A lot of people staying up for the bells looked back on a year of differing fortunes ... Paul McGrillen and his Bellshill players were left reflecting on just 24 hours.

A gathering storm broke mid-morning Saturday when a pre-arranged training session turned into a crisis meeting involving players, backroom staff and leading club official Paul Kelly.

Some of those in attendance thought answers were going to be forthcoming about their unpaid two weeks' wages, although fledgling gaffer Mowgli rocked them to the core when kicking off proceedings by announcing he and No.2 Bobby McCulley were quitting.

He qualified his actions by revealing the Lanarkshire outfit's chairman and main financial backer, Steven McGhee, had earlier informed him he was no longer prepared to single-handedly fund the team.

This stunning bombshell meant contracts set in place by the boss were not going to be honoured, so he was deeply embarrassed and felt duty bound to walk away rather than ask his charges to play for nothing.

One-time Pollok and Ashfield signing Kelly's attempts to pacify outraged players worked to some extent but at least one of their number, ex-Senior ace Martin Lauchlan, stormed out in a show of support for McGrillen. And one or two others openly threatened to contact the SJFA looking to be awarded free transfer status for breach of contract.

The prospect of a major dressing room exodus meant contingency plans were put in place to buy time through asking West Region chiefs for postponement of this weekend's Super Premier clash with Neilston.

However, that was before an astonishing turnaround in fortunes sparked by McGhee's change of heart after hearing Kelly's account of the meeting and depth of feeling expressed by players towards the club.

The property developer set the wheels in motion to pay all overdue monies before telephoning a devastated Mowgli and asking if he would be prepared to retract his own resignation and get McCulley back on board, as well as any players who had intentions to quit.

The boss said: "Within the space of a few hours, I went from making the hardest decision in my entire footballing career to the easiest one.

"This was not about Paul McGrillen's feelings, other than I genuinely care for the players I brought to this club. That's why it was no comedown for me to jump at the chance of returning and I'm absolutely delighted for things to be back to the way they were before.

"So are all the players and we just want to put this whole matter behind us and concentrate on winning trophies for the club."

New Brandon Park secretary Kelly reckons the time is right for business-minded people to be brought in to help Bellshill prepare for the future and allow McGhee to phase out his involvement between now and the end of this season.

But Lauchlan hopes his chairman will stay for longer.

He said: "A major factor behind my coming here was Steven McGhee's sheer enthusiasm and ambitious plans for his club.

"He and Mowgli make a terrific partnership and I think it will be a sad day for Bellshill if they ever split up."

Meanwhile, I hear arch foes Maryhill have offered their Lochburn Park ground to homeless Petershill until their new stadium is ready after a request to use Keppoch Park was turned down by Glasgow Perthshire.

Clydebank v Yoker has been switched to Greenfield Park, Shettleston, because landlords Drumchapel Amateurs have a home Scottish Cup-tie.