CUMNOCK gaffer John McKeown has blasted a decision that saw his side face a cup quarter final just 48 hours before his side play a crucial league decider.

Nock know that a win tonight (Wednesday) against Cumbernauld will hand them the First Division title, but the Townhead gaffer was left raging when his side were forced to play their Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup quarter final against Girvan on a bank holiday Monday, despite Wednesday nights crucial league fixture.

Pleas to switch the game until after Wednesday's final league game were batted away to allow the Girvan squad an end of season jolly up to Newcastle.

A fuming McKeown said: "It's an absolute disgrace. The whole thing is an absolute shambles. This game (against Girvan) is just an inconvenience to us and that's a shame as it totally devalues the tournament.

"We wanted to move the cup game to maybe Saturday, but we were told no because the Girvan lads have an end of season trip to Newcastle planned.

"To force us to play this game 48 hours before a league decider is shocking. They are doing Girvan a favour by playing the match but won't do us a favour as we try to win the league?"

Despite the decision the Nock manager has hailed his sides efforts in edging towards the title. He added: "The boys have done well to put themselves in this position.

"If your going to feel the pressure we would have felt it after the Clydebank game but the boys have responded well and it would be unbelievable to go and win the league now."