A MODERN day club legend has departed Beith Juniors.

Versatile defender Conner McGlinchey has completed a permanent move from the reigning West of Scotland Football League champions to First Division promotion chasers Johnstone Burgh.

It brings to an end a near eight-year spell at Bellsdale Park for the full back, who first joined the club from Arthurlie at the beginning of the 2016/17 season.

McGlinchey has enjoyed a fruitful spell at The Mighty since then, earning the player of the year and players' player of the year awards in his first season.

Talented from dead-ball situations, he was also the club's top goalscorer in the 2018/19 campaign.

The 30-year-old won a number of trophies over the course of his 262 appearances for Beith, most recently the West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL) Premier Division title last season.

Prior to this, he also enjoyed success in the West of Scotland Cup, Evening Times Champions Cup and the former West Premier Division.

McGlinchey has made the move to Johnstone Burgh this week, having verbally agreed to join the WoSFL Division One side at the end of the season, when his contract at Bellsdale was set to expire.

Beith say the full back submitted a transfer request last week in order to join the Keanie Park side now rather than later.

The Mighty "reluctantly" accepted this request and agreed a fee with the Renfrewshire side, where McGlinchey will link up with a squad that already includes former Scottish Premiership stars Graham Dorrans, Kyle Laffery and Jason Naismith.

A club statement added: "All at Beith Juniors would like to thank Conner for his efforts across almost eight years at The Mighty which has seen him win many team and personal honours, as well as scoring 62 goals in 262 appearances - with some very important and memorable goals amongst them - and wish him and his family well for the future."