United banking on a Shaw thing with new manager

The 47-year-old, who was drafted in as Queen’s assistant during the summer, has already enjoyed two good wins as interim boss and will take the reins for good for the first time on Saturday when Girvan visit Guy’s Meadow.

Shaw turned out for a host of senior clubs during his playing career - including St Mirren, Partick Thistle, Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic, Ross County and Forfar Athletic.

He also had a spell as manager at Forfar and last season was assistant head coach at East Stirlingshire under Craig Tully, whom he has brought in along with Ian Wilson to assist him at Cumbernauld.

And he hopes the experience he has gained and connections he has made will be a valuable asset in his new role at Cumbernauld.

He said: “We’ve had two good wins so far and the players know the standards I set and what I am looking for.

“Everything will be done on a much more professional level and training will all be geared to what happens on a Saturday.

“And hopefully the connections I have in the game can help us out in terms of bringing in players if required.”

Shaw has already brought in Airdrie youngsters John Higgins and Murray Lowdon on loan until January, as well as midfielder Michasel Wallace who played under him at Shire last season.

Shaw is taking over early enough in the campaign - just four games in - to have time to bed in his ideas but has no doubts where he wants to take the club.

He said: “At the start of the season everybody wants to finish as high up the league as possible and I’m no different. I want to see us move up the table and into the hunt for the promotion places if we can.

“But it’s early yet and there’s a long way to go. We just take it game by game and see what happens from there.”