve it, but the committee obviously felt differently towards that, in terms of how they wanted things to go forward.

"There was just a slight change in terms of what they wanted to do and how they wanted to manage it."

He added: "Even in pre-season, the results weren't great, but the performances were still good enough. We had made a lot of changes in terms of boys coming in - nine guys in, nine guys out - so it was just obviously going to take a wee bit of time. The performances weren't bad at all.

"Once it all clicked - even against Dunfermline - once it clicked, and it all came together, it was really positive. Up at Kinnoull, it was coming together there as well, and to go and perform the way we did that night was really pleasing, and good to get a win.

"Then, obviously, the conversations after the game was that they just didn't want me to take it forward. I expressed how I was feeling, and it just felt as though there was a lack of confidence in myself, which is their choice.

"We had the opportunity then to try and resolve it, but they just made the decision that they didn't want me to take it forward."